Ramana Nagar Plot Sales

The land photographs below are of plots located directly opposite the Ramana Nagar Post office and a two minute walk from Chengam road and Ramana Ashram.

Supposedly the land has been under dispute for some time, which I've heard is now resolved. Thus far this land is unquestionably the MOST expensive land being sold in the Ramana Nagar area (although I have heard of more expensive plots for sale that are located in the streets around the Arunachaleswarar Temple).

The land is being sold in 1,800 square feet plots (60 feet by 30 feet) at the rate of Rs.2,800/- a square foot. Which means before Registration and Land Tax, the current asking price for a 1,800 square foot plot comes to Rs.50.4 Lakhs. Even if your pockets are deep, remember to negotiate.

Expect the high price will ensure that the area will be populated almost exclusively by commercial ventures, large showrooms, National stores and hotels. I believe several pieces of land have already been sold.

Initiative to save Water Bodies

A very encouraging report has just appeared in Tamil Nadu newspapers about a state-wide initiative to save water bodies; which includes irrigation tanks, ponds and springs

Local NGO’s have described the state government’s proposal as ‘path breaking’ which is to restore water bodies across the state. According to media reports, the state government would undertake to restore around 70,000 water bodies comprising 21,000 minor irrigation tanks, 48,000 ponds and springs. The project proposes to target approximately 1,487 water bodies in Vellore and 3,277 in Tiruvannamalai district.

A plea to the state government, on the need for a restoration project, emanated, when the Chennai-based Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) (along with a group of NGOs from across the state) organised a special meeting which focused on the revival of tanks and water bodies and the strict enforcement of laws to protect water bodies.

Water bodies in Tamil Nadu used to provide irrigation to over 1.7 million hectares in the 1950s. Most of these structures still exist but the area irrigated by these sources has come down drastically to 0.7 million hectares as on 2002.

Tanks are traditional rain-water harvesting structures which not only provide irrigation, but also act as a buffer during droughts as they help recharge groundwater. Sadly, hundreds of tanks, foreshore areas and their catchments have been encroached upon by private individuals while many others have been occupied officially for various urban activities such as housing, industrial estate, government buildings, etc. At the present pace of industrialisation and urbanisation in the state, most of the tanks may disappear in the next couple of decades.

Environmental activists welcomed the government’s move to restore water bodies, but wanted rivers to be included, as tanks had a direct bearing on river systems. Citing the case of the Palar river which is on the verge of dying due to lack of surface water, illegal encroachments, and unabated sand mining, it was suggested that the state government present a white paper on the status of all rivers in the state.

Solar-powered houses

The below interesting information on the development of Solar-powered houses by the State Government, recently appeared in State newspapers. Its certainly heartening to see such an ecologically-friendly initiative from the State Government.

The articles state that:

“Six months after the announcement in the Assembly, the chief minister’s solar-powered, green-powered scheme, that replaced the previous regime’s ‘Kalaignar housing scheme’, has gained momentum with the government issuing work orders to 60,000 rural beneficiaries. Many of them have also started constructing their dream houses.

“In the first phase, we have identified 60,000 beneficiaries across the state for 2011-2012. With 4,333 identified beneficiaries in Villupuram, which has more number of huts in the state, tops the beneficiaries list and 3,719 beneficiaries have been identified in Vellore district, while Tiruvannamalai district stands next with 3,038 beneficiaries,” sources in the government told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.





Similarly, 1,897 beneficiaries in Madurai, 2,801 in Salem, 2,427 in Tirunelveli, 1,531 in Thoothukudi will soon start constructing their houses.

Green houses will be constructed either replacing the existing structure or on land owned by the beneficiary elsewhere in the village panchayat.

Under this scheme, Rs 1.80 lakh will be allotted for each beneficiary with Rs 1.50 lakh for constructing a house measuring 300 square feet and the remaining Rs 30,000 for purchasing a solar-powered home lighting system, which will be installed by Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA).

All the houses must have rainwater harvesting system and be in cream and maroon colour. Unlike earlier schemes, this one provides for the entire cost to be borne by the state government.”

Arunachala Homes

There are currently many recently constructed homes ready for purchase located in areas close and convenient to Ramana Nagar and the central point of Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram.

To view a selection of these one and two storey homes, please view this album at this link here.

All the houses in the album are moderately priced, have been recently completed and have straight-forward title. If you wish to meet with an agent and arrange to view any of these homes, please email at the above address.

If you wish to see more photographs of any of the homes, or wish to see photographs of the interiors, please email at the above address.

Devyandal Farm

This week visited a very beautiful land parcel comprised of two adjacents farms and totalling just under 5 acres in size. The land is to be sold in one unit, but has an electrical connection and water tanks (driven by petrol motors) on both pieces of land.

One Tank

Two Tank

The land is close to a water catchment area and government land that can never be built on, thus providing a secure buffer zone on one side of the land parcel. Open hills are a short distance to the land parcel.

For more specific details and pricing, use the 'contact me' facility at top left hand corner of this page.

The land is located on the northwest side of Arunachala abount one kilometre west of Adaiyur.

Tree Species for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Forest Department has listed the below trees species as highly suitable for cultivation in Tiruvannamalai District. To find out more about tree research in the forests of Tamil Nadu, go to this link here.

Right click on photographs to view enlargement. Under each photograph right click on tree name to be guided to relevant link with additional information on that particular tree.

Anthocephalus Cadamba

Khaya Senegalensis

Ailanthus Excelsa, Tree of Heaven

Melia Dubia, Golden Neem

Casuarina Junghuniana

Melocanna Baccifera

Alstronia Scholaris, Devil Tree

Albizia Richardiana

Acrocarpus Fraxinifolius, Pink Cedar

Paddy Yield Increase

A number of farmers in the Tiruvannamalai District are now experimenting with an unconventional method of paddy cultivation. Early results report that conventional methods on a 10 acre farm which previously yielded 2.4 tonnes of paddy an acre are now producing 3.3 tonnes of paddy an acre.

This increase is a result of Tegra seedling technology developed and patented by Syngenta, a Swiss company with a model farm in Vandavasi, Tamil Nadu. In this process paddy seedlings are grown in a tray in a special media comprising straw, soil, nutrients etc. Thereafter the seedlings continue their growth in a nursery and are replanted after 15 days into the paddy field, with a special transplant machinery. Once transplanted the seedlings take root and begin to grow.

The technology costs Rs 75 a tray and an acre requires 70 trays. The cost includes Syngenta Company growing the paddy seedlings chosen by the farmer (or considered appropriate for the area). The Company then transplants the cultivated seedlings in the farmer's field with special machinery and thereafter offers counsel until harvest.

Officials at Syngenta have pointed out that their system is not the same as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as SRI is done manually while Tegra technology is done mechanically.

Tamil Nadu Wetlands

The National Wetland Atlas, prepared by the Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has classified Tamil Nadu as a wetland-rich State with 6.92% of its geographic area classified as wetlands. Lake/pond and tank/pond are the dominant wetland types found in all the Districts, accounting for 61%.

The atlas was prepared to protect wetlands from development and encroaching populations.

Tamil Nadu, Tiruvannamalai was found to have a wetland area of over 50,000 ha. (hectare = 2.47 acres).

Land 5 Kms from Arunachala

Some information and photographs below on beautiful agricultural land located 5 kms from Arunachala. The water table is good – around 80 feet – but there is no current well or electricity on the land. There are four pieces of land, fully Patta, owned by the one man which comprise: 1.66 acres, 1.37 acres, 3.66 acres and 2.5 acres (total 9.19 acres available). The owner is willing to sell one or any number of the 4 adjacent plots.

To view more photographs and information please check out my link at this address.

A wide access road of around 30 feet in length (leading to the Municipal road) has just been created which runs directly onto the land. The seller will ensure passage upon purchase of one, or any number of the four available parcels.

Sketch of Land

5 Acre Parcel (#1) Sirupakkam

The below series of photographs is of a 5 acre parcel of red soil land situated at Sirupakkam. The current owner has full patta title.

The land which is both suitable for organic and traditional farming, has a large agricultural well that has abundant sweet water throughout the year. Arunachala darshan is excellent.

To avoid any complication with access the owner of this land wishes to sell it in conjunction with the 5 acre parcel mentioned in the next posting (5 Acre Parcel #2 Sirupakkam) at this link here:

All serious independent parties interested in more information, including price, are invited to get in touch using the 'contact me' facility at the top of this page.

5 Acre Parcel (#2) Sirupakkam

The below series of photographs is of a 5 acre parcel of red soil land situated at Sirupakkam. The current owner has full patta title.

The land which is both suitable for organic and traditional farming, has a large agricultural well that has abundant sweet water throughout the year. Arunachala darshan is excellent.

To avoid any complication with access the owner of this land wishes to sell it in conjunction with the 5 acre parcel mentioned in the previous posting (5 Acre Parcel #1 Sirupakkam) at this link:

All serious independent parties interested in more information, including price, are invited to get in touch using the 'contact me' facility at the top of this page.