Over 10,000 people took part in the Coimbatore District Police Marathon-2026 organised to spread awareness on the need for a drug-free Coimbatore.

The marathon was held on Saturday (August 8) on the Madukkarai–Madhampatty Bypass along the Western Ring Road in Coimbatore. Minister for Prohibition and Excise K. Vignesh flagged off the run.

The event began with Mr. Vignesh launching a signature campaign to spread awareness against drugs. People from different age groups participated in the marathon, which highlighted the slogan, “Let us run for a cause! Let us run for a drug-free Coimbatore.”

The marathon was organised around the theme, “Every Finish is a New Beginning,” as part of the Police Department’s efforts to spread awareness among the public on the adverse effects of drug use.

Inspector General of Police (West Zone) R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja and other senior police officials also took part in the marathon.

The first phase of Census 2027, comprising the Housing Census and House Listing Operations (HLO), will commence in Coimbatore district on July 17, according to District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar.

As part of the exercise, residents can complete self-enumeration through the official Census portal from July 17 to July 31. The facility is available on https://se.census.gov.in.

Following the self-enumeration phase, enumerators will visit every household in the district between August 1 and August 30 to conduct the Housing Census and House Listing Operations.

Residents who complete the self-enumeration process have been advised to retain the 12-digit Self-Enumeration Reference Number generated after successful submission and produce it to the enumerator during the household visit for verification of the details furnished.

As Census 2027 is being carried out entirely through a digital platform, the Collector appealed to the public to actively participate in the self-enumeration process and extend their cooperation for the successful conduct of the Census.

Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Welfare Association (COSIEMA) has urged the Tamil Nadu government to address long-pending issues affecting industries, including high fixed electricity charges, inadequate infrastructure, delays in subsidy disbursal and procedural hurdles.

Among its key demands, the association sought a reduction in the fixed electricity charges levied by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL), early establishment of a sub-station at the COSIEMA Industrial Park, release of pending government subsidies, and approval of the revised project estimate for the industrial park.

The association also requested the government to restore the earlier tariff structure for new drinking water connections in the Kurichi SIDCO Industrial Estate, review the enhanced charges for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and ownership transfers, and waive processing fees for NOCs required by industries to avail themselves of bank finance.

Pointing to inadequate civic infrastructure in the Kurichi SIDCO Industrial Estate, the association sought improved drinking water supply, roads, drainage and solid waste management. It also urged the government to establish a convention centre and a skill development centre, restore the workers’ hostel rent to the earlier agreed rate of ₹1,100 a month, and expedite road improvement works already sanctioned by SIDCO.

The Coimbatore unit of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has urged the district administration to remove resorts and other encroachments from elephant corridors to reduce human-elephant conflict.

In a petition submitted to the District Collector on Monday, district secretary Kovai Raj urged the State government to notify the Tamil Nadu Draft Elephant Corridor Plan, which identifies 42 elephant corridors across the State, including nine in Coimbatore district.

The PMK alleged that the rapid growth of resorts in Anaikatti, located in the ecologically sensitive foothills of the Western Ghats and the HACA region, had affected elephant habitats. It claimed that nearly 50 resorts were functioning in the area and that many of them had been established illegally within the elephant corridors.

Mr. Raj said encroachments and bottlenecks along elephant corridors had restricted elephant movement, leading to increased incursions into human habitations in search of food and water. As a result, he claimed that 232 wild elephants and more than 150 people had lost their lives in human-elephant conflict in the district over the past 15 years. Crop damage caused by elephants had also affected the livelihoods of many farmers, while elephant movement into urban areas had become more frequent. He also sought the removal of high-voltage electric fences in elephant corridors.

As an immediate measure, the PMK demanded the removal of resorts and illegal structures encroaching upon elephant corridors in Anaikatti and other foothill areas of the Western Ghats. It also reiterated its demand that the State government publish the elephant corridor draft plan in the Government Gazette to facilitate its implementation.

The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) has urged the State government to classify dry agricultural land as industrial land for better development of both agriculture and industry.

In a memorandum to Minister for Industries S. Keerthana, CODISSIA president V. Rangaswamy said parcels of industrial land were reclassified as agricultural and residential land in the Coimbatore Master Plan 2041. The government should restore the industrial use classification for such land parcels. Further, more land should be reserved for industrial use to support the future growth of Coimbatore.

The Guidance Tamil Nadu processes building approvals only for projects with investments above ₹50 crore. This facility should be extended to all projects that have minimum investment of ₹50 lakh, he said. This will enable MSMEs to get approvals faster, he added.

The Palli Kalvi Paadhukaappu Iyakkam has urged the Coimbatore District Collector to introduce bus services for students from Pothiyampalayam and neighbouring villages in Narayanapuram panchayat of Annur block, citing inadequate public transport and its impact on education.

In a petition, the organisation said around 200 school and college students from Pothiyampalayam, Ayothidasar Kudiyiruppu and nearby habitations had to travel nearly three kilometres to reach the nearest bus stop on the Thennampalayam–Vagarayampalayam road. It alleged that buses were either infrequent or unavailable during school and college hours, resulting in irregular attendance and student dropouts.

The organisation said the lack of bus connectivity had affected access to middle, high and higher secondary schools, polytechnic institutions, vocational courses and colleges. It added that many parents, who were daily wage labourers, were unable to accompany their children to educational institutions, while some girls who should be studying in Class XII had taken up work due to transport difficulties and safety concerns.

Citing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the organisation urged the district administration to introduce bus services from Pothiyampalayam and neighbouring villages to Vagarayampalayam, Arasur and Peelamedu from the current academic year. It also pointed out that transport-related student dropouts had been discussed at a recent review meeting chaired by the District Collector.