Category Archives: Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam CSI is ‘Best National Chapter’

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

The Visakhapatnam chapter of Computer Society of India (CSI) has been adjudged unanimously as the ‘Best National Chapter’ for 2013-14, by the CSI National Awards Committee. The award will be presented at the CSI Annual Convention to be held from December 12 to 14 at JNTU, Hyderabad.

According to a communication sent to the CSI-Vizag chapter on Friday, several employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant have won prestigious awards in different categories for the year 2013-14.

VSP general manager (IT) KVSS Rajeswara Rao was selected for CSI National Fellow award, while assistant general managers (IT) YN Reddy and Y Satyaranayana bagged the Chapter Patron award and the Significant Contribution award respectively.

The CSI, Vizag, has more than two-decade-long history and is an active chapter among all the CSI Chapters in India with over 500 active members and 20 vibrant student chapters under its fold.

Right from its inception, CSI Vizag Chapter has been playing a great role in promoting IT awareness among students by organising various national and international-level seminars, workshops to enable the IT professionals share their technological advancements with other IT professionals.

Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD P Madhusudan, congratulated the CSI-Vizag Chapter on the achievement and expressed confidence that this meritorious award would further motivate the CSI-Vizag chapter to promote IT.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 22nd, 2014

A special day for milk and cheese!

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
Dairy technology students display milk-based food products during the ‘Dairy Festival’ at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University in Tirupati on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu
Dairy technology students display milk-based food products during the ‘Dairy Festival’ at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University in Tirupati on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu

SV Veterinary University students put on display a wide array of milk products during ‘Dairy Festival’

The ‘Dairy Festival’ held on the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University campus here on Friday turned out to be a day of milk and cheese, ghee, curd and whey.

Inaugurating the event, Vice-Chancellor Manmohan Singh pegged the growth rate of the dairy sector at 10 per cent and foresaw a rise in career opportunities in the industry for qualified people. The array of dairy products on display contained samples of cow milk, goat milk, skimmed milk, toned milk and standardised milk.

The event also offered an opportunity to students of Dairy Technology to showcase their talent.

They prepared and put on display milk-based products such as doodh peda, rasmalai, raitha, shrikhand, basundi, jamun, rabri, dharwad peda, lassi, kalakhand, kundha, milk cake and channa jelly. They also explained the benefits of each product.

The chaddar cheese, made after fermentation for six months and kept at a moisture level of 47 to 55 per cent, drew the attention of many.

Similarly, the students also proved that whey, the residual liquid separated from the coagulated solid, could be used to prepare cool drinks and soups. As part of the ‘Earn While You Learn’ programme, the students put the products on sale.

“The products are of high quality and affordable. We make close to 50 per cent profit, which helps us meet our daily expenses,” a fourth year student said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D.Rangarajan / Tirupati – November 15th, 2014

NRCB shows the way for banana farmers

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
Farmers at the Banana market. / The Hindu
Farmers at the Banana market. / The Hindu

The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Trichy, one of the India’s premiere research institutes in the field of agriculture, has trained farmers belonging to Krishna district in pre and post harvesting technologies in banana cultivation and processing.

A group of twenty farmers actively involved in banana cultivation in Thotlavalluru mandal was groomed in value added products of banana by the scientists last week. Inspired by a strong local banana marketing system owned and being run by the Krishna district farmers, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has ensured them the ‘scientific training cum exposure visit’ under it’s Capacity Building for Adoption of Technology Programme.

NRCB Principal Scientist Dr. Kumar had shared his scientific experience with the farmers, enabling them exposure to existing technologies meant for seed selection and post harvesting methods. “Scientists mainly focused on soil management, crop maintenance and identification of disease. They also advised the farmers to prefer drip irrigation system with fatigation tanks,” said Netham (NGO) Director Suresh Vesam who led the farmers.

BananaChartANDHRA12nov2014

On the other hand, another scientist Dr. Siva had displayed preparation methods of value added products developed from banana – banana fibre, drink, chips, wine and jam. The farmers were told the export potential of the selected value added products. The training included visit to various banana units in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu.

The success story of Solar Dryad Banana Unit in Trichy, a pilot project encouraged by a German Bank — KFW, helped the Krishna farmers to explore areas in banana cultivation and marketing to register growth in their income. The farmers also learnt how Tamil Nadu farmers tapped the overseas market for banana and its value added products, which is being exported to Philippines and other European countries.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – November 10th, 2014

Green Toilets Introduced in Some Trains

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

The eco-friendly bio-toilets, jointly developed by the Railways and DRDO, have been introduced on Visakhapatnam-Shiridi-Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam-Chennai-Visakhapatnam weekly express trains. The bio-toilets were fitted on the trains on Thursday and the trains titled Green Trains.

The specially designed toilets use anaerobic bacteria culture which converts the collected waste into biodegradable matter as gases like methane, carbon dioxide and water which were then discharged in specified discharge pits ensuring clean and hygienic environment.

According to divisional railway manager Anil Kumar, rail users have to be aware of utilisation of the bio-toilets as they are unlike the normal ones. Passengers should not dump things like plastic, empty bottles, paper and other garbage into the pans as otherwise they get choked and become unfit for use, the DRM said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 07th, 2014

The good doctor!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology
Endocrinologist Goutham Meher points out to a picture in which he is on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world. He is the first resident of Vijayawada to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu
Endocrinologist Goutham Meher points out to a picture in which he is on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world. He is the first resident of Vijayawada to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu

He wants to raise funds for the Indian Navy and Visakhapatnam which were battered by the Hudhud cyclone. The port city and neighbouring district too took a massive beating. Moved by the damaged caused by the super cyclone Dr. Meher turned into a fundraiser.

City-based endocrinologist Goutham Meher has attained celebrity status by becoming the first resident to conquer Kilimanjaro. He will be back in the news for running in a marathon to raise funds for the Indian Navy and Visakhapatnam city which were battered by the Hudhud super cyclone.

Besides mountaineering Dr. Meher is very fond of running. He has participated in most of the marathons conducted in the different places in the country. By default, he registered himself to participate in the Vizag Navy Marathon a couple of months ago.

Hudhud caused the Indian Navy a loss of Rs. 2,000 crore.

The port city and neighbouring district too took a massive beating. Moved by the damaged caused by the super cyclone Dr. Meher turned into a fundraiser. Instead of taking the beaten path of collecting for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) he registered on to an online fundraising website saying that he would run the marathon to cover the loss of Indian Navy and for the re-building of Visakhapatnam city and asked his friends to donate generously on Facebook.

Dr. Meher received an overwhelming response from his friends, several of them NRIs. With two days still left for the event the physician raised five times what he set as a ‘goal’ for himself.

“We can win many battles, but it is not easy when you are against the fury of nature. Cyclone Hudhud battered the strategic naval base at Visakhapatnam, damaging its airfield and other installations. Thirty to forty per cent of trees inside the naval station got uprooted,” Dr. Meher said.

He was glad that all the income from the First Vizag Navy Marathon would also go for the rebuilding of Visakhapatnam city, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – October 31st, 2014

Acme Group wins bid for 160 MW solar projects in AP

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Projects will require estimated investment of Rs.1,250 crore

Acme Cleantech Solutions will sign a 25-year power purchasing agreement with Southern Power Distribution Co. Ltd in Andhra Pradesh. Photo: AFP
Acme Cleantech Solutions will sign a 25-year power purchasing agreement with Southern Power Distribution Co. Ltd in Andhra Pradesh. Photo: AFP

Hyderabad:

Acme Cleantech Solutions Ltd. on Monday said it has won a bid to develop 160 megawatt (MW) of solar power projects in Andhra Pradesh.

The projects will be set up in the Anantapur, Kurnool and Chittoor districts in Andhra Pradesh and will require an estimated investment of Rs.1,250 crore, the company said in a statement.

“This win is the country’s largest win by any private solar developer,” Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, founder and chairman of Acme Group said in the statement. “With this addition, our solar power portfolio has reached 422.5 MW and we are on way to generate 1000 MW by year 2017,” Upadhyay added.

The company will sign a 25-year power purchasing agreement with Southern Power Distribution Co. Ltd in Andhra Pradesh.

A total of 51 bidders participated in the tender process.

Bifurcated Andhra Pradesh is one of the three states chosen by the union government for the power for all scheme that will ensure 24X7 power supply. The N. Chandrababu Naidu government is keen on harnessing solar energy for electricity generation.

Public sector National Thermal Power Corp. (NTPC) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government to develop a 1,000 MW solar park on a build-own-operate basis with an investment of Rs.7,000 crore. The Union government also agreed to grant Rs.500 crore to Andhra Pradesh to develop 2,500 MW of solar energy, PTI reported on 24 October.

Acme Group has solar power projects in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Industry / by Yogendra Kalavalapalli / Tuesday – October 28th, 2014

Kursura faces erosion threat

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

Vizag’s pride, the Kursura Submarine Museum may have stood tall against burly 200kmph winds unleashed by Cyclone Hudhud, but the threat of erosion is now posing a danger to one of the city’s biggest attractions with morning walkers on Tuesday observing waves lapping right at the base of the submarine.

According to oceanography experts, the area around the only submarine museum in South Asia may witness further erosion – especially the area north of Kursura and up to 50 metres behind the museum.

In fact, post cyclone Hudhud, erosion is being witnessed all along the coast, including behind the Vuda Park near the East Point Lighthouse and also a nearly 200-metre stretch in Bheemili.

Experts said that the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) in consultation with the Indian Navy should immediately take up measures to protect Kursura, which was India’s fourth submarine and served for nearly 31 years.

“In the last two days, high winds have been hitting the coast due to the onset of the north-east monsoon due to which the sea waves are also increasing. A situation similar to the one that took place earlier this year, when one portion of Beach Road collapsed, may occur in the next few months,” said an oceanography expert from Andhra University.

Concurring, another ocean scientist warned: “Earlier the protection wall served as a defence for the submarine, but now the northern side is also exposed. In the next four months, due to the sea currents flowing from north to south, the area in front of Kursura and immediately behind it is likely to witness more erosion.”

“We are noticing that now the sand deposition is taking place near RK Beach and Coastal Battery side due to coastal currents,” he said while pointing out that the rate of deposition is less than the rate of erosion.

Meanwhile, sources at Vuda lamented that the lack of a full-time vice-chairman was hampering the urban development body from taking any decisions. A Vuda official said, “We have cleaned up the submarine museum premises, but we can’t allow visitors from a safety and security point of view because the sea side stretch is now open without the protection wall.”

“Even though the Indian Navy is regularly monitoring the situation, we have to take up work immediately for raising the protection wall failing which it can cause further damage.”

“About 275 metres length of wall has to be built and landscaping needs to be taken up, but as of now the in-charge vice chairman (who is also the EPDCL CMD) is himself busy with restoring power lines across north coastal districts, so the state government has to understand the situation and depute a full-time VC.”

Meanwhile, a Navy spokesperson said the Navy was planning to do the needful and something more “permanent and lasting” to secure the unique museum.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Manish, TNN / October 29th, 2014

15-year-old helps save the day

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Science & Technology
Executive Vice-chairman and Director of National Institute of Amateur Radio S. Ram Mohan and Tom K Jose of Hyderabad who played an active role in the relief works of the recent Hudhud Cyclone. Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Executive Vice-chairman and Director of National Institute of Amateur Radio S. Ram Mohan and Tom K Jose of Hyderabad who played an active role in the relief works of the recent Hudhud Cyclone. Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu

Uses his Ham radio skills to gather vital information during Hudhud. One contact talked about trees falling at a Jain temple in Bhimli and resulting in precarious conditions. The young Ham immediately passed on the information to senior officials, who in turn directed their field personnel.

For a week, Tom K. Jose kept his studies aside, travelled to a cyclone-hit city and used his Ham radio skills to contribute to disaster management.

When Hudhud swept through Visakhapatnam disrupting its communication network and a team of amateur radio (Ham) operators from the city were sought, the 15-year-old student of Little Flower Junior College, Uppal, volunteered for the task.

With his call sign, VU3TMO, Tom was stationed in the control room set up at Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate and spent long hours collecting messages from other team members spread over the cyclone affected areas and passed them on to the administration for relief measures.

The intermediate first year student, who got his Ham licence at the age of 13, along with colleagues, operated under adverse conditions, often skipping meals and spending long hours before the radio, waiting for it to crackle with messages. “For seven days, I was at the Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate and one day at the District Collector’s office at Srikakulam and made anywhere up to 500 contacts,” says Tom.

One contact talked about trees falling at a Jain temple in Bhimli and resulting in precarious conditions. The young Ham immediately passed on the information to senior officials, who in turn directed their field personnel, and the situation was attended to. Another was a contact from Bangalore who was desperately trying to locate his brother and sister in the Hudhud affected area. “We operated without checking the watch or caring whether it was day or night. We had to just sit in front of the radio and wait for a contact,” he says.

Tom, who got his licence when he was in class 9, explores the Ham world and so far, has contacted more than 150 countries and received appreciations for his operational skills from Ham associations from different parts of the globe, including US, Germany and Japan. He comfortably juggles his hobby with studies and says, “Each night after studies I spend 30 minutes to 45 minutes with the radio apart from a brief tryst in the morning before going to college.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by T. Lalith Singh / Hyderabad – October 26th, 2014

Trimex Sands Ltd. to build cyclone shelters

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology
Trimex Sands Private Limited Managing Director Koneru Prasad handing over a demand draft for Rs. 50 lakh to Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu during latter's visit to Srikakuam, towards relief operations in cyclone-hit areas.PHOTO: By Arrangement
Trimex Sands Private Limited Managing Director Koneru Prasad handing over a demand draft for Rs. 50 lakh to Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu during latter’s visit to Srikakuam, towards relief operations in cyclone-hit areas.PHOTO: By Arrangement

Cyclone shelters have been planned in Gara and Srikakulam mandals with a fund of Rs. 3 crore

Trimex Sands Private Limited (TSPL), which is worrying with the suspension of its operations due to protests by the local residents, is trying to win hearts of both locals and the administration with a series of CSR activities. It came forward to construct cyclone relief shelters in Gara and Srikakulam mandals with an involvement of an expenditure of Rs.3 crore.

TSPL Managing Director Koneru Pradeep has already shown the designs for the cyclone shelters to Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu during the latter’s visit to Srikakulam and handed over Rs.50 lakh for carrying out immediate relief operations in the cyclone-hit areas of the district.

He also promised the Chief Minister that the company would supply safe drinking water by constructing reverse osmosis plants under the NTR Sujaladhara programme.

“We will cover 30 villages under this programme. The company has already constructed an English medium school with a fund of Rs. 2.5 crore. We have planned to improve health and education in fishermen villages,” said Mr. Pradeep.

Labour Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Srikakulam MP Kinjarapu Rammohan hailed the move by the company. They suggested other companies to follow the suit since more funds were needed to improve civic infrastructure in the coastal villages.

Meanwhile, Srikakulam District Industrial Centre has planned to organise another meeting with various industries in Srikakulam for taking up CSR activities in a big way. DIC General Manager B.Gopala Krishna said that the companies, with their constant efforts and social service activities, should instil confidence among the local villagers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Srikakulam – October 25th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh: Application watch on bin clearance

Science & Technology
This is aimed at quick clearance of the bins and also to ensure that the sanitation situation improves in the corporations and municipalities in all 13 districts. (Photo: DC/File)
This is aimed at quick clearance of the bins and also to ensure that the sanitation situation improves in the corporations and municipalities in all 13 districts. (Photo: DC/File)

Hyderabad:

 AP municipal department has begun a real-time bin monitoring system with an Android application. All sanitary supervisors of 111 urban local bodies have to download this government app on their mobile phones and regularly update the  bin-clearance status by uploading pictures.

This is aimed at quick clearance of the bins and also to ensure that the sanitation situation improves in the corporations and municipalities in all 13 districts. The department has issued guidelines to implement dustbin or dumper bin monitoring system online by using Off-site Real Time Monitoring System (OSRT) application in ULBs.

“Initially, an SMS with a website link will be sent to the mobile number of the   reporting person. By clicking on the link, OSRT mobile application can be downloaded on to the mobile phone. After installing the application, the OSRT icon will be visible on the mobile phone. Clicking on it will open the application.The reporting person can log on to the mobile application by selecting his/her name (first time) and a  given password. After logging into the mobile application, a list of locations, allotted to the reporting person, will be displayed,” said an official of the department.
The reporting persons, usually sanitary supervisors, have to select the bin/garbage transit point for one-time registration. They have to select each location to register the GPS.
The application will record the number of bins, lifting time, shift (morning, afternoon and night) along with the images of the bins.
Clicking on the ‘submit’ button, the user will be able to upload all details  on the server.  Officials said that the photo upload of bin status should be done ideally within 30 minutes of bin cleaning.
Meanwhile, the Citizen Grievance Monitoring System of the AP municipal department, that included redressal of garbage cleaning, drainage overflow, water leakage and road repair by uploading pictures online, is now lying dysfunctional.
AP government had begun the initiative in September for all urban local bodies, including corporations and municipalities, wherein it claimed that it would redress all the problems reported within 24 hours to 48 hours. Officials had said that public may upload pictures at http://125.16.11.82:8080/OSMS/
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / October 23rd, 2014