Category Archives: About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh

Foundation for secretariat complex laid in Amaravati

New beginnings: Chandrababu Naidu laying the raft foundation for the Secretariat and HoD office complex.   | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR
New beginnings: Chandrababu Naidu laying the raft foundation for the Secretariat and HoD office complex. | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu set the ball rolling for the construction of the permanent Secretariat and Heads of Departments complex by laying the raft foundation at Kondamarajupalem on Thursday.

The event marks a major milestone in the capital city project a few months ahead of the general elections. The complex, designed for four towers of 40 floors each and another with 50 floors, will be the first permanent structure in the administrative city in 1,375 acres.

A massive 57,000 cubic metres of concrete will go into the foundation for the towers, the tallest of which will rise 225 m. The uniqueness of the foundation is the that entire volume of 11,000 cubic meters of concrete per raft would be poured non-stop for 72 hours. A raft foundation comprises large concrete slabs evenly spread under the entire buildings against the conventional strip and trench footings. The project cost is estimated at ₹3,500 crore and is being implemented by L&T, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and the Nagarjuna Construction Company.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Thullur (Guntur District) / December 28th, 2018

Telugu Ganga enters Kadapa district

Kadapa Collector Ch. Hari Kiran inspecting the water flowing into Telugu Ganga Canal from Srisailam project near Chinnavangali at Kadapa-Kurnool district border on Friday.
Kadapa Collector Ch. Hari Kiran inspecting the water flowing into Telugu Ganga Canal from Srisailam project near Chinnavangali at Kadapa-Kurnool district border on Friday.

‘Reservoirs will be filled on a priority’

Water released from Srisailam project entered Kadapa district through the Telugu Ganga Project (TGP) canal on Friday. The entry was observed at the 96th km point at Chinnavangali (Kurnool district) at the inter-district border.

Collector Ch. Hari Kiran observed the flow of Krishna water at the regulator, monitored the escape and water levels. TGP Superintending Engineer Sarada explained to him details such as the water flow rate at 1,224 cusecs and the quantity stored at various locations.

The Collector pointed out that water should be released to Kadapa immediately after fulfilling Kurnool district’s requirements, instead of storing excess water in canals and sluices. “Filling Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Sagar will benefit farmers of Mydukur and Badvel constituencies,” he said, while announcing to fill up SVBR, Sarvaraya Sagar, Gandikota, Mylavaram and Vamikonda reservoirs etc on a priority basis. EE Prabhakar Rao and DE Nagi Reddy were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Kadapa – September 15th, 2018

Pre-historic rock art site unearthed in Guntur

Rare find: An engraving shows a humped bull on the eastern banks of Naguleru near Dachepalli.
Rare find: An engraving shows a humped bull on the eastern banks of Naguleru near Dachepalli.

Freelance archaeologist discovers it on the banks of the Naguleru

A pre-historic rock art site discovered in the vast expanse of limestone blocks on the eastern banks of Naguleru near Dachepalli has thrown light on the Neolithic civilisation that flourished in Guntur during 1500-2000 BC.

The site, unearthed by freelance archaeologist Kadiyala Venkateswara Rao at Kesanapalli village in Dachepalli mandal, has excited archaeologists and is expected to trigger further excavations.

“The rock art site on natural lime stone is the first of its kind in the country. The motifs in the form of engraving, pecking and brushing throw fascinating insights into the social and cultural practices of ancient civilisations,” Mr. Rao told The Hindu on Tuesday.

What has made archaeologists look up this latest discovery is the dexterity with which early human was able to engrave different animal motifs like fish, snake, peacock, eagle, bull and scorpion on limestone blocks.

One petroglyph shows an anthropomorphic figure with its head in between the two hands.

Another engraving shows a warrior holding a sword and a shield, indicating the practices during Iron Age.

Rock art motifs

Mr. Rao, on a trail of discovering ancient sites, also stumbled upon a series of rock art motifs in front of an old-age home located on the left side of the path leading to the river.

“It is quite interesting to find a rare and mythical oval-shaped labyrinth engraving with multi circles by the side of cultic motifs. The labyrinth is a mythical and sacred symbol of the early pre-historic times,” said Mr. Rao, who had earlier discovered a huge rock art labyrinth painting in Kolimeru cave on the top of a hill in East Godavari district.

The region in later years was also synonymous with the flourishing of Buddhism.

A stupa established on the pre-historic rock art site during during 1-2 BC, was unearthed during excavations by the Department of Archaeology  and Museums in 1969.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by P. Samuel Johnson / Guntur – April 18th, 2018

First century AD cave found in Gunadala

Vijayawada:

A rock-cut Buddhist cave dating back to 1st century AD was discovered at Gunadala , Vijayawada east assembly constituency on Wednesday.
The cave first came to the notice of local MLA Gadde Rama Mohan Rao, during his ‘gadapa gadapaku Telugu Desam,’ a door-to-door party tour. After spotting the cave, he alerted Buddhist archaeologist and CEO of Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati Dr E Sivanagi Reddy.

Dr Reddy thoroughly explored the cave. He told TOI that the rock–cut cave has an open verandah measuring 20 feet by 12 feet, a mandapa (15x12ft) and a cell (8×6 ft). The cell is believed to the residence of the chief monk, which acted as a retreat (vassavasa) during rainy season, which lasted for about four months.

“The cave bears historical significance in the field of Buddhist cave architecture in the Deccan region. With this cave, Vijayawada will find a place in the Buddhist circuit map of India,” Dr Reddy said. Based on the plain nature of the rock–cut cave and the absence of ornamental motifs, Dr Reddy said the cave dates back to 1st century AD, which makes it part of the Satavahana period.

The Buddhist cave was chiselled from a rock of the Gunadala hill. It was appropriated by the Brahmanical faith during the 7th and 8th centuries (Vengi Chalukyan period) when Buddhism was on its decline. The cave was re-fashioned with octagonal pillars on either side and the walls were smoothened.

The locals said a small figure of goddess Kanaka Durga was installed in recent times and they called it Kanaka Durga cave.

Gadde Rama appealed the archaeology officials to declare it as a protected site and develop it as a tourist spot by erecting a sign board and directional board on the roadside in Gunadala.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News>Vijayawada News / TNN / April 12th, 2018

Dravidian language family is 4,500 years old: study

The Dravidian language family’s four largest languages — Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu — have literary traditions spanning centuries, of which Tamil reaches back the furthest, resource: .

DravidianFamilyCF21mar2018

The Dravidian language family, consisting of 80 varieties spoken by nearly 220 million people across southern and central India, originated about 4,500 years ago, a study has found.

This estimate is based on new linguistic analyses by an international team, including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, and the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun.

The researchers used data collected first-hand from native speakers representing all previously reported Dravidian subgroups. The findings, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, match with earlier linguistic and archaeological studies.

South Asia, reaching from Afghanistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east, is home to at least six hundred languages belonging to six large language families, including Dravidian, Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan.

The Dravidian language family, consisting of about 80 language varieties (both languages and dialects) is today spoken by about 220 million people, mostly in southern and central India, and surrounding countries.

The Dravidian language family’s four largest languages — Kannada, MalayalamTamil and Telugu — have literary traditions spanning centuries, of which Tamil reaches back the furthest, researchers said.

Along with Sanskrit,  Tamil is one of the world’s classical languages, but unlike Sanskrit, there is continuity between its classical and modern forms documented in inscriptions, poems, and secular and religious texts and songs, they said.

“The study of the Dravidian languages is crucial for understanding prehistory in Eurasia, as they played a significant role in influencing other language groups,” said Annemarie Verkerk of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.

Neither the geographical origin of the Dravidian language nor its exact dispersal through time is known with certainty.

The consensus of the research community is that the Dravidians are natives of the Indian subcontinent and were present prior to the arrival of the Indo-Aryans (Indo-European speakers) in India around 3,500 years ago.

Researchers said that it is likely that the Dravidian languages were much more widespread to the west in the past than they are today.

In order to examine questions about when and where the Dravidian languages developed, they made a detailed investigation of the historical relationships of 20 Dravidian varieties.

Study author Vishnupriya Kolipakam of the Wildlife Institute of India collected contemporary first-hand data from native speakers of a diverse sample of Dravidian languages, representing all the previously reported subgroups of Dravidian.

The researchers used advanced statistical methods to infer the age and sub-grouping of the Dravidian language family at about 4,000-4,500 years old.

This estimate, while in line with suggestions from previous linguistic studies, is a more robust result because it was found consistently in the majority of the different statistical models of evolution tested in this study.

This age also matches well with inferences from archaeologywhich have previously placed the diversification of Dravidian into North, Central, and South branches at exactly this age, coinciding with the beginnings of cultural developments evident in the archaeological record.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Science / by PTI / Berlin – March 21st, 2018

Kancharas of Vizag are a vanishing tribe

Visakhapatnam:

The Kancharas or metal smiths of Visakhapatnam, who were once known across the world for their ability to manufacture custom made metal objects, no longer gets business.

During the colonial era, the Kancharas thrived and made regular and fancy objects from gun metal, copper, brass and bronze. However, this thriving industry soon went into a recession after the introduction of machine manufactured metal ware in independent India. Within a span of three decades, the metal smiths of Vizag gave up their traditional trade.

“Vizag was a thriving trade centre and the British, having recognised the skill and abilities of the worksmiths, set up a fort in Visakhapatnam in the late 17th century. The Europeans used them in manufacturing ships, metal ware and ivory-inlaid works. Much of the trade from Vizag was for metal, alloy ware and ivory crafts. This fact was mentioned in the 1907 Vizagapatam District Gazateer,” observed history buff BS Mahesh, adding that zamindars of the region along with the British establishment and the local traders patronised these craftsmen.

However, post estate abolishment and rapid industrialisation in India, many of these Kancharas who had an entire settlement to themselves (Kancharapalem), were forced to seek new ways to earn a living. “The zamindari and Estate Abolition Act 1948 along with the introduction of land reforms sounded the death knell to these craftsmen as their traditional customer base such as the zamindars, inamdars, and big landowners died out,” said old timer DN Sinha.

Sinha further added that the post-independence era coincided with a huge boost to modern industry in Visakhapatnam, which eventually resulted in many of the younger generation of Kancharas taking to modern skills more suitable for employment in the heavy industry.

Sinha said earlier, Vizag had several karkhanas (factories) as well. “Many of my family members picked up metal and ivory art objects from Vizag as souvenirs to take to Europe and America.” He, however, pointed out that many of the accomplished smiths and artisans also failed to pass on their skills to the next generation as a result of which the karkhanas shut shop.

A noted interior designer in Vizag said, “Metal workers and ivory-artisans of that calibre do not exist in Vizag any more. Most of them are either not alive or have left the place for good. Kancharapalem is only a colony in Visakhapatnam today and the metal workers are history.”

Those still continuing with metal work at Kancharapalem are either associated with some manufacturing and heavy industry or are skilled mechanics running garages. “The fact that the industrial estate is right next to this colony is proof of the fact that the legendary skills of these kancharas are still being used, albeit in modern industry.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / Venkatesh Bayya / TNN / January 04th, 2017

Andhra Pradesh shifts head offices of 14 departments to Vijayawada, Guntur

The shifting of the Andhra Pradesh administration to Amaravati crossed a major milestone on Monday with the opening of 14 departments in and around Vijayawada.

The offices of Directors and Commissioners and more than 1,000 employees have shifted from Hyderabad.

These are now located in Vijayawada and Guntur and a handful in Mangalagiri.

The new offices wore a festive look, with Ministers and officials opening them formally to the chanting of mantras and playing of nagaswaram.

Employees decorated their new offices with rangolis, and officials signed files with a smile. Staff already here welcomed their colleagues from Hyderabad with bouquets.

The head offices inaugurated in Vijayawada on Monday include: Anti-Corruption Bureau, Beverages Corporation, Rural Water Supply, Stamps and Registration, Panchayat Raj, Archaeology and Museums, Economics and Statistics, Higher (Collegiate) Education, Prohibition and Excise, Tribal Welfare and Women’s Empowerment Corporation, Planning Board and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh.

SC Finance Corporation was inaugurated in Guntur.

Officials enquired with the staff about the facilities being provided for the employees. Some officials were actively competing to meet the deadline set by the Chief Minister.

The government initially set June 15 as the deadline for the shifting and later pushed it to June 27. As the search for rented buildings took longer than anticipated, the government has allowed the process to take place by August.

Construction of the Interim Secretariat Complex (ISC) at Velagapudi in Guntur district gained pace after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wanted the government to fully function from there.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Rajulapudi Srinivas V. Raghavendra / Vijayawada – June 28th, 2016

Peddapuram, Samalkot to become twin cities

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that Peddapuram and Samalkot would become twin cities of East Godavari district in the near future.

Inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the Peddapuram Municipality here, Mr. Naidu said that the town had vast potential for development, as it had better road connectivity, natural resources and industrial estates. “We are going to construct an indoor stadium and outdoor stadium here in an extent of 10 acres and lay a double road from Peddapuram to Samalkot with central lighting facility,” he said, adding that the bus stand and market were being swapped for better town planning.

“A new bus stand will be constructed in the present market. Similarly, the present bus stand will be turned into a market. The entire process will be completed within two months from now,” he said. Stating that the Government was keen on providing irrigation to all the areas and irrigate every acre of land, the Chief Minister said that special focus would be made on irrigation facilities to the upland areas. “Water facility to Peddapuram town will accelerate the industrial growth here,” he observed.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Naidu inaugurated Centenary Park, cement concrete roads in the town, besides laying foundation stones for the Kapu and BC welfare buildings to be constructed in Kakinada. Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Home Minister N. Chinna Rajappa, local elected representatives and officials were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Peddapuram (East Godavari) / May 19th, 2016

World’s top architects shortlisted for Amaravati

Hyderabad  :

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who wants to build Amaravati as a world-class capital, has zeroed in on three of the world’s leading architects to conceptualise the ‘government complex’ – which will be the first structure that will come up in the new capital. The three architects are Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas and Richard Rogers, who will ‘compete’ to clinch the deal under the Swiss Challenge method.

Some of the world’s finest landmarks have been designed by these leading architects from Europe. And Naidu is reportedly keen to utilise their services for the grand government complex that will be the seat of power. The winner of the Swiss Challenge bidding process will conceptualise and design the mega structure.

“The building will come up in the proposed Government Core area of the seed capital. The state government is keen to complete the complex by 2018. The 42-floor complex will have 1.32 crore sq feet of built-up space,” said a senior official privy to the development.

Norman Foster has won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture. He has designed and built the new German Parliament, the Hearst Tower in New York City, City Hall and Millennium Bridge in London and is regarded by many as the greatest living architect.

Richard Roger has designed the Lloyd’s Building and Peternoster Square in London as also the Millennium Dome. Rem Koolhas had conceptualised the Seattle Central library, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Seoul National University Museum of Art and the iconic Dutch Embassy building in Berlin.

Initially, the state government invited tenders for selection of the architects through the Capital City Development Management Corporation (CCDMC). As many as 10 firms had responded to the tenders. The government kept them in abeyance as it was not satisfied with the participating firms.

This time the government invited the tenders through the CRDA and shortlisted a few companies to participate in the design competition. Norman Foster (Foster + Partners), Richard Rogers (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners), and Rem Koolhas (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) figure in the shortlisted architect firms.

The competition under Swiss Challenge will take place for two days from November 20. “The design competition for the smart government complex will be held for two days in Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) office premises. The participants will give their proposals. Based on those, we will take a final call,” N Srikanth, CRDA commissioner, told TOI.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / by Sribala Vadlapatla, TNN / November 19th, 2015

Telugu people’s struggles to be chronicled on the screen

Vijayawada  :

With a view to highlight the Telugu culture and heritage, a production house called Bharateeyam Arts – the first banner to come out from Vijayawada post the state’s bifurcation – is planning a movie about Amaravati. The producers say they will donate the proceeds from the screenings to the capital development fund.

Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, producer V Gopala Krishna said that the film will deal with the political, historical and cultural background of Andhra Pradesh. “The self-respect of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh was hurt by the division of the state. That is the reason why farmers came forward to offer their lands for the capital. The film will deal with the sacrifices made by such people and how the state evolved,” Krishna explained.

He recalled initially mulling a documentary on the same subject, but dropped the idea later. “This will be a full-length feature film with a commercial angle. The cast will be announced soon and shooting will start in four months or so,” the producer said, adding that the film will be made in two parts.

While music director-turned-director RP Patnaik will compose tunes, Suddala Ashok Teja and Krishna Chaitanya Prasad would jointly write the script.

Patnaik expressed happiness to be a part of the project. “Telugu people have a lot of history. This film will start right from the time when we were part of the Madras Presidency to the bifurcation to the present day. It will be based on facts and will not offend anybody,” Patnaik said.

Veteran journalist Turlapaty Kutumba Rao recalled how Telugu people had to leave Madras and how they thought in vain that they could have a permanent capital in Hyderabad. “I have seen the struggle the state and the people have gone through. We thought after 1956 the wandering would end. But we were wrong. With Amaravati it will end. It will be our own capital,” he said.

He appreciated the film’s crew for taking up the project as it would help the future generations to have a point of reference. Peasant leader A Bhavani Prasad was also present.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Vijayawada / TNN / October 21st, 2015