Monthly Archives: December 2014

Institute of Science fetes botanist who found coal in Andhra

Nagpur :

The finding of 3000 million tonnes of good quality coal reserve in Andhra Pradesh a few months back by Omprakash Sarate, a scientist from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow, continues to bring appreciation and laurels for this botanist who originally hails from Nagpur.

Since Sarate did his doctoral research in the Institute of Science in palaeopalynology and coal petrology, the Institute felicitated him on Monday for his finding that has brought not just the Chintalapudi district in Godavari valley on the coal map of the entire country. He was honoured by the Institute director R G Atram on behalf of Alumni Association of the Institute and the Botany Society. He had been working in all the lower Gondwana formations of Wardha Valley and Godavari valley coalfields.

Sarate later told TOI that the AP government picked up the finding of coal reserve from his publication in the Journal of Palaeontological Society of India in December 2013. The government noticed the finding in September this year after which it got an independent survey done and was delighted to realize the size and quality of the reserve. “For AP, it is a jackpot as most of the coal reserves of undivided Andhra Pradesh were in Telangana region that is now a separate state,” he said.

Sarate’s study found good quality coal within 500m depth from Somavaram in Krishna District to Rajamundry in east Godavari district. The quality of Chintalapudi coal as compared to the Ramagundam and Talcher was better, especially its calorific value was much higher. Most of the coal is located between Aswaraopet, Chinthalapudi and Jangareddy Gudem fall in West Godavari district. The reserves are good for thermal generation as well as for steel plants.

Explaining palaeopalynology, Sarate said 10m of grass trough in a region generally got converted into 1m of coal got converted into carbon only due to bacterial and fungal activity. This initially must have resulted in brown coal and on compaction got converted into lignite that metamorphosed to coal. All this coal is about 260-270 million years old and was formed due to cold and humid conditions prevailing in the area.

Since these are deep seated deposits there could be even coal belt methane at the bottom. It will be possible to extract them only through underground mining.

Dr Surekha Kalkar, head of botany department, gave introductory remarks and introduced the guest. Atram explained how a particular kind of pollen grain can form the basis of presence of coal. Former Institute director M T Bharambe, M R Thosar, president of Alumni Association and Prof P S Jakhi, Incharge and secretary of the association also spoke . Roshani Singh, secretary of Botanical Society, conducted the programme.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Nagpur / by Snehalata Shrivastav, TNN / December 30th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh to get Rs 475 crore from World Bank arm for rural project

Hyderabad :

An arm of the World Bank  will lend Rs 475 crore ($75 million) to the Andhra Pradesh Government for implementing a rural growth project.

The fund from International Development Association (IDA) will be used for implementing the Rural Inclusive Growth Project (RIGP), aimed at enhancing agricultural incomes of small/marginal farmers and ensuring increased access to services related to health, nutrition, sanitation and social entitlements, a senior official said today.

(The project would help the…)
(The project would help the…)

RIGP will target small and marginal farmers in 5,000 villages in the state. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently discussed the project with a team of officials from the World Bank.

It will focus on increasing economic opportunities for small and marginal farmers, especially from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and develop a network of social enterprises for food, nutrition and sanitation, he said.

The project would help the State government in creating an enabling policy framework across sectors through the seven missions it has established.

A targeted 2.5 lakh small and marginal farmers would be supported under the RIGP to increase their incomes by at least 50 per cent by enhancing productivity and improving their access to markets, the official said.

Investments would be made to improve access to services in the areas of health, nutrition, water and sanitation to boost human development by increasing coverage and effectiveness of social safety net programmes, he said.

About five lakh households, particularly those belonging to SCs and STs, would benefit from this.

“Community-led approach will be followed under RIGP to improve access to water and sanitation services in the targeted villages adopting.

“Saturation mode will be adopted so as to cover all households and rural institutions like schools, anganwadis (childcare centres) and health centres and help them achieve open defecation-free status,” the official added.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Collections> Farmers / PTI / December 26th, 2014

Nina credits Indian culture for Miss America win

Nina Davuluri
Nina Davuluri

New York  :

Nina Davuluri, who was crowned Miss America 2014, credits her Indian roots and culture for having won the coveted beauty title, The Hindu reported.

Davuluri, on her recent visit to Vijayawada to meet her extended relatives, said: “The fact that I am rooted in Indian culture helped me win Miss America pageant.”

She added: “My last visit to Vijayawada city was in 2009. The city has changed a lot but people are the same, warm and affectionate.”

As a child, Davuluri learned classical dancing in Vijayawada.  The dusky beauty also revealed that she would not join the entertainment industry like other Indian beauty queens, but would keep herself “engaged in service to society, especially in the field of women empowerment.” — SG

source: http://www.saudigazette.com / Saudi Gazette / Home> Life / New York – Monday, December 29th, 2014

Antique idols unearthed at Ongole

Hero statue being moved to Kanaparthis Museum from Ongole on Monday. Photo: Kommuri Srinivas
Hero statue being moved to Kanaparthis Museum from Ongole on Monday. Photo: Kommuri Srinivas

Three antique idols and a hero stone belonging to the medieval period have been unearthed, according to State Archaeology department in-charge Assistant Director T. John Kamalakar.

While the hero stone and Narasimha swamy idol were unearthed from the Fort Street here, the idols of Parvathi and Parameswara were recovered from a site near the RISE College on the city outskirts.

“The idols belonged to 12th or 13th century,” John Kamalakar told The Hindu.

They would be preserved for posterity at the State Archaeological Museum, named after Prakasam Pantulu at Kanaparthi.

”The department proposes to develop the museum further with the 14th Finance Commission grants,” he said.

A caretaker of the archaeological resources, G.V. Subba Rao said the artefacts at the museum provided a lot of information about, among other dynasties, the Satavahanas, Eastern Chalukyas, Sangamas and Cholas. “It is for the first time, antique idols are unearthed in the city,” said researchers Jyothi Chandramouli and M.V.S. Sastry.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by S. Murali / Ongole – December 30th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh farmer’s methods draw CM’s, scientists’ attention

 “I have now taken up rearing of Bengal sheep and goats — there are 50 of them and they could fetch nearly `25,000 per head, if looked after well,” Prasad said. Prasad’s contributions have been so important that he has received accolades from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and even from top scientists.

“I have now taken up rearing of Bengal sheep and goats — there are 50 of them and they could fetch nearly `25,000 per head, if looked after well,” Prasad said. Prasad’s contributions have been so important that he has received accolades from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and even from top scientists.

Vijayawada: 

The story of 53-year-old Uppala Prasad, a farmer from Ghantasalapalem in Ghantasala mandal of Krishna district, is probably the best rags-to-riches story you will ever hear from the region. When most farmers are giving up agriculture due to mounting losses, Prasad’s journey from a mere two acres of land and two buffaloes in 1982 to farming in nearly 200 acres (10 his own and rest leased), and a herd of 300 high-quality buffaloes and cows, is remarkable

“It took innovative methods of farming and organising the sale of farm produce to get here. I have my own shop in Hyderabad and I also have an online presence,” said Prasad.Also, Prasad uses 100 acres of his land for organic farming with zero pesticide. He follows cutting-edge methods and uses advanced seeds, not only for paddy and pulses but also for raw materials used in cattle brazing. His big dairy, that produces nearly 800 liters of milk every day, has inspired others to start similar ventures.
“I have now taken up rearing of Bengal sheep and goats — there are 50 of them and they could fetch nearly `25,000 per head, if looked after well,” Prasad said. Prasad’s contributions have been so important that he has received accolades from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and even from top scientists.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by A. Ravi Kumar / December 28th, 2014

Pooja Loves The Food & Places In Godavari Distrcits

PoojaANDHRA30dec2014

More than the mixed-response Mukunda has evoked, heroine Pooja Hegde’s glamorous look in the movie has enthralled audiences. And rather worrying about the flick’s partial success, even Pooja is enjoying the good days of shooting for this flick. She couldn’t just stop raving about the various locations in East Godavari district, where director Srikanth Addala filmed most parts of the film.

Songs like Gopikamma were shot at an ancient temple in Samarlakota in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. “We’ve shot in Bhimavaram, Kakinada and Amalapuram to name a few. Also I love the food served there and those beautiful girls in the village”, says Pooja, sharing her thoughts. Director Srikanth Addala not just picks subjects with native touch, but his visuals contains loads of Godavari backdrop. Probably Pooja Hegde got awestruck by the scenic beauty of these fertile districts of Andhra.

source: http://www.gulte.com / Gulte.com / Home> Movie News / December 28th, 2014

City boy makes a mark in CAT-IIM

Sai Vatsalya Mokka, a student from the city, secured a record score of 99.93 percentile in the recently declared 2014 CAT-IIM results.

Sai Vatsalya had earlier completed his B. Tech from IIT Guwahati in mechanical engineering. He had also excelled in studies by obtaining good ranks in ICSE, IIT JEE and Mathematics Olympiad. He holds the National Talent Scholarship of Merit from the Government of India.

He aspires to study at IIT Ahmedabad. His father M. Jagannadha Rao is a professor of Geology in Andhra University and mother Santhi Priya is a Chief Specialist at the Visakha Steel General Hospital.

Andhra University Vice Chancellor G.S.N. Raju and others congratulated the boy on his achievement.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – December 29th, 2014

AP’s Kashmir to get facelift by winter-2015!

Visakhapatnam  :

Lambasingi, often touted as the Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh, will be developed as a tourist spot in the upcoming year as the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in association with Union ministry of tourism has come forward to develop tourism projects at a cost of Rs 9 crore in the hamlet. The serene hamlet located in Chintapalli mandal of Visakhapatnam Agency sees temperatures go down as low as zero and sub-zero conditions during December-January every year.

As part of the facelift planned for Lambasingi, a resort will come up in an area of six acres at a cost of Rs 5 crore, and a botanical garden in an area of 37 acres at a cost of Rs 4 crore is also on the list. The APTDC recently sent a detailed project report (DPR) of the projects to the Centre, which has assured to financially support the corporation. The state government, on its part, has supported the project by converting the forest and tribal land and transferring it to the Tourism department to be used only for tourism development purpose.

The village, situated at a height of 1,000 metres above the mean sea level, with cold weather conditions (zero degree Celsius in winter and below 10 degree Celsius entire year), is an ideal spot for tourists. G Bheemasankara Rao, general manager for Visakhapatnam division of the APTDC, said the corporation took the decision of developing the area as a tourism spot because of the existing climatic conditions and tourist influx. The area is also famous for coffee and pepper plantations which are being cultivated since the British regime in the country. Coffee grown here is exported to other countries, including the USA, said a senior official from the Coffee Board of India.

“There is hardly any hut at Lambasingi, but are coming up very fast because of the scenic beauty of the place particularly in winter. So we decided to set up the two projects at a cost of Rs 9 crore. The state government has already given 43 acres of the tribal land to the tourism department. We are waiting for the centre’s fund which we may get in two months. Once the funds are released we will start ground works of the projects, which may be completed by next winter,” Bheemasankara Rao told TOI.

Apart from Lambasingi, the corporation has also selected two hot spots in Paderu, headquarters of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) of Visakhapatnam district, for tourism projects at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The corporation identified a five acres piece of land in Paderu for developing a butterfly park at a cost of Rs 3 crore, and establishing a resort in an area of six acres at a cost of Rs 5 crore in the same area. In addition to that, the corporation has also identified a beach spot at Revupolavaram near Nakkapalli to develop a resort along the beach at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / December 30th, 2014

AP Tourism to host New Year celebrations

Puligundu hillock in Chittoor district all set to attract New Year revelers / The Hindu
Puligundu hillock in Chittoor district all set to attract New Year revelers / The Hindu

Chennai :

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has planned a host of entertainment shows at Horsley Hills, Puligundu and Kuppam easily accessible from here, to celebrate the new year on December 31.

“We have been organising events on New Year’s eve every year at Horsley Hills. This year Puligundu near Chittor and Kuppam abutting Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu are additions,” APTDC Divisional Manager RV Suresh Kumar Reddy told reporters here today.

A picturesque view of the Horsley Hills on a foggy dawn. - Photo: K V Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu
A picturesque view of the Horsley Hills on a foggy dawn. – Photo: K V Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu

From Chennai, Horsley Hills is 270 km, Puligundu near Chitoor 155 km, and Kuppam 290 km, he added.

“A significant chunk of our clientele happens to be from Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu.”

Interactive game shows for couples, children, entertainment programmes, including dance, mimicry, magic shows have been planned.

“Film and Television celebrities have also been roped in,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> Travel / PTI / Chennai – December 25th, 2014

Reunion for a cause

Former students of Fort Catholic Girls High School celebrating their reunion on the school campus in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Former students of Fort Catholic Girls High School celebrating their reunion on the school campus in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Old students of 1977-2013 batches of Fort Catholic Girls High School meet for the first time to raise funds for the Hudhud-hit institution. For many, it was the perfect moment to rejoice as the event brought the old friends from different parts of the globe together, including the U.S., the U.K., and Singapore.

A group of women were busy posing for selfies with the newly-designed cut-out that had a faceless image of a schoolgirl. Peals of laughter echoed at the venue as friends met to make merry after a long time.

There was excitement in the air as old pals, from 1977 to 2013 batches, met at Fort Catholic Girls High School to celebrate their reunion for the first time. Apparently, what united them after such a long time was their love for the school. “We came to know that some of the classrooms have become roofless post the cyclone Hudhud that damaged the city beyond its recognition. The reunion has been organised to raise funds and bring the 162-year-old school back to its feet,” says Lakshmi Kamal, who belonged to the 1995 batch.

For many, it was the perfect moment to rejoice as the event brought the old friends from different parts of the globe together, including the U.S., the U.K., and Singapore.

“In 1977, the scenario was entirely different. We were adept at giving the students their space and be strict when it comes to studies,” says Rupali Banerjee, a retired geography teacher. What was initially a five-member group has now grown up to a network of 216 members.

“We have been in touch with each other through Facebook and WhatsApp. This is a result of our two-month hard work,” say Beena, Neelima, and P. Anuradha.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam  – December 27th, 2014