Monthly Archives: November 2015

After controversial demolition 2 years ago, authorities now feign memory loss on promises made

Visakhapatnam : 

At one time, it was probably the most popular landmark in the Port City. Built to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1914, the Kurupam Market had a lofty gateway and a clock tower. All of a sudden, out of the blue exactly two years ago in the month of November, the structure built by the then zamindar of Kurupam, which at the most needed a few repairs, was knocked down by the GVMC authorities at the orders of the then commissioner MV Satyanarayana. This despite the fact that the structure was listed as a heritage monument by the Vizag chapter of Intach.

The demolition of the structure, which was actually under the control of the endowments department, triggered a blame game. While the endowments department absolved itself of any involvement, GVMC authorities categorically denied any hand in the demolition, which took place in the middle of the night. However, heritage activists put the blame on GVMC. They claimed that Kuppam Market was razed in a demolition drive by the civic body in Old Town during which nearly 30 structures were knocked down.

Though it has been two years now, none of the promises made by then MLA (South) Dronam Raju Srinivas have materialised. “Plans are afoot to build a similar structure in the place of the old one at a cost of Rs 65 lakh,” the MLA had declared soon after the demolition. However, as on today, no such structure has either come or any such move is on the anvil. After the demolition, some landmarks of the heritage structure including the clock and the timber beams were taken away. The clock was last seen inside one of the godowns in the market yard a few days after demolition. Now nobody knows about its whereabouts. Similarly, nobody knows what happened to the timber beams.

Heritage activist Rani Sarma observed, “It is sad to note that so far neither the GVMC nor the endowments department have made any effort to contact heritage experts to re-build a similar structure. The endowments department is simply looking at it merely as a valuable piece of real estate.”

However, convenor of Intach, Vizag chapter, PV Prasad pointed out, “Recently we had a meeting with the present GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar who offered to rebuild the structure. However, we felt that once a structure is gone, it is gone for ever. It can never be replaced. More importantly, the sum of Rs 65 lakh suggested is a ridiculously inadequate sum to rebuild a similar structure. To rebuild the structure using the same material, it would cost nothing less than Rs 2 to 3 crore. Hence, we suggested to the commissioner that they build large models of structures such as Kurupam Market, Round Bungalow ( former residence of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan) and the famous Gali Meda of Bheemili which have all been knocked down.”

Prasad claimed that the present GVMC commissioner, the district collector and the present Vuda chairman are keen on preserving the heritage of Vizag and are working on forming a permanent full time conservation committee.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Venkatesh Bayya, TNN / November 29th, 2015

Centenary celebrations of Narasaraopet from Dec. 11

Three-day event to showcase the rich culture and traditions of the town. Narasaraopet is known as the Gateway of Palnadu and had witnessed the rule of various dynasties.

The people of Narasaraopet will get a peek into the hoary past of the municipality during its 100 years’ celebrations beginning on December 11. It is going to be a three-day event that will feature the rich culture and traditions of the town which became a municipality in 1915.

It grew into a vibrant commercial town duly owing its glory to the popularity of the famous Sri Trikoteswara Swamy temple at Kotappakonda which is situated about 11 km from the town.

Kodela Sivaprasada Rao
Kodela Sivaprasada Rao

Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, who was elected MLA from Narasaraopet constituency for five consecutive times from 1983 to 1999 and represents Sattenapalli in the present Legislative Assembly, announced in a press conference here on Thursday that the 100-year fete would be celebrated on a grand note and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would inaugurate the event.

Union Ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and Suresh Prabhu would take part in the festivities on December 12 and Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan would be chief guest in the valedictory function.

According to historians, Narasaraopet was originally known as Atluru and derived its name from landlord Malraju Venkata Narasimha Rao. It was made a municipality on May 18, 1915 and was upgraded to Grade–I municipality on April 28, 1980. It has since achieved rapid strides with a population of 1,17,568 as per 2011 Census.

Narasaraopet and its surroundings are a part of the territory which was ruled by Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Chalukyas, Cholas and Kakatiyas and the Reddy kings of Kondaveedu.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Sivaprasada Rao said the town is known as the Gateway of Palnadu and had witnessed the rule of various dynasties. The town gave to society many prominent people in different walks of life.

“As MLA I have done my best for development of the town ”, Mr. Sivaprasada Rao said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Guntur – November 27th, 2015

Thanks to Zaheerabad, Nagaland ‘rediscovers’ millets

A remote village in the North-East has rediscovered and is making attempts to reclaim its culture, after being re-acquainted with the same at the most unlikely place, Zaheerabad of Medak district.

The Chizami village of sparsely populated Phek district has become the experimental ground for cultivation of millets since 2009, when a contingent of the North East Network, a women’s rights organisation from the North-East, was in the city to attend the Convention of Biological Diversity.

Team members from the Network were taken on an exposure trip to the Pastapur village of Zaheerabad mandal during the summit, where millet cultivation was being promoted at a large scale by the Deccan Development Society. Inspired by the success stories shared by women farmers, they took the message back to Nagaland.

“Millets had been part of the culture of Nagaland, especially of the Chakhesang Naga community, which traditionally celebrated a weeklong millets festival every year. However, millets took a beating for the last two to three decades with the onslaught of rice and wheat, and the festival was not being celebrated anymore,” said Stephen from the network, who accompanied Nagaland farmers to the city for participation in the National Convention on Millets organised by Millets Network of India (MINI).

Though Foxtail Millet (Korra) was cultivated and consumed by Nagaland people extensively, it has become rare after green revolution when rice became the staple of many communities across the country. Coupled with low demand were increased attacks by pests and birds, which drove the millet out of mainstream agriculture. The North East Network revived millet farming in the village, and organised a millets festival on August 30 this year, attended by women farmers from 11 villages of Nagaland. “Participants came down from other States too, such as Manipur and Meghalaya, and exchanged millet seeds,” informed Mr.Stephen.

Taking it forward, the village council of a neighbouring village, Sumi, passed a resolution urging farmers to cultivate millets. “We can see increased cultivation of millets in Nagaland and Manipur due to this initiative,” Mr.Stephen shared.

Visiting farmers Kezukhalo Lasuh G.B., Thenole Anole and Wenyi Tsosu, however, said birds continue to be a problem in cultivation of millets.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi V. / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2015