Monthly Archives: November 2017

International air cargo complex opened in Vizag

In big league: P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju loading cargo onto a scanner at the international air cargo complex on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: C.V.Subrahmanyam
In big league: P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju loading cargo onto a scanner at the international air cargo complex on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: C.V.Subrahmanyam

We have achieved turnaround in the aviation sector, says Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday said the Central government had reshaped the ecosystem to make the aviation sector in the country the third largest market in the world by bringing about a remarkable improvement in its ranking.

Mr. Gajapathi Raju was speaking after inaugurating the international air cargo complex here in the presence of Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu, CEO and Executive Director of GSEC (O&M agency) Samir Mankad, CMD Rakesh Shah, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of AP Trade Promotion Corporation (APTPC) M. Sadhu Sundar and Director of Visakhapatnam International Airport G. Prakash Reddy.

“Before the NDA formed the government, it was ranked 13th from the bottom. During 70 years after Independence, only 71 airports had scheduled flights. We have created 80 airports in past three and a half years improving the connectivity,” he said. A long-awaited demand, the complex is spread over 674.64 square metres at the old terminal with facilities such as cold room for pharmaceutical and perishable products, strong room for valuable cargo, X-ray machine, explosive trace detector (ETD), CCTV cameras, material handling, and fire-fighting infrastructure. The complex is fully compliant with Customs as well as the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

The facility is expected to give a boost to export of pharmaceuticals, seafood, garments and metallurgical products. Initially, the complex will handle five tonnes per day.

The Minister said their focus was on improving rural connectivity and offering the luxury of flying from one place to another to all sections of society.

Mr. Haribabu in his remarks recalled how the airport was developed in phases and mentioned that the work on six parking bays was almost complete and once they were open for night-time parking of aircraft, the operators could introduce late night and early morning flights to various destinations.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 22nd, 2017

‘The Met’ comes calling to Amaravathi Heritrage Town

A file photo of Deputy Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Carrie Barratt and Chief Curator Dr. John Guy with Prof Amareswar Galla at the Amaravathi Museum.
A file photo of Deputy Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Carrie Barratt and Chief Curator Dr. John Guy with Prof Amareswar Galla at the Amaravathi Museum.

New York museum to hold exhibition on Buddhism

The historic legacy of Buddhism and the famous Amaravati School of art brought senior personnel from the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (‘The Met’) to the Amaravathi Heritage Town (ATH) by the banks of the Krishna river, 35 km north of Guntur. The Met, among the most renowned museums in the world, is planning an exhibition on Buddhism in October 2020. Following the Buddha’s footprints in Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Jeta Vanam, Nalanda and other places mainly in northern India, its Deputy Director Carrie Barratt and Chief Curator Dr. John Guy spent a day in Amaravathi, with Chief Curator of the ATH and heritage advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government Amareswar Galla.

Going around the town, Ms. Barratt was particularly taken with the theme of Ma Vooru Ma Kodallu (’Our Town Our Daughters-in-Law’), an initiative mediated by local women to bring together the people of the town. “Working with local women to turn the museum into a community centre for learning and engagement is an incredible thing and very inspiring,” said Ms. Barratt.

Limor Tomer, General Manager, MetLiveArts, The Met’s performing arts programme, said such collaborations juxtapose art and sculpture with contemporary creativity and bring museum collections alive for diverse and growing audiences.

Dr. Galla said the significance of Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh is its outstanding universal value. Conservation and heritage tourism must integrate sites such as the ATH, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – November 21st, 2017

‘Books important for knowledge society’

Books play key role in creation of a knowledge society, said Krishna district Collector B. Lakshmikantham, on Sunday.

Addressing a meeting organised by Andhra Pradesh Library Association at Sarvotham Bhavan near Benz Circle as part of 50th National Library Week celebration, Mr. Lakshmikantham said the library movement has great significance in Andhra Pradesh State as people who spearheaded the library movement also were important part of the freedom struggle.

The Collector said every individual must take to book-reading as books never let down anybody. He said knowledge was essential for all-round development of a society and pointed to the fact that Andhra Pradesh State was in the forefront in implementation of many good people-centric programmes.

Former MP Chennupati Vidya was honoured with this year’s Gadicherla Foundation Award, named after freedom fighter and champion of library movement Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao. Sheik Sadiq Ali, a former journalist who is working relentlessly to promote reading habit among children in villages, was presented with the Paturi Nagabhushanam Grandhalayam Puraskaram on the occasion.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – November 20th, 2017

How a sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh is becoming a reserve of the rare Fishing Cat

In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classified the rare Fishing Cat as endangered. They mostly in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, in swamps, and mangrove forests.

But as many as 15 Fishing Cats were recorded in the pilot project conducted at the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh in 2014-16.

The sanctuary is a rare eco-region with vast tracts of pristine mangrove forests. It has the potential to become the world’s first reserve of the Fishing Cat.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Environment / November 09th, 2017

CANEUS International to set up space science and research center in Andhra Pradesh

SpaceANDHRA18nov2017

Hyderabad :

CANEUS International, involved in satellite and space technology has signed a tripartite agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) and the Andhra Pradesh State Skills Development Corporation (APSSDC) to establish a Center of Excellence on Space Sciences and Technologies for Development (CoE4SSTD) in Hindpur, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

This MoU was signed by Milind Pimprikar, Chairman, CANEUS and J Krishna Kishore, CEO, APEDB in the presence of Chief Guest Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs) an Italian astro-physicist with over 30 years of expertise in aerospace affairs and senior officials of ISRO in Bengaluru.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) had in fact named an asteroid 20887 “dipippo” after Pippo recognizing her contribution to space exploration.

The CoE4SSTD is expected to help build capacities and capabilities in space science and research. Andhra Pradesh will partner, collaborate and assist the CoE4SSTD and help align the state with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It will be developed over a 60 acres of land in Hindupur, and create opportunities for 500 highly skilled direct jobs and over 1000 indirect jobs in AP and will provide the much needed fillip for the aerospace and defense ecosystem in Anantapur. It is likely to be completed by the end of 2018. Anantapur has already seen Kia motors, BEL and other major investments

CANEUS International, a non-profit organisation of professionals involved in public private partenrhsips in aeronautics, space and defence recently set up a facility for manufacturing small satellites in Nagpur.

Krishna Kishore, CEO, APEDB said, “’Fostering such collaborations remains a key focus for Andhra Pradesh. This Centre of Excellence will also build deep industry-relevant capabilities and develop a pipeline of talent to support our growing aerospace industry and create an excellent ecosystem for turning Anantapur as a manufacturing hub.”

Milind Pimprikar, Chairman, CANEUS said “This knowledge-intensive space industry is an exciting niche opportunity for Andhra Pradesh and the state has the potential to create valuable technology-based careers for those focusing on emerging technologies for solving problems while ushering in Industry 4.0.”

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> National / by M. Somasekhar / November 17th, 2017

City students come out with impressive short films

Students of KKR Gowtham School, who bagged first place in 48-hour challenge, in Vijayawada. | Photo Credit: A_V_G_PRASAD
Students of KKR Gowtham School, who bagged first place in 48-hour challenge, in Vijayawada. | Photo Credit: A_V_G_PRASAD

KKR Gowtham School students bag first place in the 48-hr challenge

The three-day Amaravati Children’s Film Festival (ACFF), the first-ever event in the State, has served as a window of film-making opportunities for the students of various schools in the city.

About 65 students of 12 schools, who were introduced to basics of film-making as part of the ‘48-hour Challenge,’ on the first day managed to conceptualise and shoot and came up with 13 short films that competed for top three places on the last and concluding day.

Actors cheer children

Actors Nikhil, Tarun, Kamna Jethmalani and others cheered the children at the closing ceremony.

The KKR Gowtham School team including Harsha, Akhilesh, Pawan, Ektha and Divija bagged the first place and ₹20,000 cash prize for their short film Fruit of Hard Work.

The second place was bagged by Tridev, Akash, Arya, Balu and Praneeth of Nalanda Vidya Niketan (Vasanta Campus) for their movie In Returnand the team of MSR English Medium School including Durga Prasad Krishna Chaitanya, Deva, Keerthi and Sravan bagged the third place for the movie Slip Kavala. The second and third place winners were given a cash prize of ₹10, 000 and ₹5, 000 respectively.

A team of municipal corporation schools and Nalanda Vidyaniketan, Delhi Public School, Ravindra Bharathi, Vignan School, Viswabharathi, St. John’s Public School, and Sidharatha Public School participated in the challenge.

Director Aparna Malladi, producer Raj Kandukuri and actor Roja Romani on the jury screened all the 13 movies and selected the best. A team of writers and technicians from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune trained and supported the participants.

Mayor K. Sridhar, VMC Commissioner J. Nivas, MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao were among those present.

The festival was organised by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation in association with Safe Advisory, Ellanar Group and Kolla Entertainments.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – November 15th, 2017

26 gold medals given away at Gitam University’s eighth convocation

Visakhapatnam :

Almost 1,500 students, 4 MPhils and 75 research scholars (PhDs) received their degrees and 26 gold medals were presented at the eighth convocation of Gitam University that was held here on Tuesday.

“The Government of India, through the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, aspires to position India among the world’s top five scientific powers,” said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

“India has developed into a formidable power in several areas of science and technology. The Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicles, Arihant nuclear submarine, indigenous fighter aircraft and the Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile, Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan Missions have propelled us to the elite club of nations,” Sharma said.

The department of science and technology is launching a scheme called Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) to attract top-performing scientists from abroad for conducting joint research in India, Sharma said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam New / TNN / November 09th, 2017

Andhra Pradesh: First sports injury surgery performed at Divisional Railway Hospital

In this form of treatment, the patient regains full range of movement at the shoulder joint within a short span of time.

Visakhapatnam:

The Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics at Divisional Railway Hospital here performed its first sports-injury repair surgery under general anaesthesia. A 50-year-old male patient was admitted to Railway Hospital with Rotator cuff injuries. MRI showed rupture of Supraspinatus tendon with exposed humerus head.

These types of injuries which were till now being treated conservatively or referred to Howrah Orthopaedic Hospital for further management was treated using anchorage screws.

In this form of treatment, the patient regains full range of movement at the shoulder joint within a short span of time.

The surgical team consisted of Dr K.P.S. Kasi Pati additional CMS, HVS consultant Dr A. Gopi Krishna and Dr G.V.S. Ramu, Dr Madhulina Nag, anaesthetist and the team consisted of OT sisters and OT staff. Dr B.G.S. Rao, CMS and Sr DMO anaesthesia Dr M. Mahesh Kumar were present during the surgery.

Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics also equipped itself to start arthroscopic knee surgeries under the guidance of CMS Railway hospital and with the support of Divisional Railway Manager Waltair.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Health & Wellbeing / Decccan Chronicle / November 12th, 2017

Rajani looks to successful foray in World Cup

Etimarpu Rajani   | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas
Etimarpu Rajani | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas

Plans to meet Chief Minister soon

It took 13 years for Indian Women Hockey team to break the jinx and score a historic win over China 5-4 in a nail-biting finish to lift the Asia Cup and qualify for the World Cup next year.

Recalling the glorious moments in a conversation with The Hindu here, Etimarpu Rajani, member of the Indian hockey team says trouncing defending champion Japan in the semis provided the much needed tempo to outwit China.

“Hard work paid dividends. Our coach Harendra Singh sir helped us perform to our full potential,” Rajani adds, reminiscing the win against our eastern neighbour.

Bubbling with confidence, the 27-year-old says, “we will go all out to bag gold in the Jakarta Palembang Asian games and prove our mettle in the quadrennial event as well.”

She plans to meet the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu shortly who, she says, always gives big support for sportspersons

Rajani, the second goalkeeper of the team has over 50 international caps to her credit which includes her participation in the 2014–15 Women’s FIH Hockey World League and Rio Olympic Games to which India qualified after a gap of 36 years.

She was felicitated at a function got up here on Sunday by National BC Employees Association President and Viswabrahamana Joint Action Committee Chairman Pavaluri Hanumantha Rao.

Rajani, the daughter of a carpenter from a nondescript Yerraaripalem village, near Tirupati also nurtures a goal of starting an academy to spot talented boys and girls especially from rural Andhra Pradesh and hone their skills, after playing for the country for another four or five years.

She took to playing the game in 2005 when her school Physical Education Teacher Venkat Raja spotted talent in her and her skills were honed further by hockey coach Ismail.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Ongole – November 13th, 2017