Wild plants are no more worthless!

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Scientist suggests agave and cactus plantation in barren lands.

If you think the wildly grown plants have no role to play, think again. Plants like agave, cactus (opuntia) and sitaphal, having high drought resistance and rich in nutrients, have a purpose that is yet to be fully uncovered and unleashed.

Agave is one such plant that is ‘wildly’ abused in India, in spite of its multiple benefits to nature as well as society. Its tough fibre is used to make ropes in Central America, while its cellulose is a key ingredient in Brazil’s paper industry. These apart, hecogenin, a steroid is extracted from its juice.

Similar is the case of cactus, a regenerative plant known for its ‘carefree’ growth, which is confined to field fences. Categorised as a ‘Crassulacean Acid Metabolism’ (CAM) plant, the stomata open in nights to absorb carbon dioxide and closes in the day to facilitate photosynthesis.

“It has been proved beyond doubt that natural calamities happen due to CO2 concentration and atmospheric vapour. CAM plants grown on a massive scale are the simplest solution to act as a carbon sink,” says Anumakonda Jagadeesh, Director, Nayudamma Centre for Development Alternatives, Nellore.

In an informal chat with The Hindu , he explained how the Government can saturate barren lands with these plants to maintain equilibrium and as well kick-start the rural economy. According to him, the CAM family members yield fruits having nutritional values similar to apples and pomegranates.

A cup of prickly pears contains 1.09 gm of protein, compared to a medium-sized apple’s 0.47 gm. “Israel is a major exporter of juice that fetches Rs.1,000 per litre”, he added.

While the State is grappling with the menace of water hyacinth,

Dr. Jagadeesh suggests a cheap and easy remedy. “The combination of water hyacinth and animal dung is the best source of biogas”, he pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / A.D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – August 08th, 2016

‘ICU on Wheels’ launched by Apollo

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
ACP K Prabhakar flagging-off ‘ ICU on Wheels’ ambulance at Apollo Hospitals as regional CEO Dr Sandeep looks on in Visakhapatnam on Friday
ACP K Prabhakar flagging-off ‘ ICU on Wheels’ ambulance at Apollo Hospitals as regional CEO Dr Sandeep looks on in Visakhapatnam on Friday

Visakhapatnam :

Apollo Hospitals have launched five ‘ICU on Wheels’ ambulances, the first of their kind in the state, on Friday. The GPS-enabled (Geopositioning system) was flagged off by ACP (traffic) Prabhakar.

People can call the ambulance by dialing 1066. High-end medical equipment including provision for ventilator, defibrillator and spine boards are provided in the ambulance to serve critically ill patients..

The ambulances are placed in different parts of the city and during any medical emergency, the ambulance nearest to the patient’s location will be alerted by the control room in the hospital and using the GPS system that ambulance will reach the patient. Depending on the type of emergency, the patient will be shifted to either of the Apollo Hospitals located at Arilova and Ramnagar.

“Most of the trauma deaths occur while the patient is en route to the hospital and thus timely intervention is required. An ambulance in the nearest location during the ‘golden hour’, with all the required facilities would be a life-saver. The transit time can be utilised for the emergency treatment inside the ambulance,” said Dr Ranjith Kumar, specialist in emergency medicine at Apollo Hospital.

“The launch of International standard Trauma care services would help providing fast services under one roof for cases of cardiac attacks, brain strokes, head injuries, poisoning and accidents,” said, Sandeep C, regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals.

“An awareness program on the ambulances will be organised for policemen by the Apollo hospitals later this month,” the CEO added.

To clear any traffic obstruction for the ambulance to commute faster, a green channel concept for emergency vehicles will be launched shortly,” said the ACP.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express ./ Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 06th, 2016

First woman goods train guard makes maiden trip

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All
UH Lakshmi going on her maiden trip as Goods Guard from Visakhapatnam. / Photo: By Special Arangement
UH Lakshmi going on her maiden trip as Goods Guard from Visakhapatnam. /
Photo: By Special Arangement

U.H. Lakshmi has made history by becoming the first woman goods train guard in Waltair Division.

She assumed charge by taking her first trip from the marshalling yard here to Rayagada in Odisha. Ms. Lakshmi was appointed a trains clerk in Waltair Division on compassionate grounds in 2011 after the death of her husband.

She qualified for the post of goods guard after passing the departmental examination and later underwent training at the Zonal Railway Institute at Sini in Jharkhand from November, 2015, according to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager M. Yelvender Yadav.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – August 05th, 2016

Srinidhi brings laurels to city

Records, All, Sports

Aasapu Srinidhi, who is studying 6 standard in Shirdi Sai School here, got the gold medal in national-level chess competition conducted by the International Student Olympic Association at Haridwar from July 22 to 25.

A total of 33 students participated from the Students Olympic Association East Godavari (SOAEG) in various events such as chess, yoga, kung-fu, wrestling and kyushu. Srinidhi of Rajamahendravaram got the gold medal in chess (under-12) in her first attempt and bronze medal in yoga.

K. Rajasekhar, SOAEG general secretary, told The Hindu that the students of SOAEG got medals every year and this year Srinidhi got two medals in different events. He thanked coaches Vittanala Kumar (chess) and Devarapalli Veeraraghavulu (yoga) of the Shiridi Sai school.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Rajamahendravaram – July 29th, 2016

Vizag shooters bag medals in AP State Shooting Championship-2016 in Guntur

Sports

 VDRA has started the peep sight shooting coaching camp in the city to encourage the budding shooters.

Visakhapatnam:

City-based shooters clinched two gold and three bronze medals in the recently concluded AP State Shooting Championship-2016 in Guntur. General secretary of Visakhapatnam District Rifle Association (VDRA) Ch. Devadanam said that Naresh Kumar Javvadi won gold medal in both juniors and seniors category while P.V.N. Sai Jayanth has clin-ched bronze medals in juniors and seniors category and Master G. Rohith won bronze medal in the sub-junior category. All the three city shooters will represent Andhra Pradesh in South Zone and Pre-National shooting championship.

The VDRA said that with the success of Indian shooting aces Gagan Narang, Abhinav Bindra and a few others, shooting sport has been catching up in the city and VDRA has started the peep sight shooting coaching camp in the city to encourage the budding shooters. Mr Devadanam said though shooting is a costly sport as compressed air-rifles are very expensive, they are planning to start more camps to groom the budding shooters in the city with the support of a few passionate persons in the sport.

Sources said that the shooters in the city are eagerly waiting for the shooting competitions in the upcoming Rio Olympics and if Indian shooters clinch medals in the sport, many youngsters may take the sport seriously in the coming days.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> In other news / July 28th, 2016