Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram sitting on 14m ton of manganese!

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

Visakhapatnam  :

The stretch of Eastern Ghats in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh has nearly 14 million tons of manganese, according to research scholars from the department of Geology , Andhra University in Visakhapatnam.

One can find the ore in 22 metres depth from earth level in the district. As per industry sources, low quality manganese is priced around Rs 3,500 per ton whereas high quality is valued at Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per ton.

Though the quantity is very large, but the available mineral is low grade when compared with the mineral sources in other parts of the country, particularly Madhya Pradesh, said Gollamudi Veeraswamy , a research scholar.

He said that the mandals like Garividi, Garb ham, Kondakinguva in Ramabhadrapuram in the district are full of manganese ore mines.

“When the phosphorous content is high, then it can be considered as low grade. High grade manganese contains very less volume of the phosphorous, against its average value,” Veeraswamy said.

Speaking to TOI, Veeraswamy’s guide Prof Nageswara Rao said though it is a low grade ore, it can be developed into a high grade one by removing the phosphorous. While Madhya Pradesh’s manganese ore contains nearly 0.1% of phosphorous per 100 grams, the Vizianagaram district’s manganese ore contains nearly 0.4%. “We can use this manganese also as per our needs. The manganese is particularly useful for iron and steel production industries.

Vizianagaram is the only district in Andhra Pradesh that has manganese ores. Roughly there is a deposit of nearly 14 million tons of manganese in the district, and it was formed 40,000 years ago” Nageswara Rao said.

Nearly 10 kg of manganese is required for manufacturing one ton of steel.The mineral is also used for making bleaching powder, insecticides, paints, batteries and china-clay . India has the second-largest manganese ore reserve in the world, after Zimbambwe.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / V. Kamalakara Rao, TNN / December 14th, 2015

AP Vows to Bring Back Amaravati Artefacts from Brit Museum

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Guntur  :

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu have promised to take measures for bringing back several precious artefacts and sculptures belonging to the ancient Amaravati from the British Museum in London.

“The Britishers not only looted our nation’s wealth, but also took away the artecrafts from the historic town of Amaravati. I have already consulted with the Chief Minister and took the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to take necessary steps to bring back the artecrafts being displayed in the British Museum,” Venkaiah Naidu said.

The Union minister, along with the Chief Minister, launched the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme as well as the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme at Amaravati in Guntur district on Saturday. They also laid the foundation-stone for  `21.5 crore integrated water scheme intended to supply drinking water to 39 villages under Pedakurapadu and Tadikonda Assembly constituencies.

As part of the first phase of HRIDAY scheme, the Union government sanctioned funds to the tune of ` 22.26 crore for the development of Amaravati. Similarly, the Centre sanctioned `28.36 crore under PRASAD scheme.

Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, the Union Minister, who handed over the funds sanction letter to the Chief Minister, said the Centre altogether sanctioned `60.62 crore to Amaravati under both the schemes and sought the latter to sanction another `50 crore on behalf of the state government for the allround development of the town.

On the occasion, he also underlined the need for providing the best connectivity to the ancient Amaravai with the new Amaravati (the new capital of the state). Detailing the historic importance of Amaravati, he said  it was the place that visited by Gautama Buddha several centuries ago and from where Acharya Nagarjuna launched the propagation of Buddhism.

Speaking on the occasion, Chandrababu Naidu said they would develop the ancient Amaravati in such manner that all those visiting the state’s new capital city would also make a visit to the historic town. The articrats belonging to Amaravati lying in British Museum in London, as well as in Tamil Nadu, will be brought the back, he said.

“No doubt, it is going to be one of the best historic city,” he maintained.

Promising to sanction `50 crore for development of Amaravati as sought by Venkaiah Naidu, he said the government would complete the Jnana Buddha project at the earliest.

He further appealed to those farmers, who approached court refusing to part their lands to an extent of 16 acres for the Buddhist circuit, to withdraw the petitions and cooperate with the government for the expansion of the project, which will come in handy for expansion of tourism sector in the town. He said the government would take its own steps in case the farmers show reluctance.

On the occasion, he also announced R Mallikarjuna Rao as special officer of the Jnana Buddha project. The Chief Minister promised to construct a lift irrigation scheme at Bodhanam to provide irrigation water to villages under Pedakurapadu constituency by drawing water from Pulichintala project.

Deputy Chief Minister N Chinnarajappa, ministers P Pulla Rao, D Umamaheswara Rao and Kamineni Srinivas, Visakhapatnam BJP M K Haribabu, Narasaraopet MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Pedakurapadu MLA K Sridhar and others were present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / Express News Service / December 06th, 2015