Success for Silver Pompano in Andhra Pradesh

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

INDIA – The first crop of the highly valued Silver Pompano fish cultivated in Krishna district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, for the first time is ready for harvest.

The marine fish, locally known as Chanduva Para, which is being cultivated in two acres of brackish water in Nagayalanka mandal, survived without any retardation in growth despite the recent bad weather.  The Hindu  reports that this is the first marine fish being cultivated in brackish waters in Krishna district.

Scientists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Chennai, provided the Silver Pompano seed to the Nagayalanka-based farmer, T. Raghu Sekhar, in July. The tenant farmer sowed the seed in his two-acre pond at Peda Kammavaripalem in Nagayalanka mandal.

Good growth

“Of the total 6,000 seeds released into the pond, not a single fish died and growth is expected to reach the maximum of 400 gm to 420 gm by the time of the first harvest due in March,” Mr Sekhar told  The Hindu .

By the fourth month the fish grew to the size of a palm and also turned white. They were able to tolerate the vagaries of weather, Mr Sekhar said. There is great demand for the Silver Pompano, a marine fish, in the domestic market all along the coast in Andhra Pradesh. But there was a drastic fall in the catch of the variety of fish in the ocean. The fishermen were not sure when and in which weather conditions they could catch this variety of fish in the ocean, Mr Sekhar said.

Lucrative price

The cultivation of these fish was, however, tricky because the salinity of the water should be maintained between five and 40 PPT (parts per thousand) for the fish to thrive and grow.

“Domestic market prices are very lucrative for Silver Pompano, fetching Rs 200 a kg. At times when the cultivation of tiger prawn and high risk Vannamei shrimp are driving the farmer into losses frequently, shifting to cultivation of marine fish species is being seen as a viable and lucrative option,” added Mr Sekhar

source : http://www.thefishsite.com/ The Fish Site / Home> News> India / by The Fish Site News Desk / December 17th, 2013

Infotech becomes first India-based company to receive TL 9000 certification

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Achieves it for fixed network engineering services

News | CIOL Bureau

Hyderabad, India :

Infotech Enterprises announced that its telecom business unit’s network engineering services division has earned a TL 9000 (Release 5.0) certification under the product category 7.2.1.1 Fixed Network Engineering Services, becoming the first India-based organization to be certified under this product category. Infotech’s offices at Madhapur, Hyderabad and Paragould, Arkansas, USA were certified.

Scope of the certification includes: engineering services including design, modeling, analysis, and data conversion of wire line telecommunication networks.

The TL 9000 quality management system was developed by the Quality of Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications forum, a global communications association comprised of the world’s top industry service providers and suppliers, who are dedicated to continually improving standards in the telecommunications industry.

TL 9000 is built on ISO 9001 standards and its purpose is to define the unique communications quality system requirements for design, development, production, delivery, and service.

As part of the certification process, the audit team from Bureau Veritas Corp. (BVC) audited Infotech’s engineering services practice delivery in Hyderabad and the USA on the ISO 9001:2008 and TL9000 Release 5.0 quality management systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

John Renard, president and BU head, said: “Infotech has always put quality of execution and quality of the process at the heart of every client engagement. With the significant growth in our telecom engineering services, especially in North America, it became clear that we could align this focus on quality with the specific needs of our telecommunication customers by adopting TL 9000. We strongly believe that TL 9000 will benefit all customers in this sector and strengthen our leadership position in the sector.”

source: http://www.ciol.com / CIOL / Home> Telecom> News / by CIOL Bureau / Hyderabad, Wednesday – December 18th, 2013

President Mukherjee to spend winter sojourn in Secunderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Science & Technology

President Pranab Mukherjee will proceed to the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, Secunderabad  for the customary winter sojourn from December 19 to 31.

From Secunderabad, Mukherjee will visit  Tamil Nadu and Kerala  on December 20.

In Tamil Nadu, he will inaugurate the 28th Indian Engineering Congress and the School of Commerce and Economics of Loyola College at Chennai.

In Kerala, he will unveil a statue of late K. Karunakaran, former chief minister of Kerala, at Thiruvananthapuram and inaugurate the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Ayyan Kali at Kochi on the same day.

On December 23, Mukherjee will attend the concluding function of centenary celebrations of Dr. Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, former President of India at Ananthapuram,  Andhra Pradesh .

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-ANI> National / by ANI / New Delhi – December 18th, 2013

Flamingo fest at Sullurpeta from January 8

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

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Nellore: 

District administration is planning to hold the unique three-day event Flamingo Festival at Sullurpeta from January 8th next year.

The administration has been organising the festival every year to mark the arrival of thousands of migratory birds, especially flamingos, to Nelapattu Birds sanctuary, widely known as their winter home.

Bird watchers and tourists throng the Sanctuary and Pulicat lake to watch flamingos hunt fish during the daytime.

The festival was planned about a decade ago to attract tourists to the sanctuary from the state and neighbouring states.

District collector N. Srikant has asked the officials to prepare an action plan to hold the festival on January 8, 9 and 10 next year during a meeting held at the Kalyana Mandapam in Chengalamma temple at Sullurpeta on Wednesday.

He directed the officials to make necessary arrangements to provide accommodation for the tourists and asked them not to repeat the mistakes committed in making arrangements earlier.

Srikant said that stalls of various government departments and cultural prorgammes would be arranged at the junior college ground at Sullurpeta during the festival.

Seminars on bio-diversity, birds and protection of Pulicat lake would also be conducted.

Boat ride will be arranged for the visitors at Bheemulavaripalem in Tada mandal.

The collector inspected the junior college ground along with ZP CEO Jitendra, DWMA project director Gowthami, tourism officer Nagabhushana, Nayudupeta RDO M.V. Ramana and Gudur DSP Chowdeswari Devi.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / December 19th, 2013

Now, add augmented reality to print ads via Rev Media’s mobile application

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

To launch fully AR-enabled monthly tabloid for high-networth individuals soon.

Rev Media, a Hyderabad-based out-of-the-home (OOH) media start-up, has developed Rev Eye, a mobile application that enables transforming traditional forms of print media advertisements or collaterals into digital engagements using augmented reality (AR).

AR is a technology that allows for a digitally-enhanced view of the real world, connecting the user with more meaningful content in his/her everyday life. With the camera and sensors in a smartphone or a tablet, AR adds layers of digital information – videos, photos and sounds – to the rich content.

After downloading Rev Eye, all a user needs to do is aim a phone’s camera to an activated advertisement, and then have various images of a product and all the relevant details of it on the screen. The app was developed using a core image recognition engine licensed from a US-based technology provider and involving an investment of Rs 10 lakh.

“In our case, we are doing AR (print advertisement, posters, billboards and packaging) for brands. Rev Eye is currently live on five brands, including the Indian Luxury Expo scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from tomorrow. We should be hitting at least 100 brands in a year from now,” said. Vishal Reddy, chief executive of Rev Media.

Stating that the adoption of this technology was still in a nascent stage, he said AR as a market was at around $2 million in India in 2010, which was expected to grow exponentially to touch the $2.5-billion mark by 2015.

“The growth will primarily be driven by the ubiquity that the smart phones are achieving,” Reddy said, adding that the company’s immediate target was to generate revenues of Rs 1 crore a month from Rev Eye, starting next quarter.

Reddy said that the company was set to launch ‘The Luxury Box’, a fully augmented reality-enabled tabloid targeting high-networth individuals (HNIs) during this weekend. The 20-page monthly, priced at Rs 100, will have precise and situation-based content on “anything luxury” including hotels, apparel, jewellery and cars, he added.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by K. Rajani Kanth / Hyderabad – December 12th, 2013

Aurobindo receives USFDA nod for anti-depressant drug

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The capsules are the generic equivalent of Eli Lilly & Company’s Cymbalta delayed-release capsules.

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Hyderabad-based drug maker Aurobindo Pharma Limited stated that it had received the final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Duloxetine Hydrochloride delayed-release capsules 20 mg (base), 30 mg (base) and 60 mg (base), which had been tentatively approved earlier.

The capsules are the generic equivalent of Eli Lilly & Company’s ‘Cymbalta’ delayed-release capsules. They are prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder and fall under the neurological therapeutic category.

According to IMS, the market size of the product is $5.4 billion for the twelve months ending September 2013.

Aurobindo said in a press release that it now had a total of 188 abbreviated new drug application approvals from USFDA.

The company’s scrip was trading at Rs 300.20 on the BSE, up 0.76% over the previous day’s close of Rs 297.95.

source: http:d//www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Prashanth Chintala / Hyderabad – December 13th, 2013

Two ambitious projects to give boost to medium, small units

Business & Economy
Vijayawada Auto Cluster Development Company Managing Director V. Rajendra Prasad explaining the use of the machine that will be part of lineup at the CCMC. / Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu
Vijayawada Auto Cluster Development Company Managing Director V. Rajendra Prasad explaining the use of the machine that will be part of lineup at the CCMC. / Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

‘CCMC and CCTC will give MSMEs cutting edge advantage’

By next March, the 1,000-odd Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) located in Jawahar Autonagar and IALA (Industrial Area and Local Authorities) will get a fresh lease of life, as the special purpose vehicle Vijayawada Auto Cluster Development Company (VACDC), promoted to upgrade the industrial cluster, will launch its two ambitious projects – Common Critical Machining Centre (CCMC) and Common Critical Testing Centre (CCTC).

The centres are futuristic in design and will be a boon to all the MSMEs in this region, said the Managing Director of VACDC V. Rajendra Prasad. He added that the MSMEs in the Industrial area and Autonager were once reputed for their products across the nation but they did not stay tuned to the technological advancements and today they were at least two decades behind technology.

“These centres will now give them the cutting edge advantage. The centres should have come up at least a decade ago,” he pointed out.

The CCMC is coming up on a built-up area of 14,000 sq ft with two overhead electrically operated gantry cranes to handle heavy machinery, at a cost of about Rs. 7 crore.

“All the machines in this centre are run by computer programmes and are high-efficiency machines. Many of them such as the rapid prototype machine and the Turret punch machine have been imported,” said VACDC MD.

The CCMC is being set up to assist local entrepreneurs in producing high precision parts and components. This will not only give them a big boost in the highly competitive and quality driven market but would also better their economics, said Mr. Rajendra Prasad.

The CCMC was designed by Central Manufacturing Technology Institute- Bangalore and the running has been outsourced to Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD), Hyderabad.

CITD, which produces high precision components for PSUs such as HAL, ISRO, BHEL and BDL, will use this centre as its extended arm and as well as assist local entrepreneurs.

“One has to just come with a design and it will be produced here. Even if some one comes with a model, the prototype machine will replicate it. A fee will be charged but it will be discounted for those who have been partner to the user contribution charges,” he said.

The cost of CCMC and CCTC is being shared by the Central and the State Governments and users in the ratio of 75, 10 and 15.

The CCTC which is coming up on a built up area of 12,000 sq ft will also be run by CITD and is a state-of-the-art testing facility. “The centre will be equipped to test various parameters such as tensile strength, hardness, roundness and cracks and bubbles and we are negotiating with accreditation agencies for quality certifications,” said Mr. Rajendra Prasad.

He said that both the centres would be open to technology colleges for live interface and training. “We will have two fully-equipped classrooms with faculty. But the colleges have to book the time slot in advance for a nominal fee.It will be an excellent first-hand experience for the students, especially from the mechanical, automobile and aeronautical engineering streams,” said Mr. Rajendra Prasad.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / Vijayawada – December 13th, 2013

President for Neelam fete

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

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Anantapur:

President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the concluding session of the birth centenary celebrations of former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy at Anantapur on December 23.

Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah, AP Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Governor E.L. Narasimhan are also scheduled to take part in the concluding session at the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy stadium.

Former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy who was born at the Illur village of Pamidi mandal in Anantapur district spent most of his life in Anantapur. The government had initiated centenary celebrations at Hyderabad and the concluding session is scheduled to be held in Anantapur to recall the services of the former president to the state.

Revenue minister N. Raghuveera Reddy took the initiative to celebrate the birth anniversary of former President Sanjeeva Reddy. The district authorities were directed to conduct an essay writing and elocution competition at all schools and colleges.

President Pranab Mukherjee would give away prizes to three students at the public meeting on December 23. Education institutions were asked to complete the process by December 17 in all parts of the district.

Besides this, seminars would be conducted at the Sri Krishnadevaraya University, JNTUA University and Satyasai deemed universities on December 14 and 15 about the contributions of Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.

Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said that a bike rally would be organised from the Tungabhadra Reservoir in Hospet in Karnataka to Anantapur on December 18 to recall Sanjiva Reddy’s services to the region.

Collector D.S. Lokesh Kumar said a rural sports meet would be held on December 21 at the district headquarters. He said elaborate arrangements were being made for the occasion at the Sanjeeva Reddy stadium. President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to arrive at Anantapur at around 11 am on December 23 accompanied by the Governor, and the Chief Ministers of AP and Karnataka.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Politics / DC / December 14th, 2013

Nursery for Plant Scions in Hyderabad

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

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As many as two new Scion Bank Nurseries producing high yielding grafts of different varieties of fruit plants and others are being planned at Moinabad on the city outskirts by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) shortly.

The two new scion bank nurseries have been proposed at Peddmangalaram village in about 50 acres land and Kanakamaidi village in Moinabad mandal of Rangareddy in about 100 acres of land at a cost of `20 crore each.

These two villages fall under the GOMs 111. For the developing the nurseries, HMDA has requested the State Government to transfer the above said lands to them from the Revenue Department so that they can take up the works. The HMDA which already established a scion bank nursery at Tellapur is developing high yielding grafts of different varieties of mango, amla, pomegranate, sapota, seethaphal, jamun, acid lime and tamarind, according to HMDA officials.

The grafts are established through approach, bud and veneer grafting techniques. The scientific management of scion bank yields from 50,000 to 75,000 grafted seedlings per annum.

Presently, the HMDA is making attempts for environment upgradation of Hyderabad metropolitan area by developing and supplying various types of nursery seedlings for multiple urban uses like ornamental plants, shade bearing plants, fruit bearing plants, fodder and fuel needs of the urban and peri urban population.   As many as 10 central nurseries are maintained by the Urban Forestry Wing all around HMA area at Mental Hospital Campus in Erragadda, Airforce Station Land at Hakeempet, Pedda Cheruvu in Nacharam, Bomrukdowla at Rajendranagar, Vanasthalipuram, Yapral, Cherlapalli, Shamshabad, Tellapur and Kapra etc.

In the scion nursery, just a stump, which already has an established healthy root system, is grafted with a cutting or a bud from another plant. In some cases, such as grapes and other fruit-bearing plants, cuttings are used for rootstocks, the roots being established in nursery conditions before planting them out.

The plant part grafted onto the rootstock is usually called the scion. The rootstock is selected for its interaction with the soil, providing the roots and the stem to support the new plant, obtaining the necessary soil water and minerals. After a few weeks, tissues of two parts will have grown together, eventually forming a single plant.

The use of rootstocks is commonly associated with fruit-bearing plants and trees, but is the only way to mass propagate many other types of plants that do not breed true from seed.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by S. Bachan Jeet Singh – Hyderabad / December 13th, 2013

Maths prodigy aims to develop own technique

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

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Karimnagar: 

She is just 11 years old and studying in Class VII, but she can easily solve maths problems from Intermediate textbooks.

Meet S. Harshita Reddy, who has been excelling in maths since the last six years and winning many awards.

Harshita added another feather to her cap by bagging a silver medal in the National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievements-2013 from the ministry of women and child development in New Delhi on November 14. She was also given a certificate and a cash award of Rs 10,000.

The daughter of an English teacher at a government school, Harshita developed her passion for maths when she was studying in Class I.

“I was surprised after she could remember tables from 1-20 within three days at the age of five. I started teaching her a few topics from algebra, trigonometry and some other tough concepts when I saw that she was blessed with extraordinary skills,” recalls Govardhan Reddy, science teacher at a government school.

When Harshita was nine, she was asked to solve Class X problems and it was a cakewalk for her. “I organised over 50 sessions to demonstrate easy methods to solve maths for students in the school. I would like to develop a method or technique on my own,” said Harshita, adding, “I want to be a maths scientist.”

Harshita claimed she was termed a legend in maths and maro Shakuntala Devi (another Shakuntala Devi) by her critiques and teachers.

Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar and former MLC, Chukka Ramaiah had complimented her for her talent and achievements.

She has also won awards from the World Amazing Records and India Book of Record and was given the Andhra Bala Ratna Award by a voluntary organisation based on Vizag.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Santosh Padala / DC / December 13th, 2013