Nat’l conference on improving cashew cultivation begins

Agriculture, Business & Economy

Horticulture commissioner Chiranjiv Choudhary said that his department was taking steps to improve the cultivation of cashew and value-added products of the fruit.

Vijayawada :

Horticulture commissioner Chiranjiv Choudhary said that his department was taking steps to improve the cultivation of cashew and value-added products of the fruit. After inaugurating a two-day national conference on improving cashew cultivation in the State, the Commissioner said that the byproducts of cashew have a huge market. “Oil extracted from cashews has a large market.

That is why the government is working on increasing the production of a variety of cashews using latest techniques,” he said. He added that cultivating the fruit would help double the income of farmers as it had a very high demand in the market.

The Commissioner noted that over 250 delegates from 17 States from across the country were participating in the conference. “A report would be submitted to us on the deliberations made in the conference on the latest techniques for improving cashew cultivation,” he added.

He further explained the initiatives taken up by the State government to promote horticulture in Andhra Pradesh. “Over the last three to four years, production of horticulture crops has increased manifold, especially in Rayalaseema region. This has helped in boosting the farmers’ income,” Chiranjiv Choudhary said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / February 23rd, 2019

Alumni walk through familiar corridors as college turns 50

Education, Leaders, Records, All
A view of the Sri Govindaraja Swamy (SGS) Arts College in Tirupati
A view of the Sri Govindaraja Swamy (SGS) Arts College in Tirupati

Association to come out with database of graduates soon

What do A.P. Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) Chairman V. Jayarami Reddy, litterateur ‘Sahasravadhani’ Medasani Mohan, former Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Progressive Writers Association president Sakam Nagaraja and bureaucrat K. Dhananjaya Reddy have in common? They graduated from the Sri Govindaraja Swamy (SGS) Arts College here.

As the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)-run institute entered its golden jubilee year on Wednesday, its old students went down the memory lane by recalling the “golden moments” of their lives.

After opening arts colleges for men and women in the name of Sri Venkateswara and Sri Padmavathi respectively, the TTD opened another arts college to cater to a growing demand for higher education in Tirupati. Besides students from the Rayalaseema districts, many from Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts have studied at the college, known for its value-based education.

Many alumni at the golden jubilee event took selfies with their old classmates, related anecdotes to one another and walked with a heavy air of nostalgia through the institution’s corridors and rooms.

“The values ingrained in the curriculum made us what we are today,” says Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State general secretary G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, an alumnus. “Compared to corporate colleges, TTD institutions have better infrastructure, faculty members and foster spaces to encourage creativity among students,” says TTD Public Relations Officer T. Ravi, an alumnus.

Meanwhile, the alumni association of the institution has begun collecting details of its alumni through WhatsApp groups and Facebook profiles to come out with a database at the end of the year-long celebrations.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Tirupati – February 28th, 2019

Oldest Waltair railway division will now be history

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Waltair will now be history as the division was bifurcated and part of it was merged with Vijayawada division and rest will be a new railway division.

Visakhaptanam :

Announcement of South Coastal Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday brought cheers to the people of the Port City. However, in the process, one of the oldest divisions in the country, Waltair, will now be history as the division was bifurcated and part of it was merged with Vijayawada division and rest will be a new railway division with Rayagada (Odisha) as headquarters.

Uttarandhra Charcha Vedika convener Konathala Ramakrishna said, “We have mooted the idea of creating a  zone with Odisha areas to facilitate new zone in Visakhapatnam. However, the merger of part of Waltair division with Vijayawada was unwarranted. It will have bearing on employment opportunities for the local youth.” He said Kolkata has two divisions and in SCR zone there are two divisions. Maybe this is for the first time that a zone without a division, he said,  adding that the BJP government at the Centre had to concede to the demand in view of growing resentment among the people.

Waltair Divisional Railway Manager MS Mathur said South Coastal Zone, created with  Visakhapatnam as headquarters, will have three divisions — Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal — and it has a fair chance to become a premiere zone in the country. Addition of Visakhapatnam into Vijayawada division will add up to its revenue and will become one of the top divisions in the country.

 WaltairZoneANDHRA01stmar2019He said the zone can start functioning immediately with minimum disruption as the city has all necessary infrastructure facilities and employees. Modalities and geographical jurisdiction are being worked out and will be announced in a day or two, he said. Waltair division has 1106 km and it is bifurcated between Rayagada and Visakhapatnam. The new zone will facilitate redressal of the employees grievances and passenger-related issues which were hitherto looked after by zones in the neighbhouring States. Stating that holy places Tirupati and Tirumala will be under the new zone, he said new trains are likely to be introduced on the route.

Railway Zone Sadhana Samiti convener JV Satyanarayana Murthy said the BJP, at last, announced the zone, but there is a big question mark over jurisdiction of north Andhra areas — will they come under the new zone or East Coast Railway?

He said there is little to cheer for the people from the region and emphasised the need to merge the entire Waltair division leaving Odisha areas in the new zone by retaining Waltair division.

Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika convener SS Shiva Sankar said the KK line, which is now under a single section, will face operational problems, if bifurcated. The control of two different zonal railways on a single section will result in administrative problems. So, Waltair division should not have been bifurcated while creating the new zone.

BJP MP Haribabu said the BJP government gave the zone though technical committee felt that the zone is not feasible. “The BJP had to convince its alliance partners and took a political decision, for which it took four years. All is well that ends well,”  Haribabu said, summing up the mood of the BJP cadre.

The move will be a morale booster for the BJP rank and file ahead of the general elections and it will help the party get a foothold in the coastal areas.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by G. Janardhana Rao / Express News Service / February 28th, 2019

On a high, literally

Education, Records, All
Vijja Reddy Raja Sree being congratulated by her parents in Anantapur on Wednesday.
Vijja Reddy Raja Sree being congratulated by her parents in Anantapur on Wednesday.

It was a proud moment for Vijja Reddy Raja Sree, daughter of a Kuppam-based polytechnic lecturer. The girl received six gold medals at the 10th convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur, on Wednesday. She got the gold medal for securing the highest marks in JNTUA examination in 2018 and five endowment gold medals for standing first in all the branches of engineering and other categories.

An elated and smiling Raja Sree was the centre of attraction at the convocation hall with hundreds of her classmates, professors and parents of other students congratulating her on the achievement. And the icing on the cake was State government presenting ‘Pratibha Puraskar’ of ₹20,000 for her excellent performance in the B.Tech Civil Engineering.

Currently pursuing her M.Tech in Structural Engineering at S.V. University in Tirupati, she secured 88.89% in her graduation in 2018 from JNTU Anantapur Engineering College. She got through the GATE examination and received a stipend of ₹12,500 to pursue her post-graduation.

While she prepares for civils, she wishes to join the government service to be closer to her family. She gives credit for her success to hard work and encouragement from parents.

Her father Rajasekharaiah and mother S. Chandrakala, headmistress of MPUP School at Chowdepalli near Madanapalle, told The Hindu that they would encourage their daughter to do whatever she likes in future.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Anantapur – February 28th, 2019

Railways Minister announces new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh

Business & Economy, Records, All
A view of Visakhapatnam Railway Station. File | Photo Credit: C.V.Subrahmanyam
A view of Visakhapatnam Railway Station. File | Photo Credit: C.V.Subrahmanyam

Piyush Goyal announces that Southern Coast Railway will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday announced a new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh.

The new railway zone — Southern Coast Railway — will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Goyal said.

The decision comes four days after a BJP delegation from the State met Goyal in the national capital demanding the formation of a railway zone.

In a memorandum submitted to Mr. Goyal, they had said the north Andhra region, comprising Srikaulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts, is “very backward and needs impetus for development”.

The Andhra Pradesh BJP leaders had said that during the 2014 general elections, they had assured the public that a railway zone would come up at Visakhapatnam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by PTI / New Delhi – February 27th, 2019

Centre presents award to AP Capital Region Development Authority for promoting digital payments

Business & Economy, Records, All

The APCRDA will soon roll out a One Digital Card for all payments in Amaravati City.

Shan Mohan, CEO Amaravati Smart City and Team received the Digital Payment Award from Hardeep Singh Puri. (Photo| Twitter/ Amravati)
Shan Mohan, CEO Amaravati Smart City and Team received the Digital Payment Award from Hardeep Singh Puri. (Photo| Twitter/ Amravati)

Vijaywada  :

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conferred the Digital Payment Award on Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) at an event in New Delhi on Tuesday. CEO of Amaravati Smart City S Shan Mohan received the award from Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.

The Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards 2018 ‘100 days Challenge in 100 Smart Cities’ is part of the ministry’s endeavour to guide, motivate, recognise and reward the Smart Cities for promoting digital payments and carrying out innovative payment initiatives.

Under this initiative, the APCRDA received the award for its Amaravati First Resident Card. The initiative taken by Amaravati to launch its Amaravati First Resident Card was selected as a case study in the Best Practices in Digital Payments by Smart Cities Mission.

The APCRDA has planned for a rollout of a virtual card, which brings an essence of Digital City, One Digital Card for all the payments in Amaravati City. “Amaravati First Resident Card” is an Account-based open loop system, which is QR-enabled for third-party services and generated by seeding with Aadhaar Number. The first resident card usage is planned for about 1,10,000 citizens in the first phase and shall be scaled with reference to the Household Survey, which takes place periodically.

The ‘Amaravati First Resident Card’ can be generated through a citizen portal, mobile app and a kiosk with a single click. This card is envisaged to have an integration with one of the leading payment bank for all the cashless transactions, for all G2G, G2C and G2B services, municipality services (high-valued services such as layout approval, building permissions, development permissions, annuity under land pooling scheme, EPC contracts, property tax, water tax, trade license fee, sewerage charges, property mutation fee and advertisement tax among others), retail services, cashless multimode transport, tourism services, toll payments and public restaurants.

Amaravati First Resident Card soon

APCRDA will soon roll out a One Digital Card for all payments in Amaravati City. Amaravati First Resident Card is an account-based open loop system, which is also QR-enabled.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / February 27th, 2019

City doctor selected for psychiatrist board

Education, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

The National Board of Examinations has the responsibility of granting permission for starting new PG Medical courses in recognised private and government hospitals.

Vijayawada :

Director of VIMHANS Hospitals and a senior psychiatrist there, Dr Indla Ramasubba Redyy, has been selected as part of a national-level psychiatrist board by The National Board of Examinations, affiliated to the Central Ministry of Health.

The National Board of Examinations has the responsibility of granting permission for starting new PG Medical courses in recognised private and government hospitals.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / February 23rd, 2019

Prameela Abburi passes away at 79

Education, Records, All
Abburi Prameela, the first principal of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, who passsed away in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Abburi Prameela, the first principal of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, who passsed away in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Prameela Abburi (79), the first principal of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, died at her residence in the city on Monday.

S.G. Chalam, school convener and State president of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, school principal A. Kausalya, members of the Governing Body, staff and students paid rich tributes to Prameela Abburi at a condolence meeting held at the school on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Chalam recalled the untiring efforts of Prameela in imparting quality education to the budding students and her passion to serve the needy and underprivileged with love.

Prameela had joined the school in 1985 and served as its first principal till 2000, and laid a strong foundation for imparting of value-based education.

She was an ardent devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and had dedicated herself to imparting human values through education to the students.

She was married to the late Abburi Gopalakrishna, well-known painter and a former Head of the Department of Theatre Arts in Andhra University.

She is survived by her only son Hari who lives in the United States.

Her last rites will be performed in the city on Wednesday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – February 27th, 2019

Water resource department bags Global Platinum Award-2019 for HR, skill development

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Water Resources department bagged Global Platinum Award-2019 for human resources and skill development.

Vijayawada :

Water Resources department bagged Global Platinum Award-2019 for human resources and skill development. The Energy and Environment Foundation of India, Delhi, presented the award during the 9th World PetroCoal Congress and Expo held in Delhi on February 17. Delegates from 10 countries, including India, participated in the conference.

The award has been presented for the skill development activity to empower farmers in different programmes taken up by the Water Resources department, awareness and skill development programmes for the farmers taken up by Hydrology project and Andhra Pradesh Integrated Irrigation Agriculture Transformation Project. During Polavaram project virtual review meeting, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Principal Secretary Sasi Bhushan Kumar, joint director Varaprasad Rao and DD Srinivas Nalluri for the achievement.

They informed Naidu that 66 per cent of Polavaram project works have been completed so far. The Chief Minister said Anantapur district stood first in groundwater resource and Kurnool district in river water conservation. He said, Visakhapatnam stands second in groundwater recharge and Kadapa district for reviving water resources.  Stating that water will be taken to Chittoor by March 15, the Chief Minister said that he will attend the ‘Jalasiriki Harathi’ to be organised at Palamaner, Kuppam, Madanapalli, Thamballapalle and Punganur in the district. Naidu said drinking water will be supplied to Madanapalle on a regular basis.

The officials apprised the Chief Minister that Pulichintala, Gundlakamma, Madakasira branch canal and Adavipalli reservoir were ready for inauguration.  They said second phase of Vamsadhara, Vamsadhara-Nagavali linking, Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi phase I works are under progress. Earlier, Naidu released a ground report of Polavaram project presented by Keller company.

Global Platinum Award-2019 was presented in Delhi

The award has been presented for the skill development activity to empower farmers in different programmes taken up by the Water Resources department, awareness and skill development programmes for the farmers taken up by Hydrology project and Andhra Pradesh Integrated Irrigation Agriculture Transformation Project.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2019

Chitramukhi exhibition underway in Vijayawada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Through her three paintings, she depicted how a woman’s confidence can make or break the world.

A woman, along with her daughter, looks at the paintings showcased at Chitramukhi, an art expo, in city on Saturday | R V K Rao
A woman, along with her daughter, looks at the paintings showcased at Chitramukhi, an art expo, in city on Saturday | R V K Rao

Vijayawada :

Chitramukhi, a three-day exclusive exhibition on the life of women with the theme ‘The Complete Reflection of Women’s Skills & Ideas’ being organised by Chitram Art Institution began at The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati, here on Saturday.

Around 60 women have showcased 100 paintings. While LKG student Diya Ranganath is the youngest artist, who has painted ‘A girl with love for books’, 80-year-old Kanaka Durga is the oldest artist, who has painted two pictures – one depicting a lady drawing rangoli outside her home and another on mystic poetess Mirabai. Paintings on Sunitha Williams, Lata Mangeshkar, Junko Tabei etc., have also been showcased.

“Painting is one of the art forms that liberate us. We can actually pour out our hearts through drawings and paintings. I feel that womanhood is very special. Women are like nature, which control each and everything on the planet,” said Sudha, one of the painters.

Through her three paintings, she depicted how a woman’s confidence can make or break the world. “This exhibition provided a platform for my students to express their thoughts on various gender issues. 90 per cent of my students are women,” said Chitram Sudheer, director of Chitram Art Institute. The expo will be open for public in the evenings till Monday.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / Express News Service / February 24th, 2019