Category Archives: Nature

Andhra Pradesh hits jackpot

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Business & Economy, Nature

In what could be music to the ears of the Chandrababu Naidu government, a study has concluded that the Chintalapudi area in the Godavari valley contains more than 3,000 million tonnes of coal reserves. If harnessed effectively, it can turn Andhra Pradesh into a major player in the power and allied sectors. An upbeat TDP government is now getting ready to seek clearance from the Union coal ministry to start mining as early as possible.

The study, conducted by geologist Omprakash S Sarate of the Lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, was published in the Journal of the Paleontological Society of India in December 2013. The study team, after touring Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts, found that high quality coal reserves are available from Somavaram in Krishna district to Rajamundry in East Godavari district within 500 meters of depth.

“We became aware of the study last month and wrote to the Union coal ministry two weeks ago seeking immediate clearance for mining in the Chintalapudi area,” AP government sources told TOI.

The government is, as expected, overjoyed as coal plays a vital role in the economic development of any region. It not only provides a cheap source of electricity production, but also creates employment opportunity for thousands of people. It also plays an essential role in the chemical, cement, fertilizer, ceramic and steel industries.

The coal demand in Andhra Pradesh is expected to increase several fold within the next five to 10 years due to the ongoing and proposed coal-based power projects. At present, the industries dependent on coal buy the supply from Singareni Collieries at a premium rate. Once the Chintalapudi mines are harnessed, the increased availability of coal will reduce the prices and trigger economic development, feel AP officials.

The study had compared the quality of coal at Chintalapudi with that of Ramagundam and Talcher, saying that the Godavari valley region’s “coal grade and its calorific value is higher than what is available in the Singareni mines.”

The study had also found that the reserves extend to Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts with most of the quality coal concentrated between Aswaraopet, Chinthalapudi and Jangareddy Gudem. While Aswaraopet is located in Khammam district of Telangana, Chinthalapudi and Jangareddy Gudem fall in West Godavari district. The Chatrai mandal in Krishna district and Rajahmundry in East Goadavari were also identified as having massive coal reserves.

“We have brought this to the notice of the Union coal ministry and want the assistance of the Geological Survey of India to figure out the exact locations to carry out explorations. After getting the nod from the Centre, we would take up exploration by acquiring land in these villages,” said a senior official overseeing the matter.

According to sources, AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked the mining department to prepare a clear roadmap to take up the exploration as early as possible. With more than 3,000 million tonnes of coal reserves within its reach, the AP government is confident that its economic development will take place at a pace faster than anticipated earlier.

We have brought this to the notice of the Union coal ministry and want the assistance of the Geological Survey of India to figure out the exact locations to carry out explorations. After getting the nod from the Centre, we would take up exploration by acquiring land in these villages: Senior official.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / TNN / October 10th, 2014

Chandrababu Naidu appreciates GANAM for its plans to rebuild Tenneti Park

Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, Nri's / Pio's
AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu

Visakhapatnam:

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appreciated the efforts of Gitam Alumni Association of North America (GANAM) on Monday for its initiation to rebuild Tenneti Park located near Kilasagiri.

The CM expressed satisfaction on this new initiative to convert the park into a major tourist attraction.

The CM said that he was confident that the Gitam University and its Alumni network would implement the project successfully as they planned.

GANAM initially donated Rs 60 lakh to the project.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC  / November 18th, 2014

A special day for milk and cheese!

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
Dairy technology students display milk-based food products during the ‘Dairy Festival’ at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University in Tirupati on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu
Dairy technology students display milk-based food products during the ‘Dairy Festival’ at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University in Tirupati on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu

SV Veterinary University students put on display a wide array of milk products during ‘Dairy Festival’

The ‘Dairy Festival’ held on the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University campus here on Friday turned out to be a day of milk and cheese, ghee, curd and whey.

Inaugurating the event, Vice-Chancellor Manmohan Singh pegged the growth rate of the dairy sector at 10 per cent and foresaw a rise in career opportunities in the industry for qualified people. The array of dairy products on display contained samples of cow milk, goat milk, skimmed milk, toned milk and standardised milk.

The event also offered an opportunity to students of Dairy Technology to showcase their talent.

They prepared and put on display milk-based products such as doodh peda, rasmalai, raitha, shrikhand, basundi, jamun, rabri, dharwad peda, lassi, kalakhand, kundha, milk cake and channa jelly. They also explained the benefits of each product.

The chaddar cheese, made after fermentation for six months and kept at a moisture level of 47 to 55 per cent, drew the attention of many.

Similarly, the students also proved that whey, the residual liquid separated from the coagulated solid, could be used to prepare cool drinks and soups. As part of the ‘Earn While You Learn’ programme, the students put the products on sale.

“The products are of high quality and affordable. We make close to 50 per cent profit, which helps us meet our daily expenses,” a fourth year student said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D.Rangarajan / Tirupati – November 15th, 2014

Expert suggests plantation of local species

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) 13-11-2014: Environmental activist and Magsaysay award winner Chandi Prasad Bhat addressing a press confernce along with Bhagavatula Charitable Trust secretary B. Sri Ram Murthy n Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) 13-11-2014: Environmental activist and Magsaysay award winner Chandi Prasad Bhat addressing a press confernce along with Bhagavatula Charitable Trust secretary B. Sri Ram Murthy n Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Environmental activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt visits Hudhud-affected areas. BCT secretary B. Sri Ram Murthy said instead of giving importance to numbers, the trees that withstand the gale like neem, jamun and ‘neredu’ should be given priority while restoring greenery.

Floods in the Himalayan region and recent cyclones in the coastal regions underline their vulnerability caused by climate change, noted environmental activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt has said.

Addressing a press conference after a visit to the Hudhud-affected fishermen villages, GITAM University, zoo, Kambalakonda and the Agency areas, he said while varieties like acacia and eucalyptus were felled by the gale, the tops or branches of local varieties were blown off but the trees survived.

He said during visits to Odisha after the super cyclone and to the Andamans, he found that mangroves withstand the gale without being uprooted and said growing local species along the coast would lessen the impact of the cyclone and reduce damage.

Mr. Bhatt, recipient of Magsaysay Award and Gandhi Peace Prize, said the floods at Kedarnath, the recent J&K flood and Hudhud had highlighted the affect of climate change caused by melting of glaciers and raising sea levels.

The Chipko Movement leader, who visited the State after the 1977 Diviseema tidal wave and after cyclones in 1987 and 1990, said trees survived in the Agency area owing to social forestry programmes through Vana Samrakshana Samitis wherever the growth was thick. Mr. Bhatt, who was here on an invitation from Bhagavatula Charitable Trust (BCT), saw the havoc wrought to the trees and interacted with students of the residential school there.

BCT secretary B. Sri Ram Murthy said instead of giving importance to numbers, the trees that withstand the gale like neem, jamun and ‘neredu’ should be given priority while restoring greenery. Hills should be vegetated again. Also casuarinas should be planted along the coast in various phases so that after cutting off the grown trees other layers would remain in place.

He said two BCT farms had 180 species of trees and 80 per cent of them were uprooted by the cyclone. Various sheds for students, cafeteria, dormitories etc were also damaged.

Workshop soon

Making good use of Mr. Bhatt’s association with the Ministry of Environment, BCT would organise a workshop on the species of trees to be grown.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 13th, 2014

CIBA’s experiment on mullet proves a success

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

MulletANDHRA13nov2014

The cultivation period of the fish, which is considered an alternative variety to shrimp, was brought down from one year to barely seven months

The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, in collaboration with Nagayalanka-based progressive farmer has scripted a success story by bringing down the cultivation period of Gold Mullet (Liza Parsia) and Grey Mullet (Mugil Cephalus) fish with the help of ‘formulated feed’.

The feed was developed by the CIBA and tested for the first time in Nagayalanka in Andhra Pradesh in the country. The cultivation period of the fish, which is considered an alternative variety to shrimp, was brought down from one year to barely seven months, drawing the attention of the worried shrimp farmers.

On Wednesday, CIBA Principal Scientists K. Ambasankar and J. Syama Dayal came with up their findings following harvesting of the mullet species on an acre of pond here.

The seed grown in the pond was collected from estuary and brackish water canals.

“Findings of our research on cultivation of the spices indicate disease free and high rate of survival of the seed, apart from very low input cost,” Mr. Syama Dayal told The Hindu. However, the CIBA scientists experimented on these two species in their quest to come out with alternative to the shrimp, which was driving the farmer into irreparable loss in recent years.

Experiment

“The experiment on Liza Parsia and Mugil Cephalus in abandoned ponds where earlier shrimp was cultivated is a way for those failed to reap profits in shrimp cultivation. Farmers have already begun slowly inquiring about details such as input cost,” said Mr. Ambasankar.

Beyond expectations

According to Raghu Sekhar who cultivated the fish in his pond, growth of the mullet species was beyond expectations, wooing other farmers to try their luck. “No disease is found during the seven-month cultivation period, withstanding changes in the weather and the soil of the pond,” added Mr. Sekhar.

Given the market value for value added to the Mullet Roe (egg) of the species, European countries and Japan are importing it in a large scale.

On the other hand, the CIBA was engaged in developing seed of the mullet species by the end 2016, according to scientists.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Nagayalanka – November 13th, 2014

Best App in Asia award to Hyderabad entrepreneur

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
The Best App In Asia category of the digital winners 2014, Raghu Kanchustambham, explains about his application in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
The Best App In Asia category of the digital winners 2014, Raghu Kanchustambham, explains about his application in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu

The app helps coffee growers to get instant returns for their produce. Livelihood 360 is also capable of estimating quantity of the produce in the fields and sell the crop at fair price.

The coffee farmers of Araku valley these days get instant returns for their produce. Gone are the days when they had to wait for nearly a month till the buyers completed the weighing process of the produce and release money through co-operative society. Thanks to a mobile application developed by Hyderabad-based entrepreneur, Raghu Kanchustambham, there is no waiting period.

The app dubbed as ‘Livelihood 360 (L360)’ was adjudged the Best App of Asia in the Telenor Digital Winners Conference, a global competition held in Oslo, Norway this month. The award came with a cash prize of Rs. 9,79,000, which will be utilised by the developer to further “scale up” the concept.

It all started when Mr. Raghu, who has a start-up ‘Concept Wave’, met the officials of Naandi Foundation, which was already working with the coffee farmers of Araku valley. “The basic premise was to utilise technology and reach to those people not having access to technology and internet. I visited Araku valley and spent time with them and learnt a lot about their lifestyle and livelihood,” he said.

Mr. Raghu said the previous system of remittance to coffee growers in Araku was taking about a month. The coffee growers would take their produce to a prescribed ‘adda’ where the truck drivers would collect and transport coffee beans to another location for weighing and valuing. “We gave the truck drivers an application that would quantify the yield and also determine the quality instantly. The drivers will immediately remit the amount on the spot to farmers,” he explained.

Livelihood 360 is also capable of estimating quantity of the produce in the fields and sell the crop at fair price. “We have already adopted this application among 12,000 coffee farmers in 650 villages of Araku. Between 40 and 50 truck drivers from Araku were given training on using the application on a feature phone and not a smart phone,” he explained.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – November 12th, 2014

NRCB shows the way for banana farmers

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
Farmers at the Banana market. / The Hindu
Farmers at the Banana market. / The Hindu

The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Trichy, one of the India’s premiere research institutes in the field of agriculture, has trained farmers belonging to Krishna district in pre and post harvesting technologies in banana cultivation and processing.

A group of twenty farmers actively involved in banana cultivation in Thotlavalluru mandal was groomed in value added products of banana by the scientists last week. Inspired by a strong local banana marketing system owned and being run by the Krishna district farmers, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has ensured them the ‘scientific training cum exposure visit’ under it’s Capacity Building for Adoption of Technology Programme.

NRCB Principal Scientist Dr. Kumar had shared his scientific experience with the farmers, enabling them exposure to existing technologies meant for seed selection and post harvesting methods. “Scientists mainly focused on soil management, crop maintenance and identification of disease. They also advised the farmers to prefer drip irrigation system with fatigation tanks,” said Netham (NGO) Director Suresh Vesam who led the farmers.

BananaChartANDHRA12nov2014

On the other hand, another scientist Dr. Siva had displayed preparation methods of value added products developed from banana – banana fibre, drink, chips, wine and jam. The farmers were told the export potential of the selected value added products. The training included visit to various banana units in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu.

The success story of Solar Dryad Banana Unit in Trichy, a pilot project encouraged by a German Bank — KFW, helped the Krishna farmers to explore areas in banana cultivation and marketing to register growth in their income. The farmers also learnt how Tamil Nadu farmers tapped the overseas market for banana and its value added products, which is being exported to Philippines and other European countries.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – November 10th, 2014

Umar Alisha Rural Development Trust to plant 10 lakh trees

Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature

The Umar Alisha Rural Development Trust plans to plant 10 lakh trees in cyclone hit Visakhapatnam district to bring back the district’s greenery.

Addressing reporters after launching the project after planting a tree at their Viswa Vignana Spiritual Centre at Bheemjuniatnam in the district here today, Chairman of the Trust Umar Alisha said the trust would plant 10 lakh trees in the district within five years. He said 70 to 80 per cent of trees in Visakhapatnam have been destroyed due to cyclone.

‘Make Vizag Green’ is a project taken up by the Umar Alisha Rural Development Trust to replant lost greenery in Visakhapatnam.

He said it is everybody’s responsibility to protect the environment and plant trees which provide oxygen.

“Every tree will provide oxygen, which is very important for human beings,” he said.

Umar Alisha said that the trust would select trees which could withstand even wind speeds of 200 kilometres per hour during natural calamities like cyclones.

The project plans to use information technology, crowdsourcing, geocoding and social media to encourage people to participate.

He said the trust would plant 200 trees in various places in Bheemunipatnam today and also plant 1,100 trees in various places as well as both sides of the national highway.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / Press Trust of India / Visakhapatnam – November 02nd, 2014

Andhra Pradesh introduces putti boating in Kakinada beach resort

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature
Putti boating has been introduced by Haritha Beach Resorts at Kakinada. (Photo: DC)
Putti boating has been introduced by Haritha Beach Resorts at Kakinada. (Photo: DC)

Kakinada:

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is throwing open its facilities at the newly constructed beach  resort ‘Haritha’ at Vakalapudi Beach near Kakinada.

The APTDC has constructed 10 resorts here with air-conditioned facility at a fixed price of Rs 1,500 including food, games and other entertainment facilities.

The APTDC has made arrangements for tourists to have a cruise in the creek and the Bay of Bengal. There are small creeks between the resorts and the sea. Boating  facility  using  puttis (a round shape wooden boat) on the creeks has also been introduced.

“For the first time in Andhra Pradesh, the puttis facility has been provided at a beach resort,” said  G. Ramakrishna,  divisional manager, APTDC. He said that the facility is open to all. Jet skiing and other rides are also available.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / October 29th, 2014

PricewaterhouseCoopers to hardsell ‘Brand Andhra Pradesh’ to Far East

Business & Economy, Nature, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

In his maiden visit to the Far East after taking over as chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu  will don the role of chief executive officer of Andhra Pradesh  in clinching business deals and attracting investors to the state.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

There is nothing new in this. Even during his last tenure Naidu played the role of a CEO but what is new is that he has hired leading consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt Ltd (PwC) to sell ‘Brand Andhra Pradesh’ to the governments and investors in China, Japan and South Korea when he visits these countries in November-December.

Hired at a cost of Rs 47 lakh, excluding applicable service taxes, PwC will in its capacity as Content Developer and Investment Facilitator prepare the ground for the CM’s visit, fix the appointments and sell the state in order to mop up investments. As per the GO issued on Saturday, PwC will bring out an attractive investment booklet for the AP government and prepare an infrastructure opportunities profile of the state. “The Knowledge Consultant Provider will also extend all support for the delegation planning. PwC team members will also accompany the Naidu’s delegation comprising ministers, state government officials and representatives of the industry from the state,” sources in the Naidu government told STOI.

CorporateANDHRA28oct2014

Naidu, who has prepared a massive plan to bring in investments to his proposed industrial hubs and corridors, wants to conduct negotiations with the government and corporate bosses in these countries not like a chief minister of a small state in India but like head of a global corporate brand. “Naidu does not want to depend wholly on bureaucrats, who are known for quoting rules and introducing impediments. The Far East visit is on a business mission, not a diplomatic one which is why Naidu wants to project himself as a corporate personality rather than the political head of a south Indian province,” remarked sources in the government.

A PwC team will shortly be placed at the disposal of the Chief Minister’s Office, the sources added. Given the success of his business delegation to Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh last month, officials here are hopeful that Naidu’s visit will be fruitful.

Naidu during his first tenure had successfully sold Hyderabad and secured investments from top IT companies like Microsoft that gave a new meaning to the erstwhile Nizam’s city and created a new image. In fact he was the first chief minister to take advantage of liberalization in the 1990s. Other chief ministers – including now Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed in the footsteps of Naidu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / TNN / October 26th, 2014