Category Archives: Records, All

Maa Mahamaya plans to double capacity

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

Maa Mahamaya Industries Ltd, the first mini integrated steel plant in Andhra Pradesh set up in Vizianagaram district, is planning to double its present capacity of 1.20 lakh tonnes per annum, according to N. Rath, the president.

He was speaking at a press meet here on Thursday after releasing the new product of the company – the premium double-ribbed TMT steel bar named “Mangal 999″. He said the mini integrated steel plant had been set up at R.G Peta village in the L. Kota mandal of Vizianagaram district in 2006 at a cost of Rs. 270 crore. “We are now launching the premium variant of our main product – Mangal 999 – which provides greater grip and the bond between the concrete and steel is enhanced manifold, if these TMT bars are used. The price variation may be 10-15 per cent for the premium, but we are sure the market will accept it,” he said.

He said the market conditions in the recent past had not been very encouraging, and that was the reason why the expansion had been put on hold but “we will go ahead with it in the near future. We will have to invest Rs. 700-800 crore for the purpose.”

Ashok Kumar Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, said there were only two factories in the country – one in the north and the other in Karnataka – producing a similar product and the company would have no problem in selling it. “At present, we are focussing only on AP and Telangana. After expansion, we will branch out to the other southern states and northen markets as well,” he said.

He said the company had tied up with the NMDC for sourcing the iron ore from Chhattisgarh. In response to a question, he said the company had suffered losses of Rs. 40 crore due to Hudhud cyclone and lost 20 days or so of production. “The cyclone was a definite setback this year, but now we are back to normal,” he added.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / The Hindu Bureau / Visakhapatnam – December 11th, 2014

Dutch sites in Krishna, Guntur to get new lease of life

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

 

The Dutch fort at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district. - Photo : T. Appala Naidu / The Hindu
The Dutch fort at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district. – Photo : T. Appala Naidu / The Hindu

Govt. to take up conservation measures after documentation of monuments by Archaeology Dept.

The Dutch engineering marvels in Krishna and Guntur districts will soon get a new lease of life, with the Department of Archaeology and Museums (Andhra Pradesh) deciding to document them. The government, after assessing the scientific documentation, will initiate conservation measures.

It is learnt that the land within the limits of several Dutch cemeteries along the coastline of Krishna and Guntur districts are owned by the local communities. “The study will begin within a month. A detailed inspection and study will be taken up on Dutch cemeteries in Krishna and Gutur districts,” Department of Archaeology and Museums Assistant Director S. Bangaraiah said.

The government will initiate steps to conserve the listed Dutch sites based on the existing condition of the constructions. Officials will also cover the Dutch sites being conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In the early 16th century, the Dutch had established factories in Machilipatnam. The Dutch cemetery within the limits of Machilipatnam municipality was occupied by locals at Bandarkota. The fort in Bandarkota village under ASI conservation is related to times of the Dutch, French and the British in India.

Capt. Albert Harvey’s book Ten Years in India reveals that the fort had an arsenal store meant for supply to troops of the Hyderabad and Nagpur subsidiary forces as well as the whole of the northern division of the Army. However, the 1864 cyclone depopulated Bandarkota village, ruining the beauty of the Dutch constructions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – December 02nd, 2014

Navy gets AP nod for Badangi airstrip

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Visakhapatnam  :

The Indian Navy has finally got a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the AP government to set up a diversionary airfield at Badangi near Bobbili in Vizianagaram that houses a World War II airstrip, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) chief vice Admiral Satish Soni said here on Wednesday.

The historic Badangi airstrip, which was used by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War to move its troops across the region, will now house the Indian Navy’s fighter aircraft fleet and will also be used for training pilots on the new aircraft being acquired by the Navy. Sources said the cost of developing a naval fighter plane base at Badangi might cost around Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore.

Speaking to media persons onboard INS Shivalik on Wednesday on the eve of Navy Day, the ENC chief said that following the state government’s approval, the proposal for acquisition of Badangi airstrip has now been sent to the Naval Headquarters at New Delhi.

Pointing out that the Navy wants the project to be put on fast track, he said the Navy would forward the proposal to the defence ministry and from there it would go to the ministry of finance. “With the induction of advanced aircraft like P8I and MIG 29K, pilots need more intensive training, which is why Badangi has been identified as the base for fighter aircraft and pilot training,” he said.

The airstrip, constructed during World War II by Mackenzie Company over 221 acres, was one of the biggest RAF bases in British India and had a control tower, separate underground armament depot and many underground bunkers, besides staff quarters and a natural pond for fire fighting. All those structures were demolished except the runway. In those days, the RAF squadron at Badangi housed supermarine Spitfire fighters, Hawker Hurricane fighters, Avro Lancaster Bombers, B-57 Canberra reconnaissance and transport aircraft. After it was shut down in 1946 after the war, Food Corporation of India used it for some time to store paddy and wheat.

Today a chunk of the 221 acres is encroached by farmers, the Indian Navy needs a total of around 1,000 acres to set up its base, Soni said, pointing out that they may go for a 4,000-4,500 ft runway to cater to their needs. He said some kind of compensation would be worked out for the farmers currently cultivating nuts, paddy, and sugarcane at the airstrip site.

On the Naval Alternate Operations Base (NAOB) at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam district, the ENC chief said it would be completed in 2018 with some works already having started and others in progress. Talking about losses suffered by ENC due to Cyclone Hudhud, Soni said Rs 200 crore had been sanctioned for restoration works, which would be taken up one by one.

The ENC chief said the International Fleet Review (IFR) to be conducted from February 3 to 9, 2016, in Vizag would see 100 ships and delegates of 79 navies of various countries participate and would be reviewed by the Indian President.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / December 04th, 2014

Excellence Award in ‘5S’ Implementation for Visakhapatnam Steel Plant

Records, All, Science & Technology
RINL director (Personnel) GBS Prasad, receiving the award from Neethi Mohan, MD, Vaighai Agro Products Limited, in Madurai on Saturday. R Nagarajan, GM (CO & CCP) and G Gandhi are seen.
RINL director (Personnel) GBS Prasad, receiving the award from Neethi Mohan, MD, Vaighai Agro Products Limited, in Madurai on Saturday. R Nagarajan, GM (CO & CCP) and G Gandhi are seen.

Visakhapatnam :

The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), added another feather to its cap by bagging the ‘Par Excellence Award’ for ‘5S Implementation in Vizag Steel’ at the national conclave held in Madurai Saturday.

RINL director (Personnel) GBS Prasad received the award during the 2nd National Conclave on 5S organised by the Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI). The ‘5S’ is a Japanese concept of Work Place Management. RINL chairman and managing director P Madhusudan congratulated the VSP workforce for the coveted recognition and pointed out that the award reflects their commitment in implementing the ‘5S’ concept in true spirit.

This award was given to the RINL at national level among 36 ‘5S’ certified organisations, based on the QCFI-Auditors report/feedback for the initiative and effective implementation of ‘5S’. Less than a year ago, the VSP achieved the ‘Total Plant Level’ certification in 5S-Work Place Management System.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh /by Express News Service / November 24th, 2014

First tele-serial shot in city to roll out soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Ankuram director C.Umameshara Rao / Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu
Ankuram director C.Umameshara Rao / Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu

The first ever desi ‘made-in-Vijayawada’ teleserial will roll out from the stable of the city-based Futureall Media House, which is again the first full-fledged media house in the new Andhra Pradesh State.

“We plan to launch the pilot episode of the serial Mouna Poratam, based on the novel of the same name written by Telugu writer Yeddanapudi Sulochana Rani, in the next 10 days. The idea is to equip the current generation youth with the core values that are needed to build a healthy society. It is sad to see youngsters confining themselves to the peripheral factors. For instance, a majority of them think that social commitment means contributing a sum of money, shirking the real responsibility of becoming active part of the problem-solution team. Someone has to take up this responsibility of making them realise about their skewed priorities,” says C. Umamaheswara Rao, the director of the serial.

Mr. Rao, who is also the media advisor to Futureall Media, has in the past given us compelling films likeAnkuram, which won the national award. The media house currently is working on serials, sitcoms, game shows and reality shows and has plans to finally make a foray into Telugu cinema. Lamenting absence of good cinema, Mr. Rao says “we do not have experimental theatre in Andhra Pradesh. Theatre and performing arts must develop parallelly for survival of good cinema. We do not have philosophical output. To reverse the prevailing trend, there is a need for cultural revolution and we are at work to usher in that,” says the director who is an activist at heart.

Mr. Rao also speaks about working on a reality show to promote folk and fusion arts. “In Afro-American nations, they are doing wonders with fusion arts. Sanity and money along with hard work and commitment can make things work,” he says emphatically.

Mr. Rao has churned out a number of tele-serials for Telugu audience in the State with compelling message of social justice in the past.

The Futureall Homes in real estate sector has branched out into entertainment segment and floated the media house.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – November 24th, 2014

11 of 13 Andhra districts get women DMHOs

Records, All, Science & Technology

Vijayawada :

In a move that will gladden the hearts of women, the AP government on Saturday appointed women district medical and health officers (DM&HO) in 11 out of 13 districts in the state.

This is perhaps for the first time that so many women have been appointed DMHOs at one stroke. Health minister Kamineni Srinivas interviewed all the new contenders and the existing DMHOs before going for the sweeping change. He followed the rule book and performance of officials before finalizing the candidates for top medical jobs in districts.

Women officials will head the health department in all districts except Kadapa and Anantapur. At least six DMHOs were removed from their posts and shunted to ‘loopline’ positions. The DMHO in the minister Srinivas’s home district – Krishna — Dr Sarasijakshi too faced the axe. She was appointed principal of women training centre in Guntur.

While Guntur in-charge DMHO Nagamalleswari was brought to Krishna, Dr Padmaja Rani was given charge of crucial Guntur district. While Dr R Syamala is Srikakulam DMHO, Dr J Sarojini will take charge of Vizianagaram district.

Similarly, U Swarajya Lakshmi will take the reins of Visakhapatnam, Dr M Savitramma and Dr K Sunanda will be DMHOs of East and West Godavari districts respectively. Dr J Yasmin, working at GGH, Guntur, was posted as DMHO at Ongole in place of Dr K Chandraiah.

Chandraiah has been shifted to fever hospital as chief medical officer. Dr Bharathi Reddy has been appointed DMHO in Nellore and K Koteswari in Chittoor and B Nirmala in Kurnool.

Dr S Prabhudas (Anantapur) and Dr R Narayana Naik (Kadapa) are the only two male DMHOs in the state. DMHOs are supervisory officers of all primary health centres and they are chiefly responsible for taking health programmes of the government to the doorsteps of the poor.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / November 23rd, 2014

Visakhapatnam CSI is ‘Best National Chapter’

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

The Visakhapatnam chapter of Computer Society of India (CSI) has been adjudged unanimously as the ‘Best National Chapter’ for 2013-14, by the CSI National Awards Committee. The award will be presented at the CSI Annual Convention to be held from December 12 to 14 at JNTU, Hyderabad.

According to a communication sent to the CSI-Vizag chapter on Friday, several employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant have won prestigious awards in different categories for the year 2013-14.

VSP general manager (IT) KVSS Rajeswara Rao was selected for CSI National Fellow award, while assistant general managers (IT) YN Reddy and Y Satyaranayana bagged the Chapter Patron award and the Significant Contribution award respectively.

The CSI, Vizag, has more than two-decade-long history and is an active chapter among all the CSI Chapters in India with over 500 active members and 20 vibrant student chapters under its fold.

Right from its inception, CSI Vizag Chapter has been playing a great role in promoting IT awareness among students by organising various national and international-level seminars, workshops to enable the IT professionals share their technological advancements with other IT professionals.

Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD P Madhusudan, congratulated the CSI-Vizag Chapter on the achievement and expressed confidence that this meritorious award would further motivate the CSI-Vizag chapter to promote IT.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 22nd, 2014

Award for Krishna Red Cross Chief

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Vijayawada :

The chairman of Krishna district Red Cross Society A Sridhar Reddy received a certificate of merit in the annual general meeting of Indian Red Cross Society held at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee and also a certificate of merit from Union health minister JP Nadda.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 19th, 2014

Yeshwant Kumar bags individual championship

Records, All, Sports
A.P State Junior Inter District Athletics meet winner Agaramsetty Yeshwant Kumar. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu
A.P State Junior Inter District Athletics meet winner Agaramsetty Yeshwant Kumar. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu

Agaramsetty Yeshwant Kumar has bagged the individual championship title at the A.P State Junior Inter District Athletics meet held in Vijayawada recently. Yeshwant bagged the title in under-18 group.

Athletics Association of Guntur district secretary G. Seshaiah congratulated Yeshwant and his coach Rama Sundari and gave away Rs.1,000 and a memento. G, Usha Rani and Siva Prasad, executive council members of the association were present.

A promising athlete, Yeshwant had earlier bagged gold medal at Pentathlon event at the 23rd Nationals held at Hyderabad in 2011 and bronze in high-jump event. His impressive tally of 10 gold and an equal number of silver and bronze medals tells some thing about his abilities.

The boy being coached by veteran athlete, Rama Sundari, is blossoming into a fine prospect. “I have identified him as a good prospect five years ago and since then he has not disappointed us. He is a fine talent and would scale greater heights, if given proper support,” said Rama Sundari.

Yeshwant Kumar’s mother sells flowers to make a living and is finding it hard to make both ends meet.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Guntur – November 20th, 2014

Proud moment for AU

Education, Records, All
Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju receiving the Indira Gandhi National NSS Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu
Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju receiving the Indira Gandhi National NSS Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu

The university receives three national awards for good show in NSS activities. Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju received the award on behalf of the university in the best upcoming universities category.

Andhra University received three Indira Gandhi national awards for good performance in NSS activities. The awards were presented by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function held in New Delhi on Wednesday to mark the late Prime Minister’s birth anniversary.

Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju received the award on behalf of the university in the best upcoming universities category.

While he received the award and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, NSS Coordinator of the university N.A.D. Pal received the medal and certificate. NSS Programme Officer of Presidency College here Ch. Adinarayana received the award in the Best Programme Officers category. He was given Rs. 20,000 cash award while his college NSS unit was given Rs. 70,000. N. Rahul Paul of AU campus was awarded the national honour in the best volunteer category. He also received Rs. 15,000 cash award.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 20th, 2014