A few days before the two states of Telangana and Seemandhra are to come into existence on June 2, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday promulgated the controversial Ordinance that will bring 205 villages of seven mandals in Khammam district in Telangana under the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with immediate effect.
These 205 villages will be submerged in the Polavaram Dam under construction across the River Godavari when it attains full reservoir level of +150 feet MSL.
The President had initially not sanctioned the Ordinance that had been approved by the outgoing Manmohan Singh government a few days ago. The draft Ordinance, which was returned by the President, was approved in the very first Cabinet meeting convened by new Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and sent to the President for his approval.
With the Ordinance, the entire course of the Godavari and its tributaries, Sabari and Sileru, which flow through Khammam in Telangana region, will come under Seemandhra region, thereby ensuring uninterrupted flow of waters to the Polavaram Dam.
The move to merge the 205 villages in Khammam district with Seemandhra was taken by the previous Congress government, thanks to the pressure brought upon by the Seemandhra Congress leaders as well as BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu who argued for it during the debate on the AP Reorganisation Bill in Rajya Sabha.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / Ch V M Krishna Rao / May 29th, 2014
Picture used for representational purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Khammam:
President Pranab Mukherjee giving his consent to the Ordinance merging seven mandals of Khammam district with the successor state of Andhra Pradesh created a flutter in the district, especially the Bhadrachalam Agency, on Wednesday evening.
Though the President had earlier returned the Ordinance as it had been cleared by the outgoing Manmohan Singh Cabinet, he cleared it after the Narendra Modi Cabinet, which had met for the first time on Tuesday, approved it.
Though Union minister Ravishankar Prasad maintained that the Cabinet had not discussed the Ordinance, the news spread like a wildfire in the Agency where all political parties and several Adivasi forums were already in the thick of agitations, protesting the transfer of villages, besides planning to stage bandhs, rallies and black flag hoisting till the Appointed Day of June 2.
As per the original plan, the Polavaram project would totally affect four mandals: Kunavaram, V.R. Puram, Velairpadu and Kukunoor; and partially affect three mandals: Bhadrachalam, Chintoor and Burgampadu.
Now, with the ordinance coming into force ahead of June 2, all seven mandals, irrespective of their extent of submersion, will be transferred to Andhra to avoid land constraints in the relief and rehabilitation process for the displaced.
However, temple town Bhadrachalam and six villages under Burgampadu mandal located along the Paloncha-Bhadrachalam road have been exempted from the merger to ensure connectivity within Telangana territory that include the temple town, Dummugudem, Cherla, Wajedu and Venkatapuram mandals.
The villages that are likely to be continued in Telangana are Burgampadu mandal headquarters, Sarapaka, Nagineniprolu, Vakirepeta, Pinapaka, Morampalli Banjara and Sompally.
It is learnt that there is a need for continuing with a couple of more villages, Krishnasagar and Tekulacheruvu in Burgampadu mandal, in Telangana so that the connectivity to Manuguru remains unhampered.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / Adepu Mahender / May 29th, 2014
For the first time ever, the state administration will come to a standstill for a one week from Sunday till June 1 as the staff will observe “zero week” in the run-up to bifurcation on June 2. The entire machinery will be engaged in running the “trail run administration” of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
This is to gear up the bureaucracy to work in both the new states from June 2. Employees who were allotted on provisional basis have to report to their respective state offices.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan had directed the administration to halt all transactions from May 25 to June 1 at the Secretariat. Accordingly, there will be no clearance of files or payment of bills.
Employees and officials allotted to Telangana have to work from A,B,C and D blocks and those allotted to Andhra Pradesh from H,J,K,L blocks.
Meanwhile, it was a “double bonanza” for about 14 lakh state employees and pensioners as they received salaries and pensions of two months, ahead of bifurcation. They were paid for April on May 2 and for May on Saturday. The amount disbursed for May was calculated till June 1. From June 2, all staff and pensioners will be paid from their respective governments.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / L. Venkat Ram Reddy / May 25th, 2014
Equipped with a degree in Fine Arts, 20-year-old Siva Krishna is the only resident of Kummari Veedhi who still holds on to pottery
The few racks of mud pots and vessels at the entrance are the only hint of the years of pottery tradition that lies hidden behind the dingy lanes of the potters’ colony of Kummari Veedhi here.
It’s in one of the houses here that Siva Krishna sits watching his 60-year-old grandfather K. Satyam tirelessly spinning the potter’s wheel.
The 20-year-old Fine Arts graduate of Andhra University is the only youngster from this old colony of potters, who has taken up the task to preserve the pottery profession through his art works.
“Pottery is a craft, an expression of creative poetry,” says Krishna, as he offers a helping hand to his grandfather, who is one of the two traditional potters of the colony still holding on to the profession.
There was a time when the colony had more than 50 families, who practiced pottery. In sharp contrast to the buzz of the potter’s wheel of those days, today there are just two families which silently churn out clay marvels.
Paradesi Atcha Rao is the other old potter still engaged in the profession.
Artistic blend
It is these impressions from a potter’s wheel and life that Siva Krishna has managed to capture in his art forms. His works are a blend of different mediums. For instance, one of his works in clay with charcoal portrays the face of the potter on pieces of charcoal reflecting the hardships in a potter’s life, says the artist.
At a time when a majority of the youngsters of the present generation are shying away from the age-old tradition, what makes Siva Krishna still hold on to it?
In fact, his grandfather advised him to take up another profession.
“Even as a child I was fascinated by the moving potter’s wheel. But only after I learnt the various techniques of fine arts and worked in different mediums, I realised how difficult and artistic pottery is. Through my work, I want to depict this dying form,” says Krishna.
Today, in his colony, what is conspicuously absent is the presence of youth, who have taken others forms of works.
“The old people who still churn the potters’ wheel do not have the energy or money to make on a large-scale. So, their work is reduced to creating small coin pots, which are fragile and don’t fetch much,” he says.
Siva Krishna feels that the art of pottery is valued more in bigger cities, where there is a market for it. But the traditional potters need to be trained and the younger generation should be involved in saving the traditional profession of these families, he adds.
Masters course
During the first year of Fine Arts course, he gave a demo of pottery-making at the department.
“There, I learnt the improvisations in pottery by exchange of thoughts and ideas,” he says.
Siva now has applied for his masters course in Central University, Hyderabad, and Shantiniketan.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Nivedita Ganguly / Visakhapatnam -May 13th, 2014
The South Central Railway launched new air-conditioned double-decker bi-weekly superfast trains from Kacheguda to Guntur on Tuesday./ PHOTO: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Excitement grips passengers and those who came to see them off. On its inaugural run, it was flagged off not by a ‘neta’ or a senior official, but by Abdul Rehman, a train lighting helper.
Practically every one of the 350-odd passengers was getting himself/herself photographed with his/her near and dear ones, with the colourful train serving as the backdrop, as the electric locomotive blew its horn before beginning its journey, early on Tuesday morning.
As South Central Railway’s first air-conditioned, chair-car, double-decker superfast express to Guntur left Kacheguda, there were cheers all around. For most of those on platform no. 4, those who boarded the train and those who came to see them off, the sight of a double-decker train was a first time experience and hence the high-level excitement.
It was driven by loco pilot Karimullah, who has 18 years of experience behind the locomotive wheel and assistant loco pilot Ramakrishna (three years). On its inaugural run, it was flagged off not by a ‘neta’ or a senior official, but by Abdul Rehman, a train lighting helper, as he would retire from service this month-end. With the model code of conduct in force, inaugural by a Minister or a political leader was ruled out. A senior official informed that SCR’s General Manager P.K. Srivastava wanted the inauguration of this train to be done differently.
Schedule
The Kacheguda-Guntur train no. 22118 will leave on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5.30 a.m. and reach at 10.40 a.m. with halts at Malkajgiri, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda and Piduguralla. On the return, no. 22117 will leave Guntur at 12.45 p.m. and reach Kacheguda at 5.55 p.m. The 10-rake train can carry 120 passengers in each, totalling to a whopping 1,200 passengers, the equivalent of 55 to 60 trains.
Starting from Wednesday, the same rake will leave for Tirupati at 6.45 a.m. and return by Thursday night, in time for its run to Guntur on Friday, said Chief Public Relations Officer K. Sambasiva Rao, pointing out that the rake would be used to its optimum, with eight services, four each to Guntur and Tirupati. “Depending upon the patronage, we will work out how to expand our service,” he said.
The unique selling proposition of the rake is that for the first time in Indian Railways, it comes with VESDA (Very Early Smoke/Fire Detection with Alarm System). There are 17 sensors at different points in each coach for the purpose. Each chair-car coach can seat 120 persons and as against the conventional chair-car coaches that cost Rs. 1.54 crore each, the new ones cost a whopping Rs. 2.86 crore each. The fare to Guntur is Rs. 415 and Rs. 720 for Tirupati.
Meanwhile, the members of the Suburban Train and Bus Travellers’ Association, Malkajgiri welcomed the newly-introduced Kacheguda-Guntur superfast double-decker train on Tuesday at Malkajgiri railway station. The Association members thanked the railway authorities for arranging stoppage at Malkajgiri and also requested the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited authorities to call fresh tenders for MMTS Phase 2.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> City> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – May 13th, 2014
Passengers travelling in the air-conditioned double-decker train on its inaugural run from Kacheguda in Hyderabad to Guntur on Tuesday | EXPRESS PHOTO
For about 500 rail passengers who travelled from Kacheguda to Guntur on Tuesday morning turned out to bememorable and joyous occasion when they travelled in the first ever double decker train which was flagged off from Kacheguda on Tuesday.
South Central Railway added another milestone in its eventful journey, when the first-ever double decker train on its network began its run at 5:30 am from Kacheguda to Guntur on its maiden trip. The AC coach train, powered by two generator cars, was a feast to the eye with its bright yellow and red colour.
The colour scheme and interiors are a departure from the convention to give aesthetic appeal and added comfort.
The train chugged off from Kacheguda, with the senior most employee of the station, M.Abdul Rahman, working in the electrical department waving the green flag for the loco pilot to start.
The passengers were busy taking their ‘selfies’ on the smart phones to cherish this journey. For the children, it was an interesting interlude as they ran through the passage of the coaches, shuffling between various decks.
‘’We are thrilled to travel in the double decker train and will cherish this proud moment for long and even clicked our photographs in the train,’’ Lakshmi of Guntur, who came to city to attend a function, said.
“Several years ago we used to travel in double decker buses on city roads and now travelling in double decker train is exciting. Railways should extend more and more such double decker trains on other important routes where the demand is heavy,’’ Venkat from Hyderabad said.
For two loco pilots of Guntur division, SK Karimulla and Y Ramakrishna (assistant loco pilot) who steered the train, it was a proud moment of their career as they received accolades from all the passengers and the onlookers.
Kacheguda-Guntur AC bi-weekly double decker superfast express will depart from Kacheguda at 05:30 am every Tuesday and Friday and arrive in Guntur at 10:40 am.
In the return direction, it will depart from Guntur at 12:45 pm every Tuesday and Friday and arrive in Kacheguda at 05:55 pm.
Sec’bad-Kakinada Spl Train on May 16
Hyderabad: The South Central Railway will run two special trains between Secunderabad and Kakinada Town to clear extra rush of passengers. Secunderabad-Kakinada Town special train will depart from Secunderabad at 09:45 pm on May 16 (Friday) and arrive in Kakinada Town at 09:35 am the next day. In the opposite direction, the special train will depart from Kakinada Town at 10 pm on May 15 (Thursday) and arrive in Secunderabad at 10:55 am the next day. Enroute, these trains will stop at Nalgonda, Miryalguda, Nadikudi, Guntur, Vijayawada, Gudivada, Kaikalur, Akividu, Bhimavaram Town, Tanuku, Nidadavolu, Rajahmundry and Samalkot stations in both the directions. Advance Reservations will open at 8 am on Wednesday.
Sec’bad-Hubli Spl Trains to Run till June 29
Hyderabad: To clear extra rush of passengers during summer season, tri-weekly special train currently running between Secunderabad and Hubli has been extended to run till June 29. Secunderabad-Hubli tri-weekly special train will depart from Secunderabad at 4:00 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from May 18 to June 29 and arrive in Hubli at 07:50 a.m. the next day. In the return direction, it will depart from Hubli at 08:50 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from May 17 to June 28 and arrive in Secunderabad at 11:45 am the next day. Enroute, these trains will stop at Begumpet, Lingampally, Vikarabad, Tandur, Sedam, Chittapur, Wadi, Shahabad, Gulburga, Ganagapur, Hotgi, Indi Rd, Bijapur, Bagevadi Rd, Almatti, Bagalkot, Badami, Hole Alur, Gadag and Annigeri stations in both the directions.
Kacheguda, Tirupati train to be Flagged Off Today
This brand new double decker train will chug its way out to another popular destination, Tirupati, from Kacheguda on Wednesday. Kacheguda-Tirupati bi-weekly double decker superfast express will depart from Kacheguda at 06:45 am every Wednesday and Saturday and arrive in Tirupati at 06:15 pm In the return direction, it will depart from Tirupati at 05:45 am every Thursday and Sunday and arrive in Kacheguda at 05:15 pm
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / May 14th, 2014
The sudden over-enthusiasm of politicians of various parties in developing Bheemilipatnam as a modern town and popular tourist hub has left heritage conservationists and Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) members in the city jittery.
As part of their election propaganda, over the last few weeks, several political speakers went overboard talking about developing Bheemilipatnam into a modern town and a tourist destination, which heritage lovers feel, will ruin the old-world charm of the 153-year-old municipality.
Bheemunipatnam, popularly known as ‘Bheemili’, is the second oldest municipality in India established on February 9, 1861. Historical evidence of Buddhist culture dating back to the third century AD has been recorded on the Pavurallakonda hillock in Bheemunipatnam. A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha on the eastern side of Pavurallakonda is said to have been constructed around 14th century by Mindi Kings.
Bheemunipatnam was one of the major Dutch settlements in the 17th century and has two Dutch cemeteries with graves dating back to 1671. These are considered among the oldest Christian cemeteries in the country. The quaint old town has several tiled buildings, some of which are still in use, as well as century-old banyan trees.
“While all habitats need to be developed for human needs, one must draw the line between developing the town to cater to the needs of the occupants and killing its intrinsic character by typical ‘out-with-the-old and-in-with-the-new’ approach. Throughout the world and in every civilized society, characteristic and historic towns like these have been given special conservation status. Now with words like ‘development’ and ‘tourism’ being bandied about, we conservationists are afraid that a part of our unique history will disappear forever,” averred heritage activist and Intach member Sohan Hatangadi.
Heritage conservationists feel that politicians shouldn’t take populist development decisions about heritage towns like Bheemunipatnam without consulting specialists in the field, just for the sake of garnering votes. “Even taking up such work with good intentions may result in irrevocable damage to this ancient town. Any development in the town must be whetted by a special conservation committee, which will ensure that the town is not ruined for future generations,” said a heritage conservationist.
“Vuda’s heritage conservation committee should be set up at the earliest. There should be a balance between modernisation or development and heritage conservation and the effort should be to see that the town retains its original character. Vizag has its own conservation specialists who can advise on the matter and they should be consulted before any modernisation work is taken up,” said Edward Paul, renowned historian and heritage conservationist from the city.
However, Intach convener P V Prasad is of the opinion that no major changes will take place in Bheemili after the elections as it is nothing but tall talk by politicians. “Several politicians speak about transforming Vizag into Singapore. Prior to the elections, they are also talking of making Bheemili a modern tourist hub but there wont be any drastic change once the elections are over. If they try to touch the heritage and historic sites, we at Intach will definitely protest,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / May 10th, 2014
A haemophilic woman has successfully given birth to healthy twins in a corporate hospital in the city through IVF method. The follow up to the complex surgery shows that all three are well and the twins are free from the genetic disease.
Haemophilia is a genetic and a rare bleeding problem and about one in 10,000 people are born with it. In such patients, the blood does not clot properly as it does not have enough the protein that controls bleeding.
Janani Kumar, a 27-year-old married woman, whose father had hemophilia, is one such carrier of the gene. There was a 50 per cent chance that if Janani’s baby would be born with haemophilia.
After a period of procrastination, the couple decided to have kids through IVF treatment where another woman’s egg and Janani’s husband’s sperm was fertilized and then implanted in her as this was deemed to be the best alternative for them to have healthy babies. The IVF was successful and Janani conceived twins – a boy and a girl – at the end of March under the care of Dr B Sowdamini, consultant obstetrician at Manipal Hospital.
Follow up treatment after a month of delivery showed that the mother and children are in good health. The twins were diagnosed to be free from haemophilia.
Initial examination before delivery had shown that one of the twins in the womb was in breech position, which is below the hip. Janani opted for elective caesarean surgery, which was undertaken by Dr Sowdamini, with a team including a haematologist, neonatologist and other paramedical staff.
“The missing clotting factor was injected into the bloodstream with a needle. Bleeding stops when clotting factor reaches the bleeding spot. Bleeding should be treated as quickly as possible. Quick treatment will help reduce pain and damage to the joints, muscles, and organs,” said Dr Sowdamini.
Janani went into postpartum haemorrhage – bleeding after babies are delivered – but the medical team was prepared for this condition and within 24 hours she was given four pints of blood and factor 8 drip was maintained to facilitate clotting. Dr Sowdamini said this complication was anticipated as when a woman gives birth to twins, her uterus is distended or stretched and doesn’t contract as in the case of a single baby delivery.
“First, Janani was given prophylactic factor 8, a coagulation factor, which is given to haemophilia patients so that they do not bleed profusely. Besides, O -ve blood units were stored readily in case of any abnormality during surgery. Janani’s surgery took about an hour and she gave birth to a healthy 2.9 kg boy and a 2.5 kg girl,” stated the doctor.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / May 12th, 2014
The world’s first wireless pacemaker, developed by an Indian-origin scientist, has shown promising results after one year of human trials.
The device, resembling a tiny, metal silver tube and smaller than a triple-A battery, is only a few centimeters in length, making it less than ten per cent the size of a traditional pacemaker.
“This is the first time we’ve seen one-year follow-up data for this innovative, wireless cardiac pacing technology and our results show the leadless pacemaker is comparable to traditional pacemakers,” said Dr Vivek Reddy, Director of Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital here, who is the study’s co-investigator.
In comparison to a conventional pacemaker, the new-age leadless pacemaker eliminates the need for a surgical pocket and no visible pacemaker device under a patient’s chest skin, no incision scar on the chest, no connector wires or leads, and no restrictions on a patient’s daily activities. The device’s benefits may also allow for less patient discomfort, infections, and device complications and dysfunction.
“Our latest findings further support the promising performance and safety of this minimally-invasive, non-surgical pacing device. More long-term follow-up of these LEADLESS study patients will further our understanding of the potential advantages, benefits, and complication risks of leadless pacemaker technology, along with additional ongoing, larger trials,” Dr Reddy said.
The study’s long-term follow-up has evaluated 32 patients with a slowed heartbeat, bradycardia at two hospitals in Prague and one in Amsterdam, the hospital said in a statement. The miniature, leadless cardiac pacemaker is placed directly inside a patient’s heart without surgery during a catheter-guided procedure through the groin via the femoral vein. It works by closely monitoring the heart’s ele-ctrical rhythms.
With the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam successfully winning a case against a Chennai-based company, which was selling laddus in the name of ‘Tirupati laddu’, with the help of its geographical indication (GI) registration, the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion Centre (APTDPC), which had helped TTD get the GI tag, has started training police personnel on the importance of GI and its legal aspects.
The Madras High Court has recently passed an ex parte interim injunction restraining a Chennai-based company from preparing, selling and making laddus available to the public in the name and style or anything deceptively similar to the Tirupati laddu.
APDTC is organising awareness lectures on GI tag at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy and the AP Police Academy.
“It has been seen that most of the police personnel are not aware of GI tags and how to deal with cases involving GI tag law violation. Hence we have taken the initiative to provide training to them,” APTDPC head Jyoti Kumar said, adding, “We are very much satisfied with the response we have got from police personnel to our GI awareness programme and hope that they will cooperate with us in our mission.”
As GI cases have to be dealt with the judiciary, he said, there is also need to make the judiciary aware of the rules concerning the GI tag and the procedures involved in their allotment. “We feel that even the judiciary should be trained to deal with GI tag cases. As very few cases of GI violation are reported in the country, the judiciary is not fully aware of the laws governing such cases. Hence the need to make it aware of them.”
He said that APTDPC has been organising workshops for creating awareness among the people.
Jyoti Kumar said the Madras High Court’s judgment on Tirupati laddu could be the first of its kind in India, confirming the rights of a registered GI as against its unauthorised use by third parties. “This judgment has boosted our morale and will help us in our endeavour to bring more products under the GI tag. The order will also make GI tag holders aware of their rights,” he said.
GI Products
Karnataka, with 32 GI products topped the national list followed by Tamil Nadu (24), Andhra Pradesh (22) and Kerala (20). APTDPC has till now facilitated filing of 26 products from AP, of which 20 have obtained the GI tag. “We are currently studying 40 to 50 products from Andhra Pradesh, including Bandaru laddu and Nizamabad turmeric, for possible filing,” Jyoti Kumar said. Last year, APTDPC had sent Etikoppaka softwood-lacquer ware toys from Visakhapatnam district and Durgi stone works from Guntur district for GI registration, he said.
Geographical Indication Registration
GI is a sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin. The recognition on the markets of the names of these products allows the community of producers to invest in maintaining the specific qualities of the product on which the reputation is built.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Anil Kumar – Hyderabad / May 10th, 2014
