Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Now, they will walk the ramp for a cause

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features
Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant pose for a photograph at the audition conducted in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant pose for a photograph at the audition conducted in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Aspirants of Miss Vizag pageant are happy to be part of something more meaningful. Besides Miss Vizag-2014 title and two runners-up titles, the participants have an opportunity to grab other titles such as Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Beautiful Smile.

The sixth edition of Miss Vizag will be remembered for two reasons. Firstly, the show was initially scheduled for October 12, the day when the city was battered by the cyclonic storm Hudhud. Secondly, to reach out to the cyclone victims, the organisers have decided to conduct the pageant for charity.

What has remained unchanged though is the spirit of the contestants, who are now keen on walking the ramp with energy and enthusiasm. The reason behind this, they say, is that their creativity is being utilised for something more meaningful.

WhatTheySayANDHRA03nov2014

At the first audition held here on Sunday, the participants shared their views on how they felt like being part of the relief team.

“Now, the impact of the show has become intense as we are able to come together to contribute to a social cause,” says G. Shobana, who is all excited about her maiden show.

Some felt happy that despite the odds, they were able to team up again.

“The natural calamity could not stop the much-awaited show in any manner. However, the delay has helped us bounce back with more vigour and drive to help the needy,” says Sirisha, another aspirant.

Sharing her views on the rescheduled beauty contest, Laxmi Bhardwaj, an airhostess and a contestant, says: “Charity is very personal and should come from within. This is a nice opportunity for us to walk the extra mile and bring the smiles back.”

A total of 50 aspirants turned up for the auditions and, out of them, 22 will be heading to the finale.

Besides Miss Vizag-2014 title and two runners-up titles, the participants have an opportunity to grab other titles such as Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Beautiful Smile.

Funds raised through the show, including contributions made by the participants and organisers, will be utilised for cyclone relief work, says Sharif, one of the organisers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam – November 02nd, 2014

New look for Kondapalli Fort

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A view of the Kondapalli fort, 20 km away from Vijayawada.
A view of the Kondapalli fort, 20 km away from Vijayawada.

VIJAYAWADA: 

The historic Kondapalli fort, 20 km from Vijayawada city, is getting a facelift so that more tourists are attracted towards it. The archaeology department took up the renovation of the 14th century fort, built by king Prolaya Vema Reddy. However, due to denial of permission from the forest department, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation officials are said have failed to provide basic amenities at the fort.

Archaeology officials have completed a major part of the renovation work, including administering chemical treatment to Ranimahal, Nartanasala and jail khana. Some walls that had collapsed have been rebuilt, while other walls and arches repaired and given a fresh coat of water to prevent rainwater seepage. Deputy executive engineer, archaeology department, S. Koteswaran said that granite has been laid along the pathways for the convenience of tourists and the damaged arches repaired. The Central government has sanctioned funds from the 13th Finance Commission for renovation of the fort. Officials plan to complete the renovation work within the budget of Rs 3 crore.

Meanwhile, the APTDC is working on attracting more tourists to Kondapalli fort by providing basic amenities and developing a craft bazaar to market the world famous Kondapalli toys and other handicrafts of the district.However, the APTDC has been unable to implement its plans as the forest department has denied permission for construction activity near the fort, citing protection of reserve forest, said APTDC divisional manager T. Baboji. “Kondapalli has immense tourism potential.

Being Kartika masam, thousands of people are visiting the fort on weekends to participate in Vanamahotsavam,” he said. Most of the visitors complain of lack of basic amenities at the site and appeal to the authorities to provide minimum facilities.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by DC Correspondent / November 02nd, 2014

Sachin Tendulkar to visit adopted village in Nellore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Sports
Sachin would be spending about Rs.4.5 crore from his Rajya Sabha member grant for taking up various developmental programmes in PR Kandrika. (Getty Images)
Sachin would be spending about Rs.4.5 crore from his Rajya Sabha member grant for taking up various developmental programmes in PR Kandrika. (Getty Images)

Nellore :

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is visiting a remote village, Puttamraju Kandrika in Nellore district on November, 16.

Sachin adopted the village for over-all development as part of his Saansad Adarsha Grama Yojana (SAGY), the programme proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sachin would be spending about Rs.4.5 crore from his Rajya Sabha member grant for taking up various developmental programmes in PR Kandrika.

Giving the details of Sachin’s tour, joint collector Gorle Rekha Rani, who was instrumental in prevailing upon Sachin to adopt the remote village on AP coast, said that Sachin would be reaching Chennai from Mumbai in a charted flight on the evening of November, 15.

He would then fly down at Krishnapatnam port in a chopper. Sachin would stay overnight in the guest of port and proceed to PR Kandrika village on the next day. He would inspect various works launched in the village and return to Chennai by afternoon.

Joint Collector said that all roads in the village would be converted into CC roads and an underground drainage would be taken up. In addition to providing protected drinking water to all residents in the village, they would see that each household have an individual toilet as part of the programme.

Rekharani, who got an opportunity to be the co-traveler of Sachin in a flight during a visit from US, made a request to adopt a village in her district to which the master cricketer had instantly agreed.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports / October 31st, 2014

‘Rottela Panduga’ from Nov. 4 in Nellore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Finishing touches being given to Bara Shahid Dargah for 'Rottela Panduga' in Nellore city./ PHOTO: K. RAVIKUMAR
Finishing touches being given to Bara Shahid Dargah for ‘Rottela Panduga’ in Nellore city./ PHOTO: K. RAVIKUMAR

The annual ‘Rottela Panduga’ (roti festival) being celebrated at the Barashahid Dargah on the banks of Swarnala Cheruvu here has proved to be a landmark event for Nellore city. The 4-day event will be held from November 4 to 7.

Forecasting arrival of a larger numbers of pilgrims this year, the dargah committee and the Nellore Municipal Corporation are making additional arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festivities.

Mayor Sk. Abdul Aziz said that nearly 20 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country would be expected to take part in ‘Rottela Panduga’ festival this year. Accordingly, the drinking water, sanitation and toilet facilities were being made available to avoid any inconvenience to people.

The dargah committee was formed with nearly 110 members on it recently. The festival was special for the devotees as they exchange ‘rotis’ between them standing in the cool waters of Nellore tank here in fulfilment of their wishes made at the tombs of the warriors in the past.

Mr. Aziz said that those, whose wishes were fulfilled, would present ‘rotis’ to those who arrive to make their fresh wishes. Different devotees make different wishes, which mostly relate to health, wealth, family harmony, marriage alliances, educational progress and so on.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by G. Ravikiran / Nellore – November 01st, 2014

The good doctor!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology
Endocrinologist Goutham Meher points out to a picture in which he is on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world. He is the first resident of Vijayawada to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu
Endocrinologist Goutham Meher points out to a picture in which he is on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world. He is the first resident of Vijayawada to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu

He wants to raise funds for the Indian Navy and Visakhapatnam which were battered by the Hudhud cyclone. The port city and neighbouring district too took a massive beating. Moved by the damaged caused by the super cyclone Dr. Meher turned into a fundraiser.

City-based endocrinologist Goutham Meher has attained celebrity status by becoming the first resident to conquer Kilimanjaro. He will be back in the news for running in a marathon to raise funds for the Indian Navy and Visakhapatnam city which were battered by the Hudhud super cyclone.

Besides mountaineering Dr. Meher is very fond of running. He has participated in most of the marathons conducted in the different places in the country. By default, he registered himself to participate in the Vizag Navy Marathon a couple of months ago.

Hudhud caused the Indian Navy a loss of Rs. 2,000 crore.

The port city and neighbouring district too took a massive beating. Moved by the damaged caused by the super cyclone Dr. Meher turned into a fundraiser. Instead of taking the beaten path of collecting for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) he registered on to an online fundraising website saying that he would run the marathon to cover the loss of Indian Navy and for the re-building of Visakhapatnam city and asked his friends to donate generously on Facebook.

Dr. Meher received an overwhelming response from his friends, several of them NRIs. With two days still left for the event the physician raised five times what he set as a ‘goal’ for himself.

“We can win many battles, but it is not easy when you are against the fury of nature. Cyclone Hudhud battered the strategic naval base at Visakhapatnam, damaging its airfield and other installations. Thirty to forty per cent of trees inside the naval station got uprooted,” Dr. Meher said.

He was glad that all the income from the First Vizag Navy Marathon would also go for the rebuilding of Visakhapatnam city, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – October 31st, 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

Heritage school faces demolition threat

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

Visakhapatnam :

Heritage activists from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) are apprehensive that the century-old Queen Mary’s Government High School (QMGHS) in Old Town would be pulled down citing reasons like natural calamities in the near future. During a recent visit to the school, in the aftermath of Cyclone Hudhud, education department officials from Hyderabad had suggested bringing down a portion of the school instead of wasting money on repair.

Though the cyclone partially damaged the old building, especially the roof and wooden staircases, heritage activists feel the structure is quite sturdy and can be easily restored with the help of some repairs and renovations instead of demolishing it and replacing with new constructions.

“Recently, officials from the education department in Hyderabad visited the school. It has come to our knowledge that after seeing the damages caused by Hudhud, the officials publicly expressed their intention to replace the damaged heritage structure with new constructions. However, despite being one of the oldest buildings of Vizag, the lime and mortar structure is quite sturdy and can withstand the ravages of time. It only needs some repair and renovation of the roof and staircases,” Intach’s Vizag chapter convener P V Prasad said.

According to government sources, some months ago a sum of Rs 32 lakh was sanctioned by the state education department for construction of a new school building in the existing premises but the funds were later diverted to other “needy” schools. The century-old school has a strength of 1,300 students and around 60 teachers, besides 15 non-teaching staff. The building, which now houses the school, was earlier a medical school and before that housed the Old Collectorate in the early 19th century.

When contacted, school staffers admitted that while there was some talk of carrying out construction work in the premises, they said they are not aware of the detailed plan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam /  TNN / October 29th, 2014

Kursura faces erosion threat

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

Vizag’s pride, the Kursura Submarine Museum may have stood tall against burly 200kmph winds unleashed by Cyclone Hudhud, but the threat of erosion is now posing a danger to one of the city’s biggest attractions with morning walkers on Tuesday observing waves lapping right at the base of the submarine.

According to oceanography experts, the area around the only submarine museum in South Asia may witness further erosion – especially the area north of Kursura and up to 50 metres behind the museum.

In fact, post cyclone Hudhud, erosion is being witnessed all along the coast, including behind the Vuda Park near the East Point Lighthouse and also a nearly 200-metre stretch in Bheemili.

Experts said that the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) in consultation with the Indian Navy should immediately take up measures to protect Kursura, which was India’s fourth submarine and served for nearly 31 years.

“In the last two days, high winds have been hitting the coast due to the onset of the north-east monsoon due to which the sea waves are also increasing. A situation similar to the one that took place earlier this year, when one portion of Beach Road collapsed, may occur in the next few months,” said an oceanography expert from Andhra University.

Concurring, another ocean scientist warned: “Earlier the protection wall served as a defence for the submarine, but now the northern side is also exposed. In the next four months, due to the sea currents flowing from north to south, the area in front of Kursura and immediately behind it is likely to witness more erosion.”

“We are noticing that now the sand deposition is taking place near RK Beach and Coastal Battery side due to coastal currents,” he said while pointing out that the rate of deposition is less than the rate of erosion.

Meanwhile, sources at Vuda lamented that the lack of a full-time vice-chairman was hampering the urban development body from taking any decisions. A Vuda official said, “We have cleaned up the submarine museum premises, but we can’t allow visitors from a safety and security point of view because the sea side stretch is now open without the protection wall.”

“Even though the Indian Navy is regularly monitoring the situation, we have to take up work immediately for raising the protection wall failing which it can cause further damage.”

“About 275 metres length of wall has to be built and landscaping needs to be taken up, but as of now the in-charge vice chairman (who is also the EPDCL CMD) is himself busy with restoring power lines across north coastal districts, so the state government has to understand the situation and depute a full-time VC.”

Meanwhile, a Navy spokesperson said the Navy was planning to do the needful and something more “permanent and lasting” to secure the unique museum.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Manish, TNN / October 29th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh gets its own Film Chamber

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All
Andhra Pradesh Map
Andhra Pradesh Map

Guntur:

 A separate film chamber was launched for AP state on Saturday at Tadepalli of Guntur district.

Film director Dileep Raja said that in view of bifurcation, Seemandhra Film Chamber of Commerce was formed for the welfare of AP film industry with the cooperation of producers and directors. He said that disputes are common in the film industry and various organisations work to resolve them.

Welcoming the new capital at Vijayawada, he said that there were lots of chances for development of the Telugu film industry in Vijayawada and Guntur.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / October 26th, 2014

First Case Under ‘FIR at Doorstep’ Registered in Vijayawada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Vijayawada :  

The Vijayawada Police today filed the first case under the ‘FIR at doorstep’ initiative.

A case of suicide was registered by Penamaluru police and copy of the first information report or FIR was handed over to the deceased man’s relatives on the spot, said sub-inspector Murali Krishna.

The deceased was identified as U Sanjveev Kumar, an auto rickshaw driver

The ‘FIR at doorstep’ initiative was launched by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on October 21 in Vijayawada, under which the victims or their relatives do not have to visit the police station as police visit the place of crime and complete the formalities on the spot.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Sections> South / Press Trust of India / October 25th, 2014