Monthly Archives: October 2014

Export Inspection Council of India branch to serve exporters

October 17, 2014Business & Economyadmin

Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) logo. (Photo: Official websit of EIC)

Nellore:

Export Inspection Council of India (EIC), a regulatory authority for quality control and pre-shipment inspection of notified export commodities to European Countries, opened its branch in Nellore.

The new branch is a boon to 13 shrimp, fish and fishery product establishments and two milk establishments in Nellore. Hitherto these companies used to go all the way to Chennai for certification for export and the new branch has put an end to their ordeals.
This is the third branch for EIC, which got branches in Bhimavaram and Visakhapatnam in AP.

According to the Director of EIC, Dr S.K. Saxena, EIC is nodal certification body for certificate of origin under various preferential tariff schemes, designates and approve private inspection agencies and laboratories to supplement its own activities through Export Inspection Agencies.

It is also an advisory board to Government of India on measures to be taken for enforcement of quality control and inspection of commodities intended for export and to draw up programme for quality control and inspection of commodities.

He said that the new office in Nellore is the seventh sub-office under Export Inspection Agency, Chennai and 27th sub-office under Export Inspection Council of India.

The inception of the Nellore sub-office is to cater the need of fish and fishery products and food establishments at Nellore and surrounding areas also covering the primary production level.

“As a major port in Asia, the export and import activities have been increased by manifolds in Krishnapatnam port. Certification activities of EIA, Chennai, in the issuance of certificate of origin are also expected to be more in the coming years. To ease the trade community for approaching EIA, Chennai regional office at Chennai for all the activities, the new sub-office at Nellore is established with modern laboratory facilities,” the Director said.

Nellore mayor and noted shrimp exporter Abdul Azeez said that the branch will save time to the exporters located in and around Nellore.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / October 12th, 2014

‘Brahma Kamalam’ in full bloom

October 15, 2014Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Brahma Kamalam flower in full bloom at a residence in Varadaraja Nagar in Tirupati. Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar / The Hindu

‘Brahma Kamalam’ made a surprising appearance in the Bonsai garden of Lakshmi Bharathi, a resident of Varadaraja Nagar in Tirupati on Saturday night.

The blossoming of the flower is a rare event, given the fact that it is believed to be endemic to the Himalayan region. However, it is nothing new to Ms. Bharathi, a member of the Bonsai Club, as the flower did bloom in her courtyard on October 10, 2007.

The sapling was given much earlier to her by a priest at Kedarnath temple during her Himalayan yatra. The flower did not bloom for several years in spite of her best efforts to nurture it, make her lose hope. “But one day in 2007, it was suddenly in full bloom. After that, it blossomed only now,” Ms. Bharathi told The Hindu. The snow white flower has a sweet fragrance and is known to grow only in the pure water and pristine environment at the Himalayas. “We pour water purified through Reverse Osmosis technology to this plant,” she added. The rare flower is drawing neighbours and strangers alike to her courtyard.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A. D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – October 13th, 2014

Three Kadapa girls for National Aerolympics

October 15, 2014Sportsadmin

Sri Sai Krishna school students K. Hematrishathi, S. Pranavi and T. Gayatri, of Kadapa have been chosen to take part in the second phase of National Aerolympics 2014 in Bangalore. / The Hindu

Three girls — K. Hematrishathi, S. Pranavi and T. Gayatri — studying ninth standard in Sri Sai Krishna English Medium High School in Kadapa have been chosen to take part in the second phase of National Aerolympics 2014 being conducted by the Aeronautical Society of India at Bangalore from November 27 to 29.

Guided by J. Phaneendra, Director of Student Resources Department of the school, the enterprising girls cleared the first phase of the National Aerolympics 2014 by submitting a project report on “Eyes and Arms in the Sky: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” to the Aeronautical Society of India, Bangalore.

Sri Sai Krishna English Medium High School in Kadapa and Space Central School at Sriharikota in Nellore district were the only two schools from the State and among 24 schools across the nation chosen for participation in the second phase of the National Aerolympics.

Before Wright Brothers

Thalpade was the first to build and operate an unmanned aerial vehicle in 1895, eight years before Wright Brothers flew their aircraft, by adopting principles from Rig Veda, Bhashya Bhumika and Vaimanika Sastra, the students said in their project report. The famous Indian UAVs were Lakshya and Nishant, mainly used for military, policing and other specialised operations, they added.

Sage Bharadwaja in his book ‘Yantrasarwaswa’ made a mention of flying machines, techniques of offence and defence, diet and clothing of a pilot, metal and alloys, ‘rukma vimana’, its process of preparation, flying, classification of ‘vimanas’ and so on, they added recounting the history.

“Ironically Indians brushed aside the valuable information as myths, but foreigners adopted the data enshrined in the scriptures that portrayed the advanced technology used by our ancestors,” K. Hematrishathi, S. Pranavi and T. Gayatri said.

Taking advantage of the knowledge of ancient Indians on flying machines, the Mini Rukma Vimana Unmanned Air Vehicle (MRV UAV) designs were prepared. Lift fans configuration similar to ‘Rukma Vimana’, mentioned in ‘Vaimanika Sastra’, can be used to go through mountainous regions and fans are preferred other than wings for vertical take-off. Using the MRV UAV would make the missions much simpler and easier to carry out, the students concluded.

The students are engrossed in preparing a home report on “incredible habits” for submission in the three-day second phase of the National Aerolympics next month. The Kadapa students would participate in nine events including audio-visual quizzes on aviation, awareness of GK and current events and honours and awards, project and home reports and project presentation, collage making, cultural programme and surprise event in November.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Kadapa – October 12th, 2014

Citric acid-based disinfectant to kill chikungunya

October 15, 2014Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinionadmin

Chennai :

A team of scientists in the city, along with experts in Andhra Pradesh and Japan, has found that a citric acid-based disinfectant can destroy the chikungunya virus. The chemically synthesised citric acid developed in Japan, has earlier proved effective in killing the human influenza virus.

The team from the department of virology at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati; Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Chennai and scientists in Japan have tested the disinfectant in the form of granules on chikungunya virus. The team first collected more than 1,000 samples of chikungunya virus and developed and maintained in both human and mosquito cell line. The disinfectant was then tested on these viruses when it showed it can destroy the virus.

Scientists said the application could be on skin or fumigation to bring down the probability of infection even if bitten by a carrier mosquito. D V R Saigopal, professor of virology, SV University, said that the disinfectant, which is an ingredient in several food additives, was developed in Japan 10 years ago. “The disinfectants we get in India are detergent, phenol, foam or alcohol-based and have high toxicity and side effect. This disinfectant is solvent based and our tests showed it has low level of toxicity. It is not only safer but also cheaper,” the professor explained.

Scientists said that the disinfectant is at present approved as a mouth gargle and rinse in Japan and also used by the Japanese railways department as spray in their train coaches during flu seasons. It is also sold with a brand name ‘Clinister’ by a Japanese multinational company.

Encouraged by the positive result, the scientists have decided to approach the Union government with their research work looking for avenues to try it on other viruses. “It can kill the virus in the environment and in the mosquito as well as on the surface of the human skin where there is mosquito bite. It can be used in detergents, fumigant, mosquito repellent and hand wash,” the professor said.

Scientists have also decided to use the same methodology to test it on other viruses like foot and mouth disease virus and dengue virus.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by U. Tejonmayam, TNN / October 14th, 2014

Painting contest a big draw

October 14, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Educationadmin

Students take part in painting competition in BZ High School, Chittoor, on Sunday. Photo: K. Umashanker / The Hindu

The alumni of the 130-year-old Bangarupalem Zamindar Government High School, have been conducting the painting competition for the schoolchildren for over two decades

At a time when fine arts are receiving a raw deal in schools and colleges, a group of friends in Chittoor, the alumni of the 130-year-old Bangarupalem Zamindar Government High School, have been conducting the painting competition year after year for the schoolchildren for more than two decades.

The 1982 Class X batch of the BZ High School embarked on the mission to promote competitive spirit among the students of various schools in the district headquarters town, when they came out with their first series of competitions in painting, essay writing, elocution and sports in 1992. Since then, it continues to be an unbroken chain of success with overwhelming response from students and parents, many of whom happen to be the alumni of the BZHS.

K. Karthikeyan and C.V. Nityananda, friends from their kindergarten days in Chittoor, are in the forefront of holding the contests. Both being sportsmen and lovers of painting say they hope to continue the tradition and make it an everlasting institution in the service of fine arts. They are elated to say that they cherish strong support from their batch mates in this regard.

On Sunday, nearly one thousand students from all over Chittoor and surrounding areas thronged the BZHS to take part in the painting competition. “We have split the categories into juniors from 6 to 9, and seniors from 8 to 10 classes. Separate prizes are created for girls and boys. In all, we will be giving nearly 100 prizes for those contesting here. Parents are coming in large numbers to support us every year. We are coming out with contemporary themes like child labour and environment protection for the young minds,” the duo said. The organisers distribute drawing sheets and pens to all the contestants, and crayons and other painting stuff to the poor. The Kannemara Library, which holds a unique collection of books for all, sponsors the contests.

“Subjects of drawing and painting are much neglected ones in the schools now. But, these aspects go a long way in moulding the children into meaningful citizens in future. We also plan to introduce more areas of fine arts and sports in our competitions for the students soon,” they said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by K. Umashanker / Chittoor – October 13th, 2014

Fishing activity resumes at Masula coast

October 14, 2014Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Natureadmin

Barely hours after Hudhud made landfall close to Visakhapatnam, fishing operations resumed in parts of Krishna district on Monday. The fishing activity along the coast of Andhra Pradesh has come to a standstill since the weathermen alerted about the storm.

Spared by the Hudhud without any damage to crops or fishing materials, fishermen in few locations including Nagayalanka on Monday returned to the sea, via backwaters of Krishna near the latter’s confluence point.

However, the Gilakaladindi harbour authorities have announced warning number three on Monday, suspending fishing activity.

Speaking to The Hindu, Gilakaladindi fishermen said that they were gearing up for fishing from Tuesday. “Hudhud had no impact on Krishna district including the strategic coastline. We have no reports of damage of standing paddy fields or fishing material,” Hudhud In-charge of Machilipatnam coast A. Varaprasada Rao told The Hindu. However, a field level team was roped in by the government to stay in the villages to register any damage claimed by the local communities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Gilakaladindi (Krishna) / October 13th, 2014

Vizianagaram Gears Up for Sirimanotsavam

October 13, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Vizianagaram :

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to meet the festive rush for the annual ‘Sirimanotsavam’ of Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru to be held at the Three Lanterns Junction in Vizianagaram town Tuesday. Following the directions of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, ministers K Atchannaidu and K Mrunalini are supervising the arrangements to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience during the festivities.

More than two lakh devotees are expected to participate in ‘Sirimanotsavam’ this year as many could not have darshan of Pydithalli Ammavaru last year, which was organised amidst tense atmosphere following the attack on the properties of former minister Botcha Satyanarayana.

Even as the entire town wore a festive look since Sunday night, devotees are arriving at the town from various parts of north Coastal Andhra districts and also from Koraput and Rayagada of Odisha state to offer prayers to the Goddess.

The procession of ‘Sirimanu’ will begin at 3 pm Tuesday and conclude by 5 pm. Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru Temple priest Thallapudi Bhaskara Rao will ride the ‘Sirimanu’ during the procession wherein the devotees will present their offerings to the “Goddess”.

Over 1,500 police personnel, including seven deputy superintendents of police, 37 circle inspectors and 70 sub-inspectors, have been deployed from neighbouring districts at all vulnerable points in the town, to avert untoward incidents. A police control room has also been set up opposite the temple at the Three Lanterns Junction. Traffic restrictions have been imposed along the roads leading to the main road between the Three Lanterns Junction and the Fort Tuesday, to ensure smooth conduct of the procession.

Iron barricades have been erected on either side of the road between the Three Lanterns Junction and the Fort. The officials also have erected pandals along the queue lines to ensure that devotees are not put to inconvenience under the heat or unexpected showers. The civic administration has set up drinking water kiosks, toilets and temporary lavatories at vantage points in the town. Additional sanitation workers from the neighbouring municipalities, including Visakhapatnam city, have been roped in.

The Endowments Department has arranged separate enclosures for devotees on both sides of the temple for having darshan of the presiding deity. A separate enclosure has also been set up for free darshan. Nearly 50,000 laddoos are being readied for sale through the prasadam counters apart from distribution of free prasadam for devotees.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / Express News Service / October 07th, 2014

Get ready for a taste of Vizag apples!

October 13, 2014Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Uncategorizedadmin

Forget apples from Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, soon apples from Visakhapatnam district could give them a run for their money. Hilly areas of the district are emerging as a fertile ground for cultivation of apples, which have hitherto been restricted to orchards in the chilly climes of J&K, Uttarakhand, HP and Arunachal Pradesh.

The first seeds of apple cultivation were sown by chance by Bobbili Rambabu, a tribal from the Visakhapatnam Agency area, four years ago when he tossed a few apple seeds in the backyard of his house at Lambasingi, where temperatures are known to dip below 0 degree Celsius during winter. The trees have now borne fruit, alerting researchers to the possibility of growing this delicious fruit in Visakha Agency.

Dr. N Venugopala Rao, assistant director, Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) at Chintapalli, said apples generally grow in the Himalayan belt because of cold temperatures, which is why places such as Lambasingi in Chintapalli mandal are also ideal for apple cultivation. He said a team of scientists from the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) visited Lambasingi in December last year to study the feasibility of growing apples. As part of the study, they planted 100 apple saplings, shipped in from the Himalayas, over nearly one acre on the RARS premises.

Another RARS scientist, Dr. B Uma Maheswara Rao, said select varieties of apples from Shimla have been planted on an experimental basis. “While the apple trees planted by tribal Rambabu have already yielded positive results, the plants cultivated at RARS are just 10 months old. We will start studying the potential when they reach three years of age,” Rao said.

According to him, mandals like Chintapalli, Pedabayalu, G Madugula and even the tourist hotspot of Araku are suitable for apple cultivation as they are all located at high altitudes and the temperature is always below 15 degree Celsius. “After studying the apples growing on Rambabu’s tree, we feel that Vizag is suitable for apple plantation. Tribal pockets that are already cultivating coffee and pepper are viable for apple trees too because of the favourable climatic conditions. At present, coffee is being cultivated in nearly 1.5 lakh acres in the tribal pockets. If the state government pays special attention, Vizag can emerge as a fertile ground for cultivating unique commercial crops like apples,” Rao added.

A horticulture department officer, who refused to be named, said if apple cultivation takes off in a big way in the district, they might think of including apples in the list of local crops, which also includes the globally renowned Araku coffee.

While G Prabhakara Rao, assistant director (horticulture), said the department would put its weight behind the endeavour once the RARS scientists issue a no-objection certificate for apple cultivation in the district, R Lakshmanudu, joint director, agriculture marketing, said they would provide marketing support for Vizag apples.

Meanwhile, tribal farmer Biddika Kamsu said that instead of proposing projects like the Tribal University for the Agency area, the government should focus on allocating funds for growing unique plants. “Visakha Agency is one of the biggest agencies in the state and is most viable for plants like pepper, coffee, pineapple, strawberry, turmeric, rajma, broccoli, ginger and carrot,” Kamsu said.

Apples in your backyard

* Apple cultivation started by chance by Bobbili Rambabu, a tribal farmer from Lambasingi in Chintapalli mandal of Vizag Agency area, four years ago when he tossed apple seeds in his backyard. The trees have now borne fruit

* Scientists from CCMB visited Lambasingi in December last year to study the feasibility of growing apples. They planted 100 saplings shipped in from the Himalayas

* Officials say mandals like Chintapalli, Pedabayalu, G Madugula and even Araku are suitable for apple cultivation as they are all located at high altitudes, with temperature always below 15 degree Celsius

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / October 09th, 2014

Treasure hunt at ancient temples in Guntur district

October 13, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Archaeological Department Assistant Director K. Chittibabu inspecting the site where a five-member gang was arrested at the Lord Shiva Temple at Kethavaram in Guntur district. - Photo: By arrangement — Archaeological Department Assistant Director K. Chittibabu inspecting the site where a five-member gang was arrested at the Lord Shiva Temple at Kethavaram in Guntur district. – Photo: By arrangement

Monuments in the submergence area of Pulichintala project have become a haven for them. The prime accused — D. Ramakrishna along with his associates — D. Venkateswar Naik, B. Somla Naik, Narasimha Naik and K. Ramesh Naik started scouting for the trove from a tribal fort and reached the ancient Lord Shiva temple at Kethavaram village.

Ancient temples located at villages that come under the submergence area of Pulichintala project in Guntur district have become a haven for treasure hunters.

Treasure hunters are thronging these temples with latest gadgets to locate “hidden” treasures. Police are on tenterhooks with the hunters making their presence felt in the district. Police intensified patrolling to keep a tab on them. In order to confirm whether any troves are present in villages at Kethavaram, Kolluru and Gollapeta that are set to submerge once Pulichintala project is completed, the district police roped in senior officials from the Archaeological and Museums department for a detailed inspection of the spot.

The police also wrote a letter to the Endowments Department seeking its intervention and allay fears of people. A few days ago, the Piduguralla police nabbed five persons for allegedly attempting to find out a treasure trove using a long-range detector brought from Bulgaria.

The prime accused — D. Ramakrishna along with his associates — D. Venkateswar Naik, B. Somla Naik, Narasimha Naik and K. Ramesh Naik started scouting for the trove from a tribal fort and reached the ancient Lord Shiva temple at Kethavaram village of Bellampally mandal in Guntur. Based on signals received from the detector, the gang members searched for the trove which they anticipated contains gold and silver coins.

Acting on a tip-off, the police rushed to the spot and nabbed the gang members. “It has become a nuisance for us for the last few months. To verify the gang’s claim, we took the help of officials from Archaeological and Museums department and confirmed that there are no traces of treasure troves,” explained Piduguralla Town Circle Inspector Y. Sridhar Reddy.

The hunt for treasure troves began when the main idols in these old temples were shifted to other places after administration declared Kethavaram, Kolluru, Gollapet and other areas as submergence villages, he said. When contacted, Archaeological and Museums Department Assistant Director K. Chittibabu, who visited the spot, confirmed that no traces of treasure troves were found.

“We advised the police to seek the assistance of Mines and Geology Department to know more about the detector used by the gang” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by M. Srinivas / Vijayawada – October 08th, 2014

BJP leader Ranga Mohana Rao dead

October 11, 2014Leadersadmin

BJP State vice-president Bandaru Ranga Mohana Rao died on Friday following post-surgical complication leading to multi-organ failure at a hospital in Hyderabad. He was 55 and is survived by wife Chandrakala and daughter.

An engineering graduate, he was an assistant engineer in GVMC for four years and later became independent insurance surveyor and loss assessor.

He joined the RSS at a young age of 10 and began his career as an office in charge of BJP in 1980. Subsequently, he became party State council member, city general secretary, city president, State secretary and finally became party State vice-president.

Condolences poured in for Ranga Mohana Rao. MP K. Haribabu said the party had lost a committed worker and he, a good friend.

MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju said the party lost a leader who had served the entire State. City president P.V. Narayana Rao said a dedicated leader who served the party for decades all over the State had left them.

Former BJP president P. V. Chalapathi Rao mourned the death saying a leader who grew before their eyes and acted with presence of mind at crucial times passed away.

Former Mayor D.V. Subba Rao conveyed his condolences to the family members of Ranga Mohana Rao.

BMS State Legal Cell in charge K. Bhavani Shankarudu said he had served BJP since its inception in 1980 and was a sincere and principled leader.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – October 11th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Seemandhra, Coastal Andhra, Telugu People and all the People of Andhra Pradesh – here at Home and Overseas