Monthly Archives: August 2015

Telangana sitting on a bed of diamonds

Business & Economy

Hyderabad :

The perennially drought-hit Mahbubnagar district could well turn out to be another Golconda, once famous as a city where diamonds were sold in heaps at roadside shops. The district, known for its large-scale annual migration of labour, is virtually sitting on diamond mines that could change the fortunes of the nascent Telangana state, experts say.

TOI Photo.
TOI Photo.

Researchers from the Centre of Exploration Geophysics, Osmania University, have identified as many as 21 new potential diamond zones in Mahbubnagar and villages abutting the border with Gulbarga and Raichur. Several places on the road between Mahbubnagar and Raichur are dotted with potential diamond zones. There have been several studies on the diamond potentiality of Mahbubnagar in the past, but this is the first time that about two dozen zones have been identified.

Earlier, scattered potential diamond locations were identified in the area between the Krishna and Bhima rivers, and the Krishna-Tungabhadra-Penna river zone. At least half a dozen government and commercial organizations are currently on a ‘diamond hunt’ in the district. The Geological Survey of India had found three diamond zones in the past.

Prof G Ramadass, who carried out aeromagnetic studies over an area of 1,999 sq km, said the potential diamond zones were buried 1.2 km down in the earth and more ground research may yield the precious stones.

“We have found kimberlite pipes at 21 places. Though not all kimberlite pipes bear diamonds, there have been instances where diamond zones were found in Mahbubnagar. We need to undertake further studies to explore the diamond-bearing potentiality of these places,” he added. Besides Ramadass, the OU team comprised M Preeti and A Subhash Babu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Akbar, TNN / August 10th, 2015

3 startups bag investments at TiE’s instant funding event

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

Three startups managed to impress investors at The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Hyderabad’s SmashUp event on Saturday, bagging investments worth Rs 15 lakh each. The startups are Carving Notions Technologies, which designs and assembles drones; SunwizTech India Pvt Ltd that designed a mobile app for car owners to locate the best place for getting their vehicles serviced; and driver solutions provider Driverr.

During the event, 10 startups with working prototypes pitched their business ideas to angel investors. These start-ups were given just five minutes to pitch to individual investors for a funding of Rs 15 lakh against 10% equity.

“TiE’s SmashUp event has been continuously nurturing early stage startups to move up the value chain. Through this platform, we aim to not only mentor these startups, but also connect them to the investor community. TiE Hyderabad will continue to bring together all stakeholders and play a proactive role in creating an inclusive ecosystem to promote the culture of entrepreneurship,” Rakesh Bhatia-TiE Hyderabad board member and event co-chair said.

The event witnessed a participation of around 300 people representing various stakeholders of the ecosystem, including startups and entrepreneurs.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / August 09th, 2015

Telugu Playback Singer V Ramakrishna Dies at 68

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Veteran Telugu playback singer V Ramakrishna.
Veteran Telugu playback singer V Ramakrishna.

Hyderabad :

Veteran Telugu playback singer V Ramakrishna, who was reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer for quite some time, breathed his last on Wednesday at his residence in Hyderabad. He was 68.

“He passed away late last night at his Venkatagiri Hills residence,” a family source told IANS.

Born in 1947, Mr Ramakrishna, who has nearly 5,000 songs to his credit, started his career as a singer at a very young age on popular show Yuva Vani on All India Radio.

Nephew of popular playback singer P Susheela, Mr Ramakrishna idolised legendary singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao.

In 1972, he made his singing debut with the Telugu song “Vayase Oka Poolathota” from “Vichitra Bandham”.

He went on to sing several chartbusters in films such as “Andala Ramudu”, “Sharada”, “Alluri Seetharama Raju”, “Muthyala Muggu” and “Amaradeepam”.

Mr Ramakrishna is survived his wife Jyothi, son Sai Kiran, a popular Telugu actor and daughter Lekha.

His last rites will be performed today.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Telangana> Section / by Indo-Asian News Services / July 16th, 2015

Antony Prince Panengadan, new Adilabad Bishop

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders
Antony Prince Panengadan
Antony Prince Panengadan

Hyderabad:

Father Antony Prince Panengadan was appointed the bishop of the Adilabad Diocese and consecrated at the Bishop House on Thursday.

The appointment was announced by Pope Francis on August 6 at the Vatican and simultaneously by the Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas, at the Bishop’s House, Adilabad.

Bishop Joseph Kunnath presented the newly appointed Bishop with the sash, Pectoral Cross and the ring.

Bishop Panengadan was born on May, 13, 1976, at St. Antony’s Parish, Arimpoor in the Archeparchy of Trichur-Kerala. Having done his initial seminary formation in the CMI Congregation, he joined the mission eparchy of Adilabad. He had his philosophical and theological formation at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore and Ruhalaya Seminary, Ujjain.

He was ordained as a priest on April, 25, 2007, having served at the Adilabad Cathedral Church as assistant parish priest and at Saligaon Parish as its priest. He holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Urbanian University, Rome.

At the time of his appointment, he was serving the eparchy as its Proto-Syncellus and the Cathedral Vicar. Adilabad is one of the 13 Telugu Catholic dioceses and belongs to the Syro Malabar Church. The diocese is active in the areas of education, social, medical, services like hospitals, dispensaries, Balavikasa and tribal hostels.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle – August 07th, 2015

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology plans science park

Education, Science & Technology
Representational image
Representational image

Hyderabad:

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology plans to set up a Science Park on its premises in Narayanguda to showcase technology developed by the 37 CSIR institutes across the country.

It is also meant to popularise science research among school and college students. The IICT said it has developed 150 technologies in organic chemistry which are in commercial production.

The Science Park will function from the IICT premises near Melkote children’s park in Vittalwadi.

Key projects of IICT to be showcased are membrane technology for pure drinking water in fluorosis affected areas, “Samadhan Kendra” a rural IT centre for the benefit of the rural populace and farmers, pheromones as alternatives to pesticides and generation of energy (biogas) from kitchen waste and from poultry litter.

Under Swachh Bharat, IICT will also provide safe drinking water to flouride affected areas.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / August 06th, 2015

Gussadi dance gets Baahubali boost

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
A file photograph of Adivasis performing Gussadi dance.
A file photograph of Adivasis performing Gussadi dance.

Adilabad:

The well-known dance Gussadi of the Adivasis has got recognition in the blockbuster movie Baahubali directed by S.S. Rajamouli. The Gussadi dance has been filmed for the first time. Adivasis perform the Gussadi dance wearing hats made of peacock feathers during Diwali and it is synonymous with the culture of Adivasis.

Adivasis are thrilled at the prominence given to the dance in the film. The Gussadi dance was depicted as one of the few dances being performed in a cultural programme on the sidelines while installing the gigantic statue of Ballala Deva, ruler of the Mahishmati kingdom in the movie.

The Gussadi dance was shown along with another Adivasi popular dance called Bison Dance wearing the headgear of bison horns. However, it is said that the Gussadi dance was irrelevant to the situation and not connected to the story. Adivasis considered the Gussadi dance as sacred as it connected to the Diwali festival.

Adivasis men, especially youth and middle-aged men are called Gussadis and wear typical attire carrying a jhola and rokala, with various bright colours smeared on the body and a hat made of peacock feathers.

A senior Adivasi leader who was also a cinema artist and folk singer of Gondi, observed that it looks unpleasant seeing the Gussadi dance as the situation did not demand it. It would have been appropriate if it was shown as being performed on Diwali day highlighting its sanctity.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle, by Pillalamarri Srinivas / August 02nd, 2015

First cadaver liver transplant at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences

Records, All, Science & Technology
P. Abhijeet, liver donor
P. Abhijeet, liver donor

Hyderabad:

Nims doctors on Saturday conducted their first cadaver liver transplantation under the Jeevandan scheme. The liver from a brain dead youth, engineering student P. Abhijeet, 20, was transplanted to a 60-year-old man who had liver cancer and cirrhosis.

The transplant was carried out by surgical gastroenterology head Dr Bheerappa and liver transplantation surgeon Dr Tom Cherian. Abhijeet, a student of Manipal University, had come home to West Maredpally on a holiday.

He died following a car accident on July 30. His parents and sister agreed to donate his heart, liver, two kidney’s and eyes.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / August 02nd, 2015

Karimnagar: Guru Purnima celebrated

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Girls offer abhisekam with milk to Saibaba at Tapovanam temple on the occasion of Guru Purnima in Anantapur on Friday. (Photo: DC)
Girls offer abhisekam with milk to Saibaba at Tapovanam temple on the occasion of Guru Purnima in Anantapur on Friday. (Photo: DC)

Karimnagar/Warangal:

Guru Purnima was celebrated with religious fervor across the district on Friday. People, in a large numbers, thronged temples of Sri Sai Baba to mark the occasion. Special prayers were held in the temples. Guru Purnima is a sacred day to commemorate ancient sages and spiritual teachers of Hindu religion such as Vyas who edited four scriptures and authored 18 epics, Maha Bharath and Srimadbhagavatham. Feeding poor programmes were also organised on this auspicious occasion.

People from all walks of life made beeline to nearby temples of Sri Sai Baba from early morning and performed prayers.Thousands of devotees visited Sai Baba temple in Sainagar of the city. Special programmes were held on the premises of government and private educational institutions as part of the celebrations. Students greeted their teachers and sought blessings.

Similar celebrations were conducted across the district. Devotees flocked the Sai Baba temple in Hanamkonda in large numbers. Temple authorities performed special prayers and conducted annadanam to over 5,000 people. Temple trusty Srinivas said the special prayers began with harathi early in the morning and then mangala snanam was conducted. Devotees formed beelines for darshan of Sai Baba.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / August 01st, 2015

Paints soon that can generate electricity

Science & Technology
Representational image
Representational image

Hyderabad:

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, have developed a smart coating technology that is self-healing, hydrophobic and hydrophilic, eco-friendly, resists corrosion and more. Surfaces requiring these properties need only be coated by the polymers and their hybrids.

Scientists at the Polymers and Functional Materials Division of the IICT said projects on different types of coating materials were underway and could be altered as per the requirements of the user.

Smart coating polymers are under development around the world which respond to an external stimulus. “Self-healing property can be invoked with a small amount of heating. If there is a scratch, it can be removed just by applying heat from a hair dryer,” said Dr Ramanuj Narayan, senior scientist, Polymers and Fun-ctional Materials Division, IICT said.

Another kind of material being developed is transparent and hydrophobic which repels water so there is no wetting or blurring of the surface. Researchers have also developed an eco-friendly polymer paint with anti-microbial properties that is devoid of additives. Paint and coating uses many additives which may contain toxins and could even emit them apart from odours. “Additives also go away after some time, degrading the quality of the paint coat. But there is no degradation in our eco-friendly paint,” said Dr K.V.S.N. Raju, head of the Polymers and Functional Materials Division of IICT.

IICT researchers have also developed a self-recoverable polymer coating that can recover its original shape on slight heating. “Scientists were working on the development of composite materials but observed a self-recoverable behaviour. It will regain its original shape like rubber. We are thinking what kind of applications it can have,” Dr Narayan explained.

IICT is also working on developing a solar paint and ink that will completely do away with the need for solar panels and will directly generate electricity from the coated walls.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle by Amar Tejaswi /July 30th, 2015

Festive Air as Women Throng Secunderabad Bonalu Fest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad :

An air of festivity swept through the streets of Secunderabad as thousands of devotees thronged the streets to celebrate Bonalu at the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple. Devotees prayed and offered bonams at other Mahankali temples in the city on the occasion of Secunderabad Mahankali Bonalu Jatara, popularly known as Lashkar Bonalu.

The ‘Rangam’ (forecasting the future) will be made by a young unmarried woman at 8.30 a.m. on Monday.

The colourful Bonalu festival started from early hours of Sunday with a large number of devotees, especially women and young girls gaily dressed in traditional attire carrying ‘Bonam’ (pot containing rice, turmeric powder, jaggery and curd covered with neem leaves with a lamp placed on it) on their heads to offer Goddess Mahankali. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao along with his family members offered ‘pattu vastralu’ (silk clothes) and other items to Goddess Mahankali. Ministers T Srinivas Yadav, T Padma Rao, Nayini Narasimha Reddy, A Indrakaran Reddy, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, senior Government officials and others also offered prayers at the temple.

It is expected that over five lakh devotees would participate in Bonalu till Monday evening.

TRS MP Kavitha carrying a ‘Bonalu’ to Ujjaini Mahakali Temple on the occasion of Bonalu festival in Secunderabad on Sunday | A Radhakrishna
TRS MP Kavitha carrying a ‘Bonalu’ to Ujjaini Mahakali Temple on the occasion of Bonalu festival in Secunderabad on Sunday | A Radhakrishna

Central Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Bandaru Dattatreya also visited the temple and performed puja, while Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu offered prayers at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple on Saturday.
The lanes of Secunderabad were filled with procession of devotees carrying ghatams. Whip weilding ‘potharajus’ with ‘ghatams’ followed by ‘teen maar’ drumbeat reverberated in the lanes and bylanes of Secunderabad.

The Mahankali Temple was beautifully decked up for the festival with illumination, flower arrangements, buntings and festoons.

Apart from devotees of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, devotees from surrounding districts including Rangareddy, Medak and Nalgonda too thronged the temple and offered prayers. Separate queues were made for the convenience of devotees carrying bonalu, and handicapped and aged persons. The devotees also visited Mahankali temples located in Pan Bazar, Regimental Bazar, Ramgopalpet, Mettuguda, Bhoiguda, RP Road, Marredpally, Paradise, Ranigunj, YMCA, SD Road, Seethaphalmandi, Chilkaguda and other temples.

Several devotees offered a ‘thottela’ (a small colourful, paper structure supported by sticks). Police made elaborate security arrangements for smooth conduct of the festival.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 03rd, 2015