Daily Archives: May 26, 2016

Growth can’t be at the cost of natural heritage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, Travel

Hyderabad:

The KBR Park is known for its bio-diversity and wildlife. Spread over 400 acres, it is a virtual forest in the midst of a burgeoning metropolis, home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. It is a part of Hyderabad’s over 400-year-old heritage – which includes gardens, lakes and its cosmopolitan culture.

Originally known as Chiran Palace, the park was the residence of Prince Mukarram Jah and was later rechristened after former chief minister Kasu Brahmananda Reddy after its acquisition under the Urban Land Ceiling Act.

Till the late 1990s, I remember, the KBR Park was surrounded by a nine-kilometre compound wall. This wall was demolished when the then TDP government in united AP began road widening around the park, and NTR Trust Bhavan and a cancer hospital of NTR family came up nearby.

This was the first blow dealt to the park, a mini-Deccan ecosystem.

It is true that the city has grown manifold in the last six decades.

As an economic hub, Hyderabad has great potential to become a global city. It needs a massive step-up in its civic infrastructure to cater to the burgeoning population. An upgradation of road network and better traffic management are key elements of de velopment plans envisaged for this sprawling city .

For this, government has drawn up the Strategic Road Development Program to meet the longterm needs of the city.

However, while taking up these works, the government has to ensure that the eco-system of KBR Park remains unaffected as it is the city’s natural heritage.True, development of civic infrastructure is the need of the hour.

But equally imperative is the preservation of this natural habitat in the midst of urban sprawl.I would urge the authorities to ensure that the eco-system of this natural heritage be preserved, not harmed in any way .

Without eating into land spaces of the park, the authorities need to work out alternative proposals for the six multi-level grade separators to be constructed at six junctions around KBR Park.

Already , disappearance of gardens and lakes from this city over the decades has turned it into a tropical hotbed. Every successive summer seems to make the city hotter with soaring temperatures.

We definitely need better roads and junctions and traffic management but not at the cost of our natural, cultural and architectural heritage. KBR Park and all other green spaces in the city must be preserved to make Hyderabad a liveable city again.

(The author is MIM president and Lok Sabha MP)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / Asaduddin Owaisi / May 26th, 2016

UK-based journal ranks UoH 7th in artificial intelligence research

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

UnivHydTELAN26may2016

Hyderabad :

After being ranked among the best universities in the country, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) here on Wednesday was placed among the most productive organisations involved in artificial intelligence research in India by a UK-based journal.

According to the study published in Science & Technology Libraries Journal, United Kingdom, UoH has been ranked 7th among 160 organisations, as most-productive organisation involved in artificial intelligence research in India.

The top 20 most productive organisations involved in artificial intelligence research in India published 53 or more papers each and contributed 2,219 papers. The average citation per paper achieved by the total papers of these 20 organisations was 4.68, and eight organisations achieved a higher average citation per paper ratio than the group average.

The institutions listed include Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras (10.21); Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata (9.97); IIT, Mumbai (8.44); IIT, Roorkee (7.36); IIT Delhi (6.38); International Business Machines (5.84); UoH (5.36); and PSG College of Technology (4.84).

Also, Dr Alok Singh, Associate Professor in the School of Computer and Information Sciences at UoH, has been ranked 12th among top 15 most productive researchers in artificial intelligence research in India.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / May 26th, 2016

The IITian touch

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

IITsTELAN26may2016

Hyderabad :

The students of Ordinance Factory government High School are also known for their discipline are participation in social activities. All this was possible only because of the initiative taken by the school principal, Sangareddy mandal in-charge education officer, M Venkatesham and IIT Hyderabad, ordinance factory management’s efforts. IIT students have been teaching Maths and English to the students since 2013.

The poor students are being taught in centralised air-conditioned classes in IIT campus. Two to four special classes are being conducted for students in a month and PG students are taking the classes for the students.

In 2013, 20 students appeared for exams and 19 of them passed. After this, the school management and IIT students aimed for 100 per cent pass result.

They started concentrating on the weak students and started special classes. As a result, students achieved 100 per cent results in 2014, 2015 and created a record in the district.

IIT students teach the students in their campus and also last year in ordinance factory high school for 50 days which was organised by Alfa India Limited industry and Alfa India management took care of refreshments for the children.

Training was free of cost and also included students of Indrakaran and Eddumailaram high school students. Currently, special classes are being conducted for Class IX students at IIT Kandi campus and also in ordinance factory temporary college.

This time classes for ordinance factory high school students were held in Gitam University Hyderabad campus also.

School principal and in-charge MEO Venkateshwarlu says that by conducting special classes to students in these prestigious universities and colleges, the confidence level of the students will increase and they will see a new atmosphere which helps them in confidence building. These students also excel in social activities too.

Even as the government postponed the programme due to severe heat wave, the students and teachers of this school planted 150 saplings, that has changed the face of the school. The factory management, as appreciation allotted two acres of land. Students had adopted the plants and are also taking care of them.

The teachers of this school Rama Devi and Sujatha are encouraging the students and moving forward with them.

Locals said that ordinance factory government high school stand as role models for not just the students, but also other school teachers.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by P. Krishna / Express News Service / May 26th, 2016

KTR gets rousing welcome from NRIs

Business & Economy, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, World Opinion

After landing at Chicago airport on US soil, to a rousing welcome from non-resident Indians hailing from Telangana, Information Technology Minister K. T. Rama Rao on Tuesday launched into several meetings with VIPs including heads of companies.

In a busy schedule, he met Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, Deputy Governor of Illinois, Trey Childress, and Consul-General of India, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed. He discussed potential areas of collaboration and cooperation between Illinois state and Telangana and outlined the salient features of the industrial policy of fledging State of India, including TSiPASS, the single window approval system.

Mr. Rao elaborated on investment opportunities in the information technology and communication, pharma and allied sectors. Mr. Trey was said to have expressed the interest of Illinois State to partner with Telangana on innovation. Also saying that he had heard a lot about the T-Hub, India’s biggest technology incubator, he said Chicago and Hyderabad shared a strong bond.

The Consul-General hosted a dinner at Chicago in honour of Mr. Rama Rao and the visiting delegation, after which the Minister held a series of meetings with heads of companies. Those he met included Chairman of the Redberry Corporation, Deepak Kanat, President of Abaris Capital Advisors, Omer Ahmed, Chairman, Genesis Pharmaceuticals, Monif Matouk and CEO of Safye Holdings Afi Hasan.

A press release said Eclat Health Solutions, a digital healthcare company, had come forward to invest US $ 15 million in Telangana, generating employment to about 1,000 people.

Several MoU were signed with representatives of these companies, in the presence of the Minister. Mr. Rama Rao also met Governor of Indiana, Mr. Mike Pence at Indianapolis later, also attending the Indianapolis-Hyderabad Sister Cities Committee meeting where he addressed a 500-strong gathering of NRIs hailing from Telangana.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 25th, 2016