Hyderabad may go Delhi way

About Telangana, Business & Economy

Hyderabad :

After having come to power in Telangana, the TRS is now aiming to take control of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Towards that end, the TRS government is mulling trifurcation of the civic body into Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Cyberabad municipal corporations.

Such a trifurcation will ensure better administration and development in three core regions of Hyderabad, sources said. The proposal takes the cue from Delhi, where the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated into North Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi Municipal Corporations in 2012. Similarly, Mumbai city has two corporations, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

Sources said initially, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was in favour of bifurcating GHMC into two entities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad municipal corporations.

However, some leaders reportedly suggested that Cyberabad should also be made a municipal corporation by merging it with some more surrounding villages. Following that, the TRS government is warming up to the idea of splitting GHMC into three entities.

TRS sources said the trifurcation of GHMC will not only pave the way for better administration and focused development, but will also help the party to capture power in the civic bodies. As of now, the TRS does not have representation in the 150-ward corporation and it is likely to contest the next election by allying with the Majlis-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which, incidentally, has been sharing power with the Congress for the past five years. The TRS may consult its new ally MIM before taking a decision on splitting GHMC into two or three corporations, the sources said.

“GHMC elections are due in December this year. If the bifurcation or trifurcation happens, the state government may have to postpone the elections for about six months for delimitation of wards and to complete other procedures,” a city TRS leader said.

Both Hyderabad and Secunderabad were separate municipal corporations till 1960 and merged later. The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1950, created two separate corporations for Hyderabad and Secunderabad and then merged the two bodies in 1960 and converted into Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) in order to ensure effective administration and financial strength. At that time, the MCH’s population was just 16 lakh spread over 73 sq kms and the corporation’s annual budget was just 1.5 crore per year.

In April 2007, the erstwhile MCH and surrounding 12 municipalities were merged and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was created covering an area of 625 sq kms.

Attempts were made by the previous Congress state governments to add another 36 villages into GHMC but they did not succeed due to resentment from the people’s representatives and court cases.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Konde Mahesh, TNN / July 13th, 2014

New Telangana State Ushers in Its First Bonalu Festival

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad :

The annual Ashada Jatara Bonalu festival will be held at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on Sunday. After the formation of new Telangana state, this would be the first grand festival to be held in the new state. The state government has declared Bonalu it a state festival.

Bonalu is an important Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Mahakali and is held in the month of Ashadam. The festival is celebrated to ward off evil and usher in peace and harmony.

Apart from Ujjaini Mahankali temple, several Mahakali temples located in Secunderadad like Ramgopalpet, Pan Bazar, Mettuguda, Bhoiguda, R P Road and M G Road, Paradise, YMCA, Patny and Ranigunj will also be celebrating the festival on the same day. Meanwhile, preparations are under way in full swing for the festival.

Executive Officer and Assistant Commissioner of Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Devasthanam, Secunderabad, A Ashok Goud said Sri Ammavaru (Goddess Mahakali) darshan would will commence at 4 am on Sunday and go on till 2 am the next day.

Devotees will be allowed for darshan (prayers) of Goddess Mahakali through dharma darshanam entrance from 4 am. Lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the temple for darshan during this period.Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao along with family members, Ministers, MPs and MLAs would offer prayers to goddess Mahakali at around noon on Sunday.

Rangam tomorrow

The festival will conclude on Monday with ‘Rangam’, foretelling of the future by a young unmarried woman at 9 am followed by Mahakali procession on a caparisoned elephant. The procession with the Mahankali idol will begin at 10.30 am and culminate at Mettuguda.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / July 13th, 2014

Forum formed to help CM K Chandrasekhar Rao build Telangana

Business & Economy, Leaders
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: DC archives)
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (Photo: DC archives)

Hyderabad:

In order to support Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his plans to develop the state, a forum has been formed.

In a round table conference held at a hotel in the city, Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali has thanked Mr Rao for giving him an opportunity to serve the people and a position in the government. Mr Mahmood Ali promised that he will help the minorities in solving their issues.

Former MLA Konda Lakshma Reddy, Telangana Muslims JAC president Mohammed Mushtaq Malik, TRS Nampally incharge Mohammed Raheemullah Khan Niyazi and former SAAP chairman Nawab Mir Hyder Ali Khan were among those present at the meeting. Shareef Abdul Raheem Yamani, chairman of two local channels, joined the TRS in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / July 16th, 2014

Taking a tough stand

Sports
V.S. Hari Krishna, winner of the youth boys title at the recent St. Paul's Stag TT Academy state ranking tournament. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
V.S. Hari Krishna, winner of the youth boys title at the recent St. Paul’s Stag TT Academy state ranking tournament. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Playing with senior players has helped paddler Hari Krishna chalk up victories

V.S. Hari Krishna preferred to punch above his weight right from an early age. Unlike several children who fake their dates of birth to play against younger rivals, he showed a penchant to take on tougher, if not older, opponents.

Such an approach stood him in good stead as the 14-year-old, who should be playing in the junior category, clinched the youth boys (under 21 years) title of the St. Paul’s Stag Table Tennis Academy state ranking tournament recently. All those training sessions at the aforementioned academy with former international G. Jitender and Shreyas Jagirdar, another senior player, had paid off.

Hari attributes his recent success to the 45-day national camp held at Lucknow in summer, where he learnt new techniques from the German coach Peter Angel. “This outing gave me a lot of experience and confidence,” says the youngster.

Setting out in the sport as an eight-year-old, the class X student of Gitanjali Devashray built up an impressive body of achievement. In March, he clinched a bronze double in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Global Junior Circuit tournament at Panaji, Goa. After claiming the cadet singles bronze, he joined hands with another Hyderabad lad, Snehit Fidel Rohit, to corner the doubles bronze.

“It was a dream come true to wear India colours and play before the home crowd,” the teenager said of the Goa experience. Hari finished fifth in the Table Tennis Federation of India’s (TTFI) 2013 sub-junior boys rankings. In the singles of the said section, he claimed bronze at the National ranking championship at Ajmer in December last year.

With Chinese paddler Zhang Jike for role model, Hari embarked on the table tennis journey under the tutelage of Maduri Venugopal and is currently coached by Ibrahim Khan and P. Nagender Reddy.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Joseph Anthony / Hyderabad – July 16th, 2014

Telangana Steals Show at Tourism Fair

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel

Hyderabad :

The Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) travel show that got underway at Hitex in Hyderabad on Friday proved to be a big canvas for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to promote their tourism in a big way.

Those who had visited the TTF trade fair, organised by Fairfest Media Limited in Hyderabad on previous occasions, would be now looking at two pavilions instead of one belonging to a composite state with the youngest state of India – Telangana – making its debut at the fair in a colourful manner. Its pavilion was artfully constructed based on Kakatiya theme. AP Tourism’s pavilion, simple yet elegant, catches the eye of the visitor with artfully decorated posters and wood carvings from Madavamala.

Beside the Telangana pavilion, Gujarat pavilion stands in all its glory with colourfully attired artistes playing dandiya raas. The three-day travel show, features around 200 stalls from across the country. Sri Lanka, Malyasia, Thailand and Oman also set up their stalls. In the middle of the expo, stands Kerala’s pavilion attracting the visitors.

Besides tourism departments and development corporations of states like Assam, Goa, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and others, several private players from hospitality industry have also set up stalls. “It is a platform for the who and who of tourism and hospitality industry to interact, share and collaborate,” Fairfest Medial Limited joint managing director Gazanfar Ibrahim told ‘Express.’

“Like previous year, this year too, there is a good participation from India as well as abroad,” he said. Ibrahim said the tourism sector is one of the top five priorities of the NDA government. “If there is no uncertainty, progress in tourism is possible,” he pointed out.

On the incentives announced for the tourism sector in the Union Budget, he said: “Much needs to be done for the sector, especially rationalisation of taxation, if we are to stand a chance with global tourism players like Malaysia, Singapore, among others.”

The travel show will be open for the general public from Saturday 3 pm. The show concludes on Sunday evening.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by S Guru Srikanth / July 02nd, 2014

Stars walk the ramp for education cause

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
From Left: Shilpa Reddy, Lakshmi Manchu, event organiser M.R.S.K. Chaitanya, Dia Mirza and Saina Nehwal at a fashion show organised by the Teach for Change initiative (Photo: DC)
From Left: Shilpa Reddy, Lakshmi Manchu, event organiser M.R.S.K. Chaitanya, Dia Mirza and Saina Nehwal at a fashion show organised by the Teach for Change initiative (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad:

The who’s who of the city was present at a fashion show organised by the Teach for Change initiative at a star hotel here on Friday to raise funds for textbooks being sourced from Cambridge University. The initiative is supported by Deccan Chronicle. Hundreds of enthusiasts from different fields were present to support the cause for better education for the deprived children.

Badminton ace Saina Nehwal, actresses Dia Mirza, Lakshmi Manchu and Adah Sharma, theatre personality Dolly Thakore, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, designer Shilpa Reddy, and Karuna Gopal of FFC walked the ramp with kids from 10 government schools.

Dolly Thakore also introduced the “Edu Beam” — a satellite-based educative link that is being tested in Mumbai’s municipal schools. “There is always a lacuna in what government does for its state. And such initiatives bring to light a few issues. The Telangana government will certainly give special attention to the field of education and will introduce innovation in learning,” said Mr Rama Rao.

“India must learn from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Finland and Taiwan, which have adopted groundbreaking techniques in the field of education — like using information communication technology, teaching life and nature, using iPads etc. — now that the World Bank has allotted a billion dollars for education,” said Ms Karuna Gopal, president, Foundation for Futuristic Cities (FFC).

In a bid to add a comprehensive value addition, the Teach for Change initiative has adopted 10 government schools across the city to provide critical inputs in the areas of English learning and leadership qualities.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Education / DC / Bhagyashree Tarke / July 12th, 2014

Two city boys for Homeless World Cup!

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports, World Opinion
Simarpreet Singh and Tariq Ahmed from Hyderabad who have been selected to represent India in the World Cup football for Homeless to be played in Chile this October. PHOTO: V. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Simarpreet Singh and Tariq Ahmed from Hyderabad who have been selected to represent India in the World Cup football for Homeless to be played in Chile this October. PHOTO: V. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Soccer fever is reaching a climax in Brazil. But for two young footballers, Tariq and Simarpreet Singh from the city, it might just be the beginning of a journey to recognition. The two boys have been selected to represent India in the Homeless World Cup (for those who come from slums) in Chile in October.

“A World Cup is a World Cup. We are on cloud nine,” the delighted duo exclaimed. They are products of ‘Sports Coaching Foundation’ football camp where Hyderabad Sporting Club chief coach Mohd Saleh trains.

“This is a dream come true and we will try our best to make an impact in this event,” say the soccer duo. Nineteen-year-old Tariq is an engineering graduate from Hussaini Alam and Simarpreet is a commerce graduate from Zaranagar locality of Mehdipatnam. “This is nowhere near the real World Cup soccer but this is a sport that is played with great passion,” the duo says.

“These boys would not have made it to Chile but for the initiative of Kaarmic Education Services’ Dantu Kartik and Adithya Sanjay of Awakening Foundation who spotted talent and started grooming them. I am glad that Tariq and Simarpreet are from the SCF where they have been training under lights,” says a proud K. Sai Baba, general secretary of SCF.

SCF felicitated the duo.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 12th, 2014

Their poster girl for a better tomorrow

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Anitha is the first Chenchu girl to clear Intermediate from her village now aims to become a teacher at Chench colony, Chandampet mandal in Nalgonda district. Photo: Singam Venkataramana / The Hindu
Anitha is the first Chenchu girl to clear Intermediate from her village now aims to become a teacher at Chench colony, Chandampet mandal in Nalgonda district. Photo: Singam Venkataramana / The Hindu

By clearing the Intermediate exam, Dasari Anitha has not only become the first girl from Chenchugudem to do so, but also an inspiration to other tribal girls

Dasari Anitha may be no Malala Yousufzai, but her achievement has left the whole Chenchu tribal habitation in Chenchugudem ecstatic. The 18-year-old has cleared her Intermediate examination, a feat no girl from the Chenchu tribal village has ever accomplished.

Anitha scored 671 marks out of a total of 1,000, something the villagers say would encourage girl education among Chenchu families.

Located in Timmapur Panchayat under the Chandampet mandal, the 42-house exclusive Chenchu habitation had never sent a girl to college until Anitha was admitted to the Tribal Welfare Residential Education Societies’ College in Damarcherla mandal two years ago (the Biology-Physics-Chemistry group).

The previous highest qualification was that of a girl who had studied up to the class 7, says Anjaiah, Anitha’s father. “But she was married off at a very tender age,” he said.

However, things have changed after Anitha went to college, he said. Twelve girls have since been admitted to the Mini Gurukulam in Chandampet to classes 5, 6 and 8.

Anitha told The Hindu that she aimed to become a teacher after completing her two-year Teacher Training Course (TTC).

Her mother Eedamma said the family was elated at her achievement and was looking forward to seeing Anitha become a teacher. She hoped Anitha’s achievement would inspire her three younger siblings.

The Chenchu couple cultivates various crops in their two-acre land, but that still leaves them little for two square meals a day for their six-member family.

The Chenchu habitation has appealed to the government to provide Anitha a TTC admission and guide her to become a teacher as her achievement could provide a boost to girl education not only in the nine tribal habitations of Chandampet mandal, but also in Chenchu families living in adjoining Nallamala forest.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Staff Reporter / Chandampet (Nalgonda Dt.) – July 09th, 2014

Reconstructive surgeries for disabled at Re. 1

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Aakar Asha Centre for Enablement of Physically Disabled, Kukatpally, has launched a ‘One Rupee Reconstructive Surgery Campaign’ for differently-abled persons. The centre will hold camps at 12 locations in the city to identify persons who might benefit from reconstructive surgeries.

Such surgeries are usually beneficial to patients who have suffered burns, accidents where they have suffered disfigurement and those who are recovering after the removal of benign tumours. “The entire cost of consultation, blood tests and reconstructive surgery will be borne by us. I also request individuals and groups to support us in this noble cause by donating generously,” said director and managing trustee, ‘Aakar Asha’, Bharatendu Swain.

The campaign also aims at seeking partners to mobilise physically disabled persons to camps, reaching out to donors, matching donors and beneficiaries and follow-up care of beneficiaries. “We have noticed that with proper intervention, transformation happens in many cases. The campaign will reach out to credible groups to partner in this cause for raising donations,” he said. Interested donors can call: 23050960/8978468242.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – July 10th, 2014

K’nagar a Model City

About Telangana, Business & Economy

Karimnagar :

An autonomous committee has been set up with the Mission of Karimnagar City Renovation (KCR) to develop Karimnagar as a model city.

The 12-member committee, set up three days back, is headed by Karimnagar MP B Vinod Kumar and has MLA, Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (KMC commissioner, mayor and deputy mayor and seven prominent residents of the town as its members.

A brainchild of Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar, the committee has already collected `5 lakh as donations from the public.It will work parallel to the KMC. Revealing this to newsmen here on Sunday, Kamalakar said that to ensure transparency, the committee had opened a bank account in the name of the KMC commissioner and donors could directly deposit their mite into it.

He pointed out that the city of Dayton in the United State had been similarly developed with public funds.

Meanwhile, the committee launched its first activity on Sunday — that of making Karimnagar green by planting 120 saplings in the KMC’s 4th Division/Ward. Division/Ward. The committee proposed to plant 1 lakh saplings over a period of time.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / July 07th, 2014