Hyderabad discussions

[Gudavalli]

HMDA plots' auction today

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) will begin the process for auction of 42 open plots from Saturday. While almost all the plots have been left over from previous bids, there is only one new layout, which is an extension of the Gopanpally layout at Gachibowli.

HMDA metropolitan commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad announced at a press conference on Friday that those interested in participating in the auction can either submit e-biddings or sealed tenders. The bids will be accepted till 3 pm on August 7 and will be opened from 11am on August 8, he said.

Auction will be conducted for Nallagandla residential complex (17 plots), Tellapur residential complex (one), Gopanpally residential complex (11), Ramachandrapuram (Chandanagar) residential complex ((two), Miyapur residential complex (nine), Asifnagar residential complex (one) and four acres at Nandagiri Hills, the metropolitan commissioner said. For e-bidding, prospective bidders have to log on to www.hmda.gov.in, he said.

The up set price of the plots is between Rs 9,000 and Rs 25,000 per sq yard in all the layouts except Nandagiri Hills, admeasuring about 4.695 acres, where the up set price is Rs 18 crore per acre.

Neerabh Kumar Prasad said those participating in the bidding have to pay 10% towards Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). Applications without EMD would not be considered for the auction. He added that no change in the bidding amount would be entertained after it is submitted. The EMD amount can be paid either online or through RTGS from any bank to ICICI Bank. Unsuccessful bidders' EMD would be returned within two days online.

"We have introduced a new system where the successful bidder can pay the balance bidding amount within 90 days. If he pays within 30 days, no interest would be charged. If the bidder pays the amount within 60 days, 12% and 18% interest will be charged, and 12% and 15% in case the amount is paid in 90 days," Neerabh Prasad said.

The commissioner said revenue from the auction would be spent on ongoing projects like rail-over-bridge at Kukatpally and ramps of PVNR Expressway.

He said his priority would be to complete various development projects that were already taken up.

[Gudavalli]

Budding filmmakers in Hyderabad flying high

It was their first step to attract the spotlight of fame in the highly-competitive, almost magical world of films and a step they would cherish for the rest of their lives

Ashwin Gangaraju never gave movies a second thought. Until he got into the B.Tech course in an engineering college in Nellore district. But being a free bird in college, he got to see movies by the dozen and it wasn’t long before the bug bit him.

Aflame with the passion of making a film, he joined the RamaNaidu Film School (RFS) and in just a year, he was noticed by director S.S. Rajamouli. Alongwith two other RFS students - Tammineni Pratheek and Vijay Yelakanti, he was invited on board the ‘Eega’ team.

While Ashwin and Vijay were first taken aboard as story writers and went on to become Assistant Directors, Prateek was made became Production Manager. It was their first step to attract the spotlight of fame in the highly-competitive, almost magical world of films and a step they would cherish for the rest of their lives.

At an RFS press conference, the trio swore by the film school that had changed their course and chorused that the dividing line between passion and profession had become very thin. Pratheek has a Masters in Science from Sweden, while Vijay did his Masters in Construction Management from the US.

RFS Dean Venkatesh Chakravarthy presented a report on the RFS programmes since its inception in October, 2008 and said ‘the path to become a great filmmaker begins here, but does not end with us,’ echoing the objective of the school. Along the way, RFS started collaborating with the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture & Fine Arts University, offering Masters courses in Film Technology, in direction, screen-writing and cinematography for film and television.

In its latest move, RFS has tied up with the International Academy of Computer Graphics (IACG). Our motto is help budding filmmakers , said P. Ramakrishna, IACG’s CEO.

[Gudavalli]

ENT surgeon heads audiology wing in Hyderabad

M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, professor of ENT in Osmania Medical College/Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has been posted professor of audiology in the Government ENT Hospital

The Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has a new head of the audiology wing. The catch, however, is that the new professor is not an audiologist but an ENT surgeon!

The government has issued appointment orders when the incumbent and a qualified audiologist had two more months to go for his contract period to end.

In orders released two days ago, M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, professor of ENT in Osmania Medical College/Government ENT Hospital, Koti, has been posted professor of audiology in the Government ENT Hospital “in the existing vacancy.”

But, official sources said that no such post existed in the audiology wing, the only such functioning unit anywhere in the State.

The post of the head of the audiology wing has been upgraded in 2006 with V.U. Nandur, appointed as the professor, chief speech pathologist and audiologist, and he continued in the post till he retired last year.

Reappointed

Prof.Nandur, the only speech pathologist and audiologist in government service, was reappointed last year on a one year contract.

The audiology wing receives 200 patients daily and does new born screening, hearing assessment, hearing loss, rehabilitation besides, verifying hearing impaired cases for employment and scholarships.

It was the second time that the government was trying to post the ENT surgeon to the audiology wing.

Previously done in 2005

The previous effort was in 2005 when the demand was made to post Dr. Reddy as professor of audiology and speech pathology at the hospital.

The then ENT Hospital Superintendent replied to the government: “Audiology and speech pathology is a separate subject/speciality with undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. qualifications.

It is a completely different subject exclusively deals with speech, language and hearing disorders.

Separate institutions

There are separate institutions in India which impart training in this particular speciality wherein the subject taught is entirely different from ‘Otorhinolaryngology’ (ENT). [But] The specialities i.e. ENT and audiology & speech pathology function together in a clinical set up.”

‘Post can’t be upgraded’

He further stated: “Dr. M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, presently working as associate professor (sic) of ENT, Osmania Medical College, does not possess either undergraduate, postgraduate or Ph.D. qualifications in speech pathology and audiology (speech & hearing). Hence, his present post cannot be upgraded to that of the professor of audiology and speech pathology at the Government ENT Hospital.”

[Gudavalli]

TOI taps retailers with 3D Trendz in Hyderabad

The Times of India’s marketing arm, Response, is experimenting with the 3D format for the first time in Hyderabad for its 16-pager supplement – ‘TrendZ’. The paper has hit newsstands on July 14, 2012.

Speaking to exchange4media, Thomas George, VP, Response (Hyderabad), The Times of India, said, “This is a special one-off issue being released today in the Hyderabad market. It is a unique attempt for the local audience. In the world of sameness, this special issue stands out as an innovative solution to stand out in the clutter.”

The in-house innovation is a move to attract the retailers of Hyderabad. The entire tabloid is filled with 3D advertisements, giving an opportunity to the advertisers to explore the innovation. All the ads in the tabloid have been converted to 3D. 2.6 lakh issues of the paper with the 3D effect are being circulated, along with free 3D glasses.

TrendZ is a tabloid with content primarily related to retail and lifestyle, with more of retail advertisements. Thomas said, “All the ads for this special have been converted into 3D, making it an exciting new offering for the advertiser and the reader.”

It may be recalled that this is not the first time such a 3D innovation has been brought into use. It was in 2010, when the first 3D print edition was introduced in the Indian market by Rajasthan Patrika in Jaipur. The same year saw another 3D innovation in print by Mid Day on October 26, 2010.

As the year passed by, other newspapers like Dainik Jagran, Gujarati newspaper Sandesh and Hindustan Times came up with 3D effects in their supplements with photographs and avertisements in 3D.

Meanwhile, for The Times of India, response from readers and retailers will decide on future 3D forays. In case of an overwhelming response, the paper might even consider making the 3D tabloid a weekly supplement.

[Gudavalli]

Agni-I a success

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army launched the Agni-I missile from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, on Friday.

The flight was a success with the missile travelling its full range of 700 km. The practice launch took place at 10.06 a.m. with Agni-I lifting off from a road mobile launcher (a modified TATRA truck) stationed at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on the Wheeler Island and the missile sped towards its targeted area in the Bay of Bengal. It followed its path perfectly guided by onboard computers. The missile’s re-entry systems worked well and it plunged into the targeted area with accuracy.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) designed and developed Agni-I. The Army has already deployed this short-range missile which can carry nuclear warheads.

An elated V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu from the Wheeler Island, that all the Agni missiles — Agni-I, II, III, IV and V, developed by the DRDO, “are flying high.” The DRDO launched Agni-V with a range of more than 5,000 km in April this year and the DRDO was back to launching Agni-I now, he said.

“All Agni missiles are performing well. Their production systems are working on schedule and the user [the Army] is conversant with the exercise of the launch. They have done a superb job today. The Strategic Forces Command has mastered the technology of launching the missile to a high degree of perfection,” said Dr. Saraswat, who is the DRDO Director-General and a missile technologist himself.

“As the designer and developer of Agni missiles, the DRDO is elated,” Dr. Saraswat said. As many Agni missiles as are required would be produced and delivered to the user, he added.

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, who was the Mission Director, described it as a textbook launch, with the mission meeting all its objectives. Radars installed along the coast kept a tab on Agni-I. Cameras on board two ships stationed near the targeted area recorded the terminal event of the missile’s flight. The missile was drawn from the production lot.

“It was a complete success,” said G. Satheesh Reddy, Associate Director, Research Centre, Imarat (RCI), one of the DRDO laboratories situated in Hyderabad.

The launch operations were monitored by Project Director, Agni-I, J. Chattopadhyaya. Those who witnessed the launch included V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad; S.K. Chaudhuri, Director, RCI; M.V.K.V. Prasad, Director, ITR, Balasore, Odisha; and top officers of the SFC. The ASL, a DRDO laboratory and the RCI developed many systems used in Agni-I.

Agni-I is 15 metres long and weighs 12 tonnes. It is a single-stage missile that is powered by solid propellants. It can carry a nuclear warhead weighing one tonne. With its range of 700 km, it is Pakistan-specific.

The first flight of Agni-I took place on January 25, 2002. The DRDO developed it quickly within 15 months because need was felt for missile with a short range which will cover the western area — after the Kargil war between India and Pakistan in 1999.

Dr. Saraswat said the maiden launch of India’s Nirbhay, a sub-sonic cruise missile, would take place by the end of August this year. Nirbhay is India’s equivalent of Tomahawk, a long-range sub-sonic cruise missile in the arsenal of the U.S. The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO facility situated in Bangalore, has designed Nirbhay which has several technologies derived from Lakshya, a pilotless target aircraft.

The launch of Agni-V from a canister would take place after five months, he added.

[Gudavalli]

Out of Africa, and loving Hyderabad

When 21-year old Anna from Namibia chose to study in India, it was a conscious decision. India’s success story in the IT field across the world, and her observations about India back home thanks to the large number of South Africans of Indian origin helped her narrow down the choice. After three years of her stay in Hyderabad to pursue a B.Sc in Computer Sciences at Osmania University, she is going back with a heavy heart.

“It was better than home. Even my mom loved the place”, she says wistfully. She vows that discrimination on the basis of colour or her African origins was not at all an issue with her friends or the administration or the local residents. “I never faced any problem while searching for rented houses or eating out. Among Indians there is inherent respect for women and I could feel it during my stay,” she says. “In fact, I feel safer in Hyderabad than my own country.”

Zainab A. Kasubi, from Tanzania affirms Anna’s views. Zainab who completed her B.Sc (Food and Nutrition) from Nizam College rejects allegations of African students being subjected to discrimination. “Neither I nor my friends have faced ill-treatment in the college, locality or while moving about in the city,” she says. Zainab feels Indians are god-fearing and the respect emanates from that fear.

But African boys are a little cautious about giving a clean certificate even though they agree that Hyderabad is a safe city for foreign students. Dunstan, who attends OU Law College, says some bad incidents have left a negative impression on him, but on the whole as a community Hyderabadis are good and the city is safe. Some policemen, he says, behave rudely and there is a need to sensitise them about foreign students. “But police across the world are the same.”

Aydarm Mahamed from Ethiopia who decided to stay back for his post-graduate studies agrees on the existence of some negativity due to the involvement of some African students in drug peddling recently. Only a few people are involved in such nefarious activities but the community has to take the blame. “Perhaps, it happens to the foreigners in any country and we understand that,” says Dunstan.

Police records reveal that it is not the genuine students who are involved in such cases but those overstaying after the expiry of their visa, and whose prime objective is not academics. Some police officers concede that there is a tendency to suspect African students. “Except incidents where individuals are involved, by and large as a community foreign students don’t face many problems,” a Police Inspector says.

The Osmania University Foreign Relations Office (UFRO) Director, Prof. C. Venugopal Rao points out that no major complaints were lodged with his office over discrimination on colour and ethnicity or violence. Some students complain of reluctance to rent houses to African students, mostly boys. “Violence or discrimination based on colour has not been reported in the last 10 years since foreign students started flocking to the city,” he says. That positive image is, in fact, attracting students to Osmania University and the growing numbers perhaps indicate that.

As of now 3,698 students from 78 countries are pursuing various courses, a rise from a mere 661 in 2005. Another 1,500 are expected to join this year.

[Gudavalli]

Army's Strategic Forces Command can fire Agni-I on its own

HYDERABAD: The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) can now independently fire the 700-km range nuclear capable Agni-1 missile when the occasion arises. The SFC will need no help from defence scientists as the test firing of the missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler island, Balasore in Odisha on Friday demonstrated that SFC had acquired complete knowledge of it.

The SFC which forms part of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) in the country is the agency that will have to use the missiles if need arises.

"When the test firing was carried out by the SFC, we were merely spectators. The DRDO has developed the technology and the production facility of the missiles is in place. The SFC now has the capability to fire the missiles," DRDO chief and scientific advisor to defence minister, V K Saraswat told STOI by phone from Balasore immediately after the test firing of the Agni-I.

Saraswat said the Agni-1 missile would add strength to the defence capabilities of the country. "There are no more improvements needed for the Agni-1 as such but we have our own plans of developing variants," Saraswat said.

In December last year, the Agni-1 was test fired by the Army as part of the training to be able to use the missile on its own. The Friday's testing fire was one more trial carried out by the user to the satisfaction of the defence scientists. "Our satisfaction is complete," Saraswat said about the way defence personnel had gone about the task of test firing the indigenous missile.

Avinash Chander, chief controller of R&D (missiles and strategic systems) and director of Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, described the test firing of the missile by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) on Friday as a 'major step' in the preparation of the use of the weapon. He said the missile that was test fired was taken from the production line.

Agni-1 is a 12-tonne, 15-metre long surface-to-surface ballistic missile which can carry payloads up to 1,000 kg.

It may be mentioned here that the missile has been developed at the missile complex in Hyderabad with the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat being involved in it. The production of the missile is also being done by the Bharat Dynamics Limited in Hyderabad.

The Agni-1 missile was successfully flight tested from the launch complex at Wheeler's island off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha. The missile took off at 10.06 am from a road mobile launcher and followed the path perfectly computed by the explicit guidance running in the state of art On Board Computers (OBC). Defence scientists said the missile reached the target point in the Bay of Bengal with a zero accuracy as witnessed by two naval ships located near the target.

The missile test fired by the Strategic Forces Command as part of the routine training exercise met all the mission objectives. The Inertial Navigation System (INS) performed excellently and navigated the missile within a few meters from the intended target point. The Electro Optic Tracking System (EOTS) radars located all along the coast traced the missile and monitored all the parameters in real time.

[Gudavalli]

Interesting battle on the cards for film chamber elections

HYDERABAD: An interesting battle is on the cards as the A P Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) is scheduled to elect its new body here on July 29. The filing of nominations which began on July 9 ended on Saturday.

The 44-member executive committee comprises representatives from exhibitors, distributors, producers and studio owners. The executive committee in turn will elect the office-bearers. The all-important post of president of the film chamber this year has been reserved for the producers' council. Every year, the post of president is reserved in turns for the four different divisions of the film industry. Last year, the post went to studio owners' association which chose D Suresh Babu as its nominee. This time, since the post has been reserved for the producers' council, it is learnt that it will not be a smooth affair.

According to sources, the incumbent president D Suresh Babu, could also be a candidate for the post as he is also a producer and therefore entitled to contest. A keen contest can be expected as the name of Tammareddy Bharadwaja is also being floated by a section of producers. That means, it can be a straight contest between Suresh Babu and Tammareddy Bharadwaja, unless some other group of producers decide to throw their hat in the ring. The exhibitors and distributors seem to be in favour of Suresh Babu as he understands every aspect of the trade.

Apart from office-bearers, the exhibitors, distributors, producers and studio owners will also have to elect one of them as chairman of their respective bodies.

The Telugu film industry has been going through a rough patch with problems pertaining to VAT, service tax, the issue of dubbing films, issues with the regional censor board and wages of cine workers haunting it. Those who get elected will have to take up these issues at the highest level to restore normalcy to the industry.

[Gudavalli]

Mirchi Music Awards

Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM presents the third edition of the Mirchi Music Awards, to honour the outstanding achievements of the music industry through the year 2011. The Mirchi Music Awards brings together the film music fraternity from across all the four southern languages and the award function will take place in Hyderabad on August 4.

Addressing a pres conference, Prashant Pandey, CEO, Radio Mirchi said: “The warm welcome and positive feedback from the film industry that we have received on Mirchi Music Awards in the last two years, has inspired us to take it to a new level this year. From screening to selecting to the final awards, each process has been meticulously planned in a structured manner so that no deserving work goes unnoticed.”

This year, the film music artists from South India get a chance to win thirteen awards across categories in each language for the films released in the year 2011.

In addition, there will be two special awards in each language - a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Jury’s Special Recognition Award for outstanding contribution to Film music.

Keeping in mind the interest of radio listeners, there will be two special awards – Radio Mirchi Listener’s Choice award given to “Best song of the year” and “Film album of the year” chosen by popular vote. Each of the four South Indian languages will have separate jury panels headed by a chairman.

The chairman of the Tamil jury is Gangai Amaren, Telugu jury is headed by D. Suresh Babu, the Kannada jury by Hamsalekha and the Malayalam industry is chaired by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The entire process of screening, short-listing and selecting of winners is audited by Ernst and Young.

[Gudavalli]

Metros to get second airports due to growing air traffic

New Delhi: Burgeoning air traffic would prompt construction of second airports in five major metros and a third in Mumbai as an estimated $30 billion would be invested on such infrastructure over the next decade, an aviation consultancy firm has said.

Over the next 10 years, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata are expected to provision for a second airport and Mumbai would need to start preparing for a third one, based on current growth estimates, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said in a study.

High traffic growth was also being witnessed at several non-metros with several airports having “already outgrown their existing infrastructure”, the Sydney-based aviation consultancy firm said.

Over the next 10 years, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata are expected to provision for a second airport. AFP
“Projected growth will necessitate provisioning for a second airport at each of the metro cities and a third in the case of Mumbai, paving the way for a total of 13 metro airports. There is the possibility of a second airport in Ahmedabad as well,” it said.

The Indian airport sector is expected to see a further investment of $30 billion including the cost of upgrading existing airports, provisioning for second airports at each of the metros and construction of greenfield airports.

Noting that most metro airports barring Mumbai have adequate capacity for the next few years, CAPA said even in cases like Delhi and Bangalore which have new airports and sufficient capacity, the rate of growth was such that planning is needed in this decade for building of second airports.

The same was true of Chennai airport which would run out of capacity before 2017, it said.

Observing that most of the 35 key non-metro airports need new capacity now or very shortly, it said cities like Pune, Patna, Jaipur, Nagpur and Lucknow had “urgent requirements”.

“In most cases the state governments do not recognise the implications of failing to address this issue. New terminals will assist in some cases where land is available, but in many cities there is a need to look at building new airports with a long-term perspective,” CAPA said.

Given the scarcity of land in India, it said the country must prepare long-term airport development plans which can meet requirements for the next 20-30 years.

But the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has “no capital expenditure programmes scheduled beyond the end of the 12th Five Year Plan which ends in 2017″.

It said the financial position of the AAI and other public-private partnership airports was stretched, implying that “they are unable to commit sufficient funding to long- term projects”.

Airport capacity shortages were also compounded by additional challenges in the form of surface transportation links, limited availability of skilled manpower and airspace congestion, “leaving India poorly prepared to handle requirements”, the CAPA study said.

While air traffic handled by privatised airports had grown from only two per cent in 2000 to as high as 60 percent, the low-cost model dominating the domestic market, with close to 70 percent market share, had created a new set of challenges and opportunities, it said.

At present, 14 greenfield airports have been given in-principle approval by the government, a major airport facility was being planned for Pune and a greenfield airport being considered for Nalanda in Bihar.

[Naga_Solidus]

Why does Hyderabad need to get a second airport instead of going Head with existing expansion plans at Shamshabad? The maximum capacity in its final phase is 40million, and it was built with an initial maximum capacity of 12million. Besides, if Hyd ever needs an additional airport, they can always restart commercial flights to Begumpet and improve the terminal there.

[Gudavalli]

We expect some relief on interest rates soon: M Bhagavantha Rao, MD, State Bank of Hyderabad

M Bhagavantha Rao, managing director of State Bank of Hyderabad, believes that a policy push could unleash the animal spirit in the economy, referred to by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently.He expects to see at least 25-basis points reduction in rates. Edited excerpts:

What are your concerns as a banker because of the slowing Indian economy?

Our key concern is the rate of interest as it impacts several of our borrowers. It particularly affects industries and especially the medium and small scale enterprises. We have not been able to really make any change in the base rate because of the high cost of deposits. We expect some relief on July 31.

Poor monsoon usually leads to risks on loans, deposits growth, and asset quality, raising the political risk of loan waivers? How do you plan to handle this?

We still hope that the monsoon may turn out to be above average, if not good. But we have a Plan B, which essentially is to take care of our assets in the agricultural sector. If some areas are declared drought-hit, then we will immediately go for rescheduling of loans. We will also lend afresh. The contingency plans are ready. We only hope that the monsoon picks up. The impact of poor monsoon on metros and urban areas won't be much. Segments other than agriculture will not have much of a problem, except in case of power cuts. Power holidays for three days a week could lead to a drop in industrial production and may result in supply contraction.

How was the June quarter performance?

The June quarter has seen very good growth in deposits, particularly in the retail segment. We are not a great player in the NRI segment, but even there, we have seen very good growth. As far as deposits are concerned, we have absolutely no worries. But credit offtake has been sluggish, especially in the case of large corporates. But agriculture is growing and MSMEs are growing better than in the corresponding period of last year. The CD ratio is around 75-77%. Our maximum CD ratio so far was 79.5%. We are 2-4% less mainly because of the lower credit offtake by large corporates. The second half of the Indian economy is generally considered to be a busy season. I think by the year end, we will reach 78-79% of CD ratio.

What will be the key driver for SBH's growth?

Our key growth driver is going to be retail which includes MSME, particularly the micro sector where we are targeting a growth of 60% over the last year. Agriculture will remain a focus area. In the personal segment, we are trying to push aggressively educational loans for vocational streams at the ITIs through our semi- urban and rural branches. I do hope that vocational education could be a good source to not only establish a connect with the people, but also to improve the quality of our technical manpower. We will take it up as a mission.

You had said there was pressure on net interest margins? Is it getting worse?

We had a net interest margin of 3.5%. I expected it to fall by 20-25 basis points during the current year. In fact, we are marginally up by 3-4 basis points. This was possible as we brought about a reduction in deposit rates in some buckets. We have a very conscious policy of reducing our bulk deposits with very high interest rates. I see a definite bias towards lower interest rates. Lower interest rates and deposits have a lag. It doesn't happen immediately. So, I still stick to the position of a 20-25-basis points fall in NIM for the whole year.

How do you explain asset deterioration, restructurings and incremental NPAs?

Well, the slippages are happening in the corporate field. The requests for corporate debt restructuring, or CDR, has been increasing. On an average, we see 3-4 requests per month. We have set up a cell to take care of those accounts, so that there are no slippages in the restructured accounts. So far, we have been able to manage without any slippages in those accounts.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: Old City revels in Bonalu festivities

Hyderabad: The lanes and by-lanes of Old City and several parts of Hyderabad wore a festive look on Sunday as the Bonalu festival was celebrated with great traditional devotion and gaiety amidst tight security. The localities reverberated with Mahankali songs and teen maar beats. As the day advanced, the decibel levels of the festivities rose. Streets reverberated with folk songs, including the decade-old favourite Mayadari Maisammo Maisamma.
Long queues were seen at almost all the decked up Mahankali temples. The Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple and the historic Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple in Shah Ali Banda, the main centres of the Bonalu festivities in the Old City, witnessed a huge turnout, that included ministers, political leaders and film stars.
Thousands of devotees began thronging the temples from morning and offered their prayers. Women dressed in traditional attire flocked with bonam containing cooked rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves in steel and clay pots on their heads for offering it to the Goddess.
Potharajus danced to teen maar drumbeats. High security was in place at all the major Mahankali temples. Devotees were asked to pass through metal detectors and were checked by police officials before being allowed inside. At some temples in Old City, committee members got into arguments with the police for their ‘overzealous’ security measures.
Ministers C Ramachandraiah, J Geetha Reddy, Jana Reddy and several MPs, MLA and other leaders of various political parties participated in the festivities and offered prayers at different Mahankali temples of the Old City. Minister Ramachandraian offered Patta Vasthralu (new clothes) on behalf of the state government to the temples in the Old City. Konda Surekha of YSRCP who carried Bonam to the Lal Darwaza Temple prayed for early release of MP Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The festival will conclude on Monday with the oracle prediction, Rangam, followed by a combined procession of a caparisoned elephant, carrying ‘Ghatam’ of the Goddess Mahankali. The procession will pass through the main thoroughfares of Shalibanda, Charminar and Nayapul, where the ghatam will be immersed in the Musi in the evening.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad’s knowledge hub: Abids

Affordable books of all varieties are available at the Abids’ Sunday Book Market. Sadly, the market is losing its sheen due to the spread of online books

Many Hyderabadis owe their enhanced knowledge to the ‘Sunday Book Market’ in Abids. No hyperbole this, it is a fact. Many who have earned a niche in literary-social life have made use of this knowledge hub. And, Abids too owes much to the book market.

“I’ve been coming here since childhood to buy books on my favourite subjects covering mythology, science fiction, and general knowledge. I have improved my knowledge in every direction”, says A Yadagiri, a retired APSRTC employee.

Yadagiri, a resident of Karwan, is a book-worm and visits the Abids book market at least twice a month. Decades have passed, but he continues to satiate his appetite for the printed knowledge bought off the pavement at affordable seconds-price. The retirement has only brought him closer to ‘friends in the rack’, as he calls the books.

Many people who have been visiting the market for years cannot imagine a Hyderabad without it. “Earlier, there used to be books in all languages, but the impact of globalisation gave emphasis to English language books and magazines,” says Mahesh Kumar, who is fond of Telugu literature.

The Book Market has been surviving for more than 40 years on the GPO – Chermas stretch, but the easy accessibility of internet has affected the number of visitors. Some 50 shops take their positions from early morning every Sunday. It used to be some 100 a few years ago, veterans recall. A few stalls put books on display as early as 6 am. By 10 am the business is in full swing. Most of the book sellers are illiterates, but they are good at identifying the difference between a ‘serious reader’ and a ‘casual browser’.

People who visit the market in the mornings and early afternoon are the regular beneficiaries. Students of professional courses like Medicine and Engineering can be seen flocking the market in the mornings. And the people who arrive in the late afternoons and evenings are the casual shoppers, who sometimes get fascinated by a book on display. “A good part of business is done in the evenings as many people visit Abids for shopping. But this rainfall is playing a spoil sport,” said Mubeen, whose family is running the business for nearly four decades. No authority has bothered to put up a make-shift shamiana for these knowledge-hawkers during monsoon, Mubeen regrets.

Many shoppers don’t want to reveal how much business is done on a single Sunday, but it is estimated by veterans that it could be somewhere between `2000 to `5000 per shop.

This Book Market rather than being a hindrance for other businesses is proving to be beneficial for other establishments too. Restaurants, fancy shops, tea shops and utility item stalls have all got custom coming for the book market.

Some of the stalls are exclusively devoting to books of professional courses and magazines. It’s more in demand and profitable. Students, if lucky, could extract a highly-priced book from the stack. Besides these weekly and monthly magazines are sold at a prices `5 and `10. Books on fashion and interior design are sold at `20 and `30. A few customers come in four wheelers and can be seen hunting for books on interior design, to stay abreast of the latest trends.

Big book sellers from Punjagutta too sell books on Advertising, Arts, Astrology, Design, Dictionaries, Encyclopedia, Literature, Fashion, Furniture, Cookery, Gardening, Health and Fitness, Home Remedies, Interiors, Architecture, Jewellers, Management, Philosophy, Fiction and Non Fiction and Childrens Books like Comics here.

According to the businessmen, the bulk of the material comes from the international markets. Some of the books are procured from Delhi and Mumbai publishers, besides some local ones. With ever increasing prices and diminishing patience, even these second hand book sellers are holding a common price on the stack of books, of particular category.

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More rain likely in next 2 days


HYDERABAD: Overcast weather conditions will continue for the next 48 hours in the state. Met officials said that the south west monsoon has been active over Telangana and vigorous over Rayalaseema and under the prevailing weather conditions, the state capital will be among several parts of the state that are likely to experience widespread showers over the next two days.

Officials attributed the existing pleasant weather to a trough that runs from Chhattisgarh to south Tamil Nadu across Telangana and Rayalaseema. The maximum temperatures across the region have dropped by 2-3 degrees. Hyderabad recorded a maximum of 28.5 degrees Celsius on Monday that is two degrees below normal. "We are expecting fairly widespread rains throughout AP over the next 48 hours. There is no warning for heavy rainfall though," said an official. On Monday, the city received 0.1 mm rainfall at Met Office, Begumpet.

The met forecast for Tuesday is an overcast sky with the maximum and minimum temperatures hovering around 29 and 22 degrees respectively. "Rain or thunder showers would occur," officials said.

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MCI to consult SC over medical seats

HYDERABAD: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided to seek clarification from the Supreme Court before sanctioning 50 additional seats each to Osmania Medical College and Kakatiya Medical College in compliance with the AP high court directive.

The board of governors of MCI assured a delegation led by Kondru Murali, minister for medical education, and chief whip Gandra Venkatramana Reddy on Monday that the additional seats would be sanctioned after getting a clarification from the Supreme Court.

It was the apex court that had issued guidelines according to which the cut-off date for sanctioning the seats was set at July 14.

The delegation met the MCI officials in Delhi and handed over the affidavit saying that the shortcomings which had been cited as the reason for these colleges having been denied the additional seats would be rectified within a month. "The MCI gave a positive response. The board of governors has given us an assurance that they would sanction the additional seats.

"But they need to take some procedural steps before completing the sanctioning process and I hope we will get the sanction order in a couple of days," said Kondru Murali.

100 more MBBS seats for Telangana

The Medical Council of India (MCI) will be adding 50 seats each in Osmania and Kakatiya medical colleges by July 19 as per the recent directions of the AP High Court.

The 100 seats will be included in the Eamcet medical counselling, scheduled to begin from July 20. With this, the total number of MBBS seats will increase to 5,600 in 40 medical colleges of the state.

Meanwhile, the state government has submitted an affidavit to the MCI, stating that it will rectify the deficiencies in these colleges that were earlier pointed out by the MCI’s inspection committees within a month.

Minister for medical education Kondru Murali and the officials of Kakatiya Medical College on Monday met Dr K.K. Talwar, chairman of the MCI’s board of directors, and urged him to increase the seats in the two colleges as per the High Court’s orders. They handed over a copy of the court order.

The MCI had pointed out infrastructure deficiencies in both colleges for which the government submitted an undertaking that it would rectify them within a month.

“The discussions have ended on a positive note. We are hopeful of getting additional seats by July 19 so that they can be included in the Eamcet counselling to be held from July 20,” said Mr Murali.

The minister explained that they had not received any information about the MCI’s plans to approach the Supreme Court challenging the AP High Court’s orders regarding the increase in the seats.

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First Scorpene submarine to roll out by 2015: Raju

Hyderabad: India is expected to commission its first Scorpene submarine, being developed by French naval construction group DCNS, by 2015, said Union Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju in Hyderabad today.

State-owned Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) is producing six SSK Scorpene submarines (P75) under transfer of technology from DCNS. Simultaneously, DCNS India, its Indian subsidiary, is working on the selection of Indian companies as partners for local production of the Scorpene’s equipment.

Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju. Image courtesy PIB
“We are expecting the first submarine to roll out by 2015 …we should have all the submarines by 2018. The total cost is little over Rs 20,000 crore,” Raju said at a press conference in Hyderabad.

As per the schedule, hulks of six submarines, considered as a critical part, should be manufactured by the end of the year, he said.

To a query, he said India has got investments of Rs 20,000 crore so far due to Indian Defence Offset Policy, that mandates foreign defence equipment suppliers to farm out a certain proportion of the work (30 percent of the contract value) to Indian suppliers.

Raju today inaugurated the joint facility of city-based SEC Industries and DCNS that would make 14 critical components for the Scorpene, to be supplied to MDL.

French Ambassador François Richier was also present.

DCNS India signed a contract with SEC Industries for the manufacture of high technological equipment for the P75 Scorpene submarines in September 2011. The second contract was signed in May this year for additional items.

Bernard Buisson, managing director of DCNS India, said these contracts cover an extensive transfer of technology.

The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the first locally-made P75 cofferdam doors and coamings was successfully performed at SEC Industries in June. The cofferdam doors and coamings are key safety components of the submarine.

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HMDA banks on sale of Nandagiri Hills plot

The authority hopes to raise Rs. 120 crore through auction of 42 plots

Having set its eyes on inflow of funds to the tune of Rs.120 crore through auction of plots, a cash-strapped Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) doesn’t appear to be in a mood to hand over the money thus raised to the government.

In the earlier auctions held during the real estate boom, the authority had transferred huge amounts from auction to the government treasury for various welfare schemes.

In dire need of funds

But now, in dire need of funds for even its own ongoing projects, every bit counts and the possibility of fund transfer has been ruled out without hesitation.

Metropolitan Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad was candid in admitting, “We need these funds for ourselves and our major priority is on completing ongoing works.”

He cites projects such as RoB at Kukatpally, Outer Ring Road and the ramp works for P.V. Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway which were in different stages of completion.

At the same time, though the HMDA hopes of raising around Rs.120 crore from auction of 42 plots, the actual realisation would be decided by the fate of 4.695 acre site at Nandagiri Hills. The plot has failed to get buyers in earlier rounds of auction and the upset price has been brought down from Rs. 23 crore per acre to Rs.18 crore now.

Though a question mark seems to hang on whether the plot would get a buyer this time round, Mr. Prasad while announcing details of the auction quipped, “We are optimistic”. Since a major slice of the expected revenue -- about Rs.90 crore -- has to come from Nandagiri Hills plot, if it fails, the auction would not bring much cheer to the HMDA.

Speculations are rife on breaking this particular plot into smaller bits and placing it for auction, but the authority finds the move ‘not feasible’. Officials say the engineering wing tried to work out three to four different layouts but it did not work out.

The division of plots, road making and others factors such as topography associated with the location and level are seen as a costly venture.

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/15024488.cms
US Consulate gets Paigah Palace lease extension till 2016
HYDERABAD: The US Consulate may continue to operate from Paigah Palace till 2020. The state government allotted Paigah Palace on a four-year lease to the US Consulate in 2008. As the lease would end on July 18 this year, the US Consulate sought its extension. The government recently extended the lease till 2016. However, sources said that the US Consulate might continue to operate from the heritage building till 2020.

"The government allotted the double-storeyed palace to the US Consulate in 2008. According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Consulate, the lease should be renewed every four years. Before the end of the lease in 2012, the US Consulate had approached the government last year with a plea for its extension," general administration department (GAD) sources said.

The government gets a paltry rent of Rs 12 lakh per annum for the palatial building in a prime location. The Consulate authorities approached the GAD last year to take up renovation of the palace, but the government did not permit as the building is a listed heritage structure, the sources said.

Meanwhile, work at Nanakramguda in Gachibowli, where the government has allotted a 12.3 acre land for a permanent regional US Consular office, is in full swing. "As per the MoU, we have given the site on a 99-year lease to the Consulate. Construction got delayed due to various reasons. Just a few months ago, civil works started at the site," the sources added.

Cement, iron and other raw materials for construction of the building are being procured locally, but other fittings like bullet proof doors, windows and panes are being imported from the US.

"The new building has to be constructed within five years. We expect the new facility to be ready by 2017," a senior GAD official said. As the second extension of the lease would end in 2016 and the new building would be ready only by 2017, the government might extend the lease agreement till 2020, the official added. Even after the new consular office in Gachibowli is ready, the US Consulate might continue to operate from Paigah Palace till 2020, the official replied.

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Officials confident of ‘e-bidding’ website

Contrary to rumours about the many predicaments that the HMDA has been coming across, the latest being the failure of the much awaited ‘e-bidding’ website, officials at the department are confident of completing the sale of the 42 layouts. Neerabh Kumar Prasad’s optimism has driven the department to put up a good show. This was indicated by the response received.

Downplaying the rumours about website failure on the first day of the auction, P Krishna Mohan Reddy, member and coordinator of the online auction said, “The website was opened at 11am on July 14 and functioned

perfectly. Some people must have tried it before the scheduled time. Considering the two day holidays, we have had, Monday was our first day of auction.”

And the response has been swift, say officials. “Within the first two hours, we had received over 10 sealed tenders for the many layouts set up for auction.

“The website has been visited by over 9,000 visitors across the globe. There seems to be a healthy competition at the ongoing auction for the 42 plots, with bids being placed above their upset price,” says Krishna Mohan Reddy. The department has predicted a total turnover of `130 crore from the auction, while the actual sale value is `124 crores.

“Gopanpally and Miyapur layouts have attracted the most attention so far, while the Nandagiri Hill layouts have caught the eye of major corporations. In fact, there have been site visits by two private parties at Nandagiri Hills when the auction was first announced.”

The auction began at 11am on July 14 and will end on August 8 at 3pm. In a press conference, prior to the commencement of the online auction, HMDA municipal commissioner Neerabh Kumar promised that all the funds raised from the auction will be directed towards finishing the pending projects especially the Kukatpally rail overbridge and the PVNR express flyover.

Whether this auction will fill the department’s fast drying up coffers, only time will tell.