Hyderabad discussions

[Gudavalli]

Mustapa leads trade, investment mission to India

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 – Minister of International Trade and Industry (Miti) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will lead a trade and investment mission to Mumbai and Hyderabad, India, from Dec 12-16.
The delegation comprises representatives from the Economic Corridor Development Authorities, Miti, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

In a statement, Miti said the mission is aimed at updating the business community in India on the latest economic situation in Malaysia.

The mission is also to promote trade and investment opportunities between the two countries and enhance private sector business collaboration.

Its other goals are to encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India in the information and communication technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and construction sectors.

Meetings scheduled during the mission, include one-to-one business meetings with several Indian companies, roundtable meetings with captains of industry in India and meetings with Malaysian companies operating in Mumbai.

[Gudavalli]

Chinese medical team to visit State hospitals

The India-China Joint Medical Mission-III was launched in the city on Monday by the India-China Friendship Association, Hyderabad. Justice B Sudarshan Reddy inaugurated the event.

An eight-member medical team from China is on a visit for four days in the State starting Monday. The team members will go round some of the hospitals in the State and interact with medical officials and experts.

The conference also paid rich tributes to Dr DS Kotnis, the legendary hero who has symbolised friendship between India and China. It also recalled the humanitarian services of Dr Kotnis. A Photo exhibition of Dr Kotnis was also organised.

The speakers said Dr Kotnis was the most revered and admired person of the people of both India and China and hailed him as an icon of India -China friendship and international solidarity. They said that the spirit of peace, friendship and harmony would make the two neighboring countries most potent and unbeatable nations not only in Asia, but all over the world. They remembered the glorious civilizations of the two countries and the intense relations that developed between the two countries in the fields of cultural, political, economical and social.

Chief Guest Justice Sudarshan Reddy said that there were many areas where both the countries could work together. He expressed the hope that the present medical mission would further extend the spirit of friendship between the two countries, for which Dr Kotnis virtually sacrificed his life.

“The message of Dr Kotnis for international humanism and India-China friendship in opposing the imperialist forces and to stand by the side of struggling masses for the benefit of human race and peaceful future must be upheld at all costs,” Justice Sudarshan Reddy said.
“I welcome India-China Joint Medical Mission.

I felt this team works like cultural team in creating cordial relations between the two countries. And I always wish these two countries should not act as competitors, but work together like sister-nations and peace-loving countries. By demonstrating maturity both countries can dissolve their many problems amicably. The spirit of Kotnis produces great results,” said Chukka Ramaiah, MLC, educationist and honorary president of ICFA, in his presidential address.

Liu Tongxiang opined that both India and China were facing similar challenges like poverty, corruption etc and expressed his hope that the two countries would work together and solve their problems in line with the principles of peaceful co-existence. He said that a lot of work had to be taken up in the medical field and that both countries would cooperate with each other in this field.

K Ramachandra Murthy, chief editor HMTV and The Hans India, said that India and China had been living in harmony and nurtured great friendly relations. He also referred to the differences that had cropped up between the two countries. “No one could ignore the fact that both India and China together account for 38 per cent of world population, which can easily create a great impact in Asia as well as in global politics and development.

With the spirit of Kotnis and spirit of peace and harmony, the two countries can build themselves up as big power centres. Promoting friendship between the neighbouring countries means promoting our country, promoting our region and promoting the world,” he observed.

Dr Raja Reddy, former director of NIMS and neuro surgeon, who had visited China as team member of the Medical Mission, praised the efforts of the Chinese government in developing their country in a very short time, especially the great progress they achieved in the field of health in their country.

Ramachandra Reddy, ex MP and All India Secretary,ICFA, and Dr Gupta, president of IMA, and others shared their views in this launching programme. Dr Mohan Reddy, General Secretary, ICFA, AP, presided over the programme.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad connection: When Ravi Shankar returned to where he got married

Pandit Ravi Shankar was extremely particular about one thing. After a concert, he was insistent that there should not be any felicitation or speeches. He believed the audience should be allowed to go home with the music in their heart and that nothing should come in between.

However, the government organisers insisted on a felicitation ceremony after he had finished performing at his last concert in Hyderabad in 2009, was perhaps the only glitch during Panditji’s last visit to the city, which was truly special for him. For it was at the Chilkur Balaji temple on the outskirts of Hyderabad that he had married Sukanya Rajan in 1989.

Ravi Shankar at the Chilkur Balaji Temple in Hyderabad.
Panditji expressed a desire to visit the temple after twenty years of matrimony and was pleasantly surprised to meet the priest who had declared him and Sukanya man and wife.

G Srinivas Murthy, an architect by profession first met Pandit Ravi Shankar in Delhi as a college student in 1987. The task assigned to him and a friend was to convince the sitarist to perform for SPIC MACAY in Delhi.

“We used to sit on the lawns of his house at 95 Lodhi Estate, which was assigned to him as a Rajya Sabha MP. It was amazing how his house was like a gurukul. At any given point of time, 25 to 30 people lived at his home, he would feed all of them all the time and take classes whenever he had time,” he recalls.

Murthy, who is also trained in Hindustani classical music, subsequently played the tanpura with Panditji at several concerts. One of them, Murthy recalls with a touch of embarrassment, took place in Kathmandu in 1998.

Ravi Shankar with Murthy.
“The photographer took the photograph from such an awkward angle that I was in the centre and Guruji and Anoushka Shankar were to my left and right. When the photograph was published in the newspaper the next day, Guruji knocked on my door early morning, showed the paper and said in a jocular manner – `Tum to chhaa gaye‘. Where do you find maestros of his stature indulging in such light-hearted banter?” Murthy said.

His end, those who were close to the family say, came unexpectedly even though he was hospitalised for some time now. They say he always wanted to be in India and wished to pass away in his homeland.

Most people who have interacted with Pandit Ravi Shankar talk of his two different personas – on stage and off stage. That off stage, he would be like any other elderly person, with a walking stick in hand, someone who would find it extremely difficult to even take another step without help. But the moment he got on stage, he was transformed. Almost like a Maharishi, a sage who went into a trance with his sitar, becoming one with the music he created.

In January 1998, Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin performed together for the first time in India on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence. Such was the chemistry and mutual admiration and respect between the two that Menuhin, who is called the `Einstein of Music’ said that Ravi Shankar’s genius and humanity can only compared to Mozart’s.

It was at that concert that Ustad Zakir Hussain played the tabla. And his words today mourning Panditji’s farewell are also in sync with the musical magic they created. Speaking about his demise today, Hussain said, “Beings like him don’t die. They just go back to heaven to take their rightful place amongst Gods. Today, with his presence, heaven is enriched. Farewell Ravi uncle.”

Interestingly, both Pandit Ravi Shankar and daughter Anoushka Shankar are in contention for the Grammy award this year. Panditji for his album `The Living Room Sessions Part 1′ and Anoushka for her `Traveller’. But as Panditji’s sitar falls silent, there is consensus that it is the Grammy’s which have been honoured by Pandit Ravi Shankar receiving them.

[Gudavalli]

GHMC budget for next fiscal to be Rs. 3,800 cr.

The budget of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for next financial year will be a staggering Rs. 3,800 crore.

Announcing this at a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday, the Mayor, Majid Hussain, and GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu said the standing committee gave its approval for the 2013-14 budget. The current year’s (2012-13) revised budget estimates stood at Rs. 2,664 crore.

Steps to check dengue

As per the suggestions made by the Standing Committee, the corporation will focus on controlling dengue outbreak in the twin cities. An amount of Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for these operations and also to provide equipment and vehicles.

The corporation will also spend Rs 30 crore for tackling the driving water problem. Similarly, Rs 10 crore was allocated for the Musi rejuvenation project, Rs 4 crore for restoring heritage buildings and Rs. 5 crore for rainwater harvesting project.

There will also be special focus on improving the network of stormwater drains in peripheral regions and 60 per cent of the budget will be spent on these works. The budget will be further discussed in the council meeting slated for Saturday.

GHMC standing committee approves Rs 3,800cr budget

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) standing committee on Thursday approved budget estimates for the financial year 2013-14 at Rs 3,800 crore, an increase of Rs 1,136 crore to the current fiscal.

The revised budget estimates for the 2012-13 fiscal are Rs 2,664 crore. The standing committee, chaired by Hyderabad mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain, approved the budget estimates of Rs 3,800 crore on Thursday. Briefing about the civic body's priorities, the mayor said: "As per the standing committee suggestion, this year, the GHMC will concentrate on control of dengue fever. An amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked to procure necessary equipment and vehicles to prevent dengue."

In view of the impending water crisis, he said Rs 30 crore was earmarked for overcoming drinking water problem in GHMC area. To improve groundwater, an amount of Rs five crore was allocated in the budget for rainwater harvesting structures. Rs 10 crore for Musi rejuvenation project and Rs 4 crore for restoring heritage buildings would be set aside, the mayor said. "Discussion on the budget estimates will be held at the GHMC council meeting to be held on December 15," GHMC commissioner M T Krishna Babu said.

[Gudavalli]

QQSUDA sceptical about allocation of additional funds

It has been more than three months that additional funds were promised for the Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA), but not a single rupee has landed in its coffers.

The Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had promised to sanction an additional grant of Rs. 15 crore to the QQSUDA some time ago. The money was to be utilised for taking up many development works in old city.

“We have not received any additional funds till date from the government,” said N. Raghunath Rao, Secretary, QQSUDA.

Rs. 19 crore budget

The State government allocates an annual budget of Rs. 19 crore to the developmental agency every year though the requirement is much higher. About Rs. 4 crore goes towards staff salary, maintenance and administrative expenses every year.

Of the balance amount, various development works were being taken up in different areas of the old city. Interestingly, the budgetary allocation to the QQSUDA was only Rs 8.5 crore till two years ago.

Apart from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), the QQSUDA also takes up civic and infrastructure-related works like laying of cement concrete roads, construction of buildings and laying sewerage lines in the old city areas.

It has constructed sports grounds in different areas of the old city.

The Dabeerpura flyover was also constructed by the agency. But, due to non-availability of funds, the authorities were very cautious in sanctioning works as they have had bitter experiences with contractors over delay in payment of the bills.

“We are not going by any promises. We have already faced a lot of problems in clearing pending bills of the contactors in the past. Works will be sanctioned and contracts awarded only when the money is credited to the account,” an official informed.

[Gudavalli]

Garbage woes to end in SCB soon

HYDERABAD: Garbage woes of the residents of the Secunderabad Cantonment area may come to an end from March. A private firm, Rudram Constructions & Power Pvt Ltd (RCPPL), which has signed an MoU with the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) recently, will start collecting solid waste (garbage) from March.

In fact, Secunderabad Cantonment could be the first cantonment in the country to hand over collection of garbage to a private firm. The SCB and RCCPL signed the MoU on November 29 and the agreement would be in force for a period of 25 years from the operation of power plant.

According to the MoU, the SCB has to take responsibility for door-to-door collection of solid waste from all the wards and deliver it to the RCCPL facilities for the first five years. "The firm has identified suitable land in Tunki Bolarum, Mulugu mandals in Medak district, which is about 37 kms from the Cantonment, to set up a two mega watt (MW) power plant. The Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has given permission for 'construction of establishment' (CoE). Once the construction is over, the PCB will inspect and give clearance for 'commissioning of operations'. The firm will spend Rs 15 crore for the proposed power plant at the site," RCCPL director Mardik L Sheth told TOI.

After five years, the firm would pay Rs one lakh per month to SCB for collecting garbage till the project facilities are set up.

According to Cantonment officials, around 130 tonnes of garbage is generated every day in the Cantonment area. The Cantonment sanitation staff have been collecting garbage from 14 collection points and dumping it at Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) dump yard at Jawaharnagar.

With the entry of the private player, the SCB's burden would reduce to a great extent as its operations would be restricted to collecting garbage.

[Gudavalli]

VisaPro expects to generate $1 bn through B2B in India

Developing B2B platform in India is a shift in focus for an American immigration services law firm
B Dasarath Reddy / Hyderabad Dec 14, 2012, 14:52 IST
The US immigration services and consulting firm, VisaPro, is looking at generating an additional $ 1 billion in two-way trade with Indian companies seeking US entry through a B2B programme which it plans to conduct after identifying right candidates in an extensive six-city workshops beginning January, 2012.

"If we can take 100 companies across the country, we believe we can bring a billion-dollar trade between the two countries. We educate them about doing business in the US, identify the right companies and close the process," Venkat Ramineni, International Director, Business Consulting of VisaPro said.

Developing B2B platform in India is a shift in focus for an American immigration services law firm as it used to be all about manpower transfer in the past with Indian exports to the US dominated by IT and software services, requiring offshore deployment of employees in large numbers.

"Over the last 4-5 years there is an increased interest from various industries and hence we are looking at building a broader platform in association with industry associations and the governments of both the countries," he told Business Standard

To achieve this objective, US immigration law firm is bringing its experts to India to speak on 125 different topics ranging from market entry, incorporation, IP product liability, tax strategies to employer compliance at the workshops to be held between January 28-February 8, next year across six cities of Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi. The participation in each workshop is restricted to 100 companies while the B2B programme that follows later will involve 100 companies from Indian side, according to Venkat Ramineni.

This programme, according to him, marks just the beginning of such an initiative considering the huge entrepreneurial and business potential that exists in India capable of tapping the US market, particularly after the two countries had got closer. "In China they host such programmes in places as big as Pragati Maidan of Delhi, Therefore what we are doing could be a whole lot bigger".

As long as a company has a product or a service that has a market, the firm will teach them how to go about it, provide necessary assistance and navigate the company, he said. However, after analysing the potential a company may also be advised not to inter the market. While large companies require assistance with compliance issues, small and medium companies need assistance with entry and exit management, according to him.

Visa refusals a major concern for IT companies

IT and software services companies still see immigration issues as a major hurdle for their expansion in the US market, according to Venkat Ramineni. Though the US immigration laws remained as they were before, there is a more tightening of adjudication process in the current economic situation in that country, he said. This situation has created a kind of imbalance because the companies have not adequately understood this shift and make changes in their approach, according to him.

In his view, this is the reason why 40-50% of the visa applications filed by these companies are being denied clearance . However, the number of immigration applications approved from India has not comedown, according to him. "Even while more applications are coming back with denials, the number (of approvals) finally continue to be significantly dominated by those coming from India into the US whether it is H1s or L1s. Still Indians maintain the lead as in the past several years," said Ramineni.

[Gudavalli]

IMH upgradation now out of red tape

Hyderabad: The proposal to upgrade the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda here to a centre of excellence in mental health, which was stuck in red tape in the last few years, might now get a lease of life. The proposal is being considered by the government and it might be taken to the Chief Minister for approval.

At a recent meeting on the issue, three years after the first instalment out of the total Rs 30-crore funding was granted by the Centre, the state government has asked for a summary of the whole proposal. Dr V. Pramod Kumar, superintendent, IMH, said the proposal might be taken to the CM.

The first instalment of about Rs 5 crore, granted for upgradation couldn’t be utilised because the superintendent was not empowered to draw more than Rs 10,000 at one go.

“I was asked to constitute a panel which could take decision, but that is not happening,” said Dr Kumar, adding, “Plans, estimates and list of equipment to be purchased are all ready. The government just needs to move things now.”

[Gudavalli]

‘I still can’t believe it’: Prshant Lahoti

Prshant Lahoti reacts to being awarded the French government’s second highest civilian award for art, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Six months ago, Prshant Lahoti received a letter, in French, bearing the name and symbol of the ministry of France. Puzzled, Prshant showed the letter to his friends at The French Embassy of India and learnt he’s been conferred the French government’s second highest civilian award for art — Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).

“A letter in English soon followed. We wanted The Embassy of France in India to make the formal announcement,” says Prshant, managing trustee of Krishnakriti Foundation and owner of Kalakriti Art Gallery. The formal announcement was made on 12.12.12.

The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters is awarded to personalities in recognition of their contributions to arts, culture or literature. The news came as a surprise since the previous recipients of this award were Sivaji Ganesan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, M. Balamuralikrishna, Ritu Beri and Nandita Das. “I still can’t believe it; it’s overwhelming,” says Prshant.

The announcement coincides with 10 years of Kalakriti Art Gallery. Starting an art gallery was far from lucrative a decade ago, recounts Prshant.

“When we shared our idea with a few friends, they discouraged us. I was interested in art and the only way I could learn more about art was to get involved in it,” he says. Kalakriti was started in 2002.

Since then, it’s been a journey of discovery and learning for Prshant and his wife Rekha Lahoti. “There was a lot of guidance from the trustees of Krishnakriti Foundation,” says Prshant.

The gallery has hosted over 250 art exhibitions, featuring nationally-renowned artists while giving space to promising talent through Krishnakriti Foundation.

There were very few takers for art a decade ago. Prshant and his team had to rise above pre-conceived notions. “We were driven by the idea of the art we thought Hyderabad should be exposed to rather than abide by the notion of what the city wants,” says Prshant. It’s this thought that made him host art auctions too.

Krishnakriti Foundation was started in 2004 in memory of Prshant’s father Krishnachandra B. Lahoti to support education of art students through scholarships. More than 150 art students have benefited as a result. In 2007-2008, the foundation introduced a fellowship in collaboration with the French Embassy in India called the Krishnakriti – French Embassy Fellowship.

“We took care not to dilute standards. This award gives me an added sense of responsibility,” says Prshant.

Prshant is scheduled to receive the award from the French Ambassador to India, François Richier, in Hyderabad in March 2013.

The previous recipients of this award were Sivaji Ganesan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, M. Balamuralikrishna, Ritu Beri and Nandita Das.

[Prodigist]

Mahindra's small car plant to come up in Andhra Pradesh

Source: DNA

Mahindra & Mahindra, India's largest maker of sports utility vehicles, is planning to set up its small car plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Company officials on Saturday said the project design was ready and they had started applying for various approvals. The company would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government.

A top official of the company revealed this during a meeting state Industries Minister Geeta Reddy had with industrialists to review the progress of mega projects in the state, informed sources.

The plant will manufacture small cars as well as some other products, which the official did not name.

Contacted for details, V.S. Venkatraman, vice president (operations), Mahindra and Mahindra, declined to share more details saying he was not authorized to speak on the project.

An announcement about the proposed plant is expected during the inauguration of its tractor plant next month at Zaheerabad at Medak district of Andhra Pradesh.

The plant, which is expected to start production in the second week of January, is billed as the world's largest tractor manufacturing plant. The Rs300 crore plant will manufacture 300 vehicles a day.

The officials discussed with the minister various issues relating to the commencement of production. The leading tractor maker's suppliers will set up their facilities over 100 acres of land allotted by Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC)

Mahindra & Mahindra, which manufactures everything from scooters to tractors to heavy trucks, is planning to enter the cluttered small car market. According to reports, the car major plans to launch a 1000cc small car with a target price tag of Rs2.5-3.5lakh.

[Prodigist]

This new plant could be anywhere. My best guess is that it could be in Tada/Sri City(because it's near Chennai).

However I found this Environmental Clearance dated 21/8/2012 from the PCB website.

It's for an Automotive Park by APIIC near Toopran,Medak. Around 750 acres in size. Does anyone still remember MLR Motors? Apparently their plans are still alive . And they still have that land allotment for 225+50 acres.

[kailash9999]

That is just great news, being an Automobile Engineer, I always wanted Auto Companies to set foot in AP. Good to know Mahindra is taking the step forward, I see a great potential at Tada and surroundings, Vizag can also turn out to be a Major Automotive Manufacturing Hub if the Govt. is serious about it and manages to woo companies with various benefits and incentives, unlike the highly embarassing Volkswagen fiasco. Hope this ushers a new chapter in the Auto Industry of AP.

[Prodigist]

I hope atleast this one materialises soon.

We need to seriously fix the power situation and get some big ticket investment soon to kill all the negativity.

[kdlara007]

Originally Posted by kailash9999

That is just great news, being an Automobile Engineer, I always wanted Auto Companies to set foot in AP. Good to know Mahindra is taking the step forward, I see a great potential at Tada and surroundings, Vizag can also turn out to be a Major Automotive Manufacturing Hub if the Govt. is serious about it and manages to woo companies with various benefits and incentives, unlike the highly embarassing Volkswagen fiasco. Hope this ushers a new chapter in the Auto Industry of AP.

Originally Posted by Prodigist

I hope atleast this one materialises soon.

We need to seriously fix the power situation and get some big ticket investment soon to kill all the negativity.

M&M is already finishing up the Tractor plant @ Zaheerabad in Medak district. I do not think they will have enough space at this location for a small car plant. However, they might be interested in the Automotive park of APIIC (I think, APIIC still has approx. 500 acres out of 750 they had earlier.) or As prodigist & Kailash said, Sri city,one of the most successful SEZs in AP being close to chennai, would be congenial for them. Most importantly, we hope, our neighbouring states of TN, Karnataka, Maharashtra would not kick this project from us atleast this time..

[Gudavalli]

India trade mission a big success

HYDERABAD: The trade and investment mission to Mumbai and Hyderabad in India has attracted potential investment of RM191mil, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad said.

He said the investment would be in sectors such as electrical components, pharmaceuticals, Information Technology (IT) services, aquaculture farming and food processing, infrastructure development and medical devices.

During the three-day mission, Mustapa met captains of various industries in India’s financial capital Mumbai as well as Hyderabad, which has a very strong IT industry.

The minister described the meetings as “successful” as several companies both in Mumbai and Hyderabad had expressed strong interest in establishing their projects in Malaysia. — Bernama

Also present at the mission were Malaysia Invesment Development Authority CEO Datuk Noharuddin Nordin, Malaysian External Trade Development Corp CEO Dr Wong Lai Sum and Malaysia’s consul-general in Chennai, Citra Devi Ramiyah.

[Gudavalli]

Nizam-era water level recorder lies defunct

HYDERABAD: Believe it or not, a gramophone-like instrument used to record water level at Osmansagar during the Nizam era. Though the device is defunct now, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is trying to preserve it for its unique function.

The Nizam had installed it after constructing Osmansagar reservoir, one of the main drinking water sources of the twin cities, in 1920. Apart from recording the water level, the instrument, manufactured by M/s Geo Kent Ltd, London, even used to sound the flood warning.

Those days, a waterman used to go on horseback to Osmansagar reservoir to note down the reservoir levels everyday. As a result, he used to spend the entire day to get just one reading.

When the Nizam came to know about the time-consuming process, he held discussions with engineering officials and ordered Geo Kent Ltd, London, to install a device to measure water levels at Osmansagar. The gramophone-like gadget, depending on the water level, used to emit sound, which a person sitting at the Water Works' head office in Goshamahal would decipher and record water levels every day and inform higher-ups.

"The instrument became defunct as there were no technicians in the city to repair it. The Water Board tried to bring technicians from other places, but the efforts were futile. Moreover, we have better instruments to record water levels now. However, due to its unique function, we decided to preserve the gadget," HMWS&SB general manager (Osmansagar), D Sridhar Babu, told TOI.

"We kept the instrument at the 'Water Museum' opened at Water Board head office in Khairatabad in 2009. Working engines, rare instruments, display panels, guidebooks, old photographs and registers are on display at the museum. The audible water indicator (gramophone) became one of the major attractions at the museum. Due to various reasons, the museum had to be closed down. We shifted the gramophone back to its orginal place at Osmansagar," he said.

"As it is a rare instrument, which records water levels through audio system, it has to be kept at the Salar Jung Museum," a retired Water Board official said.

[Gudavalli]

Malaysia eyes opportunities in monorail, roads, MRO sectors

HYDERABAD, DEC. 17:
The Malaysian companies are eyeing opportunities in the country’s infrastructure sector with accent on roads, real estate, mono rail projects and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) business in the aviation sector.

Scomi, a monorail services company based in Malaysia, has executed its first project in Mumbai and is now in talks with a few other cities, including Kolkata, exploring the potential to offer its services, Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industries, said.

During his visit to Hyderabad, as part of a delegation he is leading to India, he interacted with companies for potential areas of cooperation and said they see immense scope to expand business and trade ties.

"A Malaysian company has set up MRO facilities in partnership with GMR in Hyderabad and is set to expand its presence serving the aviation sector. The MRO operations in Malaysia are rated the third biggest in the world. The growing opportunity in India will offer immense scope to expand business," the Minister said.

The little known monorail company Scomi has made quick inroads. It has bagged two of three monorail projects on offer in Brazil, where Olympics and FIFA Football World Cup are to be hosted. It outbid Bombardier, he explained.

Malaysian companies have partnered Indian companies to develop over 1,000 km of road network and through IJM Infrastructure have completed township projects in Hyderabad. With the Indian Government’s objective of developing about 20 km of road network per day, there will be more opportunities to collaborate, he said.

Asked about the possibility of Proton car unit reviving its pans to enter India, the Minister said its ownership has changed. It was a state-owned company and the management has been taken over by a private company. It is for them to decide their plans, he said.

"Large companies like Reliance and Ballarpur have made acquisitions in Malaysia. We are open to investment opportunities in Indian companies. However, we believe small and medium sized industries have immense opportunities to use Malaysia as a base for business in Asean," he said.

[Gudavalli]

New garbage facility brings relief to Old City residents

HYDERABAD: Residents living in the vicinity of Salar Jung Museum can now breathe easy. Literally! A modern garbage transfer facility has come up next to Imlibun Park, replacing the earlier neglected dumpyard. The Imblibun garbage transfer station was earlier an open land used for garbage dumping and processing for disposal at city's dump yard in Jawhar Nagar.
Around 1,500 metric tones of waste, mainly from Old City is collected and transferred from Imlibun. However inefficient and unhygienic method of packing and disposal, coupled with days of non clearance of garbage from the site have irked residents of the area. When authorities failed to act, the high court's intervention was sought in the matter.

The new transfer station costing around Rs 3 crore has been under construction for six months now. It is expected to be completed by this month and start operations by next month.

GHMC's partner for Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management, Ramky Enviro Engineers is developing the facility. The new facility has two weigh bridges, pathways for incoming tippers and outgoing trucks. Using hopper systems that work on hydraulics, garbage is unloaded from tippers and packed into sacks compactly. The sacks automatically drop into long haul trucks parked at cellar level, to be ferried away to other transfer stations or the dump yard. GHMC additional commissioner for Health and Sanitation L Vandan Kumar said the facility will improve the efficiency of garbage disposal system from Old City as the new system will process garbage faster than manual packing and loading.

No garbage will be strewn at the facility, ruling out odour and hygiene problems. Motorists on Shivaji Bridge can also have a safe passage during monsoon as garbage will be packed preventing filth from littering the roads and making it slippery during rains.

Most importantly, the facility has brought much relief to walkers in the park. "Odour emanating from the garbage disposed next door made it unbearable to utilise the park. The authorities were approached several times. But after moving the court we have got some respite," said Mohammed Nawazuddin, a regular visitor to the park.

[amby_1986]

Lack of power generation from sri sailam dam has cost dearly ............once power surplus now we are power deficit ........
How about the power plants 1600 MW near nellore which AP genco is building ....

[amby_1986]

Auto companies is probably one thing where we dont have any presence at all.....
Industry is not just one plant it brings with them suppliers , component builders and the whole ecosystem is benefited .......would love to see atleast some kind of small car plant atleast......