air show in hyd

The first-ever civilian air show in India got off to a cracking start here on Wednesday reflecting the optimism of the aviation and allied industries in spite of the downturn in airline operations.

The presence of who’s who in the global aviation industry and the top-in-line aircraft such as Boeing 777 – 300ER and Airbus 319 which were delivered to Air India captured the industry’s spirit. Top honchos of global aircraft majors such as Boeing, Airbus, EADS, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter and ATR rubbed shoulders with ministerial delegations from Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in exploring business opportunities.

All those who spoke at the inaugural function as well as on the sidelines of ‘India Aviation 2008’, including Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar, expressed confidence that the sector would witness a revival.

The four-day mega air show was declared open by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel amid a breathtaking flypast by IAF’s Suryakirans and a variety of aircraft parked on the tarmac of the Begumpet airport.

Soon after the flypast, para-jumping and parasailing were performed. The hot balloon show did not take place due to unfavourable wind conditions.

Coinciding with the event, a theme pavilion depicting the birth and growth of Indian civil aviation was inaugurated.

Pulichintala

It was four years ago to the day that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation for K.L. Rao Sagar (Pulichintala Multipurpose Project) at Madipadu in Guntur district amid high expectations about completing the project on schedule, by September 2007. But as things stand today, it might be commissioned in December 2009.

The Srinivasa Engineering Company and CR18G, the joint venture company, could do no work in the first two years. Then, several points of clarification on the project and determining the number of sluice gates to be constructed put it far behind the schedule. Looking at the project on Wednesday, Project Superintendent Engineer S. Satyanarayana expressed hope that water can be definitely impounded in the coming season at 36.36 metres level of the dam amounting to more than 3 tmcft.

Due to the initial slow pace of work despite several measures taken up by the then Superintending Engineer Bapuji, only 30,000 cubic meters of concreting could be completed by the time the SE left the project. Now the total quantum of concreting completed with foundation level crossed, comes to 2.58 lakh cubic meters.

Currently, water is flowing over the concrete portion of the project and the earliest full-fledged work that can be taken up on all portions of the project will be from November 2008 and the extended deadline expires in December 2008. “Another year of time extension will be required if the contractors get on the job fast and expedite execution,” the Superintending Engineer told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Out of 10,000 metric tonnes of steel needed for the Radial Gates (sluice gates) only 3,000 metric tonnes had arrived and the main fin plates needed for the 18.5 m X 17 m main radial gates had to be brought and fabricated. Immediate necessity was eight numbers of reverse sluice gates and those have been fabricated.

About 1,000 cubic meters of concreting would be attempted from first week of November.

Actors Jayasudha join in congress

Actors Jayasudha and ‘Karunamayudu’ fame Vijaychander joined the Congress along with the former Telugu Desam MP, S. Ramamuni Reddy, here on Wednesday.

The three took the membership in the presence of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and APCC president D. Srinivas. Ms. Jayasudha said joining the Congress party was akin to taking admission to a reputed school.

telugu language

A Telugu language flag, developed by the State Official Languages Commission (SOLC) in pale pink with a picture of Poornaghatam, a bas-relief found in Amaravathi stupa in the middle, was unfurled in the ‘H’ Block of the Secretariat by Finance Minister K. Rosaiah on Wednesday.

An 18-line Telugu Language anthem, penned in praise of the beauty of the language, was sung on the occasion by its author Jillella Varaprasad, who hails from Markapur in Prakasam district. The flag-post lies close to the white granite replica of Poornaghatam installed at the main-gate of the Secretariat which was recently unveiled by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Historians say that the Poornaghatam bas-relief, dating back to first century AD, was presented to Amaravathi stupa by Vidhikudu, a leather worker.

They interpreted that Poornaghatam, a pot full with sheaves of crops and flowers hanging from its opening, symbolized bountifulness, liberty and equality. Mr. Rosaiah described the flag as yet another landmark achievement made by A.B.K. Prasad, SOLC Chairman, and said the flag and anthem must be used at all the functions relating to Telugu language and culture.

Mr. Prasad said an audio cassette of the Telugu Language Anthem rendered by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam would be released soon.

Will this Telugu Language Anthem clash with “Maa Telugu Thalli…” of Sanakarambati Sundaracharyulu, which has already been adopted by the government? Which one takes precedence? One has to wait and see.

krishna express accident

krishna express accident at warangal distoct on khajipet staege. Three tank wagons of a goods train got derailed near Kazipet junction between Ballarshah and Kazipet on Wednesday afternoon. However, there was no disruption of trains as there was double line between the Ballarshah and Kazipet. The derailment took place at 12.30 pm and it was cleared by 3.30 pm.

harikrishna paryatana

harikrishna paryatana.... TDP Rajya Sabha member N. Harikrishna on Wednesday visited Velmakanne in the district and consoled the families of two victims who died in a road accident after participating in the party meeting at Gajwel addressed by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. Harikrishna said the TDP would extend financial help of Rs. 2 lakh to each of the family.

chiru paryatana

Minister for Housing Botcha Satyanarayana has asked party leaders and cadres not to react to the statements of a political novice. In the same vein, he said, obviously referring to Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi’s statement that the government was introducing new schemes to woo voters with an eye on elections, any government would act in tune with the situation.

At the DCC general body meeting here on Wednesday, the Minister said that the party would react only if Mr. Chiranjeevi commented objectively. He said that the situation prevailing prior to 2004 where there were migrations from each village had changed, if the statement of Divisional Railway Manager, Visakhapatnam, on the other day that the considerable drop in sale of passenger tickets in rural railway stations was any indication.

The Minister said that the purchasing power of people in the State had increased and the middle-class families now want to consume superfine rice rather than common variety. And for this reason, the Chief Minister would be taking a decision in the next two or three days on the availability of superfine rice variety to these families.

With regard to Indiramma Sambaraalu that begins on Thursday, the Minister said each beneficiary would be paid Rs.50 for participation.

He would participate in the celebrations at Gurla in the morning and Kothavalasa in the evening. During the celebrations, certificates would be issued to beneficiaries eligible for houses and pensions.

P. Sambasiva Raju, Congress MLA, said constituency-level meetings would begin from next month. MLAs K. Ravi Babu, P. Rajanna Dora, K. Veerabhadra Swamy and Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao spoke. DCC president and MLC V.V. Rama Rao presided.