Superheroes of the seas

       Originally called the Royal Indian Navy, our supreme naval branch of the armed forces of India was founded in 1612 by the East India Company and renamed the Indian Navy on 26th January, 1950 after Independence. Chhatrapati Shivaji is considered as the Father of Indian Navy. He built a strong naval presence across the coast of Konkan and Goa to protect sea trade.

       India’s naval forces played a key role in the World War II.  The Indian Navy’s first independent mission was against the Portuguese Navy during the liberation of Goa in 1961. The Indian Navy Day is celebrated on December 4 every year to commemorate Operation Trident, an attack on Pakistani Naval Headquarters in Karachi during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.

       Currently, the 70-year-old Indian Navy is headed by the President of India as its Supreme Commander. The Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is in command since June 2016. The flag of Indian Navy incorporates St. George’s Cross design, a part of the Union Jack. The Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala is the largest naval academy in Asia.

       The Navy has three commands: Eastern Command headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Western Command in Mumbai, and Southern Command in Kochi. The Navy operates in 66 bases under the Commands.

       The Navy has developed as an indigenous force with the making of the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine INS Arihant and several other ships. Its arsenal includes more than 80 ships, 15 submarines, and advanced electronic and satellite defence management systems. Indian Navy currently has one aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, which is the flagship. It has three classes of destroyers –Delhi, Rajput, and Kolkata; and four classes of Frigates –Shivalik, Talwar, Brahmaputra, and Godavari.

       It operates three classes of submarines: Chakra (under which is the nuclear-powered INS Chakra), Sindhughosh, and Shishumar. Indian Navy uses a multi-brand communication satellite called GSAT – 7. It helps the Navy to acquire the blue water capabilities, which means an oceangoing fleet is able to operate on the high seas far from its nation’s homeports.

       Marine Commandos or MARCOS, part of a special unit of the Navy, are made to undergo an excruciating training which only 10% of the trainees successfully complete. The MARCOS played a key role during the rescue mission of the hostages during the 26/11 attacks of Mumbai.

       The Indian Navy is the fifth largest in the world, employing 67,109 personnel. India will have its first supercarrier in INS Vishal by 2025.

Rare distinction

There are only two naval aerobatic teams in the world and one of them is our country’s navy. It is known as Saagar Pawan

The Indian Navy has successfully completed an expedition to the North Pole and the South Pole

Indian Navy was the first navy to send a submariner on an expedition to Mt. Everest

The missile BrahMos,  is the fastest cruise missile in the world. It makes India the only country with supersonic cruise missiles in their army, navy, and air force

India also uses its navy to enhance the international relations by conducting frequent port visits and going on humanitarian missions like providing disaster relief

Sir Arthur Cotton, an engineer of modernity

K Sarath Chandra

Sir Arthur Cotton is hailed as a pioneer in engineering in Andhra Pradesh as he built the Dowleswaram Barrage in 1852 and the Godavari canal system to herald prosperity and green revolution in the Godavari delta region.

Vijayawada: Polavaram, a major irrigation project being constructed across the Godavari was envisaged by Sir Arthur Cotton, father of the Godavari Barrage, long time ago.

Born on May 15, 1803, Sir Arthur Cotton still enjoys the pride of place in the hearts of the people of Godavari and Krishna delta.

As a British officer, Sir Cotton made relentless efforts to harness rivers for the benefit of people. He had the first-ever structure built across the Godavari in 1840s in the form of an anicut at Dowleswaram and a network of canals dug up from this point. As a result, the drought that perennially prevailed in East and West Godavari districts vanished. Serving over 10 lakh acres, the canal system converted the State into a rice granary much before the Nagarjuna Sagar project came into existence.

Engineering prowess

The imposing barrage at Dowleswaram, with two head sluices on either side and several under sluices, stands testimony to Sir Arthur Cotton’s vision. He was also instrumental in the construction of anicuts across rivers Godavari and Krishna. Sir Cotton’s act revolutionised agriculture in the State. The great engineer also developed canals and even began navigation thus bringing a new twist to transportation.

Intense commitment

The commitment of Sir Cotton was so intense that he stayed close to the project site instead of staying in Rajamahendravaram. His daughter had succumbed to a snake bite during the construction of anicut across Godavari. He was God to the people of Coastal Andhra for he constructed four anicuts in just five years.

Known as ‘Apara Bhageeratha’, he had sacrificed his life for providing irrigation water to lakhs of farmers in Godavari and Krishna delta, which are now called the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh.

There are some 3,000 statues of Sir Arthur Cotton in twin Godavari districts and a museum in Dowleswaram, which reflect the popularity he enjoys among farmers.

The people of East Godavari district had so much affection for Sir Cotton that they even performed pindapradhanam to the departed soul.

Sir Cotton followed Indian traditions

After constructing the Cauvery dam, Sir Cotton was entrusted with the job of constructing the Dowleswaram Barrage works during 1848. He tried to stay for long period, but his health did not permit him to do so. He left for Australia for treatment as well as on other mission and came back to Dowleswaram.

When he fell sick again, he was advised to visit the Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple on Nalam Bheemarajuvari Street in Rajamahendravaram and do some offering to the presiding deity. He visited it in 1852 and continued to do so till the completion of the dam.

In 1858 he came back from London with his family and presented to the temple a bell on which was inscribed “Samuda Bro Builders, London 1858”. The bell weighing 5 kg is still ringing in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

Of parks and recreation

Parks are becoming increasingly popular among urban folk as they wish to unwind amidst greenery and get peaceful entertainment in this city shorn of other means for spending time meaningfully

K Sarath Chandra

Vijayawada: Parks are important components of urban topography. A city without a park is a system without a heartbeat. A public park should cater to the comforts of all age groups. Urban parks are indeed paradises on earth, as they benevolently provide pleasure. Come evening, and the parks begin to throb with life. They keep one away from the boredom of mechanical urban life.

Realising the need for providing lung space to denizens, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided to give a facelift to all major parks in the city. This is to help people access walking tracks in the morning and evening as part of the corporation’s plan to make Vijayawada a green city.

When contacted, Assistant Director (Horticulture), VMC, GP Anand said, “Having many green areas, with water bodies nearby, apart from many streams and canals, Vijayawada city has a lot of scope for giving these lung spaces a facelift. The civic body is also making efforts to usher in the phased development of the areas on city outskirts so that concentrated presence of the city population in a few localities would be resolved.”

Some of the major parks in the city are Rajiv Gandhi Park near Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Dr. BR Ambedkar Park and Raghavaiah Park on MG Road, Dr KL Rao Park in KL Rao Nagar, Gora Park in Gandhi Nagar etc., While mini giant wheel and skating rinks are major attractions to kids at Rajiv Gandhi Park, the boating canal is the crowd-puller at KL Rao Park. While Rajiv Gandhi Park, KL Rao Park and TV Raghavaiah Park charge a nominal entry fee, the others have an unrestricted entry.

In addition, about 85 parks and greeneries are maintained by respective park committees of various colonies. Gandhi Park, Sastry Park, Bhavanipuram Park and Revenue Colony Park are other ones maintained by the VMC.

The grass lawns in these parks make for a clean-green carpet. The parks, in fact, are a walkers’ delight in the real sense of the term. Every day, middle-aged people and the old people flock together at the parks between 6 am and 8 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm. Most of them are regular visitors. For them, spending time well means something more than eating rich foods and spending free time in front of the television sets. It is during the weekends that the parks teem with children. After thrilling moments in one section of the park replete with play equipment, they begin to run hither and thither on the lawns gleefully.

Parks have always been a great source of inspiration for writers, artists, gardeners, teachers, poets, naturalists etc., Parks provide an ambient space for jogging, meditation, discourses, nature tours, family parties, physical exercise, play stations and are terrific stress-busters.

Surya, a retired school teacher, who is a regular visitor to KL Rao Park, says, “When you think of parks, the first images that come to mind are determined joggers, kids running around trees and the occasional couple. The green havens are the haunt for poetry and music lovers and are the destination for a range of activities from doggie meet-ups, community hangouts and even a vegan picnic.”

Sindhu Raghavi, a housewife opines that denizens residing in colonies need more lung space with walking tracks and other paraphernalia to keep the children busy.

3,61,647 houses sanctioned during 2017-18: Narayana

Vijayawada: Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has said that 3,61,647 houses were sanctioned during 2017-18. Speaking in the Assembly at Velagapudi, he informed that 2,39,256 houses are being grounded and 1,22,391 are in tender process.

Narayana stated that 1,20,106 houses were sanctioned during 2015-16. Of which 4,934 houses were completed and the remaining are in progress. He explained that they were using the latest shear wall technology in the construction of houses for long lasting and to withstand earthquakes. He informed that teams from Tamil Nadu and Odisha were coming to study and observe the procedures adopted in constructing the houses.

Narayana said that about 9 lakh applications were received seeking permanent houses in all the 110 municipalities in the State. Three types of houses 300, 365 and 400 sq ft are being constructed for urban poor

.

Progress of housing projects

Year Sanctioned Completed

2015-16 1,20,106 4,934

2016-17 — —

2017-18 3,61,647 —

GNSS phase II works to be completed by 2019

Vijayawada: Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has said that Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Scheme (GNSS) phase-I package works are nearing completion and GNSS phase-II package works will be completed by 2019.

Speaking in the Assembly at Velagapudi, he said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spent Rs 2,000 crore to provide irrigation and drinking water to Kadapa district. He accused the previous Congress government of siphoning off the funds and deliberately delaying the project works. Devineni said that Rayalaseema farmers are able to earn good income from their small farmlands with the provision of water from GNSS.

The project was designed for providing water to 1.55 lakh acres in Kadapa, 1.03 lakh acres in Chittoor, and 1,500 acres in Nellore district. In the first phase, apart from construction of Gandikota Reservoir, digging of canals, construction of structures taken up at a cost of Rs 360 crore.

GFX: Quantum of funds

Year Funds allocated Funds spent

2014-15 Rs 5,514.82L Rs 7,485.82L

2015-15 Rs 16,958L Rs 54,279.02

L

2016-17 Rs 33,465L Rs 1,03,297.22L

2017-18 Rs 35,012.075L Rs 34,909.76L

Old pipelines to be replaced with new ones at Rs 10 crore

Published in The New Indian Express dated March 15, 2018

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2018/mar/15/old-pipelines-to-be-replaced-soon-in-guntur-municipality-1787327.html

Express News Service @ Guntur

Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has said that the old water supply lines laid 40 years back will be replaced with new ones and an estimate is prepared at a cost of Rs 10 crore to provide new water supply lines for a length of 119 km in the affected areas.

Speaking in the Assembly at Velagapudi, he said that the existing sewerage system will be strengthened by making proper interconnections and also by installing higher capacity sewage pumpsets in the existing sewage pumping station.

The Minister said that the local laboratories would be strengthened for testing of water samples for physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis with the help of AP Regional Laboratory.

He stated that utmost care will be taken at the time of interconnection of existing water supply lines with the new ones in the narrow lanes of affected areas.

GFX: Remedial measures taken

Nine municipal employees of different cadres who are responsible for the diarrhoea outbreak are suspended from duties

Nursing students of two government colleges of nursing and four private colleges and also ANMs surveyed the affected areas like Anandapet, Vadderagudem, Manthri vari Veedhi, Redla Bazar, Balaji Nagar, Christian Peta, Pala Hospital, Bara Imam Panja and Lanchester Road

These teams identified that there are 347 house service connections passing through below the bed of storm water drains

Scouring of water supply lines is done in the affected areas by maintaining super chlorination

Water supply is made through 71 tankers of different capacity i.e., 12,000 litres and 4,000 litres to all the affected areas

Chlorine tablets and ORS packets are also distributed to all the households in the affected areas

All public taps are disconnected and new water supply connections to nearby houses are being given under AMRUT

GFx: Acute diarrhoea outbreak

No. of houses surveyed : 17,212

Population covered : 69,472

Diarrhoea cases reported: 809

Diarrhoea cases referred to GGH: 178

Yanamala slams Centre over meagre funds

Vijayawada: Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu expressed angst on the step-motherly attitude of the Narendra Modi government while speaking in the Assembly at Velagapudi.

He said that the Centre is stifling Andhra Pradesh by choking funds flow. He recalled that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited Delhi 29 times, requesting the PM to handhold Andhra Pradesh, but to no avail. “The funds flow for the new capital city and Polavaram project are meagre and promise on separate railway zone for Vizag remains unfulfilled,” he said.

Dismissing the tall claims of the Centre regarding fund allocation, which was reiterated by BJP floor leader in Assembly P Vishnu Kumar Raju, Yanamala said though TDP and BJP are in a coalition, Centre did not extend the expected support to the State which suffered heavily due to bifurcation, four years ago.

He mentioned that the Centre had made 19 key promises, including special category status, Polavaram as a national project, Metro Rail for Vijayawada and Vizag, sea port at Duggarajapatnam, special railway zone for Vizag, steel plant in Kadapa and Central institutes, including IIT and IIM in the state.

“The TDP government has taken several initiatives to develop the State, mobilise investments and rope in several multinational companies to invest here. But, indifferent attitude from the Centre is painful,” he said.

He said the Centre could not accommodate TDP’s demands for special category status or tax relief for the state. “Ours is a peculiar case. We should be treated separately and given grants as per the Reorganisation Act. Normal grants cannot be shown as a special financial package,” Ramakrishnudu said.

“AP has suffered because of bifurcation. What we are asking is what we are entitled to as per the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act,” he added.

He accused the Centre of allocating inadequate funds for the establishment of national institutions, construction of capital city Amaravati and AIIMS.

He said though Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) was declared as national, the Centre sanctioned Rs 5,349 crore in the four years against the total project cost of Rs 56,000 crore. In fact, the State government spent Rs 7,918 crore so far on the project and the Centre has to reimburse Rs 2,565 crore to the government yet.

As the Centre is only confined to reimburse funds to the project, the State government has to spend thousands of crores first and have to wait for reimbursement. On other hand, the Centre is alleging that the State government did not submit utilisation certificates relating to project expenditure.

Accusing the BJP leaders of making a false propaganda on the allocations made by the Centre, he said,”About ₹9,136 crore was to be allocated for the seven institutions. But the Centre had allocated a meagre ₹700 crore for the five institutions in the last four Budgets. The State government, on its part, had allotted 2,460 acres for the five institutions for providing necessary infrastructure.” “We are also being asked to build compound walls. So, these funds cannot be treated as special,” he added.

He said being part of the Republic of India, it is right of the State to get its share in the devolution of funds and taxes and they are nothing to do with additional or special funding as promised.

Polavaram project will be completed by 2019: Devineni

Vijayawada: Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has informed that the government is taking all steps to complete Polavaram Irrigation project by 2019.

Speaking in the Assembly at Velagapudi, he said that the people affected by Polavaram Irrigation project are being rehabilitated as per the new Land Acquisition Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013.
The minister said that the R&R benefits and compensation for the lands acquired before enactment of new Land Acquisition Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013 were provided as per AP R&R policy 2015.
Devineni stated that the revised estimate for the balance works as on April 1, 2014 at 2013-14 price level was prepared and submitted to Central Water Commission for approval.
He said that the revised estimate was prepared as the Central government promised to provide 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component as on April 1, 2014 at 2013-14 price level.
GFX: Budgetary allocations made to irrigation projects
Year Funds allotted
2014-15 Rs 8,463.50 cr
2015-16 Rs 5,258.06 cr
2016-17 Rs 7,978.80 cr

2017-18 Rs 12,7770.26 cr

Funds spent on irrigation projects
Year Funds spent
2014-15 Rs 9,223.75 cr
2015-16 Rs 9,545.87 crore
2016-17 Rs 10,561.68 cr

2017-18 Rs 11,291.80 cr
Extent of land in acres to which water for irrigation has been supplied additionally
Year Extent in acres
2014-15 1,50,991
2015-16 17,18,609
2016-17 3,21,641
2017-18 29,79,539

The minister said that the R&R benefits and compensation for the lands acquired before enactment of new Land Acquisition Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013 were provided as per AP R&R policy 2015.
Devineni stated that the revised estimate for the balance works as on April 1, 2014 at 2013-14 price level was prepared and submitted to Central Water Commission for approval.
He said that the revised estimate was prepared as the Central government promised to provide 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component as on April 1, 2014 at 2013-14 price level.
GFX: Budgetary allocations made to irrigation projects
Year Funds allotted
2014-15 Rs 8,463.50 cr
2015-16 Rs 5,258.06 cr
2016-17 Rs 7,978.80 cr

2017-18 Rs 12,7770.26 cr

Funds spent on irrigation projects
Year Funds spent
2014-15 Rs 9,223.75 cr
2015-16 Rs 9,545.87 crore
2016-17 Rs 10,561.68 cr

2017-18 Rs 11,291.80 cr
Extent of land in acres to which water for irrigation has been supplied additionally
Year Extent in acres
2014-15 1,50,991
2015-16 17,18,609
2016-17 3,21,641
2017-18 29,79,539