Monday, June 29, 2015

‘No restrictions on locals’ - The Hindu

Rubbishing the rumours that are doing the rounds that restrictions will be imposed on the citizens which will likely to affect the normal life during the Godavari Puskarams, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban development P. Narayana on Monday said that the government had no such plans.

The Minister told the media that the denizens can invite their friends and relatives for the grand event. “The police top-brass in the district has been asked not to impose restrictions that would to create hurdles in day to day life of the citizens. The restrictions, if any, will be communicated to the citizens well in advance, ”he said.

Admitting that some political leaders have expressed concerns about the possible restrictions and held a meeting with the Collector and police. “The details of the restricted areas and special zones, free passages earmarked for ambulance services, sanitary vehicles and VIP moments will be made public by July 7,” he said. Referring to the ongoing renovation works for the Puskarams, Mr. Narayana said: “At any cost, all the municipal works will be completed by July 5,” he said.

‘Pushkara Jalam’ to be mixed in all local water bodies - The Hindu

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Endowments Department Regional Joint Commissioner S.S. Chandrasekhara Azad said the government had issued a G.O. on Sobha Yatra.

He added that district authorities had been directed to constitute committees for overseeing the transport of ‘Pushkara Jalam in Kavallu’ (Godavari sacred water in decorated vessels) from Rajahmundry. The committee members will start from all districts on July 12 and reach Dwaraka Tirumala in West Godavari by evening. On July 13, they will take the ‘Pushkara Deeksha’ and take up a 72-km ‘Pada Yatra’ to Rajahmundry via Nallajarla, Devarapalli and Kovvuru Pushkara Nagar and reach Kotilingala Ghat on July 16 morning.

All members will take the sacred water in “Kavallu” and back to their districts on the same evening in buses. The water will be mixed in all tanks, reservoirs in mandals and villages.

Scholars differ on dates

Scholars differed on dates of observing Godavari Pushkarams. Maha Mahopadhyaya Award winner and astrologer Madhura Krishnamurthy Sastry said Godavari Pushkarams should be observed from Sunday (June 28).

He along with his sons and a few disciples had Pushkara Snanam (holy dip) on that day. According to Mr. Butte Veerabhadra Daivagna Sidhanthi, “Aasthana Sidhanthi” of Srisailam Devasthanam, Pushkarams should be observed from July 7.

However, all the Swamijis of different mutts from all over the India and others said Pushkarams should be observed from July 14.

Temple replicas being readied for Pushkaram fete - The Hindu

Temple replicas being readied for Pushkaram fete

B.V.S. BHASKAR
Finishing touches given to 575 temples on the banks of Godavari
Replicas of temples on display at Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi Women’s College Grounds in Rajahmundry.— Photo: S. Rambabu
The Endowments Department is busy giving finishing touches to all the 575 temples on the banks of the Godavari ahead of the Maha Pushkarams that commences on July 14.
Festive look
Endowments Department Principal Secretary J.S.V. Prasad and Commissioner Y.V. Anuradha are monitoring the works.
“Most temples are wearing a festive look. All works will be completed by early July,” Ms. Anuradha said.
She added that replicating popular temples in the State was a prominent feature of Pushkarams.
“We are making replicas at Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi Women’s College Grounds. The 12 temples include Kasapuram (Anantapur district), Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swami temple, Ontimitta Sri Kodandarama Swami temple, Ahobilam Narasimha Swami, Srisailam Mallikharjuna, Vijayawada Kanaka Dugra, Simhachalam Narasimha, Dwaraka Tirumala and Annavaram Satyanarayana Swami among others,” she added.
Main Pushkaram
camp office
Endowments Department Regional Joint Commissioner S.S. Chandrasekhara Azad said the new building constructed near the guest house in Rajahmundry would be the main Pushkaram camp office. “We are inviting Bhartiteertha Swami of Sringeri Mutt, and he will stay in the building.”
The temple replicas will be arranged in Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi Women’s College Grounds

Sunday, June 21, 2015

BSNL to offer 5G services to Pushkarams pilgrims - The Hindu

The Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is going to offer 5G services to the Godavari Pushkarams pilgrims, who will take a holy dip in the river in Rajahmundry, Kovvuru and other areas in East Godavari district.

“We have written to our headquarters in New Delhi and made all arrangements for getting the necessary equipment. We are waiting for the nod from our head office,” said L. Anantha Ram, Senior General Manager of East and West Godavari districts and A. Srinivas, Joint General Manager of East Godavari district.

“The BSNL is going to be the first operator to offer 5G services than any other private players in India, if our central office gives clearance before July 10.

The customer will enjoy a minimum guarantee of 2 mbps bandwidth,” he said, adding that more cellphone towers would be erected in the district to cater to the needs of Pushkarams pilgrims and three such towers would be set up in Rajahmundry.

Mr. Anantha Ram said that the national free roaming facility which was first offered by BSNL is getting good response from the customers and large number of customers from other services is asking for mobile number portability to get free roaming facility. He recalled that in 2002, BSNL is the first company to offer free incoming and lowest outgoing calls in the world, when private operators were charging Rs.24 per minute for outgoing calls and Rs.16 per minute for incoming calls.

Training programme

Senior DGM V. Ramesh Babu said that the BSNL was offering training programme for engineering and Polytechnic students and those interested can approach nearest BSNL offices in the districts in East and West Godavari districts.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Blast outside apartment complex triggers panic - The Hindu

An explosion took place in front of an apartment complex at the entrance of the road-cum-rail bridge in Rajahmundry late Wednesday evening in which a watchman was injured seriously. Residents of the apartment complex ran out of the building in panic. Police tams arrived at the spot to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

According to Rajahmundry Urban Superintendent of Police S. Harikrishna, the deafening explosion took place at around 6.45 p.m. inside a drain just in front of the Dharwada Apartments.

Alla Rambabu alias Ramu (55), the watchman of the building, was seriously injured in the incident and was rushed to the Rajahmundry Government Hospital in an auto by the traffic police.

Mr Ramakrishna, the builder of the 30-flat apartment complex and himself a resident of it, said he was having a bath when the explosion took place and the entire building trembled.

The front elevation of the building was damaged and the glass panes in the frontage were smashed to pieces.

SP Harikrishna said dog and bomb squads were rushed to the railway station, the RTC complex and other important intersections in the city to be on guard in apprehension of a series of bomb blasts.

“I thought it was an earthquake or that a train had derailed on the rail-cum-road bridge,” said Satyanarayana, a resident of Dharwada Apartments. “Immediately, I carried 80-year-old mother on my shoulders and ran out of my flat.”

Rajahmundry MLA Dr. Akula Satyanarayana and others also rushed to the spot to enquire about the incident and telephoned the district collector.

Watchman injured, bomb squads rush to important junctions and Clues teams scour site