Need better technology to prevent biological attack: Kalam

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Wednesday said there is a need to assimilate better technology and cutting edge systems in all agencies involved with security of the nation to prevent a biological attack.“If this trend of terrorism is allowed to continue, it is possible to even see terrorists attempting biological attacks on consumables like water and milk, which are sourced from multiple points, stored and processed in a central location and distributed to multiple regions simultaneously,” said Kalam, while delivering the Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Memorial Lecture here.“To match and counter such threats, there is a need of assimilation of better technology and cutting edge systems in all agencies involved with security of the nation. As defence experts, all of you may like to study, research and deploy the counter terrorism technologies of the future in all its training,” the former president said.He said the role of Armed Forces is beyond being confined to merely war scenarios.“With its skilled human resources, technological expertise and the spirit of national service, the Armed Forces has contributed (to the nation) even in time of peace,” Kalam said.
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Hyderabad's rising air pollution causing concern

Hyderabad, Oct 7 : The level of pollutants in the air in Hyderabad are on the rise, posing threat to the health of people in the hi-tech southern city, said a report released Thursday.The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed air quality and transportation data in Hyderabad and found increased levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution.The CSE analysis also pointed out that the recent regulation of the air quality standards by the environment ministry has changed the air quality profile of Hyderabad. "Locations in the city which were categorised moderately polluted under the earlier norms, have spiralled into the critically polluted category now, while other sites have moved from low pollution to the moderate level," it said.The report -- "Hyderabad City Dialogue on Air Quality and Transportation Challenge: An Agenda for Action" -- was released here Thursday at a public meeting and round table conference.Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director of CSE and head of its air pollution control and transportation programme, said: "The conference has been organised to enhance the action plan for reducing the pollution and congestion levels in the city, by sharing lessons from other cities like Delhi, which have similar experiences."According to the CSE analysis, there has been a subsequent increase in average annual PM 10 levels -- from 66 mg/cum in 2003 to 80 mg/cum in 2009. "This is about 1.3 times higher than the standard for a high pollution zone, according to the air quality classification followed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)," she said.The report shows that average journey speed is consistently dipping. In 1981 it was 17 kmph, and by 2006 it had come down to 12 kmph. The central business district gets bogged down with 50,000 to 60,000 passenger car units per day - a figure which is comparable to that of Delhi.Maximum air pollution in Hyderabad is caused by its rapidly growing number of vehicles. The city has 2.6 million vehicles and every year 0.2 million new vehicles are registered - which means 500-600 new vehicles roll out on to Hyderabad's roads every day.
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Picture of actor as Gandhi in government office kicks up row

Hyderabad, Oct 7 : A picture of film actor Dilip Prabhavalkar as Mahatma Gandhi at a local government office in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh has kicked up a row with the opposition seeking an apology for the alleged insult to father of the nation.

A huge picture showing "Mahatma Gandhi" behind a spinning wheel has been put up in the hall of the Warangal Zilla Parishad. The blunder was pointed out during a meeting on Wednesday by Nagarlu Venkateshwaru, floor leader of the opposition Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).The TRS leader said the man in the picture was not Mahatma Gandhi but Dilip Prabhavalkar, who played the father of nation in the Hindi blockbuster "Lage Raho Munnabhai". The Marathi actor also acted in "Shankardada Zindabad", a Telugu remake of "Lage Raho Munnabhai"."This is an insult to father of the nation. Action should be taken against those responsible for this," demanded the TRS leader.Interestingly, the huge image is flanked by the pictures of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and Zilla Parishad chairperson Lakawath Dhanawanti.Dhanawanti, however, insisted that it was Mahatma Gandhi and the picture looks different as it was framed after zooming the image. Her clarification failed to satisfy the opposition, which sought action for the faux pas.The meeting proved stormy for another reason too. The chairperson, from the Congress, questioned District Collector N. Sridhar for issuing her a notice on an anonymous complaint against her. She claimed that the corruption charges levelled against her were baseless.The opposition members demanded action against her. The collector also defended his action in sending a notice saying he has done so following directions from state Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan.
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Andhra Pradesh Cabinet gives Rs 327.4-cr loan waiver to weavers

Hyderabad, Oct 6 : In a major relief to the weavers in the Andhra Pradesh, the state Cabinet today decided to give a Rs 327.4 crores loan waiver to unable the suffering weavers in the state regain their health and start their work afresh.The state Cabinet in a meeting here headed by the Chief Minister K Rosaiah, named the Andhra Pradesh Co-operative pederation (APCOP), as the nodal agency to work out the new credit limit to the weavers in the state.Loan waiver with the interest had been worked out as suggested by the Cabinet sub-committee to enable them qualify for fresh loans, said state Information Minister J Geeta Reddy in her post Cabinet media briefing here.Meanwhile, the Cabinet also decided to issue an ordinance to postpone elections to the Cooperative Credit Societies for another six months to enable completion of the reform process in the light of the Vaidyanathan report.The Cabinet sub committee which reviewed the financial health of the Cooperative credit structure after implementation of the Vidyanathan package and various debt waiver schemes, had submitted a report suggesting road map for making necessary structural changes in the Cooperative credit system ''to make it efficent, self sustaining and farmer friendly''.''It was considered desirable to hold election to the Cooperative only after detailed review of their finacial health and structural changes and reform if any to be made based on the recommendation of the Cabinet sub Committee'' and the Council of Ministers resolved the recommend postponement of the elections.
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Andhra Pradesh Cabinet commends all sections for cooperation on Ayodhya issue

Hyderabad, Oct 6 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, along with his Council of Ministers, today expressed gratitude to all sections of the people for their cooperation and maintaining peace and harmony in the state in Ayodhya judgement issue.At the meeting of the Council of the Ministers the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction on the effort of the government to maintain peace at the aftermath of Ayodhya verdict.Mr Rosaiah recalled the effort of the government in calling a meeting of all the political parties, social and religious organisations ahead of the Allahabad High Courgt Judgement.The Chief Minister also commended the effort of the police in working to maintain peace with the cooperatiion of the people.The Chief Minister said the Allahabad High Court Judgement should not be viewed as victory nor loss to any section and it was only a part of the judicial sources.The aggreived party could move the Supreme Court for relief, if any, the Chief Minister told the Cabinet meeting, according to State Information Minister J Geeta Reddy who briefed the media here.
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Journalists Arogyasree cards process starts tomorrow: Minister

Hyderabad, Oct 6 : Andhra Pradesh Minister for Aarogyasri, Pithani Satyanarayana, will inaugurate tomorrow the first DPL centre (Aadhar Enrolment Station) exclusively for working journalists of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts at Press Club, Somajiguda.In a review meeting held in his chambers today, the Minister said that the enrollment programme starts with all accredited journalists and journalists working in big newspapers and electronic media (TV Channels) in first phase. Remaining journalists will be covered in second phase after proper scrutiny. The Minister said they have to submit a letter from respective managements together with identity cards. The journalists, who intend to enroll, have to go to DPL Centre with their family members. Journalists possessing white ration cards need not enroll for health cards.The Minister informed that 22 journalists who have already taken Aarogyasri health cards availed medical facilities worth Rs 6 lakh, an official statement here said.
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PM likely to inaugurate science meet in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Oct 6 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may inaugurate Third World Academy of Sciences' (TWAS) general meeting and lay the foundation stone for the Hyderabad campus of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research here Oct 19, an official said Wednesday.State Information and Public Relations Minister J. Geeta Reddy told reporters, after a meeting of the state cabinet, Wednesday that the Prime Minister was likely to visit the city to attend the two programmes."The state cabinet meet discussed the proposed visit of Manmohan Singh. We are still waiting for the confirmation of the visit," the minister said.The 21st general meeting of TWAS will be held at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Oct 19-22. More than 350 scientists from 35 countries are expected to attend the event.The union science and technology ministry is sponsoring the meet. The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the TWAS Regional Office for Central and South Asia (TWAS-ROCASA) are the joint hosts.Based in Trieste in Italy, TWAS is an autonomous international organisation working to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the south.The academy of sciences for the developing world was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the south under the leadership of the late Nobel laureate Abdus Salam of Pakistan. It was officially launched by the United Nations secretary-general in 1985.The prime minister is also expected to lay the foundation stone for the Hyderabad chapter of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).The institute is coming up on 209 acres of land allotted by the state government. TIFR plans to set up various research and academic facilities at the Hyderabad campus with an investment of about Rs.2,500 crore over a decade.TIFR, which was founded by Homi J. Bhabha June 1, 1945, with the support of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the centrally-funded University of Hyderabad to facilitate collaborative research.
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