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Showing posts from February, 2008

Count down starts for YSR Government!

సైతాను రాజశేఖరరెడ్డి పాలనకు 'count down' మొదలయ్యింది. కేవలం తన కుటుంబం వారికి, తన కులం వారికి తప్ప మిగిలిన అన్ని కులాల, వర్గాల వారికి ఈ ప్రభుత్వ పాలనలో అన్యాయం జరిగింది. ఈ రాష్ట్రంలో అన్ని కీలక ప్రభుత్వ పదవులు, నామినేటెడ్ పదవులు ఒకే కులం వారికి కట్టబెట్టారు. తిరుమల తిరుపతి దేవస్థానం నుండి మొదలుకుని విజయవాడ కనకదుర్గ దేవస్థానం వరకు రెడ్డి జనాభా లేని ప్రాంతాలలో కూడా అన్ని పదవులు, కీలకమైన యునివర్సిటి వైస్ చాన్సలర్ పదవులు, కీలకమైన కార్పోరేషన్ పదవులు ఒకే కులం వారికి కట్టబెట్టారు. ప్రభుత్వ భూముల పందేరం, గ్రానైట్, ఇనుము, మొదలైన ఖనిజాలున్నవిలువైన గనులు, నీటి పారుదల ప్రాజెక్టుల కాంట్రాక్టులు నిబంధనలను తుంగలో తొక్కి నిర్భయంగా, నిస్సిగ్గుగా తస్మదీయులకు కట్టబెట్టాడు. రాష్ట్రం లో శాంతి భద్రతలు మునుపెన్నడూ లేనంతగా దిగజారాయి. 'ఆయెషా' హత్య కేసులో కీలక సాక్ష్యాలను ధ్వంసం చేసి క్లిష్టమైన కేసుగా చూపించి ఏదో ఒక రకంగా నిందితులను తప్పించే ప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నారు. పైగా పోలీసు శాఖ అసమర్ధతను ఎత్తి చూపుతూ సాక్షాత్తు హోమ్ మంత్రే స్వయంగా, ఈ కేసులో నిందితులను పట్టించే సమాచారాన్ని అందించే వారికి బహుమతి

Sujana Towers to raise $75 m

Hyderabad, 26 Feb: The board of directors of Sujana Towers Ltd (Subsidary of Sujana Group) has approved issue of foreign currency convertible bonds, Global Depository Receipts and/or American Depository Receipts for aggregate sum of $75 million, subject to the approval of the members of the company, according to a release.

3 Kammas companies won HYSEA awards

Hyderabad, 22 Feb: 16th annual awards of Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (Hysea) were presented to Brigade Corporation, Capital IQ Information Systems, Zen Technologies along with 5 other companies in various categories of Best Software Product, Best Export performance, Best Quality/ Security certification and Service to Industry .

7Seas Releases Two New Online Casual Games : Indian Recipe and Wed Dress Match

7Seas Technologies Ltd an independent games development company from Hyderabad,( Lingamaneni MaruthiSankar, Managing Director ) has developed 2 new online games 'INDIAN RECIPE & WED DRESS MATCH', released through their official portal www.onlinerealgames.com to sharpen the skills of the House Wives, as well as Parents and Teenagers by making them to spend their leisure time creatively and productively. www.onlinerealgames.com is fast catching up as a favorite destination for those who love games and fun. The portal has attracted more than half a million regular gamers. In a survey conducted by 7Seas, found that the said Online Gaming portal is attracting even House Wives equally apart from the children. These 2 Online Games convey a sense of Indian Culture and Tradition and simultaneously entertain them. -- INDIAN RECIPE: It was found that house wives, after finishing their house hold work, are spending their leisure time at playing the onlinegames just like their childre

Seaways to expand into offshore oil and gas biz

Hyderabad, Feb. 20 Hyderabad-based Seaways Shipping is firming up plans to exploit the growing opportunities in the offshore oil and gas business. The Rs 460-crore company is looking at a joint venture with a foreign firm. Talks are on with potential companies. Seaways plans to provide ancilliary services to the sector, said Capt Parvathaneni.V.K. Mohan , (Son of P.Upendra Ex.MP ) Chairman and Managing Director. India has exploited just about 18 per cent of its offshore potential and has huge business potential. Looking ahead Seaways is strengthening its cargo feeder services on both the East and West coast. By the end of the calender year 2008, it intends to have a total of 8 ships, each ranging in capacity from the smallest — 228 TEU (Twenty feet equivalent units) to the bigger 800-900 TEU capacity ones. Plans are to increase the number of ships on the

God's rule!

ఈ రాష్ట్రంలో ప్రస్తుతం రాక్షస పాలన కొనసాగుతుంది. సకాలంలో కురిసిన వర్షాలను తమ ఘనతగా చెప్పుకున్న ఈ ప్రభుత్వం ఈ మధ్య కురిసిన అకాల వర్షాలకు, వేల కోట్ల రూపాయల పంట నష్టానికి ఏమని సమాధానం చెబుతుంది? రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి రాక్షస పాలన చూడలేక దేవుడు ఆగ్రహించి అకాల వర్షాలు కురిపించాడనుకోవాలా? నిజంగా వర్షాలు పడి, పంటలు బాగా పండాయనుకొంటే ఉత్పత్తి పెరిగి ధరలు తగ్గాలి కాని, ప్రస్తుతం అన్ని నిత్యావసర వస్తువుల ధరలు విపరీతంగా పెరిగి సామాన్యుడి కంట నీరు తెప్పిస్తున్నాయి. రైతు పరిస్థితి కుడా అధ్వానంగా ఉంది. ఎరువులు, పురుగు మందులు, విత్తనాల ధరలు అకాశాన్నంటాయి. కూలి రేట్లు రెండు మూడు రెట్లు పెరిగాయి కాని, వ్యవసాయ ఉత్పత్తుల మద్దతు ధరలు మాత్రం గిట్టుబాటుగా లేవు. గత రెండు సంవత్సరాలలో ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్ లో స్థూల వ్యవసాయ ఉత్పత్తి గణనీయంగా తగ్గింది, రైతుల ఆత్మహత్యలు కుడా తగ్గుముఖం పట్టలేదు. ఇది దేవుడి ప్రభుత్వం అని రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి చెప్పుకుంటాడు, నిజంగా ఇది దేవుడి ప్రభుత్వమే. ప్రస్తుతం 'శని దేవుడు' రాష్ట్రాన్ని ఏలుతున్నాడు. ఈ ప్రభుత్వం బడా బాబులకు ప్రభుత్వ భూములు అతి తక్కువ ధరకు కట్టబెడుతుంది, చిన్న, సన్నకారు రైతులనుండ

Lanco plans wind turbine facility in Mangalore

It’s the second company entering manufacture of wind turbines; commercial launch slated for Sep next year Infrastructure company Lanco Infratech Ltd is planning to set up one of the country’s largest wind turbines manufacturing facilities, to take advantage of shortage of wind turbines in the global and domestic markets, according to chairman Lagadapati Madhusudhan Rao. Lanco proposes to set up wind turbines facility close to Mangalore in Karnataka. “We have tied up with a German engineering company for wind turbine technology. Currently prototyping of 2MW wind turbine is going on,” said Rao, who declined to name the German firm. Lanco plans to set up a wind turbine manufacturing facility with an installed capacity of 500 units of 2MW turbine each a year at an investment of close to Rs500 crore, said Rao. Work on the wind turbine manufacturing facility has been initiated and Lanco expects commercial launch of turbines sometime by September next year, added Rao. This makes Lanco the sec

Nagarjuna won the Best Actor 'Nandi Award' for 2006

For his compelling portrayal of the title role in the movie ‘Sri Rama Dasu’ , Nagarjuna won laurels as the best actor in the Nandi Film Awards list announced here on Wednesday. Mahesh Babu' s ‘Pokiri’ was adjudged the best popular feature film providing wholesome entertainment. Gunnam Gangaraju (also a Kamma) was adjusted for the Special Jury Award (Amma Cheppindi).

Bharat Nalluri's new Hollywood movie releasing on 7th March

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY Director: Bharat Nalluri Releasing on March 7, 2008 with the budget of $60 million (Rs.240 crores) Synopsis Can you get a life and discover love, all in one day? Two women are about to find out. In the sophisticated and heartfelt comedy Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day , Academy Award winner Frances McDormand plays the film's title role opposite Academy Award nominee Amy Adams (star of the blockbuster Enchanted ). The cast also includes Golden Globe Award nominee Lee Pace (of the hit series Pushing Daisies ), Ciarán Hinds ( There Will Be Blood ), Shirley Henderson (the Harry Potter films), Mark Strong ( Stardust ), and screen newcomer Tom Payne. In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (played by Ms. McDormand) is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must - for the first time in two decades - seize the day. This she does, by intercepti

Madhucon – de-risking through subsidiary

Madhucon Projects’ (Nama Nageswara Rao, Chairman & MD) plan to transfer its build, operate, transfer (BOT) projects in the road segment and its venture in coal mines and power to a wholly owned subsidiary may signal its intention to mitigate risks for the parent company and keep its balance sheet intact while pursuing bigger projects. The company’s board late Monday approved a proposal to transfer 4 BOT projects valued at about Rs 250 crore totally to a wholly owned subsidiary Madhucon Infra, at an arms-length transaction. The company also plans to route investments in power and coal mines through this subsidiary. The subsidiary would be a holding company for all the above projects. The proposal is subject to approval by shareholders. Higher investments All the four BOT projects of Madhucon have achieved financial closure. However, given the long drawn nature of BOT contracts, further capital requirements for the same would be high. Additionally, bidding for new bigger BOT project

SMS Pharma inaugurates R&D centre in Hyderabad

SMS Pharmaceuticals ( Ramesh Potluri, Chairman & MD ) inaugurated its world class, state of the art Global Research & Development (R&D) Centre in Hyderabad on Feb. 10, 2008. The new research facility was constructed in an area measuring 7.20 acres with 99,842 sq.ft build up area including pilot scale development plant comprising with separate quality assurance block.

Naren to be the first Indian driver at WRC

India ray into motorsport. It all began with Vijay Mallya’s introduction of Force India F1 onto the Formula 1 scene. Force India F1 has no Indian drivers lined up for the current season but the team at least has India in its name. Spice Group’s take over of the Super Aguri F1 team, could possibly see an Indian driver in form of Narain Karthikeyan, but an oil and gas company from Chennai called Sidvin, has gone one step ahead, as they introduced the first Indian team for the 2008 FIA Production World Rally Championships but more importantly — with an Indian driver. Naren Kumar (left) and Tommi Makinen in Mumbai Six time national rally champion Naren Kumar (A Kamma guy from Coimbatore) is all set to be the first Indian to race in the world motor rally scene when he debuts for Team Sidvin India in June at Acropolis in Greece. The Coimbatore-based Kumar, will be receive technical and vehicle support from four-ti

B V Raghavulu re-elected as CPI (M) AP State Secretary

Hyderabad, 10 Feb: Mr Bodapati Veera Raghavulu has been unanimously re-elected as the AP State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for the fourth successive term on the concluding day of the 22nd State Party Convention here today. Later, Mr Raghavulu told newspersons the party would chalk out various agitational programmes and fight against the government's 'anti-people policies.' Biodata: CPI (M) state secretary Bodapati Veera Raghavulu was born to Venkata Subbaiah and Punnamma couple in Pedamopadu village of Prakasham district. B V Raghavulu completed his schooling at Kandukuru. Later, he joined Andhra Christian College in Guntur for intermediate standard. Then, he went to Bapatla and joined into Bachelor of Science at Bapatla Agricultural College. For various reasons, he was compelled to drop out of the course. Afterwards, he joined Kavali College for Bachelor of Arts course. When he was pursuing his final year course of graduation, emergency was declar

The Kammas company blossoms as world’s biggest grower of roses

“After acquiring Kenyan company Sher Agencies, we now have 5.5% of the rose business globally” - Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi, MD, Karuturi Networks There is a school of thought that says that if you are going to get something done properly, then you have to do it yourself. It is a principle at the heart of many a great business and it is one that Ramakrishna Karuturi knows well. He has risen to the top of the rose tree, becoming the world’s largest cultivator of the flowers, after Karuturi Networks, acquired the 188-hectare, Kenya-based Dutch rose farm Sher Agencies for US$73 million in 2007 and says it has plans to produce 1 million stems daily by March 2008. KNL already has 50 hectares of rose fields in Ethiopia and has been allotted additional 450 hectares of land for its expansion by The Government of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is an ideal location for rose cultivation because of its climatic and soil conditions, ch

PTC in barter deal with Simhapuri and Meenakshi Energy

The deal, the first of its kind in India, will also see PTC paying the two companies a fee to generate electricity Power trading firm PTC India Ltd will supply coal to the plants of Hyderabad-based generation firms Simhapuri Energy Pvt. Ltd and Meenakshi Energy Pvt. Ltd in return for an equivalent value of electricity in an effort to tie up long-term sources of power. The deal, the first of its kind in India, will also see PTC paying the two companies a fee to generate electricity. “We will be supplying around 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of coal to them for generating electricity for us. We will be paying them a fee for doing so. We have adopted this strategy as it will provide us with an assured electricity supply for our power-trading business,” said a senior PTC executive, who did not wish to be identified. The two companies will generate 270MW of power each for PTC. Both Simhapuri and Meenakshi are merchant power plants, which means the companies are free to sell the power

SSI to merge with PVP Ventures

Chennai-based SSI merged with PVP Ventures, which is promoted by entrepreneur Prasad V Potluri . SSI board recently approved the formal merger proposal. Shareholders will get five shares of SSI for every share of PVP Ventures they hold. The share-swap ratio was recommended by PriceWaterHouse Coopers. Once all formal approvals are in place for the merger, SSI will be renamed as PVP Ventures. After the merger with SSI and renaming it as PVP Ventures, it will become an urban infrastructure company and will focus on realty, infrastructure and energy verticals, SSI Chairman & Managing Director, Mr Potluri told. According to him, PVP Ventures will be a development enable. We realise the challenge will be in execution of large projects and are now in the process of getting the finest talent for the same, Mr Potluri explained. PVP Ventures, according to sources, has been shortlisted for some large infrastructure projects in Hyderabad. Besides, PVP is close to finalising a large residenti

Heritage Foods approves share issue

Hyderabad, Feb 8: The board of directors of Heritage Foods has approved the issue and allotment of eight lakh warrants to Mr Nara Lokesh, son of Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, at Rs 315 a warrant. The board also approved issue and allotment of 10 lakh shares to Kotak India Focus Fund of Kotak Mahindra (UK) Ltd at Rs 350 a share, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Sujana Metal plans Rs.16 billion expansion

The expansion would be in two phases, with an investment of Rs.8 billion in each phase. Sujana Metal Products Ltd, a part of the Rs 3000 crore Sujana Group of Companies, today announced ambitious plans to treble the capacity to one million tonnes by 2010 through acquisitions and expansion plans. SMPL, known for the widest range of mild steel long products, is focusing on both the organic and inorganic routes for the expansion. The endeavour will help the company to emerge as the largest secondary steel company in India. The company had a sale of Rs 726.39 crores as at end June 2007(FY). SMPL has targeted to reach a sales level of Rs. 3100 crores by 2010. Also the company plans to enhance its profitability from Rs 22 crores to an estimated Rs 300 crores by 2010. An investment to the tune of Rs 1600 crore would be made in two phases for the proposed expansion. In the first phase of expansion worth Rs 800 crore, the amount is proposed to be met through the equity from promoters, internal

KCP diversifying into hospitality sector

Chennai, Feb. 6 KCP Ltd has announced a Rs 390-crore expansion programme that would see it diversify into the hospitality industry and expand its existing lines of business — cement and foundry. Mr Velagapudi Lakshmana Dutt, Chairman, KCP Ltd, said that the company is looking at exploiting real estate and the resources available with the company through these projects. The company will fund over 30-40 per cent of the expansion programme through internal accruals and the balance with borrowings. It will invest Rs 40 crore to set up a 80-room hotel in Hyderabad at Somajigudda, an important commercial centre. It will be a ‘3-star plus’ facility, which the company hopes to start operating by October 2009. KCP will complete the construction work on the project before finalising a management contract with hotel chains, Mr Dutt said. The company is setting up an 80-lakh tonne-a-year cement plant at Mukthyala in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, at a cost of Rs 280 crore. This plant is expe

Natco Pharma buys pharmacy store in US

Hyderabad, Feb. 6 Natco Pharma Ltd has acquired Newark Drugs, a retail pharmacy store based in Newark, New Jersey in the US. This is the third acquisition that the company has made since 2006, the first two being Nicks Drugs and SaveMart Drugs. Newark Drugs had been acquired by K&C Pharmacy, a US-based general partnership firm, in which Natco has a 75 per cent stake. Newark Drugs clocks around $5 million in annual sales. With its location adjacent to Nicks Drugs, Natco would target to achieve economics of scale. With the acquisition of Newark, its revenues from the US retail would aggregate to over $35 million in a full year, according to a release. Natco was open to acquiring a few more stores in the US to strengthen its presence in that country’s retail market, the release added.

Hero Rajasekhar to join politics

HYDERABAD: Movie actor Rajasekhar on Monday chose his birthday to reveal that ever since he was a child he was fascinated by politics. At a media gathering at the Film Nagar Cultural Club on his birthday, he said, “When the time comes, I will announce which political party I will join and the exact date. I will also explain why I preferred a particular party over others.” Referring to criticism that he was not a Telugu at all, Dr. Rajasekhar said that while his father hailed from Chittoor district, his mother Andalu was from Guntur. “We are very much Telugu. We just went to Tamil Nadu for a while and have now come back. That’s all,” he said. He said his father was a Sub-Inspector of Police in Guntur district when his marriage with Andalu was arranged. His 1st choice may be 'Telugu Desam' according to the sources.

Educational Institutions established by Kammavar Sangams - Tamilnadu

Schools (Tamilnadu): Kammavar High School.Viswanathaperi - Tirunelveli Kammavar Girls Hr. Sec. School - Kovilpatti Kammavar Primary School, Puliampatti - Aruppukottai Kammavar Hr. Sec School, Kalugumalai - Tutikorin Kammavar Girls Hr. Sec. School - Chennai Kamma Dharma High school, Govindanagaram - Theni Kammavar School, Sattur - Virudhunagar Kamma Mahajan Trust Girls Higher Secondary School, Venkatachalapuram - Sattur Kammavar Primary School P.Duraisamypuram village,Ottapidaram - Thoottukudi Kamma Kalvi Sanga High School, Sithavarajapuram - Sivakasi Theni Kammavar Sangam Matriculation Hr.Sec. School - Theni Theni Kamnamavar Sangam Public School - Theni Colleges (Tamilnadu): Theni Kammavar Sangam College of Education, Theni Theni Kammavar Sangam Polytechnic College, Koduvilarpatti Theni Kammavar Sangam Teacher Training Institute, Theni Engineering college (Tamilnadu) Theni Kammavar Sangam college of Technology, Koduvilarpatti, Theni Bangalore (Karnataka):

Gopi Chand’s academy by April

ABC identifies it as one of its premier coaching centres Former All-England badminton champion Pullela Gopichand at his Badminton Academy, which is coming up at Gachibowli, Hyderabad. HYDERABAD: He is in the process of completing another jewel in terms of sports infrastructure. Come April, another jewel will be in place in Gachibowli sports infrastructure line-up. As plans stand Pullela Gopi Chand Badminton Academy, to be identified by the Asian Badminton Confederation as one of it’s Centres of Excellence in Asia (incidentally this will only be the fourth such centre after China, Malaysia and Indonesia in Asia) will be functional during the biggest-ever badminton tournament in the country – the Indian Grand Prix (April 1 to 8) in the city. This imposing indoor stadium with room for eight ultra-modern courts should easily take care of about 60 trainees at a given time.“For sure, I want to see this as the best in Asia,” asserts Gopi . “ Already, enquiries are coming from Canada

Achanta Sarath Kamal win triple crowns in Table Tennis

Siliguri: Commonwealth gold medalist Achanta Sarath Kamal claimed the spotlight by winning triple crowns at the 69th senior National Table Tennis championship on 2nd February. Sharath Kamal extended his reign on top by another season. He defeated Sourav Chakraborty to retain the men’s singles title on the concluding day of the National Table Tennis championship. Sharath Kamal also won the men’s doubles crown partnering Subhajit Saha before teaming up with Poulomi to win the mixed doubles title .

Kampani emerges with Eenadu deal

Valued at Rs1,200 cr, the investment allows Ushodaya to walk away from a stalled deal with Blackstone Group Mumbai / Hyderabad / New Delhi: Famed deal maker Nimesh N. Kampani has swooped in with a personal investment, potentially valued at around Rs1,200 crore, allowing Ushodaya Enterprises Ltd, publisher of Eenadu, the largest selling Telugu newspaper, to walk away from a stalled year-long effort to sell a 26% stake to Blackstone Group for $275 million, or about Rs1,080 crore. The complicatedly structured transaction, which was confirmed by two people familiar with the matter, includes debt and equity, and comes ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing, tentatively scheduled for 8 February, for Ushodaya’s principal promoter, embattled entrepreneur Ramoji Rao, who is battling the Andhra Pradesh government in court over issues related to repaying disputed public deposits accepted by Margadarsi Financiers, a company owned by Rao and his family. Without the new cash infusion, Rao would ha

NRI 'Shravani Mikkilineni' in hunt for Intel's “Junior Nobel”

Sohan Mikkilineni, Shravani Mikkilineni, 2nd and 3rd from left WASHINGTON: It's called the “Junior Nobel”, and eight Indian American high school students - five of them girls - are among 40 named finalists for this year's Intel Science Talent Search, America's most prestigious high school science competition now in its 67th year. Selected from among several thousand applicants from across the US, the finalists will travel to Washington DC in March for a gruelling week-long finale. The winner will get a USD 100,000 scholarship, while each of the 40 finalists gets USD 5,000. The Indian American finalists are: Shravani Mikkilineni (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan), Hamsa Sridhar (Kings Park, New York), Ashok Chandran (Nesconset, New York), Shivani Sud (Durham, North Carolina), Isha Jain (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), Ayon Sen (Austin, Texas) and Vinay Venkatesh Ramasesh (Fort Worth, Texas), Avanthi Raghavan (Orlando, Florida), “Intel STS showcases the incredible advancements made by