The state archaeology and museums department does not have land records of archaeological and historical sites in the state. Heritage sites like Qutub Shahi tombs, Paigah tombs, Toli mosque, Hayat Begum Bakshi mosque and Hasmathpet megalithic burial compound have been encroached upon. Residential colonies have sprung up on the land belonging to these sites.
The department does not have land records to stake claim on these lands. In the absence of records the department is unable to evict the encroachers.
“There is, however, no comprehensive record in the form of database by which we can prove that the encroached land belongs to the archaeological department. As a result this finite, non-renewable and irreversible resource of our state is fast disappearing without any record for posterity,” said Mr P. Chenna Reddy, the director of state archaeology and museums department.
Mr Chenna Reddy admitted that there was an urgent need for a proper survey of such resources. “Many of the sites belong to the period of Nizams and there were no records maintained since that period. In some areas the land has been sold by the revenue officers to the local residents without the consent of the archaeology officials and now they are not ready to vacate the area. We feel helpless,” said Mr G. Ramakrishna, the deputy director of the state archaeology and museums department.
“Action will be initiated to remove the illegal structures at the earliest with the assistance from the revenue and police officials. Once the encroachers are evicted we will start the documentation of these sites for future reference,” said Mr Chenna Reddy.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Aila sucks up monsoon
The southwest monsoon, which was expe-cted to enter the state three days ago, will get delayed by a few more days.Aila, the recent cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal has put the brakes on the advance of monsoon into Andhra Pradesh.
“There was no further advance of monsoon till Friday,” said Mr G. Subba Rao, meteorologist at the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre. “Numerical weather prediction models indicate that further advance of monsoon is not likely during the next 4 to 5 days. Monsoon activity is likely to remain subdued.”
The southwest monsoon advanced till Monday, when Aila began to form in the Bay of Bengal. By the time the storm dissipated, the damage had been done. Sweltering heat continues in AP. In fact, the weather men issued a heat wave warning in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Medak. Hyderabad recorded maximum temperature of 42ºC on Friday. The weather will remain the same in the next two days.
The highest temperature of 45ºC Celsius was recorded at Adilabad and Rentachintala, though the days began to get cooler in coastal AP. Meteorologists also predict some rain over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema
“There was no further advance of monsoon till Friday,” said Mr G. Subba Rao, meteorologist at the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre. “Numerical weather prediction models indicate that further advance of monsoon is not likely during the next 4 to 5 days. Monsoon activity is likely to remain subdued.”
The southwest monsoon advanced till Monday, when Aila began to form in the Bay of Bengal. By the time the storm dissipated, the damage had been done. Sweltering heat continues in AP. In fact, the weather men issued a heat wave warning in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Medak. Hyderabad recorded maximum temperature of 42ºC on Friday. The weather will remain the same in the next two days.
The highest temperature of 45ºC Celsius was recorded at Adilabad and Rentachintala, though the days began to get cooler in coastal AP. Meteorologists also predict some rain over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema
Ban goes up in smoke
The ban on smoking, which came into force from October 2008, remains ineffective. The Union health ministry’s directive seems to have gone up in smoke in the state.Even as ‘No Tobacco Day’ will be observed on Sunday, the state government has not done enough to enforce the law. The government is caught between the compulsions of making money and playing the moral police.
The state government has neither assigned any special officers nor has it strictly implemented the ban. So far, only 39 cases have been registered and Rs 3,900 was collected as fine by the Hyderabad district medical and health office.Unlike other states where state tobacco cells have been formed, the state government is yet to come up with its own structured tobacco cell despite such a provision being compulsory for every state. There are clear-cut rules on making “no smoking signboards” with certain dimensions but in most public places in the city these norms are not complied with.
Speaking on the initiative taken by the district medical and health officer, Ch. Jaya Kumari, said, “We are opening Tobacco Intervention Initiative Centre (TIIC) and Exclusive Tobacco Cell in the district medical and health office as directed by the WHO.”
The state government has neither assigned any special officers nor has it strictly implemented the ban. So far, only 39 cases have been registered and Rs 3,900 was collected as fine by the Hyderabad district medical and health office.Unlike other states where state tobacco cells have been formed, the state government is yet to come up with its own structured tobacco cell despite such a provision being compulsory for every state. There are clear-cut rules on making “no smoking signboards” with certain dimensions but in most public places in the city these norms are not complied with.
Speaking on the initiative taken by the district medical and health officer, Ch. Jaya Kumari, said, “We are opening Tobacco Intervention Initiative Centre (TIIC) and Exclusive Tobacco Cell in the district medical and health office as directed by the WHO.”
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