The city received heavy rainfall on Sunday, a day ahead of the official date for the southwest monsoon to set in over the area. The usual date for the onset of the monsoon is June 15. The city recorded 17.8 mm rain by 8.30 pm. Youngsters danced with joy and a few unfortunate two-wheeler riders skid on the rain-drenched roads. The rain had its flip-side and showed that the city was ill-prepared.
Several low-lying areas were inundated and traffic was thrown out of gear. Traffic crawled in Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Somajiguda, Lakdi-ka-Pul, Ameerpet, Raj Bhavan, Dilsukhnagar, Saidabad, Paradise, Ranigunj and MG Road, Begumpet and Mettuguda as motorists gingerly negotiated sections covered by stagnated water.
“The early onset of monsoon is good for farmers, especially those in drought-hit parts of the state. For the last three years the southwest monsoon has been arriving here late June. But this time it has set in early,” said G. Subba Rao, meteorologist, Hyderabad Met Centre. The four-month monsoon season began on May 26, earlier than the usual date of June 1.
Meteorological reports said the monsoon would also cover Telangana and coastal AP by Monday evening. These areas can expect heavy rainfall due to formation of a so-called “upper air cyclonic circulation” over Telangana and Karnataka.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monsoon takes another break
The monsoon is delayed yet again, and the sunburnt city will have to wait for another week for soothing rain and lower temperatures.
The monsoon had covered south Rayalaseema and some areas of coastal Andhra by June 1. It was expected to cover the city by June 8. In fact, a downpour the previous day had swamped the city. But that is where the story ended. Met officials now say the monsoon may take another week to hit the city. There was no significant movement in its progress over the last two days.
“The weak phase of monsoon is likely to continue. Consequently, the advance of monsoon over east, north peninsular and central India will be delayed” said Mr G. Subba Rao, meteorologist at the Hyderabad Met Centre.
“The advance of southwest monsoon is generally not a systematic feature. It accompanies surges in the strength of southwesterly winds over the north Indian Ocean,” Mr Rao said.
“Rainfall is revived in association with each surge. After each wet spell, there comes a hiatus of about 6 to 8 days in which the rainfall activity gets subdued, and northward advance of monsoon is also halted,” he explained.
All this means that the city will have to bear with temperatures touching 40ºC. The met department has given a heatwave warning for coastal Andhra and Telangana for the next two days. The city may witness occasional thunderstorm activity during the night.
The monsoon had covered south Rayalaseema and some areas of coastal Andhra by June 1. It was expected to cover the city by June 8. In fact, a downpour the previous day had swamped the city. But that is where the story ended. Met officials now say the monsoon may take another week to hit the city. There was no significant movement in its progress over the last two days.
“The weak phase of monsoon is likely to continue. Consequently, the advance of monsoon over east, north peninsular and central India will be delayed” said Mr G. Subba Rao, meteorologist at the Hyderabad Met Centre.
“The advance of southwest monsoon is generally not a systematic feature. It accompanies surges in the strength of southwesterly winds over the north Indian Ocean,” Mr Rao said.
“Rainfall is revived in association with each surge. After each wet spell, there comes a hiatus of about 6 to 8 days in which the rainfall activity gets subdued, and northward advance of monsoon is also halted,” he explained.
All this means that the city will have to bear with temperatures touching 40ºC. The met department has given a heatwave warning for coastal Andhra and Telangana for the next two days. The city may witness occasional thunderstorm activity during the night.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
No record of archaeological sites
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.
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.
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.”
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Structures razed at heritage site
The State Archaeology and Museums department inspected the Hasmathpet megalithic burial site near old Bowenpally on Friday and removed some encroachments.
The protected site covers in an area of 28.27 acres of land and is spotted with cairn circles dating back to 1000 BC. Some of the burials were excavated by the department in 1934. It later erected a shed on one of the excavated burials for the benefit of the scholars and visitors.
When the department tried to construct a compound wall around the protected area in 2003, people staying near it filed a petition in the High Court. The High Court then passed orders to both the parties to maintain status quo.
Over the years, many encroachers made attempts to occupy the peripherals of the protected site by constructing sheds. But on receiving information, the department immediately removed the structures.
On Friday too, officials of the department removed some temporary structures with the assistance of the police. “There are more illegal structures to be removed,” said,” said Mr P. Chenna Reddy of the State Archaeology and Museums Department.
“Several boulders have also been deposited on the protected site. We will take steps to remove the illegal structures within a week with the assistance of revenue and police departments.”
The protected site covers in an area of 28.27 acres of land and is spotted with cairn circles dating back to 1000 BC. Some of the burials were excavated by the department in 1934. It later erected a shed on one of the excavated burials for the benefit of the scholars and visitors.
When the department tried to construct a compound wall around the protected area in 2003, people staying near it filed a petition in the High Court. The High Court then passed orders to both the parties to maintain status quo.
Over the years, many encroachers made attempts to occupy the peripherals of the protected site by constructing sheds. But on receiving information, the department immediately removed the structures.
On Friday too, officials of the department removed some temporary structures with the assistance of the police. “There are more illegal structures to be removed,” said,” said Mr P. Chenna Reddy of the State Archaeology and Museums Department.
“Several boulders have also been deposited on the protected site. We will take steps to remove the illegal structures within a week with the assistance of revenue and police departments.”
Trai notice to help Netizens
Internet service providers and telecom operators will now be forced to ensure minimum required broadband speed to their customers because of the latest regulations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).
Recently the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) issued guidelines to ensure that internet service providers and telecom operators provide the minimum required broadband speed to their customers.
The regulator has fixed a minimum ‘contention ratio number’ of users who can share the same bandwidth to ensure that customers get better and higher broadband speeds. Earlier, there was no such restriction on operators and they were offering service at a contention ratio of 1:80 to 1:100. Under the new guidelines, the contention ratio for broadband at home has been fixed at 1:50 and for business at 1:30.
With this regulation the customers fear that there will be an increase in the broadband tariffs as operators will have to buy more bandwidth to maintain the new norms which may lead to increase in rates.
“There will be no increase in the tariffs. Its obvious that we need to buy more bandwidth to combat the customer ration but if we provide good speed connectivity automatically it increases our customer ratio, so there’s no query of increasing the tariff” said, V.V. Prasad, Divisional Engineer, BSNL Broadband Services.
In its guidelines, Trai has stated that, “There have been complaints from the subscribers regarding inadequate broadband speed being provided by the internet service provider (ISPs) and majority of the complaints allege that the available broadband speed is lower than the subscribed speed. Following complaints from subscribers TRAI has issued guidelines for better Internet or broadband services.
We have not yet started implementation of the new guidelines from TRAI. It is a time taking process most probably by next month we may start, but one thing is for sure as of now we are not going to change the tariff rates” said, official from Airtel Broadband Service.
Recently the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) issued guidelines to ensure that internet service providers and telecom operators provide the minimum required broadband speed to their customers.
The regulator has fixed a minimum ‘contention ratio number’ of users who can share the same bandwidth to ensure that customers get better and higher broadband speeds. Earlier, there was no such restriction on operators and they were offering service at a contention ratio of 1:80 to 1:100. Under the new guidelines, the contention ratio for broadband at home has been fixed at 1:50 and for business at 1:30.
With this regulation the customers fear that there will be an increase in the broadband tariffs as operators will have to buy more bandwidth to maintain the new norms which may lead to increase in rates.
“There will be no increase in the tariffs. Its obvious that we need to buy more bandwidth to combat the customer ration but if we provide good speed connectivity automatically it increases our customer ratio, so there’s no query of increasing the tariff” said, V.V. Prasad, Divisional Engineer, BSNL Broadband Services.
In its guidelines, Trai has stated that, “There have been complaints from the subscribers regarding inadequate broadband speed being provided by the internet service provider (ISPs) and majority of the complaints allege that the available broadband speed is lower than the subscribed speed. Following complaints from subscribers TRAI has issued guidelines for better Internet or broadband services.
We have not yet started implementation of the new guidelines from TRAI. It is a time taking process most probably by next month we may start, but one thing is for sure as of now we are not going to change the tariff rates” said, official from Airtel Broadband Service.
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