Soaring mercury coupled with constant power cuts has put residents in the city in hardships. Residents who are already facing a tough time with Hyderabad experiencing a maximum of 41.5 degrees Celsius to 42.5 degrees Celsius, the season's highest temperature so far, are also worried over the sudden power cuts in different spells in many parts of the city that is continuing throughout the day and even in night-- sometimes in various localities.
The local Meteorological office has forecast that the heat wave conditions would prevail over Telangana and isolated parts of Rayalaseema during next two to three days. Besides, mainly dry weather is likely to prevail over coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions. The Met officials warned that the mercury would increase a couple of degrees further with maximum temperature likely to hover around 43 degrees Celsius in coming days.
Many parts of the State are in the grip of a heat wave with day temperatures shooting up rapidly in the last few days. Heat wave conditions are prevailing in Adilabad, Karimnagar Mahbubnagar, Krishna and other districts apart from Hyderabad. After a gap of 10 years, Hyderabad has been experiencing the highest day temperature of around 42.5 degrees Celsius for the last few days.
The mercury is continuing to soar and there is no respite from the heat in sight. The constant power cuts are also not a very good news for many schools that are revising their academic calendar, making changes to protect children from the harsh sun.
Delhi Public School, Gachibowli, has reduced school timings by an hour and the management has announced vacations would start a week in advance, from April 17 as against on April 24 citing "summer'' as the reason. "The normal school timing is 8 am to 3 pm but now it has been changed to 7.45 am to 1.30 pm.
Schools designated as SSC exam venues have been asked by the state government not to run afternoon classes because of the sweltering conditions. In addition, almost all CBSE schools in the city have either cut short school timings or have announced an early vacation.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hoardings, a cause of concern as GHMC shows double standards
Motorists, two-wheeler riders, auto-rickshaw passengers and bus commuters in Hyderabad, particularly those zooming around the VVIP zones, can breathe easy. That is if the twin developments in the past ten days are taken as pointers and are implemented in totality.
The decision of the city police urging the GHMC authorities and the respective advertisers to do away with billboards and hoardings from areas frequented by VVIPs is a significant development.
The police top brass feels that this would go a long way in curbing terror menace as they apprehend that the billboard boxes could be used to plant bombs. Perhaps that may hold true from the security point of view. However, it comes as a whiff of fresh air for drivers and riders for altogether different reasons.
Saidulu, who operates Route No 49M that passes through most of the VIP roads, has a more pragmatic opinion. He points out, "By removing hoardings, I can assure you that there will be a dramatic reduction in the number of road accidents. The blaring and gaudy hoardings are major distractions." The GHMC has decided to remove advertising lollipop boards in three roads frequented by the Chief Minister and other VVIPs.
The lit up boards will now be replaced with single sheet lollipops on the central medians of Raj Bhavan, NTR Marg and Secretariat to begin with. Altogether 10 roads have been identified as those having regular VVIP movements requiring a change in the boards of the more than 20 such roads having box type illuminated lollipops.
However, instead of the box-type lollipops, new slate-type ones will be allowed. But no permission would be given for any kind of advertisement board under flyovers.
On one side, GHMC looks more concerned about the VVIPs and on the other hand it doesn't seems so caring for the common public by permitting the LED hoardings to light up again. Earlier, there was a strong opposition from the traffic department for allowing such hoardings as it was causing distractions and leading to road accidents.
The then Chief Justice pulled up the Municipal Corporation to High Court for allowing such hoardings as it was causing "distractions" and leading to road accidents and High Court had ordered to shut down these hoardings.
Earlier decision was taken up in the wake of a unipole collapse incident on Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, near KBR Park in April 2007, which claimed a life. The High Court also viewed it seriously and asked the GHMC to shut hoardings. Close on the heels of this incident, another life was lost when an advertisement board had fallen off a shopping mall at Santosh Nagar.
But now such LED hoardings already installed at the old spots of Rasoolpura, Greenlands and Somajiguda circle will come to life soon. Now the interesting part will be to see how the traffic department will react to the decision of the GHMC.
As of now, there are about 3,000 lollipops, including some under flyovers, on 12 main roads where VVIPs frequent. The GHMC earns Rs 37 crore advertisement revenue through hoardings, unipoles, and lease of advertisements on bus shelters, lollipops, ads on central median and electricity poles.
—Anubha K Singh
The decision of the city police urging the GHMC authorities and the respective advertisers to do away with billboards and hoardings from areas frequented by VVIPs is a significant development.
The police top brass feels that this would go a long way in curbing terror menace as they apprehend that the billboard boxes could be used to plant bombs. Perhaps that may hold true from the security point of view. However, it comes as a whiff of fresh air for drivers and riders for altogether different reasons.
Saidulu, who operates Route No 49M that passes through most of the VIP roads, has a more pragmatic opinion. He points out, "By removing hoardings, I can assure you that there will be a dramatic reduction in the number of road accidents. The blaring and gaudy hoardings are major distractions." The GHMC has decided to remove advertising lollipop boards in three roads frequented by the Chief Minister and other VVIPs.
The lit up boards will now be replaced with single sheet lollipops on the central medians of Raj Bhavan, NTR Marg and Secretariat to begin with. Altogether 10 roads have been identified as those having regular VVIP movements requiring a change in the boards of the more than 20 such roads having box type illuminated lollipops.
However, instead of the box-type lollipops, new slate-type ones will be allowed. But no permission would be given for any kind of advertisement board under flyovers.
On one side, GHMC looks more concerned about the VVIPs and on the other hand it doesn't seems so caring for the common public by permitting the LED hoardings to light up again. Earlier, there was a strong opposition from the traffic department for allowing such hoardings as it was causing distractions and leading to road accidents.
The then Chief Justice pulled up the Municipal Corporation to High Court for allowing such hoardings as it was causing "distractions" and leading to road accidents and High Court had ordered to shut down these hoardings.
Earlier decision was taken up in the wake of a unipole collapse incident on Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, near KBR Park in April 2007, which claimed a life. The High Court also viewed it seriously and asked the GHMC to shut hoardings. Close on the heels of this incident, another life was lost when an advertisement board had fallen off a shopping mall at Santosh Nagar.
But now such LED hoardings already installed at the old spots of Rasoolpura, Greenlands and Somajiguda circle will come to life soon. Now the interesting part will be to see how the traffic department will react to the decision of the GHMC.
As of now, there are about 3,000 lollipops, including some under flyovers, on 12 main roads where VVIPs frequent. The GHMC earns Rs 37 crore advertisement revenue through hoardings, unipoles, and lease of advertisements on bus shelters, lollipops, ads on central median and electricity poles.
—Anubha K Singh
Green Murder: GHMC flout rules, cuts trees for CM's smooth ride
All over the world people are talking of climate change. It seems India, especially Hyderabad, doesn't seem to be concerned about it. The puffed-up clouds of pollution are only growing day by day and have stretched across the city. Environmentalists say unauthorised felling of trees should be stopped and should set off alarm bells in Hyderabad and residents must unite to expand the city's green cover. But the irony is that the State Government itself is not concerned about it.
GHMC around the helipad near the State Secretariat has cut nearly 24 trees recently. The trees were cleared to ensure a smooth ride for the CM's flight in his chopper. The trees had been translocated to the spot a few years ago to add aesthetic value to the drive. The GHMC officials did not even bother to take permission from the forest department, as per the Water, Land & Trees Act (WALTA), before initiating the operation.
While the neighbour state Tamil Nadu had recently set up an example by making its assembly and secretariat building a green home, the other way round Andhra Pradesh government seems to be more interested in green murder.
Branches of four neem trees surrounding a small temple inside the helipad complex were also cut in the process. Most of the trees were planted around 8-10 years ago. According to WALTA, permission has to be sought from the forest department to fell any tree in the city and nobody, GHMC included, is authorised to take such arbitrary decisions.
On any given day, Chief Minister K Rosaiah may use Begumpet helipad with his convoy for any state tour but on Wednesday morning Rosaiah chose to avoid Begumpet and instead heli-hopped to Mahbubnagar from the Secretariat helipad and this gives a clear clue of why suddenly more than 24 trees were cruelly chopped on Tuesday night.
This is the season when trees are most useful as they keep the atmosphere cool. This is unfortunate that the state government is not bothered about them. The green murder was done in the presence of five officials including SP (Intelligence) security wing SA Quadri, city security wing ACP Moosa bin Ibrahim, secretariat section officer Raja Reddy and secretariat health inspector Govardhan. A landscape manager from Huda, Hari Mohan Reddy, was also present at the site when the trees were felled.
GHMC around the helipad near the State Secretariat has cut nearly 24 trees recently. The trees were cleared to ensure a smooth ride for the CM's flight in his chopper. The trees had been translocated to the spot a few years ago to add aesthetic value to the drive. The GHMC officials did not even bother to take permission from the forest department, as per the Water, Land & Trees Act (WALTA), before initiating the operation.
While the neighbour state Tamil Nadu had recently set up an example by making its assembly and secretariat building a green home, the other way round Andhra Pradesh government seems to be more interested in green murder.
Branches of four neem trees surrounding a small temple inside the helipad complex were also cut in the process. Most of the trees were planted around 8-10 years ago. According to WALTA, permission has to be sought from the forest department to fell any tree in the city and nobody, GHMC included, is authorised to take such arbitrary decisions.
On any given day, Chief Minister K Rosaiah may use Begumpet helipad with his convoy for any state tour but on Wednesday morning Rosaiah chose to avoid Begumpet and instead heli-hopped to Mahbubnagar from the Secretariat helipad and this gives a clear clue of why suddenly more than 24 trees were cruelly chopped on Tuesday night.
This is the season when trees are most useful as they keep the atmosphere cool. This is unfortunate that the state government is not bothered about them. The green murder was done in the presence of five officials including SP (Intelligence) security wing SA Quadri, city security wing ACP Moosa bin Ibrahim, secretariat section officer Raja Reddy and secretariat health inspector Govardhan. A landscape manager from Huda, Hari Mohan Reddy, was also present at the site when the trees were felled.
Not many doctors for Parkinson's disease
This could be your grandfather or even your father expecting to bask in the sunset of his life, he gets a dire prognosis Parkinson's Disease (PD) is going to be his firm friend for the rest of his life. Parkinson's is a complex disease that varies greatly among affected individuals.
The "cardinal" symptoms of PD are resting tremor, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), postural instability (balance problems) and rigidity. Some other physical symptoms such as gait problems, reduced facial expression, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, speech and swallowing problems, etc are also of note.
The surgery for Parkinson's Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been available in India since1999 but there have been not too many takers. Cost of the around Rs 5.5 lakh in a private hospital and approximately 3.5 lakh in government hospitals. In Hyderabad NIIMS is the only hospital to give treatment for Parkinson's disease and in all over India only 10 centres including NIIMs provide treatment for PD.
India is also observing a major shortage of specialists for movement disorder and that is the main reason that there are no good numbers of training centers or specalised centers for the cure of disease. In India, there is not a single training center in movement disorder. Training in movement disorder abroad is offered in US, UK and Canada in the form of a fellowship programme.
Shortage of movement disorder specialists, movement disorder clinics and genetic lab facilities plague the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, which encompasses diseases like Parkinson's disease.
"The number of patient with Parkinson's disease is significantly increasing with the passing years. Many people don't know the dos and don'ts of the disease. There is a need of awareness among the people," said Dr Manoj Kumar Singh, Consultant Neurologist, Medwin Hospital.
"Many hospitals don't give treatment for PD because the patient needs to be hospitalised and given special care. It's not a contagious disease but again the patient requires special attention and need to be kept in a separate room. To some extent, PD also depends upon the hereditary conditions in family," he added.
Speaking on shortage of movement disorder specialist he said, "After spending as many as 11 years to become a neuro surgeon or a neuro physician, a neurologist does not evince interest in undergoing further training in movement disorders. By the time, a person becomes a neurologist; he is at least 35-year-old and does not prefer further education".
Statistics say one per cent of the older population above the age of 60 years suffer from PD. In India, that is around one million, given that the elderly constitute almost 10% of the population. "The extrapolated figures based on a Swedish study puts the number affected at 2 million by 2010. What is more worrying is that about 15-20% of the cases being detected are among the relatively young those below the age of forty, in the prime of their life. "What is shocking is that out of the nearly one million patients of this disease in our country, so far only about five thousand have reportedly contacted any expert doctors.
To popularise the specialty and enhance cure of movement disorder patients, experts suggest that the government should support setting up genetic lab facilities. "Private organisations should participate in setting up genetic lab facilities," opines Dr U Muthane, additional professor, neurology, NIMHANS, Bangalore.
—Anubha k. Singh
The "cardinal" symptoms of PD are resting tremor, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), postural instability (balance problems) and rigidity. Some other physical symptoms such as gait problems, reduced facial expression, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, speech and swallowing problems, etc are also of note.
The surgery for Parkinson's Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been available in India since1999 but there have been not too many takers. Cost of the around Rs 5.5 lakh in a private hospital and approximately 3.5 lakh in government hospitals. In Hyderabad NIIMS is the only hospital to give treatment for Parkinson's disease and in all over India only 10 centres including NIIMs provide treatment for PD.
India is also observing a major shortage of specialists for movement disorder and that is the main reason that there are no good numbers of training centers or specalised centers for the cure of disease. In India, there is not a single training center in movement disorder. Training in movement disorder abroad is offered in US, UK and Canada in the form of a fellowship programme.
Shortage of movement disorder specialists, movement disorder clinics and genetic lab facilities plague the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, which encompasses diseases like Parkinson's disease.
"The number of patient with Parkinson's disease is significantly increasing with the passing years. Many people don't know the dos and don'ts of the disease. There is a need of awareness among the people," said Dr Manoj Kumar Singh, Consultant Neurologist, Medwin Hospital.
"Many hospitals don't give treatment for PD because the patient needs to be hospitalised and given special care. It's not a contagious disease but again the patient requires special attention and need to be kept in a separate room. To some extent, PD also depends upon the hereditary conditions in family," he added.
Speaking on shortage of movement disorder specialist he said, "After spending as many as 11 years to become a neuro surgeon or a neuro physician, a neurologist does not evince interest in undergoing further training in movement disorders. By the time, a person becomes a neurologist; he is at least 35-year-old and does not prefer further education".
Statistics say one per cent of the older population above the age of 60 years suffer from PD. In India, that is around one million, given that the elderly constitute almost 10% of the population. "The extrapolated figures based on a Swedish study puts the number affected at 2 million by 2010. What is more worrying is that about 15-20% of the cases being detected are among the relatively young those below the age of forty, in the prime of their life. "What is shocking is that out of the nearly one million patients of this disease in our country, so far only about five thousand have reportedly contacted any expert doctors.
To popularise the specialty and enhance cure of movement disorder patients, experts suggest that the government should support setting up genetic lab facilities. "Private organisations should participate in setting up genetic lab facilities," opines Dr U Muthane, additional professor, neurology, NIMHANS, Bangalore.
—Anubha k. Singh
IT youth welcome ESMA Act
For the first time in the country, the State government has come out with an order bringing the IT industry under the purview of Essential Services Maintenance Act of 1971. The main intention to bring the IT industry under the cover of ESMA was because of political and communal tension in the city.
The move has come in the State at a time when it is finding ways to tackle the Telangana issue, which threatens to jeopardise the prospects of the economy. A representation was made by the National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom), the industry's representative body, on February 15 this year in the wake of the agitations for a separate Telangana state, which started in December 2009 that crippled business and threatened the image of 'Brand Hyderabad'.
The Hyderabad Software Exporters Association and Nasscom had taken up the issue with Chief Minister K Rosaiah because the IT professionals had to stay away from work in December because of the ongoing Telangana agitation. The week-long curfew during the recent communal riots had also hit the movement of personnel and food supplies across Hyderabad.
The allied services, which kept the software industry running such as travel, transport and hospitality, would also be exempted and the employees in those services would not be allowed to go on strikes under the ESMA Act.
"It's a good step by Nasscom and State Government. The ESMA act will ensure proper functioning of software and other IT industries in State. This move by the government would help the IT industry in Hyderabad in winning back the confidence of the clients and bring back the lost glory," said, A Prabhakar, software engineer.
Not to forget, some offices of IT companies were attacked in Hyderabad, and during the frequent bandhs, attendance in IT offices was badly affected impacting productivity and customer confidence.
"It's a positive step by the State government, now any employee or organisation cannot resort to strikes. Also, they cannot cite bandhs or a curfew as an excuse not to report to work. With the industry being declared an Essential Service, all this will be passé," said Aditya Sarat, an IT employee. Since 1995, the software industry had driven a blooming BPO and ITeS services industry in Andhra Pradesh, providing jobs to over 3.2 lakh software engineers directly and another 15 lakh persons indirectly.
—Anubha K. Singh
The move has come in the State at a time when it is finding ways to tackle the Telangana issue, which threatens to jeopardise the prospects of the economy. A representation was made by the National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom), the industry's representative body, on February 15 this year in the wake of the agitations for a separate Telangana state, which started in December 2009 that crippled business and threatened the image of 'Brand Hyderabad'.
The Hyderabad Software Exporters Association and Nasscom had taken up the issue with Chief Minister K Rosaiah because the IT professionals had to stay away from work in December because of the ongoing Telangana agitation. The week-long curfew during the recent communal riots had also hit the movement of personnel and food supplies across Hyderabad.
The allied services, which kept the software industry running such as travel, transport and hospitality, would also be exempted and the employees in those services would not be allowed to go on strikes under the ESMA Act.
"It's a good step by Nasscom and State Government. The ESMA act will ensure proper functioning of software and other IT industries in State. This move by the government would help the IT industry in Hyderabad in winning back the confidence of the clients and bring back the lost glory," said, A Prabhakar, software engineer.
Not to forget, some offices of IT companies were attacked in Hyderabad, and during the frequent bandhs, attendance in IT offices was badly affected impacting productivity and customer confidence.
"It's a positive step by the State government, now any employee or organisation cannot resort to strikes. Also, they cannot cite bandhs or a curfew as an excuse not to report to work. With the industry being declared an Essential Service, all this will be passé," said Aditya Sarat, an IT employee. Since 1995, the software industry had driven a blooming BPO and ITeS services industry in Andhra Pradesh, providing jobs to over 3.2 lakh software engineers directly and another 15 lakh persons indirectly.
—Anubha K. Singh
Residents get contaminated water
It is just like rubbing salt on the wounds, when the people who are facing scarcity of water in the peak of the summers get contaminated water in their homes. Residents of the Road No 14, Lambadabasti, who line up for collecting drinking water from the tap provided by the local corporator, had got contaminated water in the water supply a few days ago.
"Since, pressure of water at houses is low we prefer to collect water from this tap that serves more than 20 households," points out one of the women. The usage of motor-pumps has prompted several women to go to the tap for fetching water.
As usual on April 29, when women started collecting water, they felt something unusual. Some sewage material along with the water fell into their containers and after witnessing that there has been change in the colour, these women stopped collecting water for more than two days. After the issue was taken up with the department, an assurance from an official of the Waterworks was made. Even though the women who were reassured started collecting water from the same place, there is a growing concern about the safety of the drinking water.
Local corporator B Bharati said that the issue which was taken up with the authorities has been solved and there would be no further problems related with the issue. "I have personally taken up the issue on Tuesday and Wednesday, which has been solved," she assured. She said that scarcity of water might have been in few of the areas, on the whole people are being provided alternative supply of water. "At several places, a project to install syntax tanks has been taken up," she added.
"Since, pressure of water at houses is low we prefer to collect water from this tap that serves more than 20 households," points out one of the women. The usage of motor-pumps has prompted several women to go to the tap for fetching water.
As usual on April 29, when women started collecting water, they felt something unusual. Some sewage material along with the water fell into their containers and after witnessing that there has been change in the colour, these women stopped collecting water for more than two days. After the issue was taken up with the department, an assurance from an official of the Waterworks was made. Even though the women who were reassured started collecting water from the same place, there is a growing concern about the safety of the drinking water.
Local corporator B Bharati said that the issue which was taken up with the authorities has been solved and there would be no further problems related with the issue. "I have personally taken up the issue on Tuesday and Wednesday, which has been solved," she assured. She said that scarcity of water might have been in few of the areas, on the whole people are being provided alternative supply of water. "At several places, a project to install syntax tanks has been taken up," she added.
Many historical structures yet to be notified
Seeking to provide impetus to the initiative on conservation of heritage structures in and around the city, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has come out with new concepts. As part of this, it has been proposed to earmark heritage zones and avenues in places to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that boast of historicity and architectural values too.
In addition to this the authority has also mooted another proposal to have property tax for the listed heritage structure, which has been ignored till now. Thus the money can be saved and ploughed back into the maintenance and upkeep of these structures. The idea had been discussed with the GHMC and is to be forwarded to the government for consideration.
But what is more shocking is the present status of the prominent historical sites of twin cities. According to a recent survey by the civil groups and archeaological experts, more than 50 historic buildings of the city are awaiting notifications from the heritage conservation committee, for more than four to five years now.
There are still many prominent historical sites, which are yet to be notified in the historical listings of Hyderabad's heritage. Many of these structures are lying in dilapidated condition and if any further and instant step is not taken the city may lose the heritage value of these structures.
Even restoration work of several listed heritage structures are yet to take off. Experts now fear that such negligence might further dampen Hyderabad's already deteriorating heritage value. Among the several listed heritage structures that are, for long, awaiting restoration and are under consideration for notification are the Nampally Sarai, the old Jail Khana in Monda Market, the Moazzam Jahi market, Chest Hospital, King Koti Palace and many more such structures in city.
As per the heritage rules, once a heritage structure or monument is notified or certified by the concerned authorities they are bound to protect it or ensure about its upkeep, but the irony here is neither the State Government nor the concerned department officials are solemn about the issue. Meanwhile, a recent presentation for the Heritage Conservation Committee brought out by the HMDA stresses the need to suggest and prescribe architectural guidelines for heritage areas on the basis of certain unique characteristics and with respect to urban design, heritage and environment.
—Anubha K. Singh
In addition to this the authority has also mooted another proposal to have property tax for the listed heritage structure, which has been ignored till now. Thus the money can be saved and ploughed back into the maintenance and upkeep of these structures. The idea had been discussed with the GHMC and is to be forwarded to the government for consideration.
But what is more shocking is the present status of the prominent historical sites of twin cities. According to a recent survey by the civil groups and archeaological experts, more than 50 historic buildings of the city are awaiting notifications from the heritage conservation committee, for more than four to five years now.
There are still many prominent historical sites, which are yet to be notified in the historical listings of Hyderabad's heritage. Many of these structures are lying in dilapidated condition and if any further and instant step is not taken the city may lose the heritage value of these structures.
Even restoration work of several listed heritage structures are yet to take off. Experts now fear that such negligence might further dampen Hyderabad's already deteriorating heritage value. Among the several listed heritage structures that are, for long, awaiting restoration and are under consideration for notification are the Nampally Sarai, the old Jail Khana in Monda Market, the Moazzam Jahi market, Chest Hospital, King Koti Palace and many more such structures in city.
As per the heritage rules, once a heritage structure or monument is notified or certified by the concerned authorities they are bound to protect it or ensure about its upkeep, but the irony here is neither the State Government nor the concerned department officials are solemn about the issue. Meanwhile, a recent presentation for the Heritage Conservation Committee brought out by the HMDA stresses the need to suggest and prescribe architectural guidelines for heritage areas on the basis of certain unique characteristics and with respect to urban design, heritage and environment.
—Anubha K. Singh
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