Tag: #hyderabad

Bharat Biotech Campus, Hyderabad

 Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, Administrator Puducherry and Governor of another state Jharkhand.  A man with rich experience of having been a parliamentarian for two terms and now holding this constitutional position.

This constitutional position of the Governor is no longer ornamental and we have the right man at the right place with right experience, right dedication and right commitment.

Padma Awards have got very high credibility.They are no longer driven by patronage or so-called iconic status or reputations built by event management. Padma Awards are very authentic and you all must have been surprised that when a person next door gets Padma Award you never look for that. But your reaction will be the right person has got it.

In this case the right persons have got it. So I was there. We interacted with the couple a little more extensively when we invited them and others who had got Honoris Causa from Punjab University for lunch.

Very simple, very modest, not driven by commerce, not driven by the balance sheet results. The balance sheet must respect and reveal societal aspect. But thanks to pandemic COVID and pandemic COVID has taught us many good lessons.

One is the world has come to know about you people more closely. You have been majorly instrumental in taking care of 1.3 billion people, making us proud all the way. But what is more significant of their contribution is that this country, while handling its own problem, handheld 100 other countries, Covaxin Maitri.

We gave COVID vaccine free to about 100 countries. Now I come to the real point. How this has been brought about? Research, development, innovation.

Research and development are the final strength of any economy. They are the final strength of any nation. Execution is never a problem.

Execution can take place by mediocrity, but developing a particular medicine, being innovative about it, that’s the greatest help you can contribute to the humanity at large. This company stands out. And this company stands out not because of two of them.

It stands out because of the people before me also. And those who are in attendance in virtual mode. And those who may have served here and may have retired.

Because it is the human capital that is precious. It is the human capital that alone is the ultimate repository of your wealth. I have come across many educational institutions.

People who are big in infra, never had academic inclinations, have excellent institutions. But faculty is missing. That’s the situation.

Your esteemed institution has truly set a benchmark in innovation, research, service, and education. You are not driven by commerce interest. Of course, every mechanism has to be sustainable.

If it is not sustainable, it wouldn’t work. Then this company has been a pioneer. And a pioneer is one who faces headwind more severely than others.

Headwind in the shape of administrative hiccups. Headwind in the shape of assimilating human resource. Headwind initially in the shape of there not being sustainable financial reward.

But this has become a success model. I am told 9 billion vaccine doses globally have been delivered. Of course, our countries are big in size.

And we know big numbers. 1.4 billion. 9 billion is quite a statistical figure.

Staggering. Then it gives emphasis to alleviation of human misery. Because it has been said over ages, If you are not healthy, you cannot deliver.

You may be talented. You may be committed. You may be possessed of highest integrity and ethical standards.

You may have a brain which is remarkable. But if health fails you, rather than being asset to society, you become a liability. And if a person is not possessed of these great study qualities and suffers health hazard, his economy is already vulnerable.

It is nothing short of a panic in the entire family. Therefore, this work is remarkable human service. Because we are living in times where we have become too materialistic.

We talk of mind. Occasionally we talk of heart. But rarely we talk of soul.

Now soul and spirituality define a human being. And that comes only when society is not overtaken by health hazards. Fortunately, a country of our size has seen in recent years, policy initiatives and schemes that have hand-held the last in the row.

I am talking about the health program we have in the country. I think its reach is beyond any program in the world. But then a lot more is to be done.

If you look at our ancient scriptures, our Vedas, Atruvaveda in particular, you will find that focus on health and the kind of situations they have indicated. Now companies like this can work in innovation, research, development, to bring about a mechanism of prevention, precaution. Let us not get alert when we have a mechanism where the button has to be pressed and the doctor has to be summoned.

 That situation must be avoided. And that is avoidable. I am sure a company like this would for sure take care of dissemination of right information, right knowledge across all segments of society, rural, tier 2 cities, tier 3 cities, and urban centres.

 Your exceptional contribution made us proud for another reason. And that is India’s unprecedented technological penetration, digital penetration. A decade ago, imagine what the scene was.

 And the scene was we were counted as a nation, fragile five, facing difficult situations, traversing difficult terrain. We have negotiated to slot number five, ahead of Canada, ahead of UK, ahead of France. Matter of time, we’ll be ahead of Japan and Germany.

 But France and most of you will not be aware. When I was elected to Parliament in 1989, and it was a good fortune to be a minister, the size of the Indian economy, hold your breath, make sure of your seats, was less than that of cities like Paris and London. Can you imagine? In 1991, right now our foreign exchange reserves are more than 600 billion.

 In 1991, to sustain our fiscal credibility, we had to physically load our gold in a plane. To be placed to two sea banks. What I’m telling you is we have come a long way.

We are at a place which I never imagined in 1991. Never dreamt of, never thought our Bharat will be what it is today. There is not a sector in which we are not in the big league.

 Let’s talk of space. Chandrayaan 3 landed at that part of the moon where no one has landed. On 23rd August, 2023, it has become now a space day.

 Tiranga and Shiva Shakti points are embedded on the surface of the moon. Thanks to our achievements. All this because ISRO, an organisation like you, is engaged in that activity.

 Go to 60s, rocket parts being taken on a bicycle. In 60s, our neighbouring country could put its satellite in the space from the homeland. We couldn’t.

 And now this country puts in space satellites of developed nations. Singapore to UK and others. And why? Good value for money.

 But look at our national temperament, some of them. They continue to be in the bubble. They are incorrigible critics of our development.

 They are recipe for chaos. Chandrayaan 2, it was September 2019. Along with my wife, I went to science city in Kolkata as governor of state of West Bengal.

 500 boys and girls were with me. Around 2 a.m. or thereabout, the landing was not soft. We reached quite close to the surface.

 Very close to it, just few centimetres. Landing was not smooth. Some people took it as failure.

 It wasn’t failure. It was success but not 100%. If Chandrayaan 3 is a success story, the foundation was laid by Chandrayaan 2. And therefore, when you are engaged in such a difficult task, there will be failures.

 There will be fear of failure also. There will be people to compete and walk away with success which may be yours. Notwithstanding that, our pursuit to serve humanity by research and development, scientific research should never get impeded.

 Indigenous research is something on which you must focus. There was a time when we would wait leisurely that a product will be developed in the West. Let’s take a radio.

 We’ll get it after about 5-6 years. Then we got it after about 2 years. Then we got about 6 months.

 And now we get it immediately. But now, there is reversal. Our products are going outside.

 We got into that mode. Now, I put two poses before you. 100 billion or more foreign exchange is being drained out every year because we import items that are available.

 This is, as a matter of fact, disrespect to being vocal about local or commitment to society. I term it as economic nationalism. It immediately has three serious dangerous consequences.

 One, avoidable drain of foreign exchange. Secondly, when we import avoidable imports, items that are made available here, only for some fiscal gain. We are depriving our people of employment.

 We are snatching work from their hands. And more critically, we are also impeding entrepreneurship growth. Same is about raw material export.

 Why should a nation of our size export raw material? Why should we declare to the whole world that we can’t add value to it? We export raw material. Value is added, we import the item to which value has been added to our raw material by someone outside. Now, while your stream may be different, you are a leader in research and development.

 You are trailblazers. This must be there in all areas. I am an agriculturalist.

 I belong to a farmer’s family. I know the importance of education. But for admission to any school, I may not have got opportunity.

 There was no road, no electricity, no water, no toilet in the house. What I see in every village now. Transformative change.

 Toilet is there. Tap water is there. Electricity is there.

The Internet is there. And education is also there. The world is stunned that the per capita internet consumption of this great nation of 1.4 billion per capita is more than that of USA and China taken together.

Our digital transactions are nearly 50% of global transactions, empirically. It could be one or two percent, less or more. In such a situation, how painful it is.

Because I am before people who have discerning minds, scientific temper, who have capacity to change Bharat and the world, not arithmetically, but geometrically. Can we countenance anti-national narratives? Can we suffer an expert trying to capitalise on ignorance of others? He knows full well what I am saying is wrong. He knows India’s economy will be rising more than 7.5%, which it did at the relevant time.

He said it wouldn’t go more than 5%. By virtue of the position he held, ordinary people believed him. Those who are doubting our accomplishments have to experience it by cutting out of that bubble.

Commitment to nationalism is not optional. It’s the only way out. We have to be proud Indians. We have to take pride in our historical accomplishments. I don’t want to tell you what we have achieved. But just look at the last few months.

New building of parliament in less than 30 months. Not just a building. Made functional inside, 100%. We had Bharat Mandapam, one of the ten global convention centres. Where we held G20. Yashod Bhoomi, where we held P20.

 Look at our train mechanism. Look at our airports and railway stations. Look at our highways. Look at our digital penetration. Now, all this has to sustain. By we Indians being different.

 We can no longer afford to look for technology outside. I am happy to share with you. That when it comes to disruptive technologies, you are aware of them. You are informed scientific minds. It is nothing less than a new industrial revolution. These technologies have entered our homes, our offices, our way of life.

Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, machine learning and the kind. Now research has to generalise them. These technologies otherwise are like unregulated nuclear explosion. But if nuclear power is regulated, you get power. That is another challenge. So one Bharat by take is not enough. Hundreds are not enough. In a country of our size, the number has to multiply. And seriously, India is known as the pharmacy of the world.

Just imagine. The most populous country in the world. This pharmacy of the world means it has taken care of its own populace. And then catering to others also. There is more to be done. Our radar has to focus on global issues.

The world is finding it very difficult to deal with challenges which I call existential. They are challenges not for one country. Not for one region. Not for one kind of human race. These are challenges for the entire planet. Disease, health, food, climate change.

And the solution lies only in research and development and technology. Friends, all over the world, academics have blossomed. On account of corporates hand-holding them. If you look at institutions of repute in the western world, they have become financial giants because their alumni have contributed. Industry has supported the research. How painful it is. And some of us within the country have doled out millions of dollars to those institutions, ignoring institutions at home. I’m not criticising. They may have done it rationally, thoughtfully, for a valid cause.

But I appeal from this platform. Our corporates, they must hand-hold research and development. They must hand-hold our academic institutions. I was at a function recently where I put a point across. For consideration, I’ll do it here. CSR fund is defined by statute.

For some companies, the amount will be such that even if there is a will, intent, nothing can be achieved. But if corporates come on the same platform, that every year we will use part of CSR to bring one or two great research centres, institutes of excellence, they have funds from CSR. If they part with part of the CSR fund, in a structured manner, it will do wonders.

And in a decreased time, our country will be having institutions all over of that category. I think that is something we should be seriously focusing. Another thing which the team here can take note of and act is we have greatest talent pool reserve in the shape of alumni of institutions, IITs, IIMs, great colleges, other institutions engaged in science, technology, forensic science.

 They are alumni. The alumni are all over. The alumni come together, engage in an activity to help their institute in infrastructure or otherwise.

 But if they constitute a think tank for policy formation of this country, I can assure you it will do wonders, including in your own line. They both have seen both the words. They were there. And came in late 90s here.

Future belongs to Bharat. Our present is proof of it. At present, we are the only country of our size where the economy is growing faster than anyone else. We are the only country indicated by World Bank, IMF, World Economic Forum as a favourite destination of investment and opportunities. Presently, we are the only country whose human resource is contributing all over the globe in apex institutions. We are the only country of our size that has vibrant democracy, constitutionally structured at all levels from village to the centre. And therefore, to say that we are emerging now as a superpower, we are no longer a country with potential. We are no longer a sleeping giant.

 We are fast moving. We are fast tracking. We have to see and ensure that our marathon March Bharat@2047, where it celebrates the centenary of its independence, that march will be a successful march, a march in togetherness with only one object: to make our Bharat a developed nation and a global leader, because Bharat being a global leader means peace and stability for the entire humanity. Look around in history, the only country that has not believed in expansion.

We had Raja and Jamidaar; they never believed in expansion. We suffered invasion; we never engaged in invasion. We absorbed everyone; we sought resilience. No other country can have that kind of civilization ethos of 5000 years.

Lord Buddha says, “Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful,” and there was Greek philosopher Heraclitus who says, “The only constant is change.” He also said the same man cannot enter the same river twice because neither river will be the same nor the man will be the same.

There must be a synergy approach between all stakeholders in democratic governance with one object in mind: to ensure the rise of the nation and leave to its citizens in all sectors, relieve them from health problems, empower them in education, make their life affordable, inspire them. Right now, the nation is in a bit a mood; there is an atmosphere of hope and possibility.

I am extremely grateful to come to a place where people are driven by the consensus of humanity, where people are driven by sublimity, where people are passionate not to increase their bank balance but to increase their societal contribution balance.

My best wishes to all of you and those who are in virtual attendance. I wish you the very best in your life, and I am sure you will, to conclude, be worthy partners in the marathon March for Viksit Bharat@2047.

Thank you so much.

A Few Facts about ‘Ayyappa Puja’ Celebrations: My Experience in Hyderabad, India

 India is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. It is a pluralistic society that in no other countries can be found. Besides its many religions and sects, India is home to many castes, tribes, and linguistic groups. Religious minorities of all sects, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, still account for a significant proportion of the population. All the festivals of different religions are observed with full gaiety in India. As per the Hindu religion, also known as ‘Sanatan dharma,’ many celebrations and Pujas are performed. The people in the world are aware of Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Dusshera/Durga Puja and other celebrations. In addition, many devotees, mainly from the southern part of India, visit ‘Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple’, dedicated to Bhagawan Ayyappa/ Ayyappan, which is the most famous and prominent temple located in Kerala. The temple is situated on a hilltop (about 3,000 feet above sea level) named Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district. There is a place near the temple, east of Sannidhanam (the abode of Bhagawan Ayyappa), dedicated to Vavar (a close friend of Bhagawan Ayyappa) which is called Vavaru Nada, an epitome of religious harmony.

Anyway, before going to Sabarimala, devotees/ pilgrims have to observe celibacy for 41 days. I wish to mention that those who observe for 41 days take ‘Mala,’ which means they must follow some rules and regulations. Further, instead of calling by the name of a person, addressed as ‘Swami. Once taking ‘Mala,’ the devotee has to observe certain principles. These inter alia are- sleeping on the ground, wearing a special blackish dress, moving bare-foot (no chappal, etc. wear), one-time food, i.e., lunch with rice and other vegetarian items, in the evening as tiffin other items not rice, of course, fruits can be taken anytime and no non-veg during this 41-day. All gents, irrespective of age are allowed to visit the Sabarimala temple, and girls before puberty can visit and take ‘Mala’. 

I am from the eastern part of India, but last three decades, I have been living in Hyderabad. After I retire from the Central Government Institute, Hyderabad, I am staying by purchasing a villa in the Suncity of Hyderabad, which is known as ‘Libdom Villa Campus’ Raj Reddy Valley. This is spread over an area of 17 acres with all modern facilities. It is pertinent to mention that Libdom has been derived from two words – Liberty, ‘Lib’ and Freedom, ‘Dom’ and finally, the word is  “Libdom.” Around 190 families stay on the campus, representing a mini-India as people from different states live here. Also, people have different faiths, so all the festivals of different religions are celebrated with gaiety. 

On this campus, some people, from time to time, took ‘Mala’ as part of Ayyappa puja to visit Sabarimala.

 In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit two families because, as a part of the visit to Sabarimala, they invited two different periods for Prasadam and lunch as a part of Puja celebrations. It is pertinent t to mention that inviting lunch as a part of puja celebrations to ‘Swamis’ and guests is not mandatory. According to economic capability, anyone can do it. Anyway, One was by Mahesh Reddy (49 years), who himself took ‘Mala,’ and another was by Rudrasena Reddy (47 years), whose two sons, namely, Rishikesh Reddy (20 years) and Akhilesh Reddy (17 years), accepted ‘Mala.’ As a part of the puja celebration, both (Mahesh Reddy and Rudrasena Reddy) on different days invited my family members and me, along with ‘many ‘Swamis’ and guests. From morning onwards, ‘Bhajan -kirtan’,(“singing to glorify God/Bhagawan), mainly focussing on Ayyappa, started followed by ‘Aarati ‘and other rituals’. After completing all the rituals, lunch, with many items (all vegetarians), was offered to the guests, and initially, ‘Swamis’ were served food; later, other guests were served lunch. I was told many ‘Swamis,’ instead of staying in their home, stay in temples day and night, and thus, they spend 41 days in temples where there are provisions for sleeping and cooking for all. They take common food and pass the timeby chanting ‘bhajans’ etc. 

I have presented brief facts based on primary and secondary sources so that readers can understand ‘Ayyappa puja celebration’. 

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

 

BigBasket goes offline in Hyderabad

BigBasket is going to become a supermarket. After the acquisition by Tata in 2021, it has experimented in different ways. Earlier, it also tried self- services to fruit and vegetable outlet in Bangalore. But this time, it is going to do so in the form of a supermarket in Hyderabad. 

It is also planning to expand in this physical space. It is going to open 3 more supermarkets in Hyderabad, 5 in Kolkata and 15 more in Bangalore. After that, it also plans to open 400 more such stores across the top 10 cities of the country. It will cater to those users, who are more comfortable with physical stores. 

On the online front, BigBasket has a user base of 15 million. It is also making a profit of around $ 1 billion. Now, there is also one additional app that Tata has launched for use by the users of BigBasket. It is a total of all the apps that belongs to the companies owned by Tata Group.

Now, there are some drastic changes that Tata Group is going through. For the last few years, it has been on a purchasing spree. It now owns some companies from the tech world like 1mg and BigBasket. It also has an airline named Air India. So, Tata has lined up major expansion plans for the future. For the time being it needs to invest some more resources in these companies to make them capable competitors in the market. After that, companies like BigBasket will also make it to the IPO listing by 2025. 

From the business point of view, BigBasket did serve its customers well. The highest order on its online platform was from Karnataka. On the popularity front, the tomato was the top choice of the customers on the platform. In the entire year, BigBasket delivered around 400 kgs of coriander also, which was also one of the most popular items.

On the offers front, users also saved around 1500 crore rupees from various offers and coupons. The orders were mostly during the rush hours of 7 pm and 9 pm. The platform is also planning to expand to 20 more cities. This expansion will take the total count of cities from 55 to 75 for BigBasket service. 

Now, BigBasket also needs to take care of the fact that it needs to tackle the competition from platforms like Jio. The competition is also from some physical platforms that do support the flexibility of shopping by looking at the actual product. There are still several users who love the offers and the variety of products that stress like DMart offers. There are also some competitive moves from Flipkart and Amazon. These e-commerce giants are also putting in efforts to score big in one of the world’s fastest-growing online markets.

These changes will surely put smiles on the face of those who love to buy milk from the supermarket while coming back from morning exercise. The further increase in the valuation of BigBasket at $3.2 billion also makes it a top contender to become one of the best platforms for groceries and fresh veggies for a long time and with a bright future.

India’s first gold ATM launched in Hyderabad.

India’s first Gold ATM began its operations in Hyderabad and now users can purchase pure gold coins from the ATM using their debit and credit cards. According to the sources, the first Gold ATM was inaugurated at Raghupathi Chambers in Begumpet, Hyderabad. Telangana women commission chairperson Sunitha Lakshmareddy inaugurated the gold ATM centre.

Users can purchase gold coins from 0.5 grams to 100 grams and the customers will also get a certificate stating their purity and weight. Gold ATMs will be available for 24 hours. It is said that the officials will set the Gold ATMs at Guljar House, Secunderabad and Abids in Hyderabad and Peddapalli, Karimnagar and Warangal.

Metro Region Concept

 A metropolitan area (metropolis) is a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure and housing. A metro area usually comprises multiple jurisdictions and municipalities, neighborhoods, townships, boroughs, cities, towns, exurbs, suburbs, counties, districts, states and even nations. As social, economic and political institutions have changed, metropolitan areas have become key economic and political regions. Metropolitan areas include satellite cities, towns and intervening rural areas that are socioeconomically tied to the urban core, typically measured by commuting patterns. 

At first, the ‘metropolitan district’ was used in 1910 in the Census of Population carrying a central city of 50,000 or more population and all adjacent minor civil divisions having a population density of 150 or more persons per square mile. By 1940, the concept of the metropolitan district had lost favour because the possibilities of correlating local data with district data were limited. 

Besides this, the metropolitan district did not truly represent social and economic integration with the central city. Therefore, a new areal unit, the standard metropolitan area, came into vogue in 1949. It was defined as made up of counties instead of minor civil divisions. It was succeeded by the ‘Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area’ (SMSA).It is defined below as it existed in 1970. 

A contiguous county will be included in an SMSA if: 

(a) At least 75% of the resident labour force in the county is in non-agricultural labour sector 

(b) At least 30% of the employed workers living in the county work in the central county or counties of the area. 

A contiguous county which does not meet the foregoing requirements will be included in an SMSA if at least 75% of the resident labour force is non-agricultural and meets two of the following additional criteria of metropolitan character and one of the following criteria of integration. 

(i) Criteria of Metropolitan Character 

(a) At least 25% of the population is urban. 

(b) The county had an increase of at least 15% in total population during the period covered by the most recent two censuses. 

(c) The county has a population density of at least 50 persons per square mile. 

(ii) Criteria of Integration 

(a) A least 15% of the employed workers living in the county work in the central county or counties of the area, or 

(b) The number of people working in the county who live in the central county or counties of the area is equal to at least 15 per cent of the employed workers living in the county, or 

(c) The sum of the number of workers commuting to and from the central county or counties is equal to at least 20% of the employed workers living in the county.

As stated above it seems that metropolis is primarily a demographic concept. But this may be emphasized once again that metropolis is much more than an agglomeration. It possesses distinct character and functions which are not likely to be found either in agglomeration or in conurbation. In metropolitan cities each function has benefited from the conditions which brought about the other functions and has found reasons for developing there itself. 

There the powers of attraction make them bigger and bigger, and consequently enormity of their size increases their power of attraction. This is happening in Mumbai which has grown tremendously during 1901-1991 by 1000 times. Mumbai has simultaneously an international port, one of the biggest commercial marts, an important industrial node of the country and a cosmopolitan centre. After analyzing the conditions of this development, it may be observed that out of 300 cities with population over one million in the world (1991), more than 50% are sea ports. In reality, ports possess immense potentials to concentrate functions, because, on the one hand, they are by definition commercial places, and on the other, they attract manufacturing industries by the materials of all sorts which they receive from various parts of the country. 

Even in the days of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations, and also, during the colonial times, the great commercial connections were then maritime links with the metropolis. The eastern and western sides of the Atlantic in Europe and America therefore, have great ports. Metropolitan cities acquire a sort of permanence and remain evergreen over time.

Metropolitan Cities in India 

The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 defines a metropolitan area in India as, an area having a population of ten lakhs or more, comprised in one or more districts and consisting of two or more municipalities or panchayats or other contiguous areas, specified by the Governor by public notification to be a Metropolitan area. 

In India, the Census Commission defines a metropolitan city as one having a population of over four million. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat and Nashik are those Indian cities that have over 4 million people. For these million plus cities the Census definition of an urban agglomeration requires that it should be a continuous urban spread constituting a town and its adjoining urban growths or two or more physically contiguous towns together with adjoining outgrowths. 

There are 53 urban agglomerations in India with a population of 1 million or more as of 2011 against 35 in 2001. As per the preliminary results of the Census 2011, released by the Registrar General of India, Greater Mumbai with a population of 18,414,288 continues to be India’s biggest city, followed by Delhi – 16,314,838 and Kolkata- 14,112,536. These three cities are India’s mega-cities with 10 million plus population. But, when we consider Urban Agglomeration as an extended city comprising built up area of central core and any suburbs linked by continuous urban area, we have a change at the top. Delhi NCR, with the inclusion of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad becomes the No.1 urban agglomeration with a population of 21,753,486, ahead of 20,748,395. 

As of 2011 census of India, there are 46 metropolitan cities in India and the top ten are, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat and Visakhapatnam.

Save a ‘GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE’ Part-2.

Golconda fort.

Development at the cost of nature. Part-2 :

Growth and development are inevitable and necessary to absorb the growing needs of the economy. But the problem lies in the truth that none of this growth is monitored. Giant machines dig the earth out and transport mud to all corners of the city. Ratty trucks with the broken remains of gigantic rocks can be seen ferrying the roads primarily during dusk or night. Most of this quarrying is illegal. Contractors excavate mud and destroy rocks in remote spots often under the dark cover of night for a paltry sum.

Mass destruction of rocks has exacerbated the depletion of green cover. Precious fauna and flora has been destroyed. Loss of these rocks has meant ground water depletion which has further compounded the city’s water woes. Years ago tiny lakes dotted the entire city including the famous Jubilee and Banjara hills localities. Today lakes are found only on the city outskirts in places like Shamirpet. Lakes closer to the city are shrinking every passing year.

Durgam Cheruvu.

Fighting For Conservation :

Though Hyderabad has seen the gradual depletion of rock cover, ecological conservation is an issue that has not found much voice with the population. Most citizens, especially those new to the city, are too busy focusing on seeing a snazzy Hyderabad finding its spot on the global map. But even in this bleak scenario there is a ray of hope for the rocks.

Since 1996, a group of concerned citizens have come together to prevent indiscriminate destruction of the rocks and protect the rocky landscapes. Their organization ‘Society to Save Rocks’ (STSR) has since then been working hard to preserve the rocky ecosystem in the city and state.

Due to their dedicated campaigning, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has added nine rock formations in Regulation No. 13 of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for the protection of Heritage Buildings and Precincts. This act of the governments was hailed by conservationists across the country as a great step in recognising the importance of the rocks and the need to protect them. Today Hyderabad is the only city in India where rocks are protected as a natural heritage. Encouraging the government to preserve these rocks by promoting them as tourist attractions i5 an alternative that the Society is pushing for.

Image Source -google.

But despite STSR’s dedicated efforts, the city faces a challenge as much land in and around the city has already been sold off. Durgam Cheruvu, one of the designated heritage sites is the best place where the government’s attempt at conservation and apathy towards rocks, are both visible. Years ago the lake lay hidden between rocky cliffs and was inaccessible. A few years ago it was converted to a model tourist spot with boating and other leisure facilities. But entire stretches of hills on one bank of this protected area have been destroyed in the past decade to accommodate the fast-growing Hi-tech city. Durgam Cheruvu thus epitomises the ongoing conflict between development and protection in the city.

However some individuals have successfully managed to integrate rocks that abut their house into the structure of their homes. The rock forms as much a part of their home’s interior as does their sofa or any other furniture. Some builders and companies too have taken the initiative to include rocks in their building complexes. While they have included a natural rock structure within their building premise, their focus remains on decorative appeal rather than ecological consideration for the rocks.

Over the years, due to the efforts of organizations like the STSR, the rocks of Hyderabad have found a voice. But the din of the construction industry and growing needs of an expanding city are far louder than the voice of these few individuals. What the rocks require are greater public support and a deeper appreciation of their existence. Locals, tourists and governments need to take a pro-active approach to ensure that growth includes preservation of rocks and their eco-systems. After all if a booming economy overtakes billions of years nature, the consequences and blame will have to be borne by none other than the citizens themselves for the only people who stand to gain will in reality be the ones of who lose.

Save a ‘GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE’ – Part 1.

Look at the photograph given here. This is The Three Stooges, a bizarre rock formation that can be found in Goblin Valley. There are some exceptionally unique rock formations all over the world.

•Vanishing Rocks of Hyderabad:

One of the most interesting facets of Hyderabad is the mammoth granite rocks in bewitching poses that capture one’s eye and imagination. Rocks large and small precariously balance on one another to form shapes that mesmerise the mind.These rocks, among the oldest in the world, are Hyderabad’s true heritage. Even the mighty Himalayas at 40-60 million years old are younger than these rocks!

Nature’s Sculptures:

The gigantic boulders inspire creativity and reverence in people, forcing them to look beyond the obvious shapes to create imaginary forms. These rocks seem to strike poses and imitate life-a puppy seated on its hind legs with its front legs raised in the air, a car-shaped formation, flying saucer resting on rocks, four chambers of the heart, and a woman standing with her face to the a woman standing with her face to the breeze; these are just a few shapes that tickle your imagination. It is no wonder then that people have taken to naming certain rocks after the shape they think they resemble or the idea they think they epitomise.

Some of these names have stuck on and the rocks have thus become landmarks in the city. And in some other places, rocks with their symbolic shapes have inspired the devout. Natural openings and cave like structures formed by the rocks have been used as temples by locals. Many people even consider them as symbols of the divine and worship these silent sentinels.

Tortoise Rock

Maintaining ecological balance:

Apart from being a visual treat for viewers, these rocks play an integral role in preserving and nurturing the ecological balance of the region. Lakes and ponds have always formed on adjoining rocky patches. This is a as rocks help natural occurrence create the natural drainage system of the area. Subterranean passages created by these rocks result in the natural flow of rain water to that area, aiding the formation of ponds and lakes and recharging ground water levels.

And where there is green, there are birds and bees. Rocky hills often act as the biodiversity hub for the area. Prickly thick shrubs and dry deciduous forests ensconce the rocks. Along the lakebeds, tall grass grows in wild abandon. Often even medicinal plants and aromatic herbs are found in the area. And hidden in this medley of plants are insects, birds and reptiles. So don’t be surprised if a Baya weaver flies by or a snake wiggles past you, when you are trekking about the rocks. Fauna and flora of varied kinds thrive in rocky eco-systems. Nature is at its best in these spots and here is where people can go to for a whiff of the wild, But today, such spots are disappearing with alarming alacrity. Rocks are being destroyed indiscriminately; the price the city is paying for growth.

Image Source -google. Golconda fort of hyderabad.

Development at the cost of nature Part1:

It is easy to wonder why someone would destroy rocks that are billions of old. For centuries now these rocks have been the building material for the city. Even the famous Golconda fort of Hyderabad which sits atop a granite hill is made of the very same granite rock. The problem however lies at the speed and magnitude with which these rocks are now disappearing. Just consider the following statistics. The official 2001 census stated the Hyderabad population was around 3.7 million. But today the overflowing buses, traffic jammed streets, and expanding city borders tell a very different story. Today, this natural legacy is giving way to tall residential high-rises and software parks. Hills are being replaced with malls and buildings.

As the massive inflow of population continues, rocks are being quarried round- the-clock to cater to the exponential boom in the construction industry. Large tracts of land have been approved for residential or commercial use, without taking into consideration what actually lies on the land. The rocks are blown down, land is cleared and the hard crystalline rocks are used as construction material. In the past four years itself, vast stretches of hills around the city’s fringes have been turned to rubble or have completely disappeared. If you visit the places where the development is taking place your heart will bleed at the sight of the half quarried, half-eaten mountains…..

to be continued ……….,……..

A rainy July for 2 Indian cities

Indian monsoon, the most prominent of the world’s monsoon systems, which primarily affects India and its surrounding water bodies. It blows from the northeast during cooler months and reverses direction to blow from the southwest during the warmest months of the year. This process brings large amounts of rainfall to the region during June and July.

After meagre rains were received, Mumbai saw a downpour through the night and in the early hours of July 16th, leading to 27 roads being inundated, 85 bus routes diverted and 250 people evacuated from the Mithi River banks. Extremely heavy rain was recorded at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Santacruz observatory at 253.3mm, which is the second highest 24-hour rainfall in a decade.

In 2019, the city had recorded 375.2mm which was the highest 24-hour rain in the months between 2015 and 2020. In 2018, it was 184.3mm, 163.4mm (2017), 114.5mm (2016) and 61 mm in 2015.

The meteorological department classifies 15.6-64.4mm in 24 hours as moderate rain; 64.5-115.5mm rain as heavy; 115.6-204.4mm as very heavy; and over 204.5mm as extremely heavy rain. Moderate to heavy rain is likely in the city and suburbs with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, said the IMD.

The Extremely heavy rain left 27 city roads waterlogged— areas like Hind Mata, Gandhi Market, Sion Road number 24, Wadala Bridge, Chunabhatti, Siddharth Nagar in Goregaon, RCF, Chembur Phatak, Milan Subway, roads leading to eastern freeway. As per the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) data, between 4am to 7 am, the city recorded 36mm rainfall, 73mm in the western suburb and the highest 75mm in the eastern suburb of Mumbai.

The Mithi River crossed a dangerous mark following which so far about 250 people have been evacuated from Kranti Nagar slum which is located at the bank river. After the rains took a break following the evacuation of people, the water level of the river went down to 2 metres from 3.7 metres. After that, most of the evacuated people returned to their places. The IMD has predicted moderate rain in the city and suburbs with possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated places, the civic official said, adding that the city will witness high tide of 4.08 metres on Friday at 4.26 metres.

Meanwhile, the city of Hyderabad witnessed heavy rains on the night of July 14th, which went on till the next morning. According to the IMD, Hyderabad records, at 69mm, this day was the third rainiest July day for Hyderabad in the last 10 years. The city recorded 115.1mm of rain on July 21, 2012 followed by 86.4mm on July 12, 2013. It was after seven years that Hyderabad witnessed this kind of rain in 24 hrs.

Several localities in the city, including Hayathnagar, Uppal, Saroornagar and Saidabad received heavy rains overnight. Meanwhile, Bandlaguda, Uppal received the maximum rainfall of 212.5 mm, followed by Vanasthalipuram, which witnessed 192.3 mm rain. Kapra, Serilingampally, Khairatabad, Golconda and Marredpally also experienced moderate rains.

Several other districts including Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Jangaon, Rajanna Sircilla and Jagtial also received heavy rainfall. Chegunta in Medak received the highest rainfall of 227.5 mm on Wednesday. According to the forecast by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad, the city will witness cloudy sky throughout the day, accompanied with light showers at isolated places.

Irani chai

Despite the fast-developing chai scene in Hyderabad, some places stand the test of time; and Hotel Rumaan in Tolichowki is one of them, with its almost perfect formula for retaining patronage that spans generations.
From streets away, you cannot miss the unmistakable smell of chai spices melded with hot butter. The unmissable signage beckons invitingly to loyal patrons. If you are a stranger to Rumaan’s helm, make sure you initiate yourself by having a couple of chais served in their cups stamped with Rumaan.
Hotel Rumaan is a destination, not just a stop-along-the-way. The popular array of biryanis speak for themselves, constantly being well-received by consumers across the city, whether you are health-minded or indiscriminate towards it. Most importantly, the chai is not compromised upon; each cup is an excuse for a good old kick-back; the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and milky all holding the promise of Irani heritage.
The unity of consumers across the city at Rumaan is something worth immersing yourself in; entrepreneurs, politicians, construction workers and artists — all under the same roof — engage in a fascinating interaction over the cups of chai and mountainous plates of food makes for an ideal story-telling setting.
Dedicated hospitality and pocket-friendly prices formulate the secret to running an establishment that has kept Hyderabadis returning ever since it was established. In the battlefield of getting your chai and biryani, everyone is an equal; the notion of ‘special service’ is thrust aside. But keep in mind; Rumaan attracts a male-dominated customer base, so be sure to go there as a group. The pride of Rumaan is evident in the staff, conveyed through arduous workflows, as well as the joyous and defeaning ways they communicate with each other.
Additionally in the overwhelming chaos of Tolichowki, Rumaan’s location could not be better, encouraging the bustling passers-by to slow down and indulge. Some explain that Rumaan is the crux of Tolichowki, retaining the flavours of old Hyderabad while being a window for the liveliness of the city.

TOD in India

 Indian cities face a multitude of issues such as severe congestion; deteriorating air quality; increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector; increasing road accidents; and an exploding growth in the number of private vehicles (largely motorcycles). With the urban population projected to more than double in the next generation, the situation could easily get out of control and thwart India’s economic development efforts unless remedial measures are soon taken. 

The state of public transport in the majority of Indian cities has degraded over the years. Rising population and underdeveloped mass transport has led to a rapid rise of personal vehicles, traffic congestion and an increase in pollution levels. Moreover, the majority of people do not use public transport simply because of the lack of it and inaccessibility to the transit. Therefore, while augmenting public transport, planning for accessibility is the need of the hour. Increased density and improved connectivity through TOD can help achieve that. But one of the most important reasons for thinking about TOD for Indian cities is the recent emphasis on public transport at all levels of government. Scholars have argued that transport sector in India is extremely energy intensive and needs massive investments in mass transit to quell the rise of private motorized mobility. 

Post the announcement of mission based programs like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in 2005, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation, and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities in 2015, there has been huge emphasis on investments in public transport. Transit systems like metro rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) have found their way into many cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hubli Dharwad, Lucknow, Kochi, Jaipur, Bhopal and Indore among many others. 

Some of these cities have gone on to leverage the huge potential accorded by the massive investments in public transit and prepared TOD plans for their cities. In western countries, TOD was used for densifying certain areas but in India the cities already have higher densities. Hence TOD in Indian cities should be looked at as a tool for improving quality of life and financial means to provide infrastructure facilities. India is taking steps towards achieving the TOD guidelines and designing a well-planned city for its people, making itself sustained and pedestrian friendly.