A 3500-4500 years old town has been found in the village of Dwarkapur-Agiyabeer near Uttar Pradesh’s Basti in an excavation by Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology Department Team of BHU.
During the excavation, the archaeologists discovered remains of weapons made out of bones, sculptures made of mud, floor tiles and utensils.
The digging of the site, which is now believed to be a settlement of fishermen, started in 1999.
Director Dr Ashok Kumar Singh told that evidence of two cultures has been found- Iron-Stone Age and Copper-Stone Age. Equipment made out of iron, spears, parts of swords, axes were also excavated from the site.
Excavators also found beads which are likely to have been used for beautification.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Navbharat Times / April 16th, 2018
The gharial is threatened by the loss of its riverine habitat, depletion of fishes, and entanglement in fishing nets.(HT Photo)
The Kukrail gharial breeding centre in Lucknow alone houses around 300 gharials — once considered to be the total population of the crocodilian in the country. And there are still eggs left for new ones to make an appearance.
“We have 300 gharials with us. But this figure represents only what is left after hundreds were sent for breeding to different places over the years,” said Ashok Prasad Sinha, conservator of forest endangered species project, Uttar Pradesh forest department.
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a type of Asian crocodilian set apart by its long and thin snout. It is different from the crocodile or the alligator, which exist in bigger numbers. It is native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.
The jaws of the gharial are too thin and delicate to grab a larger prey. They keep lying in wait for fishes to swim by and then quickly catch them by whipping their heads sideways. They do not chew their prey, but swallow it.
Sinha said that the Kukrail centre is responsible for sending gharials for breeding to places like Madhya Pradesh and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. “In all, 238 gharials were sent to Delhi, Rampur, Bijnor, Etah, Mathura and Kanpur. Thirty-one gharials were also sent to other countries, including Bhutan, the US (New York), Pakistan and China,” he shared.
The latest batches of 116 gharials left the centre for the natural habitat of Kartania forest range on March 15 and 29. “We are happy that even after sending so many, we still have 300 gharials left. According to wildlife statistics, gharials fall under the critically endangered category,” said Sinha.
The gharial is threatened by the loss of its riverine habitat, depletion of fishes, and entanglement in fishing nets. As its population has sharply declined since the 1930s, it has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List — a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Gaurav Saigal, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 14th, 2018
The award covers the period between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
Lucknow :
Lucknow Metro’s underground project has bagged the prestigious international Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) health and safety awards, 2018. The project will be awarded with the highly acclaimed ‘RoSPA Silver Award’ for the health and safety performance for the period between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). This is a British charity organisation that aims for promotion of safety and prevention of accidents in project execution the world over.
For Lucknow Metro Rail Project, Gulermak-Tata Projects Limited (TPL) Joint Venture (JV) are the contractors who have been entrusted with the civil work of the 3.67-km long Charbagh to Hazratganj underground stretch. The contractors have been declared winner of this coveted award, announced the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC).
Officials said that this award is a very important achievement for the team of Lucknow Metro since it was selected among some very prominent international projects. This award highlights LMRC’s continuous commitment in achieving highest standards of health and safety in the project execution for the Lucknow Metro Rail Project. The award will be presented in a ceremony on July 5, 2018 at Birmingham, United Kingdom.
RoSPA Silver Award winners indicate that the company has achieved a high level of performance by adopting good management systems which are delivering consistent improvement and are working towards the level of excellence.
In the recent past, LMRC has also won several prestigious national and international awards, including the Best Urban Mass Transit Project in 2017 by the ministry of housing & urban affairs, government of India, the best metro project for ‘Excellence in Innovative Designs’ in 2016, the ESQR Quality Choice Prize in 2016 in Berlin (Germany) under the Gold Category, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Award on Innovation in Governance in 2016, the ‘International Quality Summit (IQS) Award 2016’ under Gold Category by Business Initiative Directions (BID) Group One – in Madrid, Spain and the Dun & Bradstreet Infra Award, 2017 in Mumbai etc.
The contract for Charbagh – Hazratganj underground stretch of Lucknow Metro Project was awarded in April, 2016. The scope of work includes 3.67 km of tunneling with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and construction of three underground stations at Hussainganj, Sachivalaya and Hazratganj. The project is progressing at a very fast pace with about 75% of work having been completed.
“This has been a significant technical and managerial achievement for the team of Lucknow Metro since the work involved construction/tunneling through some of the most congested areas and highly dilapidated buildings of the city requiring extensive instrumentation, monitoring and traffic management”, said officials.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News / by Priyanka Singh / TNN / April 11th, 2018
Ravi Kumar won bronze in the final of the men’s 10m air rifle
The shooter from Meerut finished with shots of 10.4, 10.1, 9.3 and 10.2 to finish third with a total of 224.1
Australia’s Dane Samson won gold while Abdullah Hel Baki of Bangladesh claimed silver
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New Delhi :
Bringing further laurels to India on what has turned out to be a super Sunday, shooter Ravi Kumar won bronze in the final of the men’s 10m air rifle to extend the country’s medal tally to 10 at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Having entered the final after finishing second in qualifying, Ravi shot very well in the final even as compatriot Deepak Kumar bowed out, and it all came down to an intense tussle with Australia’s Dane Samson and Abdullah Hel Baki of Bangladesh. The shooter from Meerut finished with shots of 10.4, 10.1, 9.3 and 10.2 to finish third with a total of 224.1.
Samson claimed gold with a CWG record score of 245 and Baki took silver with 244.7.
Ravi, 29, entered the ongoing CWG with plenty of hope having clinched bronze in the 10m air rifle event at this year’s International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup.
Belonging to a humble family from Meerut’s Bhainsa village, Ravi obtained his first air gun after his farmer father Ajay Kumar – who left his job as a supervisor in a sugar mill in Khatauli to run a medical store – collected money from his relatives. Inspired from his mother’s maternal uncle Rajpal Singh and his Arjuna awardee son Vivek Singh, Ravi began shooting in 2007.
Earlier in the day, Ravi had finished second in qualification with a score of 626.8 while Deepak finished top with a Games record qualifying score of 627.2.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Sports News> Commonwealth Games 208 / TimesofIndia.com / April 08th, 2018
At present, 28-species of butterflies could be seen, but soon the number can go up to 40, said zoo director RK Singh. Butterflies are the most important indicator of good environment.
The park will be further developed to increase the number of butterflies(HT Photo)
Now, visitors can also have a look at different species of butterfly at the Lucknow Zoo as the state’s first butterfly park was inaugurated by forest minister Dara Singh Chauhan here on Monday.
At present, 28-species of butterflies could be seen, but soon the number can go up to 40, said zoo director RK Singh. Butterflies are the most important indicator of good environment.
He said that the park will be further developed to increase the number of butterflies. “We have placed host plants that attract butterfly and hopefully more species will come up soon,” said Singh.
He said that the park will also generate awareness among visitors about the risks that butterflies face due to increasing pollution and use of chemical fertilizers.
There are around 2,000 species of butterflies in the world of which, 1,500 are found in India. On the occasion, the forest minister said that soon Uttar Pradesh would be leading state in eco-tourism as several programmes for the same were being implemented.
source: htt://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Gaurav Saigal, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 10th, 2018
After a wait of 32 years, a meritorious Lucknow University student who is now vice chancellor of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Prof Manoj Dixit, received his two pending gold medals on Sunday.
The 56-year old who topped his masters in public administration in 1986 won the Raja Raghuvendra Pratap Singh and Suresh Chandra Bhasin gold medals for academics.
He couldn’t receive them then as the university did not hold a convocation that year. After being awarded, the VC took to social media posting old and present photographs.
“I won this medal at a young age and I am receiving it when I have lost all my hair. This shows how long the wait for the two medals was,” said Dixit.
Dixit has held various positions at Lucknow University too.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / TNN / April 02nd, 2018
CM with awardees at a function in Lucknow on Thursday
Lucknow :
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath gave away the prestigious Rani Laxmi Bai Veerta awards in Lucknow on Thursday. As many as 129 women and girls were awarded. The CM said his government was committed towards the security and welfare of women and all necessary steps have been taken in this regard.
Among the awardees was Pallavi Fauzdar Mishra, a solo lady biker, who is also fashion and jewellery designer. Pallavi made four back-to back world records by covering 3,500 km ride, more than 5,000 metre above sea level, from Delhi to Ladakh.
Speaking to TOI, 38-year old Pallavi, a resident of Lucknow now living in Delhi, who started riding a bike when she was nine, said, “Ek zindagi kam pad jaati hai bahut kuchh karne ko.”
With just a pack of inhaler, drinking water and some clothes, Pallavi started her journey in July 2015 from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh. It took her over seven days to cross eight high passes 5,000 metre above sea level and braved seven avalanches.
In September 2015, Pallavi drove up to 54 km ahead of Badrinath, Uttarakhand, crossing passes at 18,774 feet near Indo-Tibetan border, her world record.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Urooj Khan / TNN / March 30th, 2018
Women bravehearts who saved their loved ones in tiger and leopard attacks in Katarniya Ghat forest reserve were honoured with Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award by state government on Thursday.
“The area is infamous for big cat attacks. In last eight months, big cats killed 10 humans and injured 30,” said district forest officer GP Singh.
Tara (40): A resident of Mukeriya village in Ramgaon police station area of Bahraich was working in fields on March 6, 2018 when a tiger attacked her 6-year-old daughter. Tara fought with the till people working nearby rushed in.
Pushpa ( 40): The unarmed woman from Chandpaiya village of Mahsi tehsil, Bahraich, district fought with a leopard that had attacked her daughter (4) on March 7, 2018. Pushpa picked up a stick and rained blows on the leopard while raising alarm. The leopard fled as villagers rushed in.
Sindhu (30): The mother from Rampurva Bankati village of Sujauli block, Bahraich, freed her daughter Khushbu (10) from a leopard’s jaws on February 28, 2018. The leopard fled as people gathered.
Sunita (35): The mother from Rajaram Tanda village, Nishangara, Bahraich, was serving dinner on October 16, 2011 when a leopard pounced on her daughter Laxmi (10) who had gone to fetch water from hand pump. Sunita jumped on the leopard. Her husband and neighbours rushed on hearing noise. Both were seriously injured.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Arshad Afzal Khan / TNN / March 30th, 2018
A 38-year-old blood cancer patient has become the first patient to undergo a successful stem cell transplant at KGMU.
The transplant was carried out by the clinical hematology department with support from departments of pathology and blood transfusion. The patient, Panne Lal of Sant Kabirnagar, will be discharged by Saturday.
Lal was diagnosed with blood cancer about 18 months ago.
After initial treatment, his condition relapsed within a year. “We planned a repeat therapy followed by stem cell transplant. He was first given growth factor that increased the stem cells present in his bone marrow which then flowed in his blood after five days. The stem cells were then extracted from his blood through a machine and then injected back,” said head of the clinical hematology department, Prof AK Tripathi.
The white blood count (WBC) levels of Lal that had dropped to around 50, then reached within normal limits of 4,000 -11,000 within 10 days.
“In a private setup the transplant costs around Rs 12 lakh, while here it cost around Rs 2 lakh.
But Lal has been treated for free since he cannot afford the surgery cost. The chances of success in this method are 98% with mortality rate of just 1%. Chances of relapse are also bleak since it is the body’s own stem cells that are used for treatment,” added Prof Tripathi.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Civic Issues / TNN / March 29th, 2018
Saahil Singh has just taken his spot in the room and started to perform a yoga asana with the agility of a gymnast. It’s no wonder because the 21-year-old has represented India as a swimmer in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific in Australia in 2013, winning a silver. A gold in the national championships had come in the same year.
On his birthday in January, he was made the station officer of a police station-a long cherished wish-and is now training to be an assistant teacher in sports at a school for special children.
His achievements are undoubtedly grand for a regular 21-year-old but Saahil is even more special. He has a genetic chromosomal dysfunction called Down Syndrome but is never pulled back by it.
In between colouring flowers on a paper bag and teaching yoga asanas to other specially abled children, Saahil said, “Mai kuch banna chahta hoon (I want to become somebody). I want to be a singer.”
He continued, “I will take my XII standard exam in April and then my yoga exam.”
Spending their time at Dosti-a school for the specially abled-children like Saahil have become role models for their peers with special needs.
Rishi Agarwal, 14, does not have clear speech but it is computers and technology that the young boy finds his calling in.
“He works on the system effortlessly. He is helping out his father in his business. He works on MS Excel and waits to be paid every month for it,” said his mother Bhawna, who is also a special educator at the school.
Class VI student Rishima Srivastava and class V student Abhishri Uniyal, who were in this class, have added a feather to their caps. Both have been integrated into mainstream education and study with other children.
For their parents, it is society’s role towards them that is of utmost importance.
“Society needs to be aware towards such children, deal with them patiently, let them be free and receive unconditional love from them in return,” said Surbhi Kapoor, principal of Dosti.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / by Yusra Hussain / March 21st, 2018
