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UP’s longest bridge turns into a specimen of #KaamBoltaHai
Chahlari (Sitapur / Bahraich):
For local residents, it isn’t a bridge too far.
Chahlari Ghat Bridge, UP’s longest over a river, has become an unlikely picnic spot, attracting families and youths to Sitapur and Bahraich, the two districts it connects.
The 3.26 km-long bridge is called the “mini Agra-Lucknow Expressway” by the people here. “That’s because it takes less than 10 minutes to drive over the stretch now …Earlier, someone travelling to the district (Bahraich) had to come via Mahmudabad, which took more than 90 minutes,” Vinay Mishra, the owner of a medical store, said.
“The bridge is being used by Samajwadi Party supporters to campaign for the candidate in Sevata and the word has spread,” said Akhilesh Bajpai, a businessman and social worker from Sevata.
Local candidate Shiv Kumar’s supporters started telling people to take a ride on the bridge for an Agra-Lucknow Expressway-like experience. Talking to TOI, a supporter, Ajay Singh, said, “Bridge saboot hai ki kaam hua hai … tabhi bolta hai. (The bridge is proof that work has been done, that’s why it speaks (for development).”
He said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive down the Agra-Lucknow Expressway to see the work done by his party was the cue. In one of his speeches, the CM, in fact, had said that if the PM used the Agra-Lucknow Expressway once even he would vote for the Samajwadi Party. “If the PM can’t take the expressway, he can come here,” said another supporter, Rajesh Kumar.
Word of mouth turned the place into a picnic spot. On hearing about the place, Vimal Maurya and his friend Kishor Prajapati visited the place on Valentine’s Day. “Hum Sidhauli se aa rahe hain … check karne ki jo bola hai woh sachh hai ya nahi (We have come from Sidhauli to check if what is being said is true),” said Vimal, who was impressed.
Mohammed Kamil and his family came from Biswa for the sunset. “This is beautiful… Though not comparable with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the locals may surely get a feel,” he said.
Clicking selfies and taking pictures of the place, Haroon Rasheed, a marketing executive for a Bahraich-based solar panel manufacturer, even walked up to the old pontoon bridge. “Pipay ka pul toh ab itihas hai.. isliye photo kheech rahe hain,” he said, adding that he loved the bridge because it had added Sitapur market to his area.
Before the bridge was built, one had to take a boat across the Ghaghra and Sharda rivers to reach the other end.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Shailvee Sharda / TNN / February 18th, 2017
UP has 6 of India’s 13 cantonment assembly seats
A high-pitched battle between two female gladiators has brought Lucknow Cantonment in the limelight like never before.Samajwadi chhoti bahu Aparna Yadav is challenging sitting MLA Rita Bahuguna fielded by the BJP. In 2012, Rita won the seat contesting on a Congress ticket.
Of the 13 cantonment assembly seats in the country, six are in Uttar Pradesh.Apart from capital Lucknow, Meerut, Kanpur, Agra, Bareilly and Varanasi have a cantonment seat.
Going by election results since 1991, voters in most cantonment assembly seats have shown a preference towards BJP. However, in the 2007 assembly elections, BSP won Agra Cantt and Bareilly Cantt seats while BJP was able to capture the cantonment assembly seats of Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Meerut.
In the 2012 assembly polls, the BJP bastion of Lucknow Cantonment fell to the Congress, with Rita Bahuguna Joshi defeating three-time winner and sitting MLA Suresh Chandra Tiwari. Agra Cantt (SC) witnessed a BSP hat-trick, while Bareilly Cantt saw the advent of BJP for the first time.
However, the BJP continued its dominance in Meerut Cantt, winning it for the sixth time. Kanpur Cantt chose the party for the fifth time while Varanasi Cantt won it for the sixth time.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Arunav Sinha / TNN / February 19th, 2017
UP boys lift 27th Sr National Tennis Ball Cricket C’ship
Scripting a convincing win over Jammu and Kashmir in the summit clash, Uttar Pradesh boys lifted the title trophy of the 27th Senior National Tennis Ball Cricket Championship, organized by J&K Tennis Ball Cricket Association in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council at different venues, here.
In the women’s section, J&K and Uttar Pradesh emerged joint winners as the match ended in a dramatic fashion.
Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra was the chief guest on the valedictory function, while Jitender Sharma, Secretary General, Tennis Ball Cricket Federation of India and P Gangvel, Vice President (TBCFI) were the guest of honour.
In the women’s final, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh emerged as joint winners in an exciting contest.
Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, Uttar Pradesh scored a good total of 75 runs in the stipulated 8 overs, losing just one wicket. Shefali top scored with 40 runs, while Sadhna Yadav contributed valuable 30 runs to the total.
In reply, J&K needed 5 runs on the last ball and the batswoman after hitting the ball towards mid-off area called her partner and were running between wickets. After completing 2 runs, the batting duo in the middle were running for the third run, when the UP players in a jubilation uprooted the stumps when the ball was in action and not dead. After through discussions and deliberation, the jury of the Federation declared Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh as joint winners of the Championship. For Jammu and Kashmir, Summaiya and Satika were the star performers, who made brilliant 35 and 23 runs respectively. Sumaiya hit 6 boundaries, while Satika struck 3 fours. Goa won third place in this section.
Meanwhile, in the men’s section, Uttar Pradesh defeated J&K in an easy contest by 25 runs. Batting first, UP scored 82 runs in the stipulated 8 overs. Vikas was the top scorer with 38 runs, studded with 6 magnificent boundaries, while Ravi, Govind and Kuldeep chipped in with 21, 9 and 6 runs respectively. For J&K Sunil took 2 wickets.
In reply, J&K managed to score 57 runs in the allotted overs, thus lost the match by 25 runs. Hinan (25) and Burhan (18) were the main contributors.
The third place in this section also went to Goa.
The match balls used in this Championship were the Toss Official Tennis Balls of Sharma Sports Jalandhar.
source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Sports / GKNN / February 14th, 2017
‘Stove watcher’ developed by Meerut lads selected in CBSE’s national exhibition
Meerut :
Gone are days when you have to keep a tab on your gas stove to save your foods from over cooking or burning. Now, just like a microwave, not only you will be able to set time of your gas stove, but can also keep the temperature under check — thanks to a ‘stove watcher’ developed by Class XI students Yash Bansal and Abiraam T.S of Dewan Public School here.
Their stove watcher is among 18 models chosen from nearly 500 models displayed by 450 schools at a national-level CBSE Science Exhibition in Delhi. Their model is also only one from Meerut to have made it to the list.
Taking about their feat, Yash, 17, said, “One day, my mother told me to keep a tab on the milk boiling on the gas stove, but I forgot and the vessel burnt. The idea to make a device to keep a check on the gas stove came to me from this incident. It took one month to complete the model, which is affordable and compatible with all gas stoves.”
The students have fitted a timer in the gas stove, which can be fixed to switch on the gas, thereafter it will be switched off automatically. Besides, a temperature sensor, which has been designed by them, can be fixed at the tip of the vessel to ensure that the food does not spill out or burnt in the process of cooking.
Geetika Gupta, science teacher and mentor of the project, said, “In the regional round, out of 300 schools, 18 were selected for the national level. At the national level, 18 schools were selected and awarded by CBSE. While the students received certificates, the school has been awarded Rs 3,000 cash prize. This is the second time in the past 10 years when our school has been selected in the national level CBSE science exhibition.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Meerut / by Ishita Bhatia / TNN / February 15th, 2017
I’m prepared for no movie offers post ‘Saala Khadoos’: Ritika Singh
Ritika Singh is being praised for her performance in her debut film “Saala Khadoos” but the boxer-actress says she doesn’t expect to be flooded with movie offers.
“I am enjoying the attention right now. It feels nice that people want to know about your work, your first film. I want to act in future too but I am a realist. I am prepared to get no work after this,” Ritika told PTI.
Also starring R Madhavan in the lead role, the sports movie released this Friday.
A professional boxer, Ritika says acting was never on her mind but the opportunity of working with Madhavan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who has produced the film, was too big to let go.
“I never thought about acting. I felt I wouldn’t be able to do this. I don’t know how Maddy sir contacted me but when he narrated the story, I went into complete shock. My first reaction was ‘When are we starting it?’ A Rajkumar Hirani production and a co-star in Madhavan, you can’t let this go. Also it was giving me a chance to play a boxer on screen.”
Even though the film has hit screens, it still feels surreal to her that she has entered the industry and made friends with some influential people here.
Narrating one such incident, Ritika said, “One day I was at Raju sir’s home for a photoshoot. Maddy sir was also present. He, Raju sir, his wife all were sitting with me and talking their personal stuff..It didn’t feel real.”
Having finally been bitten by the acting bug, Ritika wants to do characters of substance and focus on strong scripts.
“I really want to act and act in great roles, which have scope of performance. I don’t want to do sing-and-dance routine. I believe script is the king so I would go for powerful stories,” she said.
The actress wants to juggle between her acting and boxing, and use her fame to help boxing gain more attention in the country.
“I have this ambition that when I become powerful and famous, I will host an event of boxing or kick-boxing which the entire nation watches. That way, this sport will gain attention. People will realise that there is a lot of talent in India.”
source:http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by PTI, New Delhi / January 30th, 2017
Workshop on elephant management held in Agra
Agra :
Over a hundred elephants march up and down the Amer fort in Jaipur every day carrying tourists. Many of these elephants have severe welfare issues and concerns stem mainly from lack of expert veterinary care and ignorance about elephant care and management by local elephant care takers in Jaipur. Wildlife SOS in collaboration with Rajasthan Forest Department has launched a series of training workshops for elephant owners and mahouts on elephant care and management. The training workshops have been a trumpeting success with over 75 participants attending the first workshop.
The training workshop had both theory and classroom sessions conducted by elephant veterinarians from the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre followed by practical sessions with elephants. To create further awareness and bring about compassion, Wildlife SOS hosted a field exposure visit for the elephant owners and mahouts at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura where the Wildlife SOS elephant care team showed practical humane and scientific elephant management techniques practised at the centre. This was followed by participative discussions and lunch.
Assistant conservator of forests Jagdish Chand Gupta, who accompanied elephant owners from Jaipur, said, “We want to adopt modern and positive elephant management and training techniques as a step to improve the condition for the elephants. This workshop proved to be a motivation for the elephant owners who are keen on adopting these methods.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said “The Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre has model standards for humane elephant management and functions as a training platform to create similar facilities across India. Chief Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan Dr G V Reddy has shown great foresight and vision in facilitating these workshops to train stakeholders involved in elephant care so we can work together to improve the living conditions of elephants in Jaipur.”
Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said, “I am very happy to see the elephant owners and mahouts see and learn new methods of managing elephants with compassion and without the need for intimidation. The visit hosted by Wildlife SOS will go a long way to helping these people change the way they are managing and caring for their elephants”
Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar, senior veterinarian in charge of the Wildlife SOS Elephant Care Centre, said “The training workshop and subsequent exposure visit to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre quenched the curiosity of the elephant owners about how Wildlife SOS manages the elephants in our care. It also provided insight into modern management techniques available for providing humane care to elephants.
Rhea Lopez, Elephant campaign manager of Wildlife SOS, said “The workshop covered aspects of enclosure design, positive conditioning, veterinary care, elephant behaviour, enrichment, foot care and the elephant owners and mahouts were receptive & participated in all discussions.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Agra News / Aditya Devi / February 10th, 2017
Aero India 2017: Kanpur-based MKU showcasing its armouring solution Polyshield V6 that can cut helicopter weight 40%
Indigenous companies to go full throttle. Kanpur-based MKU is showcasing its armouring solutions at the five-day aerospace exhibition.
Around 270 Indian companies and 279 foreign companies are expected to participate in the premium aerospace and aviation exhibition, which starts on February 14.
With the Make in India initiative on everyone’s mind, Aero India 2017 will be showcasing both Indian and international new technologies, including ultra light armour protection for helicopters, 3D printing for parts, nano technology, smart materials, AESA radar, infrared seeker and sensor technology, engines, and rotors. Around 270 Indian companies and 279 foreign companies are expected to participate in the premium aerospace and aviation exhibition, which starts on February 14.
Kanpur-based MKU Pvt Ltd is one of the Indian companies showcasing its cutting edge technology for mission critical modular protection for helicopters. Of all the factors that affect the performance of a helicopter, weight is the most important one, followed by lift, thrust and drag. MKU’s 6th Generation Polyshield V6 armouring technology uses advanced composite materials and techniques that reduce the weight of armour for aircraft and helicopters by approximately 40% compared to standard armouring solutions.
“Keeping the multi role operations and survivability of utility and assault helicopters in consideration, the company designs helicopter armour kits using the proprietary ‘Modular Schutz Technik’, which uses precision engineered composite armour panels along with patented aero-grade attachment systems,” said Neeraj Gupta, managing director, MKU. “These kits are installed in the existing structure of the helicopter, and do not require any structural changes or tampering with the aerodynamics of the helicopter. Hence, re-certification of the aircraft for airworthiness does not become an obligation.”
Given that aircraft and helicopters are big machines, they are prone to terminal attacks through armed fire from militants or enemy forces. The belly of the helicopter or aircraft, cockpit and the engine are most susceptible to attacks. Therefore, aircraft armouring solutions have been crucially important to decrease the susceptibility of the fixed wing and rotary aircrafts and their crew. Without the necessary protection, they can become flying death-traps, making armour protection an absolute necessity. Armour shield can protect against large-caliber anti-aircraft fire or armour piercing ammunitions typically with a great weight penalty, which affects the performance and load carrying capacity of the aircraft, among other things.
“We can armour any helicopter for the Indian Armed Forces as well as paramilitary forces, as we have done almost 20 different types of helicopters worldwide including MI-8/17; Lockheed C-130; Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter; Boeing CH-47; Eurocopter BO-105; Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, UH60,UH 60M,” says Gupta. The Indian Air Force and BSF have evinced interest in this technology for their aircraft. Besides MKU, there are three major companies in the world that offer this technology including TenCate from Netherlands and Plasan Sasa from Israel.
At the Aero-India 2017, the UK based Rolls Royce is showing Advanced Military Fan Concept—a full scale model of military fan for a 5th generation fighter aircraft engine. This concept is designed to improve core efficiency while minimising installation effects. France’s Thales will demonstrate its mastery of advanced technology and industrial prowess by displaying a wide range of its cutting-edge products. It will provide insights into rocket systems, underwater systems (sonars), surveillance and fire control radars, surface warfare systems (missiles), among others.
US firm Textron Systems will display a full-size Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System, as well as models of the Shadow v2 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS), Shadow M2, and models of Textron Systems’ precision-guided munitions.
source: http://www.financialexpress.com / The Financial Express / Home> Industry / by Huma Siddiqui / February 13th, 2017
‘Being invited to events our only honour’
Bithoor , Kanpur District :
Though it has a big compound, the house of Tantya Tope—a leader of the first war of Independence in 1857—in Bithoor is located in a crowded locality near the famous Ganesh mandir and there is nothing outstanding about it. The compound of the brick-and-mortar building has been encroached and the descendants have been fighting a legal battle for ages for their removal. The house has only two remnants from that era—a well from where Tantya Tope drew water and the mud wall. The well has a cemented eddy and the wall is still strong.
None of the successive UP governments did anything for the family. Though the 400-page visitors’ register kept at the family’s museum in the front hall of the house is almost full, “No one has helped us,” said Vinayak Rao Tope, son of Tantya’s nephew, Narayan Rao Tope. The only honour the family keeps receiving is being invited at random events to be presented a shawl, he said, adding, “I was even called by Raj Bhawan for ‘poochh-taachh’ (enquiry) about my family background but nothing happened.”
“Modiji kehte hain na ki jiska ghar hai ussi ka rahega, is liye jo zabardasti ghus bhi gaye hain woh kab tak rahenge (We believe in what Modi says that house would always belong to the owner. Those who have entered forcefully will not live for long),” said the woman of the house, Vinayak Rao’s wife Sumati Tope about the encroachment. But asked if ‘Modiji’ or his party ever came calling, Sumati’s answer is “No”.
This fourth generation of Tantya Tope said they were indebted to “Laluji” (former railway minister and Bihar ex-CM Lalu Prasad Yadav). As railway minister in 2007 Lalu offered a job to Vinayak Rao Tope’s daughters in the container department of railways. “When Laluji came to our house, he saw the well and marvelled at its construction,” she said, adding, “We were called to Delhi too. Laluji got every fact about us verified before he gave my daughters the job,” said the woman.
Vinayak Rao was running a ‘parchoon’ (grocery) shop at that time. “We were discovered by a Delhi-based journalist who told Laluji about us and he helped us. Now that our daughters are married, we are at odds again,” she said. Their son has completed graduation and has done a 14-month course in computers but has no job. Both father and son are now into ‘panditaai’ (priesthood) to make a living.
There are about nine Marathi families residing in Bithoor. The Moghe family too has a Peshwa-era connect. Living at Dhruv Teela in Bithoor, it’s the sixth generation of Raja Ram Pant Moghe, one of the five commanders sent by Bajirao Peshwa (I) in 1700 to guard Bithoor. Bajirao Peshwa (I) was the general of the Maratha empire in India. None of the Peshwa’s direct descendants is left in Bithoor. The descendants of other commanders are also not found in the city.
“Bithoor was called ‘Veeron ka thaur’ or the hub of bravehearts but British could not pronounce it and they distorted the title and it came to be known as Bithoor,” said Sunny Rao Moghe sitting at his more-than-300-year-old home at Dhruv Teela. The house is decrepit and because of the weathered off plaster, the lakhauri bricks, of which the wall of the compound is made is visible. New construction comprises the main entry door, a temple at the centre and two rooms.
In 1996, archaeological department took possession of the Teela. The family is entwined in a legal battle with the department since then. Dattatreya temple at the Teela receives several VIP visitors. When TOI visited the spot on Tuesday, sitting MLA from SP Munindra Shukla’s wife had come to offer prayers at the temple. Moghe family is respected in Bithoor for the lineage. Ask anyone on the Bithoor’s streets, and he would know of the family. Politicians come asking for vote. “But none of us ever got any help be it in the form of government job or a pension,” said one of the family members.
Moghe’s also have around six beegha land almost adjacent to the house. “We owned several beegha land but most got encroached,” said Sunny Rao Moghe. “We got our land under ‘Sankramani Bhumidari’ where Chakbandi does not apply,” he said. A rusted, more than 300-year old sword with frayed edges, of Raja Ram Pant Moghe, is also one of the prized possessions of the family.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / City> Lucknow / TNN / February 16th, 2017