Saturday, October 11, 2014

HUDHUD IS ON THE SEAWAY. BEWARE!

PRESS RELEASE
Time of issue: 1700 hours IST Dated: 10-10-2014
Sub: Severe Cyclonic Storm, ‘HUDHUD’ over westcentral Bay of Bengal,
Cyclone Warning for north Andhra Pradesh & south Odisha coasts
The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘HUDHUD’ over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards, intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 10th October 2014 near latitude 15.0ºN and longitude 86.8ºE about 470 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 520 km south-southeast of Gopalpur.

The system would move west-northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 12th October 2014.

Track and intensity forecasts of the system are given in the table below:
Date/Time(IST) Position
(Lat. 0N/ long. 0E)
Maximum sustained surface
wind speed (kmph)
Category of cyclonic
disturbance
10-10-2014/1430 15.0/86.8 120-130 gusting to 145 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
10-10-2014/1730 15.2/86.4 120-130 gusting to 145 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
10-10-2014/2330 15.4/86.0 120-130 gusting to 145 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
11-10-2014/0530 15.7/85.6 130-140 gusting to 155 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
11-10-2014/1130 16.1/85.1 130-140 gusting to 155 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
11-10-2014/2330 16.7/84.3 130-140 gusting to 155 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
12-10-2014/1130 17.6/83.0 130-140 gusting to 155 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
12-10-2014/2330 18.3/82.3 80-90 gusting to 100 Cyclonic Storm
13-10-2014/1130 19.0/81.5 50-60 gusting to 70 Deep Depression
13-10-2014/2330 19.8/80.5 30-40 gusting to 50 Depression
Warning for north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha

(i) Heavy rainfall warning: Under the influence of the system, rainfall at most places with heavy (6.5 – 12.4 cm) to very heavy falls (12.5 – 24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 24.5 cm) would occur over west and east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Phulbani districts of south Odisha commencing from 11th onwards. Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Krishna, Guntur and Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Odisha during the same period.

(ii) Wind warning: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from 11th morning onwards. The wind speed would gradually increase to 130-140 kmph gusting to 155 kmph from 12th morning

Earth System Science Organisation
Ministry of Earth Sciencesalong and off north Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts) and 80-90 kmph along and off adjoining districts of south Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha (Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts).

(iii) Sea condition along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts: Sea condition
would be rough to very rough from 11th morning. It would gradually become phenomenal from 12th
morning onwards along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast and very rough to high along and off south Odisha coast.

(iv) Storm surge warning: Storm surge of about 1-2 meters above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.

(v) Damage expected:
A) North Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam
districts): Under the influence of system, extensive damage to kutcha houses. Uprooting of
big trees. Partial disruption of power and communication lines. Minor disruption of rail and
road traffic. Potential threat from flying debris. Flooding of escape routes. Damage to
agricultural crops.

B) South Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha coasts
(Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts): Damage to thatched huts. Breaking
of tree branches causing minor damage to power and communication lines. Uprooting of
small trees. Damage to agricultural crops.

(vi) Action suggested:
A) North Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam
districts): Suspension of fishing operations in area of influence of cyclone. Judicious
regulation of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic. People in affected areas to remain at
safe places around landfall period. Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas.

B) South Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha coasts
(Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts): Total suspension of fishing
operations.

Congratulations to The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Thanks for introducing KAILASH SATYARTHI to Indians.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2014

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 is to be awarded to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzay for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. Children must go to school and not be financially exploited. In the poor countries of the world, 60% of the present population is under 25 years of age. It is a prerequisite for peaceful global development that the rights of children and young people be respected. In conflict-ridden areas in particular, the violation of children leads to the continuation of violence from generation to generation.

Showing great personal courage, Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children’s rights.

Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzay has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations. This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education.

The Nobel Committee regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism. Many other individuals and institutions in the international community have also contributed. It has been calculated that there are 168 million child labourers around the world today. In 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. The world has come closer to the goal of eliminating child labour.

The struggle against suppression and for the rights of children and adolescents contributes to the realization of the “fraternity between nations” that Alfred Nobel mentions in his will as one of the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Oslo, 10 October 2014

The Hundred Things That Need to be Done Urgently by the Hon’ble PM.

Attend to the needs of all the mentally unhealthy persons in the country.
Come out with a comprehensive policy to deal with mental illness.
Comprehensive policy for the care and sustenance of differently-abled persons
Go for ‘one -lakh – lakes Scheme’- a year. Creation of new lakes.
Go for ‘one –lakh-lakes renovation’- a year.
Enable states pass legislations banning conversions of lakes for construction of residential or commercial buildings
Let ‘catchment area, water and water bodies’ conservation become a national movement
Go for separate Insurance body that would provide crop insurance alone.
Fix minimum support price for all the produce of farmers and be revising them according to the situation emerging
Fix the price at 50% more for the produce of organic farming
Bring in more area under cultivation to compensate the supposed production-reduction due to organic farming
Give incentives for the farmers who use bulls, camels, buffaloes or any other animal for carrying out agri-related activities
Study the transporting pattern of rice and wheat scientifically and reduce the loss of storage and transportation
Distribute rations on quarterly basis and reduce to cost of operations
Examine distribution of paddy at Direct purchase centers to the needy (It helps us reduce the cost of transporting them to godowns and later rice mills and again to ration shops. The shelf life of paddy is more than rice)
Promote native seeds and start purchasing and distributing via civil supplies’ shops ragi, corn, maize and all our traditional food grains
Let the Social Forestry Scheme be given a new lease of life and become a national movement
Give very big incentives for single child families.
Let it be for men and women and for those who are employed and unemployed in private or public services.
Reserve 5% of seats in professional colleges, jobs … even in railway reservations irrespective of the gender
Be increasing the 5% reservation every 5 years till it reaches 50 %.
Increase the minimum age for marriage of women to 21 for all citizens.
Give 5% tax exemption for industries which come out with environment friendly packaging materials
Help the ‘traditional fishermen alone’ to operate transport services along the seas, lakes, rivers, backwaters.
Give incentives to states that show increase of transport of goods and passengers via waterways

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

I Hear India Singing!

I Hear India Singing!

I hear her speak loudly over her shoulders, from the long and winding shores,

I hear her heels setting on the high ranges of the Himalayas and the Ghats of the east and the west,

I hear her rivers murmur all along their meandering wanderings and wonder,

I hear her squeal at the arrival of monsoons which fill her earth with mirth,

I hear her render many an anthems with a mere grass stem,

I hear her chant the words of wisdom of Buddha and saints of myriad hues.

I see her farmers till their fields deep enough to ensure they reap big heaps,

I see her workers toil all along with day and night as their best companions,

I see her artisan work in unison to craft designs to gratify every citizen,

I see life infused in the grains of sand, on the beaches of Bhubaneswar,

I see life infused in the grain of a paddy, in the woods of the Malabar,

I see life infused on the stones of Kajurahao and on the shores of Mahabalipuram.

I smell her splendor over her head and shoulders with feasts from the north-east,

I smell her celestial powers grow midst the growing mountains of flowing Ganga,

I smell her spices from the coast of Arabian seas to the tea gardens of Darjeeling,

I smell her tradition rejoice in gallant Gujarat and dance in valiant Punjab,

I smell her food satiating gods and goddesses of Ganges for ages,

I smell her attire in the colors of loyal and royal Rajasthan.

I watch her grow to glory and beauty shunning poverty,

I watch her grow in sheer strength and with sanguine spirit,

I watch her grow in the Sciences of speed, steel and space with conscience,

I watch her grow in might and fight for the rights of every life in total delight,

I watch her grow from dependence to independence and to interdependence,

I watch her grow from cipher to cipher era, spreading soulful, splendid aura.

I hear India singing peace and freedom of all in every kingdom.

Rettavyal S Krishnaswamy