News from God's Own Country - KeralaNews from God's Own Country - KeralaNews, Events and Trends from God's Own Country - kerala, India Articles
Tatas plan Kerala project
2007-06-18 03:37:00 After getting the Kerala government?s encroachment notice on its tea estates in Munnar hills, the Tata group is gearing up to mine titanium-dioxide in the state. But, no fear this time, it?s the JV partner?s garb for Rs 1500-crore titanium project that LDF government is donning for the Tatas. It is the Russian move that, probably, put Tata Steel on the alert. Russian firm Rosoboron last month signed an MoU with Kerala government for a Rs 1500-crore ilminite forward integration project. Sources told FE that Tata Steel informed Kerala government of its intention. An MoU is likely to be signed in a month or two. The Tata Steel-Kerala government JV is proposed in Chertalai, not far away from Chavara or Arattupuzha, where the raw material ilminite sands are abundant. Tata Steel has proposed a titanium sponge manufacturing facility of nearly the same capacity as that of the Russian firm. The iliminate resources in Kerala can afford three projects of such capacities, say experts. ... More About: Project , Plan
Ashapura Minechem to invest Rs 150 crore in Nigeria, Kerala
2007-06-18 03:36:00 Ashapura Minechem ? the largest mine owner, processor and exporter of industrial minerals in India ? will invest over Rs 150 crore this year in various projects, including its mining plant in Nigeria and white clay processing unit in Kerala . The company, which almost doubled its net profits in the last financial year to Rs 130 crore, has also tied up with the US-based Amcol to set up a 100,000 tonne kaolin processing plant in Belgium. The equal JV, formed by both the companies, will produce value-added products from bentonite. Kaolin, also known as white clay, is used to make ceramics, medicine and paper. Amcol has a 20% stake in Ashapura Minechem, which it acquired in 1999. Ashapura had bid for gold, barytes and kaolin mines in Nigeria last year. It is partnering with Nigerian company Nuel Ojei Holdings. ?We have control over 3,800 sqkm of area in the country. The reserves are still to be estimated. There is also the possibility of discovering deposits of non-ferrous metals,? M... More About: Invest , Geri , Chem
Briton fights for canines in Kerala
2007-06-18 03:36:00 Five years after she set up Animal Rescue Kerala (ARK), British national Avis Lyons is fighting tooth and nail for her canine friends. Up against an indifferent local administration that is flouting all rules to kill stray dogs in their effort to control the growing canine population, the gritty 65-year-old is not ready to give up without a fight. ?I sold my home in England to fund ARK. I am not going to give up without a fight. The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation (TMC) is killing stray dogs. This is illegal and similar to what happened in Bangalore last year,? she says. Lyons came to Kerala as a tourist some years ago and stayed on after she found the conditions of stray dogs ?appalling?. Over the last three years, she has sterilised and vaccinated hundreds of dogs in Vizhinjam panchayat, 10 km from Thiruvananthapuram. A census conducted by the state?s animal husbandry department in 2003 recorded that the city had a stray dog population of 17,000. Understandably, ther... More About: Fights , Cani , Riton , Brito
Police clean-up drive launched in Kerala
2007-06-16 13:15:00 The Kerala Home department has launched a clean-up drive in the police force by shifting 20 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), identified ?corrupt?, from law and order duties to other wings where the scope for taking bribe is less. Eight of them have been posted in the special branch, which is mainly involved in monitoring law and order position, three each to administration and crime branch and two each to crime records bureau and crime detachment. The move comes close on the heels of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan?s revelation that 10 per cent of the 42150 police personnel in the state belonged to the most corrupt category who demand for bribe for every job they do. He had proposed to remove this category from active policing and give a chance to the remaining men, who either take or share bribe when it is offered, to correct themselves. The drive is a continuation of the process launched by former Chief Minister A.K. Antony to clean up the force. A special cell ... More About: Drive , Police , Clean , Launched
Ashapura Minechem announces major investments in Gujarat and KeralaAshapura
2007-06-16 05:45:00 Bauxite major Ashapura Minechem will set up a Rs 2,500 crore Alumina Refinery in Kutch, Gujarat , for which the company has partnered in a fifty-fifty basis with a Chinese firm QTX. Slated at a 2:1 debt-equity ratio, Rs 800 will be raised from equities while Rs 1700 will be mopped up from long term loans. The project, expected to take off by October after availing the necessary environmental clearances, will be completed within two years, said Ashapura MD Chetan Shah to reporters today. ''The project will be set up in two phases at a total cost of Rs 2500 crore. QTX will buy 75 per cent of total production while rest will be sold in open market. We are expecting to take the advantage of tremendous shortage in Chinese market'', Mr Shah said. Company has also plans to pump in Rs 80 crore in Kerala to set up a processing plant to produce Hydrous Calcined, Hydrous Non-Calcined, Dry Calcined and Spray dried Kaolin. Ashapura's net profit for FY07 grew by 99 per cent to Rs 130.22 ... More About: Investments , Major , Chem , Anno
Briton roughed up trying to protect Kerala strays
2007-06-16 05:44:00 After Karnataka, stray dogs in Kerala are the focus of some unwanted attention. The state administration is on a stray dog killing spree in Thiruvananthapuram, and a British woman who had taken upon the responsibility of protecting them, was roughed up and jailed for her efforts. "Had something like this happened to an Indian in my country it would have been called racial discrimination," said 65-year old Avis Lyons, who sold off all her property in England and settled down in Thiruvananthapuram six years ago. Her mission was to take care of stray dogs and other animals. She started the NGO Animal Rescue, Kerala, which has sterilised more than 2,500 dogs since 2001. In 2004, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation tied up with her NGO and 50 dogs in the city were sterilised under the arrangement. But then the partnership ended. More than 2,200 dogs have been killed in Thiruvananthapuram alone since November last year. In February this year, when members of the NGO stopped... More About: Stra , Stray , Rays , Prot
Kerala bans mechanised fishing during monsoon
2007-06-16 05:42:00 The ban on mechanised fishing in the high seas off the Kerala coast during the monsoon season came into force on Friday. The annual ban by the Union Agriculture Ministry bars trawling by all deep-sea fishing vessels in the exclusive economic zone in the west coast from June 15 to July 31. Studies reveal that the ban, imposed in Kerala since 1989, has helped improving the fish stock, which faced depletion due to unrestricted trawling during the breeding season a decade ago. Around 5,000 workers in the state, however, lament loss of income for owners and the crew in the wake of the ban. "We would be really hard pressed during the ban. I have to look after six of my brothers...It would be very difficult to make ends meet. The government has to do something," said Tom, a fisherman. A few, however, feel the ban helps in protecting the marine wealth. "I am fine with the ban. Without ban, the fish population can drastically go down. The future generations might not get any f... More About: Fishing , Shin , Monsoon , Mecha
Historic Kerala beach linked to Vasco da Gama lies in neglect
2007-06-15 15:00:00 Kerala 's Kappad Beach linked to Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama is steadily losing its charm. Vasco da Gama, the famous explorer from Portugal, landed at Kappad in circa 1498 with 170 men in three vessels, thus discovering a sea route from Europe to India. Located 16 kilometres from Kozikode town, Kappad Beach has a rock landscape. It finds mention in history and geography texts as the gateway to the Malabar coast. But, sadly, the historically significant beach has turned a major disappointment for tourists and local residents due its neglected state. Tourists, visiting the Kappad Beach, are often heard complaining about the neglected state of such a historical place. Tourists like M.Rajiv say: "I came here with my family to see the beach of historical importance with Vasco Da Gama's visit but here I could not see anything which explains of the event. There are no facilities for the tourists. The government should think about developing this beach as an important tourist... More About: Neglect , Historic , Hist
Allegro launches 'financial supermarket' in Kerala
2007-06-15 14:59:00 Bangalore-based Allegro Capital Advisors, an investment advisory service provider, today launched a 'financial supermarket' here to offer range of financial products and services like stock broking, insurance, banking and property management under one roof. The supermarket would offer over 17 different categories of financial products from over 100 companies, representing the entire spectrum of that is available anywhere in the country, Allegro Capital Advisors Pvt Chairman and CEO Kunal Kashyap told mediapersons here. Stock broking, life and general insurance, gold, mutual funds, gold traded funds, IPOs, loans and advances, money transfer, private banking, portfolio management services, post office and RBI bonds, real estate and property management services and international investments products will now be offered to customers in Allegro branches, he said. This new venture gives the company credibility and operational edge over any bank or insurance company that is restricted... More About: Financial , Kerala , Mark , Perm , Finan
Rajnikanth film released in 86 theatres in Kerala
2007-06-15 14:58:00 Superstar Rajnikanth in "Sivaji". The film is directed by Shankar and produced by AVM. Music is composed by A.R. Rahman. Photo: By Special Arrangement Kochi, June 15 (PTI): Fans of superstar Rajnikanth thronged 86 theatres across Kerala where his new film "Sivaji - The Boss" was released today. This is the first time in that a film is being simultaneously released in so many theatres in Kerala, the movie's local distributor Johnny Sagarikka said. "No Malayalam film has been released like this in the state," he said. The film is fully booked in most theatres for the first four days. Two theatres in Palakaad were the first to screen the movie at 5 am. Fans had begun queueing up since midnight last night. Long queues were seen in front of two theatres in Kochi that are screening the film much before the first show at 9.30 am, Suresh Shenoy of Shenoy Cinemax said. At Shenoy's, tickets have been fully booked a week in advance. At Padma, the other theatre in the city scre... More About: Film , Released , Lease
Viral infection under control in Kerala
2007-06-15 02:26:00 Preventive measures against the viral fever in Kerala continued for the fifth day today even as the government said the outbreak was under control. New cases had declined and the number of inpatients in the hospitals had come down drastically, sources in the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, the number of viral cases has come down to 22,400, from 26,000 cases yesterday, they said. A total of 188 Chikungunya cases had been confirmed in the state, while the suspected cases were about 8,000. They said though there was a decrease in Chikungunya cases in the state, Kottayam district showed a slight increase in the number of cases. Apart from the five cases of dengue confirmed till now, no fresh cases were reported today. Source More About: Infection , Viral , Control , Under
Total premium collection in Kerala up 14%
2007-06-15 02:25:00 The four public sector general insurance companies ? United India Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and New India Assurance Company ? collected a total premium of Rs 769.47 crore from Kerala in 2006-07. The total premium collection was up 14 per cent, compared with Rs 674.66 crore during the previous fiscal. United India maintained its first position by registering Rs 216.25 crore, up 11 per cent from Rs 194.84 in 2005-06. Oriental Insurance followed with 21 per cent increase. The company collected a total premium of Rs 200.65 crore as against Rs 165.81 in the previous fiscal. National Insurance could collect Rs 190.53 crore showing a growth of 19 per cent from Rs 159.74 crore. With 5 per cent increase, New India Assurance collected a premium income of Rs 162.04 crore. This was Rs 154.27 crore in 2005-06. The four companies paid Rs 500 crore as claim settlement in the state during 2006-07. United India and National Insurance topped... More About: Total , Premium , Coll , Remi
Rajnikanth fever in Kerala - Sivaji, The Boss movie release (trailers)
2007-06-14 17:45:00 One of the hottest topics now in Kerala (apart from Munnar and Chikunguniya) is the latest Rajnikanth movie, Sivaji. Since tickets are pre-sold for 2 weeks, success is guaranteed for this movie. I came across an interesting advertisement for the movie on Mathrubhoomi, The ad asks all hardcore Rajani fans to ?call a mobile number if they are planning to come to the show with shaven head or if they want throw flowers during the movie?! It is also rumoured that the Sivaji story line is loosely based on the Malayalam movie, ?Naaduvaazhikal?. Source google_ad_client = "pub-4100574421394262";google_ad_output = "textlink";google_ad_format = "ref_text";google_cpa_choice = "CAAQyaP2_gEaCBPE4hoUEk7kKLGsuIEBMAA";goo gle_ad_channel = "";//--> Browse the web faster. Get Firefox with Google Toolbar More About: Movie , Trailers , Boss , Release
ICTs to empower Kerala villagers through information
2007-06-14 17:39:00 Citizens of Kannur district (northern part of the Kerala state in India) at the click of the mouse or through a phone call will soon be able to access all kinds of local information. Anything from the sale of a cow, job vacancies or even find brides and grooms!Akshaya, (state wide ICT project by the Government of Kerala) with support from UNESCO has just operationalised an innovative initiative for the creation of community portals in local language (Malayalam). The primary objective is to create content in local language using free and open software at the various local bodies in Kannur district and for the local communities. Initially, the project will develop community portals for the District Panchayat, one Municipality and nine Gram Panchayats from Kannur district. The portal will comprise vital information such as: history of the community; organizations; eminent personalities; places of interest; different services/schemes offered by the local self-government; informat... More About: Information , Village , Form , Format
Now, a scooter that runs on magnetic power
2007-06-14 17:38:00 Believe it or not, a man in Thrissur District of Kerala has developed a two-wheeler scooter that runs on magnetic power. It takes just an ordinary battery to start the scooter and the rest is done by the inbuilt magnetic mechanism, which enables the scooter to run at a speed of 25 to 45 kilometers per hour. It?s noise and pollution free. ?It doesn?t cause any air or noise pollution. This kind of technology can be very useful for our country and this motivated me to create it,? said the 27-year-old Naveen C, the inventor. He holds a diploma in computers but could not pursue a career in electronic engineering due to personal problems. But Naveen prepared his scooter using a 25-year-old Chetak two-wheeler scooter. He removed its petrol tank and fixed a magnetic mechanism. It took him seven years to prepare his dream scooter which cost around 20,000 rupees. ; &nbs p; &nb sp;&nbs... More About: Power , Scooter , Runs , Magnet , Magnetic
Kerala IT policies gets cabinet nod
2007-06-14 16:28:00 The long-awaited industrial and information technology (IT) policies of Kerala ?s Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government have received the cabinet nod yesterday. While the focus of the industrial policy is revival of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and traditional industries, the IT policy lays thrust on turning the state as a destination for free software. The industrial policy has proposed an action plan for the revival and modernisation of the PSUs. Releasing the policy document at a press conference after the cabinet meeting here, Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem said that the action plan was aimed at turning the PSUs profitable. The policy has proposed to exploit the minerals lying idle beneath the coasts in the state for the industrial development. Source More About: Policies , Poli , Cabinet , Cabin
Many flights from Kerala cancelled
2007-06-14 16:26:00 Flights of state-run carrier Indian to various destinations from Kerala continued be hit as the nationwide strike of the airline employees entered the second day today. The services which had not been operating since yesterday included Chennai ? Trivandrum - Sharjah, Delhi ? Mumbai - Trivandrum and Chennai - Male, airport sources here said. Almost all the administrative and commercial staff stationed here were participating in the protest. However, security and ground-handling staff turned up for work, the sources said. In Kochi, four flights were cancelled this morning. IC 976 Sharjah ? Kochi ? Coimbatore - Chennai, scheduled to reach here at 2.45 a.m., was cancelled along with IC 998 Bahrain - Doha, Kozhikode - Kochi, airline sources said. IC 998, which was to have proceeded to Mumbai and Delhi from Kochi as IC 166 was also cancelled. The flight IC 502/501 from Kochi - Agatti and back was cancelled. A Kozhikode report said all the 7 Indian flights scheduled to operate toda... More About: Flights , Flight , Ancel
Hub-and-spoke model, finishing schools to run Kerala IT
2007-06-14 05:09:00 In a takeoff on the advice of former UN undersecretary general Sasi Tharoor, Kerala IT has decided to go ahead with its agenda of setting up finishing schools for IT job aspirants. But then, take the promotion of IT park infrastructure and it's goodbye to all city-centric plans. Instead, it's a hub-and-spoke model in IT/ITES/BPO investment that the Kerala government will pursue, according to the IT Policy cleared by State Cabinet here on Wednesday. It's not just on cities, but throughout the rural belt of the State that IT parks will be promoted. At present, IT business in Kerala is concentrated in Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi. The subsidy on invested fixed capital for IT investors in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi has been upped from 20% to 30%. To make the carrot juicier for off-city investors, the subsidy for those investing beyond the two cities will get 40% subsidy on capital. An additional 10% subsidy for off-city IT parks is expected to spaw... More About: Schools , Model , Shin , Finish
Kerala as investment destination
2007-06-14 05:08:00 The Kerala government on Wednesday unveiled an action plan to convert the state into a favoured investment destination by promoting public-private partnership in infrastructure development and offering to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRI investors. While the policy speaks about setting up product-specific Special Economic Zones, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem told reporters that in a state like Kerala, large quantum of land like 30,000 acres could not be set apart for SEZs. However, the LDF government was of the view that as the Centre had come out with such a scheme, Kerala alone should not keep away from that policy. "We should also get the benefits of the scheme," he said. The SEZs coming up for Electronic parks requires only 350 acres of land and product specific SEZs would require about 25 to 350 acres of land, he pointed out. Six applications from private entrepreneurs for setting up SEZs were now pending before the government for clearance. The governm... More About: Investment , Destination
US-based company to help fight cyber crime in Kerala
2007-06-13 18:15:00 The US-based Data 64 is preparing a compilation of net-related frauds to make inroads into curbing the cyber crime trend in Kerala . Speaking to reporters here today, Legal Manager of the Asia Pacific Zone-I of Data 64 Gokul Narayan said after completion of the work it would be handed over to the state police administration. Stating that most of the cyber crimes in the state involved financial frauds and morphing of images, Mr Narayan said his company, in association with the Asian School of Cyber Laws had set up the world's first password cracking lab at Pune in Maharashtra. '' A disturbing trend emerging nowadays is the increasing use of passwords to protect documents by terrorists and members of the organised crime cartels,'' he informed. The lab would help the law enforcement officials to crack the passwords and decrypt the encrypted documents in order to nab the criminals, Mr Gokul added. Equipped with cutting edge technology to decrypt file, application and operating ... More About: Crime , Company , Fight
Kerala govt to bring law to allow any believer in temples
2007-06-13 18:02:00 Kerala government today said it would bring a legislation to enable any believer in Hinduism to offer worship in temples. Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran told a seminar here on 'Progressive Movement and the Second Guruvayur Satyagraha', organised by DYFI that the present rule stated that any person who by birth is a Hindu can enter temples. A necessary amendment would be brought forward to enable a believer in Hinduism enter temples, Sudhakaran said. "Thanthri's (chief priests of temples) have no right to determine who is a believer," Sudhakaran added. Source technorati tags:kerala More About: Kerala , Temples , Govt , Temp , Allo
Aviation strike partially affects Kerala
2007-06-13 17:53:00 The nationwide aviation strike, called by the ground staff of national carrier Indian, today partially affected air operations from airports in Kerala with three flights being cancelled and several others delayed. The Thiruvananthapurm-Sharjah IC 589, Cochin-Sharjah IC 975 and another flight to Sharjah from Kozhikode were cancelled, sources said. As may as ten flights were delayed causing hardships to the passengers bound for various destinations. Airline sources in Thiruvananthapuram said three flights to Bangalore were delayed for 30 to 40 minutes. A report from Kochi said some of the flights that took off from the Nedumbassery International Airport were delayed. These included the Muscat-Cochin-Chennai flight, which was delayed by almost two hours and the Bahrain-Doha-Kozhikode-Kochi-Mumbai-Delhi flight which left here an hour behind schedule. A report from Kozhikode quoting Karipur Station Manager N Kannan said the morning flight IC-597 to Goa-Mumbai sector was cancelled... More About: Aviation , Strike , Ally
Kerala to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRIs
2007-06-13 16:48:00 The Kerala government unveiled an action plan on 13 June to convert the state into a favoured investment destination by promoting public-private partnership in infrastructure development and offering to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRI investors. While the policy speaks about setting up product-specific special economic zones, industries minister Elamaram Kareem told reporters that in a state like Kerala, large quantum of land like 30,000 acres could not be set apart for SEZs. However, the LDF government was of the view that since the Centre had come out with such a scheme, Kerala alone should not keep away from that policy. ?We should also get the benefits of the scheme,? he said. The SEZs coming up for electronic parks require only 350 acres of land, while product-specific SEZs would need 25-350 acres, he pointed out. Six applications from private entrepreneurs for setting up SEZs were now awaiting clearance. The state government expected an investment of Rs10,000 crore ... More About: Exclusive , Industrial , Parks , Rial
Kerala temple regrets purification move
2007-06-13 16:41:00 The Guruvayoor Devaswom Board in Kerala expressed regrets on Wednesday for a 'purification ceremony' it held at Guruvayoor Temple . The ceremony was conducted after a minister's son, whose mother is not a Hindu visited the temple. The regret comes after the Board is said to have realised that he is a practising Hindu and he was not baptised as a Christian. Ravikrishna, the son of central government minister Vayalar Ravi offered prayers at the temple in May. Ban remains But the expression of regret has not resolved the ban on non-Hindus at the temple. ''It has found that even though his mother is a Christian, he has not been baptized, so it cannot be said that he is a Christian. Since his father is a Hindu, he is also a Hindu,'' Devaswom Board President Ravindran said. ''This is the opinion of the temple committee. Ravi Krishna has also observed all the rules and rituals of the temple. In school records also, he has been shown as a Hindu,'' he said. ''Becaus... More About: Move , Regret , Regrets
Kerala unveils new IT policy
2007-06-13 16:21:00 Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday unveiled the state's new IT policy that has incentives for fresh investors in the field of IT. The biggest incentive is that subsidies for investment in IT in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have been increased from 20 to 40 percent. These two districts have the highest concentration of IT units in the state and subsidies here have been hiked from 20 to 30 percent. A feature of the new policy is that Kerala could soon become the headquarters of free software industry. Achuthanandan said sops would not be limited to major investors but would be extended to small and medium IT players as well. The policy also stated that all major offices in the state and educational institutions would be networked. Malayalam would be used extensively in the computerisation process and would be included to ensure the uplift of all sections of society through IT. The policy aims at ensuring that the benefits of IT reach the ... More About: Kerala , Policy , Poli , Veil
NIT-C relaxes norms for Kerala students
2007-06-13 11:07:00 To enable Kerala students to obtain admission for M Tech programmes, NITC has removed the condition that aspirants of MTech programmes should produce the mark list of their seventh semester B Tech course at the time of counselling, which began on Tuesday. The institute modified the condition on Tuesday after several students from Kerala, who came for counselling, complained that they were unable to furnish the mark list of B Tech seventh semester as universities in Kerala have not yet issued the mark list. The students from the state can attend the counselling after producing the marklist of semesters from one to six. The institute has 18 seats each in 18 streams for M Tech programmes. A good number of aspirants are from the state. Had the institute stuck to the condition that mark list of seventh semester exam is mandatory for attending counselling, that would have dealt a severe blow to M Tech aspirants from the state. NIT-C dean, (postgraduate studies) K.P. Mohandas told this... More About: Students , Relax
âRomance with Rainâ transforms into âDream Seasonâ
2007-06-13 11:06:00 The erratic nature of the monsoon has forced the Tourism Department to drop its ambitious strategy to use the rains as a hook to lure domestic and foreign tourists into the state during the lean season stretching from April to September. The department, which launched monsoon tourism with huge fanfare last year, has taken out âproduct monsoonâ from its latest campaigns. The department, if its new campaigns are any indication, feels minimum-guarantee spectacles like beaches, hill stations, backwaters and jungles and fundamental economics like price cuts are better bets than the unpredictable monsoon to prop up the tourism sector during its desperate months. It was during the monsoon season last year that the Tourism Department, for the first time ever, packaged and sold the rains to domestic and foreign tourists. The campaign âRomance with the Rainâ was aimed mainly at high-end tourists, especially honeymooning couples, in Europe, Middle East and North India. The tourist... More About: Dream , Forms , Form , Seas
Exclusive Ventures Opens Advisory Service in Kerala, India. Initial Focus t
2007-06-13 03:29:00 Cochin is the Gateway to tourist paradise of Kerala also described as âGodâs Own Countryâ Kerala has been consistently voted as worldâs top 10 Tourist Destinations. Cochin is the first privately promoted Airport in India and is a busy international destination with almost all Airlines landing here in addition to chartered flights by tour organizers. Cochin is now on the verge of taking off as one of the foremost IT and Business Destination in India, with the launch of Smart City Project beside Info Park. The Launch of Exclusive Ventures, Kerala (www.exclventures-kerala.com), was followed by active booking at the handpicked upcoming Gated Community Villa Project beside Cochin. 45 Villas are coming up in a fully secure, landscaped layout with world class amenities including club, swimming pool etc. Exclusive Ventures has brought the project at Pre Launch Price (at the price of Apartment) generating unprecedented interest among investors abroad. The booking is open. The Projec... More About: Service , Focus
Kerala kicks off sanitation campaign
2007-06-13 03:22:00 Following the outbreak of viral fever, the Kerala government has now begun focusing on prevention. Â In this regard, the government along with various other organisations on Tuesday kicked off a week-long sanitation campaign across the state. Â While defence medical personnel joined hands with civil official teams in the efforts to contain different types of viral fever including chikungunya, which has claimed about 50 lives in the last two months, local people were seen helping health workers to remove heaps of wastes and clear sewages. Â According to official sources, a specialist team from the Pune Armed Forces Medical College is in Alappuzha to assess the magnitude of the outbreak of the viral fever and recommend suggestions for effectively tackling the problem. Source More About: Campaign , Kicks , Anita , Kick
Traditional hookahs face extinction in Kerala
More articles from this author:2007-06-12 17:27:00 Due to high cost and fluctuation in the rate of the dollar, the famous hookahs of Koyilandy, a small town in the Kerala 's Calicut District, is facing the threat of being extinct. Popularly known as 'Malabar' hookahs, they are mainly exported to the gulf countries, mainly to Saudi Arabia. Moosari, a special coppersmith community specialises in making these Malabar hookahs. K P Nishad, a manufacturer and exporter says that the export business has been hit due to the fluctuation in the dollar rates. The cost of raw materials has also increased. "We are running the business just because it is our traditional work. Otherwise, we would have stopped it," said Nishad. The Koyilandy hookahs are ornately designed with delicate motifs, and have coconut shell as the water holder. It takes one week to make a single piece of hookah. The size can vary from 12 inches to 24 inches, which costs between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1500 and can go up to Rs. 15,000 for specially designed pieces. It req... More About: Face , Extinct , Extinction , Hookahs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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