ELEPHANTS AND PUBLIC FUNCTIONS

It’s time we seriously considered the safety of deploying elephants at public functions and festivals. I say this with particular reference to the recent incident in Kerala, where one of the 13 tuskers on parade at an annual festival, suddenly went out of control and killed the mahout. Over 24 people were injured. Many temples around the country deploy elephants for religious ceremonies. In jungle resorts and game sanctuaries, elephants are used to carry people around the forest. At the elephant festival in Rajasthan, one can even see elephant races and elephant polo. At several exhibitions and zoos, elephant rides are offered to visitors. Elephants are even rented for ceremonial functions and for marriages. One shudders at the thought of the kind of cruelty that is inflicted on the animals at the time of taming and training them and even later, in keeping them in chains and forcing them to do things that they are not meant to. Given the fact that elephants in such circumstances are brought into environments that are alien to them, it is no wonder that they go berserk at times.The bright lights, the loud music, the crowds and their noise, the mobile phones, the blaring of automobile horns, the din of road traffic — they are all enough to drive an animal insane. In February this year, an elephant ran amok in Koyilandy town in Kerala and it took the authorities several hours to shoot transquilisers into the animal and bring it under control. In the same month, at an elephant polo tournament in Sri Lanka, an elephant suddenly got angry, threw off its mahout and a rider and then crushed a mini bus with its head. In May last year, at Tripunithura in Kerala, an elephant went berserk and was finally brought under control after a nine-hour drama full of tension. In 2003, a 23-year-old pachyderm, Thayal Nayaki, spread terror at a crowded temple in Kerala when it suddenly lifted and threw away the 50-year-old mahout sitting on its back. Remember the case of Dr Mayi Gowda that came up before the apex consumer court some years ago? A joy ride on an elephant at the Dussehra festival in Mysore robbed Dr Gowda of his sight. The elephant just picked up Dr Gowda, sitting on its back and threw him — resulting in several broken ribs and severe head injuries. Should we take this kind of risk? Isn’t the use of these animals, particularly at functions and programmes where large crowds gather, a safety hazard? Shouldn’t we let the pachyderms live in peace in their natural habitat? It’s time we seriously pondered over these questions.

Its time for the Kerala Monsoons once again a bit too early

The Southwest monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on May 24, a week ahead of usual arrival. As per metrological observations, the Southwest monsoon had made its presence felt beyond the south Andaman Sea on May 10, nearly a week prior to the usual date. It has covered the entire group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, the weather official said. The monsoon is expected to reach Kerala on May 24 with an error margin of three days, the official said. The Southwest monsoon is crucial for Kharif crops like rice, oilseeds, pulses and other cash crop plantations. The monsoon is vital, as nearly 70 percent of the country's population relies on agriculture as a primary source of income. In the last five decades, the earliest monsoon onset over Kerala was on May 14, 1960 and the most delayed was on June 18, 1972.

THE SMART CITY DEAL KOCHI - SIGNED

Dubai-based Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) and the Kerala Government on Sunday signed an agreement for setting up a mega Information Technology (IT) infrastructure project in nearly 100 hectares of land in Kochi under the brand name Smart City.
The deal, widely perceived as one promising to draw the attention of global IT majors to Kerala, was signed here in the presence of Ministers, including Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and top executives of TECOM.
Ahmad Bin Byat, executive chairman of TECOM Investments, and Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob signed the document on behalf of the respective parties.
Besides TECOM Investments, Sama Dubai is associated with the Smart City Kochi project. Both have Dubai Holding as the parent company. Mr. Byat said TECOM hoped to put Kerala on the global IT map with its project. Smart City Kochi was the first facility of the company in India and the second in the world. It would form part of a network of similar projects being planned by TECOM worldwide. Recently, TECOM signed an agreement with the Government in Malta to set up its Smart City at Ricasoli in that country.
Mr. Byat said TECOM's expectation was that many global and Indian companies would base their Indian operations and business at Smart City Kochi. Several companies had already shown interest in the project, he added.
The project envisages creating 88 lakh square feet of built-up space and supporting infrastructure for IT and IT-enabled service companies, generating an estimated 90,000 high-paying jobs in the next 10 years and spurring IT-based economic development in the State. A press release issued by the company said Smart City Kochi would involve an estimated investment of $350 million

KALINGA - THE REAL ENTERTAINMENT

KALINGA - IS A POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP FROM COCHIN WITH A HIGHLY TALENTED AND PROFESSIONAL TEAM. WE HAVE BEEN DOING LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS FOR TV CHANNELS LIKE ASIANET, SURYA, KAIRALI, JEEVAN ETC AND HAVING GOOD VIEWER RESPONSE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING LOTS OF LIVE SHOWS ALL OVER INDIA & ABROAD AND ALSO FOR CORPORATE AND CLUBS .WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE

FOOD CITY IN KOCHI

With the Smart City project proposed by Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (Tecom) for IT units at Cochin set to become a reality, the Kerala government is trying to extend the concept to other sectors. The state government is exploring the possibility of setting up a Food City at Cochin and a Knowledge City at Trivandrum on the lines of the Smart City. The Federal Minister of State for Food Processing Subodhkanth Sahai has offered assistance for the Food City mooted by State Food and Civil Supplies Department. Sahai promised to give Rs500 million committed by the Federal government for mega food parks for the proposed project when State Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran called on him at New Delhi on Friday. The state government has proposed to set up the city in 50 acres of land as a food processing zone. It will be registered under the Companies Act as a state government-owned entity. The state will have 26 per cent share in the venture. The remaining will be offered to the public.

MAMMOOTTY'S REMARKS DRAW RIOT IN KERALA

Thiruvananthapuram, May 11: Youth activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha have threatened to stop screening of popular Malayalam actor Mammooty's films; angry over his remarks on 2002 Gujarat riots. The activists termed Mammooty’s comments as a slur on the Gujarat Government. Mammooty had allegedly told a meeting of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Chennai that the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat could have been avoided if the State had a secular DYFI presence. BJYM officials threatened to stop screening of Mammooty's films if the actor did not take back his words. “If the actor does not withdraw his statements, we will not allow his films to be shown in Kerala and across the country,” said M Biju, the District President of the Yuva Morcha. Angry BJYM activists burnt the effigy of Mammooty. In February 2002, 59 passengers, many of them Hindu pilgrims, were killed when two coaches of the Sabarmati Express caught fire in Godhra. The incident sparked state-wide communal violence that claimed at least 1,000 lives, mostly Muslims.

THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE - MATTANCHERRY

Built in 1568 AD, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese handpainted tiles are of interest. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. There are also several finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.

THEKKADY

Thekkady, is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady. Thekkady - The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented plantations. In the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday. With the animals of the wild and the simple mountain people. Thekkady is on the border with state of Tamil Nadu , in fact just 5 kilometers from the border town of Kumily which is very well connected by bus to both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Notable among the denizens of Periyar are the tigers, the majestic Asiatic wild elephants and the distinctive Nilgiri langur. Other animals include the wild boar, wild dog, bison, bear and leopards. Amongst the avifauna, the most profuse are herons, egrets, darters, kingfishers and the great Malabar grey hornbill. A cruise through the waters of Periyar lake around which the wild -life sanctuary is situated, offers a soul - stirring pleasant experience.

THE BRUNTON BOAT YARD - KOCHI

Commissioned on the 18th of August, 1999 , is a great tribute to the city of Cochin. Designed and built in the style and principle of the early Dutch and Portugese architecture of Fort Cochin blends very well into the Cochin skyline. It's hard to believe that the Brunton is a new building since it resembles the old colonial buildings of Cochin. The simple lime washed walls, sloping tile roof and terra-cotta floors with the Gaint Rain Tree completing the picture. Situated at the Harbour mouth overlooking the busy ship channel is a real view to the eyes.

ATHIRAPILLY -VAZHACHAL THE NATURAL FALLS OF KERALA

The falls are very popular with tourists. Athirappally is located 78 kms from Kochi, located at the entrance to Sholayar ranges; this waterfall is a popular picnic spot. According to the onlookers, one of the most bewitching sights, Athirappally Falls is about 80ft. high and located in the forest area. Combined with the greenery, it infuses freshness into any tired soul. The Athirapally Falls join the Chalakkudy River after plummeting a drop of 80 feet. Vazhachal is a picturesque spot just a short drive from Athirapally and is adjacent to dense green forestland. Vazhachal is part of the Chalakkudy River. Both the waterfalls, their cool, misty waters cascading down in the backdrop of thick green forest and rocky terrain, are a scintillating experience to visitors.

IDUKKI - THE BEAUTY SPOT OF KERALA

The name Idukki has been derived from the Malayalam word 'idukku' meaning narrow gorge. The district was formed on January 26, 1972 carving out Devikulam, Peerumedu and Udumbanchola taluks from the erstwhile Kottayam district and Thodupuzha taluk from the erstwhile Ernakulam district.
Located in the southern part of Kerala, Idukki is a landlocked district spread over an area of 5019 sq.kms. Blessed generously by Mother Nature, Idukki offers diverse attractions like wild life sanctuaries, hill stations, spice plantation centers and mountain treks