Monthly Archives: March 2020

KIA’s 2nd runway marks first landing

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A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.
A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The much-awaited second runway, New South Parallel Runway (NSPR), at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), saw its first landing on Thursday, March 20. According to a release by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), SpiceJet Flight SG497 landed on the newly built run way at 9:41 am on Thursday.

“With regulatory clearances, the south runway is now equipped to handle both arrivals and departures. BIAL is working with various stakeholders to commence rehabilitation project of the North Runway (old runway),” a BIAL spokesperson said.

In the first week of December 2019, the new runway became operational after an Indigo flight took off. However, the KIA did not get clearance from DGCA and other agencies to use the runway for landing as some compliances were pending.

The new runway is 4,000 m in length and 45 m in width, powered with LED airfield lighting, which is a is part of the KIA’s ₹13,000-crore expansion project. Once the operation on the new runway stabilises, the existing old runway will be upgraded.

BIAL had said that the new runway would be operated as per CAT I specifications and later would progressively evolve to CAT III B specifications, which would operate flights even in inclement weather, fog and low visibility.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – March 20th, 2020

Bhadravathi excavations reveal megalithic past

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Periodic and ongoing excavations in various sites of Shivamogga district have revealed a rich megalithic past that dates back anywhere between 1,200-1,000 BCE.

A Menhir found in Hosananjapura village, Bhadravati taluk
A Menhir found in Hosananjapura village, Bhadravati taluk

Bhadravathi :

Periodic and ongoing excavations in various sites of Shivamogga district have revealed a rich megalithic past that dates back anywhere between 1,200-1,000 BCE. Apart from Tirthahalli and Hosanagara taluks, the recent discovery of Menhirs (standing stones) in a forest land in Bhadravathi taluk shows this rich past and the need to preserve and take pride in it. Megaliths are usually found in Peninsular India and many are still waiting to be excavated.

When TNIE visited this spot in Bhadravathi taluk -– the Menhir was found in one corner located inside a patch of forest land with a fence around it. The local people are unaware of such a pre-historic site in their vicinity — – the 7.5-foot-tall stone has stood the test of time amid changing land patterns and urbanisation. Although yet to be radio-carbon dated,  it is estimated to be more than 3,000 years old. Around this standing stone one can also see a big natural rock which means it must have been cut on this.

According to Shejeshwar R, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Shivamogga, there have been discoveries of megalithic sites in the Malnad region and this particular Menhir was found inside a forest land just next to the VISL land in Hosananjapura village in Bhadravathi taluk.

“The Menhir has been in existence for a long time amidst the villagers and earlier settlements and is in fact, a burial stone. Menhirs usually slant towards the right side. There is also a big natural stone in the same place and we need to study this site in detail,” said Shejeshwar R, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Shivamogga.

Megalithic structures are usually monuments built of ‘great stones’ either for burial purpose (such as dolmen, cists or burial chambers) or having commemorative or ritualistic associations.
However, there are many questions regarding the usage of Menhirs by the ancient people.  It clearly shows even in those days that people were attached to one place and further, used to follow some kind of ritualistic or ceremonial lifestyle.

These stone structures were put together without using any kind of binding material. They were usually away from human habitations and therefore, have usually been found in forests. He says there is a large group of 26-30 standing stones at Baise in Hosanagara taluk. These have been well researched and studied. Researchers have concluded that one of the stone alignments showed it may have been an ancient astronomical observatory.

Another important finding has been at Arehalli in Tirthhalli taluk inside a forest area. In fact,  the discovery of megalithic sites in Malenadu region is considered significant as it reveal the complexity of the megalithic culture in the South.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Meera Bharadwaj / Express News Service / March 19th, 2020

 

FOC-Standard LCA Tejas takes to skies on maiden flight in Bengaluru

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K A Muthana (Retd), Chief Test Flying (Fixed Wing), the aircraft took-off from HAL Airport at around 1230 hours, the Bengaluru-headquartered defence PSU said in a statement.

LCA Tejas. (File | EPS)
LCA Tejas. (File | EPS)

Bengaluru :

Tejas, the first Light Combat Aircraft in Final Operational Clearance-standard (SP-21) took to the skies for its maiden flight here on Tuesday, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said.

Piloted by Air Cmde. K A Muthana (Retd), Chief Test Flying (Fixed Wing), the aircraft took-off from HAL Airport at around 1230 hours, the Bengaluru-headquartered defence PSU said in a statement.

It was airborne for 40 minutes.

This flight signifies exemplary teamwork between various stakeholders of the LCA Tejas programme such as HAL, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Indian Air Force and Aeronautical Development Agency, HAL CMD, R Madhavan said.

“HAL achieved the momentous feat within a record time of 12 months after the release of Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) by CEMILAC”, the statement said.

“This would pave the way for the production of remaining 15 fighters from FOC (Final Operational Clearance) block, which are planned to be delivered during the next financial year”, it said.

The FOC aircraft are equipped with advanced features such as Air-to-Air refuelling and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system.

“It imbibes a lot of manufacturing improvements which were based on the operational feedback of LCA IOC (Initial Operational Clearance) fleet with IAF”, HAL said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by PTI / March 17th, 2020

Karnataka Ganakala Parishat golden jubilee celebrations held

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GanikaParkshathBF17mar2020

Sangita Sangama – Sahitya Sambhrama

The recently concluded golden jubilee celebrations of Karnataka Ganakala Parishat was a one-of-a-kind event where the confluence of Sangitam, Sahityam, Gana Yagnam and ‘anna dasoham’ (distribution of food prasadam) took place with amazing precision for 16 days.

Musicians of national and international repute made the event a shining example of ‘a world unified by music.’

The inaugural day began in the presence of Sri Sri Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami of Veerasimhaasana Maha Sansthan, Suttur Kshetra. The Golden Jubilee celebrations working committee was also announced at the time.

Five books were released and their authors were also honoured on the occasion.

With the exception of the inaugural day and the concluding day, each of the 14 days started with a Gana Yagna by musicians led by Dr.R.K.Padmanabha, paying obeisance to Vaggeyakaras, Raga devathas and the chanting of relevant Sanskrit slokas.

All the concerts and lecture demonstrations were special in their own way, full of substance and depth.

Some vocal and instrumental music concerts included performances by T.S.Satyavathi, Dr. Suma Sudhindra, the Saralaya Sisters, a and many others.

The exposition, exploration, interpretation, scholarly analysis of music and various aspects of musicology by musicians in their lecture demonstration sessions were fascinating, educative and interesting.

Topics such as ‘Tyagaraja’s Kritis on Tulasi’, ‘Violin Vadya Vaibhava’ “ Mridanga Tarang’, and the Tradition of Nagaswara in Temples were covered.

On the eve of the Ganakala Bhushana, the Gana Kalashri Awards were conferred. Post the Pancharatna Goshti Gayana in the afternoon, the Parishat serenaded all four awardees of Gana Kalabhushana and Gana Kalashri in a decorated chariot.

Presidents of the Senior Musician conference, the Mysore Brothers — Mysore Nagaraj and Dr Mysore Manjunath were conferred with the titles of ‘Ganakala Bhushana,’ while the Presidents of the Junior Musicians conference G Guruprasanna and Giridhar Udupa were conferred with the titles of ‘Ganakala Shri’.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Society / by Ambika Ananth / March 16th, 2020

Rail museum is back on fresh, gleaming tracks in Mysuru

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The Central Park station from where the toy train starts at Mysuru rail museum. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
The Central Park station from where the toy train starts at Mysuru rail museum. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

The Mysuru rail museum, renovated and expanded at a cost of ₹9 crore, was opened to the public on Saturday, adding a new heritage site of historical value to the city.

Providing an experience of the history and evolution of the Railways, starting from the steam era down to the modern times, the exhibits, including the steam locomotives and wagons, have been refurnished and restored aesthetically.

The renovated museum was inaugurated on Saturday by H. Ashwathnarayana, a long-serving employee of the museum, in the presence of Ajay Kumar Singh, general manager, South Western Railway, Aparna Garg, Divisional Railway Manager, and other officials of SWR.

The Maharani’s Pavilion, housing the vintage saloon used by the maharanis of the Wadiyar dynasty, was inaugurated by G. Mala, a veteran staff member of the rail museum. Originally, it was supposed to be inaugurated by Jamuna Bai, one of the members of the cleaning crew of the steam era, but she could not make it owing to illness.

Ms. Garg said the renovated museum was the Railways’ contribution to the heritage city of Mysuru. “We wanted to make it more experiential, rather than a collection of exhibits. The Indian Railways and the city of Mysuru have one thing in common — a lot of heritage — and the museum complements this,” she said.

Sumedha Sah, an architect from Bengaluru who was involved in the redesigning of the museum, said a lot of thought went into it and the few old structures were renovated and connected with the walking pathway. Each site is connected visually and spatially by the pathway, inspired by how the Railways has knitted the sub-continent. Likewise, the pathways link all the exhibits, she said.

Cafeteria and galleries

A metre gauge coach has been converted into a cafeteria while there is a coffee shop with a library, complete with literature and books related to the Railways. There are pictorial galleries tracing the evolution of the steam locomotive and diesel locomotive, while the old signalling contraptions used by the Railways have been painted and displayed in the signalling section along with other equipment.

The earlier exhibits have been refurbished and given a fresh coat of paint, while the audio-visual gallery with touch-screen monitors provides complete information about the museum but the Railways in general. The toy train and the Central Park station have been redone. The museum also has a website (www.mysururailmuseum.com). A postal cover was released to mark the occasion.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home>News> States> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – March 15th, 2020