Category Archives: Business & Economy

Bringing Goshree closer to the city

About Kerala, Business & Economy, Travel

The Goshree bridges are a vital link between the islands and the city at present. / File Photo / The Hindu
The Goshree bridges are a vital link between the islands and the city at present. / File Photo / The Hindu

The uncertainty over time-bound completion of the coastal road connecting the Goshree islands to Kochi is finally clearing up with the Ernakulam district administration set to begin direct purchase of land from owners in July.

According to District Collector M.G. Rajamanickam, the proposal for direct land acquisition, mooted along the lines of the Kochi metro model will be set rolling on receipt of a government order, expected by the second week of next month. “We have already started the background works in the form of negotiations with the land owners and will complete the acquisition process within two months of its initiation,” he said.

The authorities are now working on the modalities of the acquisition process including the area required, its cost, etc., and are planning to hold a combined meeting of landowners as well as revenue officials before starting the process.

The 29th general council of Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA), which met here on May 31with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as chairman, entrusted the Authority to directly acquire land from private owners for speedier implementation of projects and also decided to form a special committee under the District Collector to acquire land. Following this, an official team led by the District Collector inspected the islands last week and interacted with the local residents.

Meanwhile, the GIDA has revised the estimate for the Moolampilly-Pizhala bridge from Rs. 40 crore to about Rs. 82 crore for changing its alignment so as to avoid large swathes of the eco-sensitive wetland system in the area.

The 4.5 km road, having a width of 22 meters, will provide an alternative link from the city to Paravur while also paving the way for the development of the Goshree islands. Kadamakudy panchayat will benefit the most from the bridges since it would get a link with the Vallarpadam container terminal road. The Rs.160 crore project, planned to provide an alternative link from the city to Paravur, also entails construction of three major bridges and one small bridge.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had earlier evinced interest in taking up the construction of the four bridges, but it later backed out citing difficulties in carrying out outside works. Following this, the construction work was awarded to the Kerala State Construction Corporation (KSCC).

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Hiran Unnikrishnan / Kochi – June 30th, 2014

Rare varieties of mangoes on display

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature

Visitors take a look at the mangoes displayed at the Kerala Mango Festival in the city on Thursday. / Photo: K.K. Mustafah / The Hindu
Visitors take a look at the mangoes displayed at the Kerala Mango Festival in the city on Thursday. / Photo: K.K. Mustafah / The Hindu

Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the festival will conclude on June 29.

The event is anything but “mango-licious.” The heady aroma of ripe mangoes and the fruit slices offered to tickle the taste buds proved irresistible to Kochiites who visited the second edition of the Kerala Mango Festival held here on Thursday.

The four-day long event under way at the St. Michaels Church Hall in Chembumukku exhibits over 1, 500 varieties of the king of fruits. One can have the pick of mangoes in various shapes and sizes with colours ranging from red and peach to golden and green. Apart for the quintessential varieties in Kerala and other States, the event features mango varieties from various foreign countries including Brazil, Thailand, Australia and Pakistan. Also on display at the festival are some of the rare varieties of mangoes including Angurdhana, the smallest mango weighing just 2 grams and the 2-kilogram Mabali mango.

Organised by the Greenvalley public School in Kothamangalam, the event aims at providing the public with an opportunity to get a look and feel of the king of all fruits. ‘The objective is to give the public an idea about the different mango varieties and thereby help elevate its status from a mere seasonal produce,” said Pradeep Kuriakose, festival director.

The organisers also said mangoes displayed at the festival were farm fresh. They had taken care to ensure that no artificially ripened mangoes were brought to the festival venue.

Besides providing an opportunity to see the exotic varieties, the event also promises to be a fun package with events, including mango eating competition and other cultural programmes.

Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the festival will conclude on June 29.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Staff Reporter / Kochi – June 27th, 2014

NRI Businessman Wins Abu Dhabi Chamber Elections

Business & Economy, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Prominent Indian businessman and head of Middle East’s retail major, Lulu group, MA Yusuff Ali has won the prestigious Abu Dhabi Chamber election for the third time.

Ali, 58, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based EMKE who had won previous two elections to elect 15 board members of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, retained his seat with 1,721 votes, highest among expatriate candidates.

The elections held yesterday during which 14,555 votes were cast also elected 13 local citizens to the board of directors for a four-year term, his office said today.

Four panels representing 70 Emiratis, including five women and eight expatriate candidates, participated in the elections.

Abu Dhabi Chamber is the only government organisation in the world where expatriates can get elected to the director board through a democratic election process, a statement said.

“I am pleased with faith reposed on me by the business community of Abu Dhabi and I thank them wholeheartedly for helping me to come out victorious once again,” Yusuff said.

“I am fully aware of the responsibilities and I will strive to further enhance the business and investment relationship between India and UAE and work closely with all stake holders for mutual benefit,” he said.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyam, UAE minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development congratulated Yusuff Ali on his hat-trick victory and asked him to continue his work and contribute to the growth of the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular.

Abu Dhabi Chamber is an autonomous entity under government supervision which works towards streamlining and regulating business and industrial affairs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> News / Dubai – June 27th, 2014

CSL gets ownership of land in its possession

Business & Economy, Records, All

CSLkerala21jun2014

Kochi :

Getting ownership of a land in its possession for 47 years is something to be elated about. The 170-acres of land in the possession of the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), the pride of the country,  has been officially handed over to the company.

The land was in the possession of CSL since 1967. But the whole land was allotted to the entity with the government order number GO (Ms) No.252/14/RD only on June 11, 2014 as it was being allotted to the firm in a phased manner.

The shipyard adjacent to the Kochi port is the largest greenfield ship building and ship repair yard in the country. It was incorporated in 1972 as a fully-owned Government of India company.

“The CSL is situated on 170 acres of land in Kochi and the company has been using it since 1967. The ownership of land was being given to us in a phased manner. Before the latest government order, we did not have ownership of 82.21 acres of land. We are happy that we have got it. With this new order, CSL has received ownership of 82.21 acres of land,” a CSL official said.

The CSL had submitted application for assignment of the 170 acres of land in its possession. The ‘pattayam’ was given for 62.22 acres of land on January 31, 2008 and 25.57 acres on December 28, 2007. Since the remaining 82.21 acres of land comprised various survey numbers and puramboke, the ownership was not given.

“The Ernakulam District Collector has reported  that of the 82.21 acres, an area of 61.88 acres comprise 16 kinds of puramboke land such as thodu puramboke, road puramboke etc. The remaining 20.32 acres of land is neither with the Revenue Department nor  has been handed over to CSL. Hence, the land may be assigned by invoking the special powers vested with the government within Municipal and Corporation area rules 1995,” the order said.

In order to grant the ownership of the land, the government asked CSL neither to transfer the land nor to alienate it.

The land should not be utilised for any other objective other than shipbuilding and allied activities. It is also mandated that the land shall not be encumbered in any manner.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Pramod Thomas / June 21st, 2014

Kerala May Rake In Rs 6,200 Crore Remittances This Ramzan

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion

RamzanMPOs21jun2014

Kochi :

As the Ramzan season is all set to begin during the end of this month, remittances to Kerala is expected to rise 20-25 per cent than normal levels. Usually Ramzan is the period when the remittance to the state is high.

Normally remittances will be in the range of around Rs 5,000 crore in a month but during Ramzan season it is likely to go up to over Rs 6,200 crore. It is expected to surpass the Rs 85,000-crore mark in 2014.

To cash in on the opportunity, companies and banks are busy in formulating campaigns to rope in customers.

Industry sources said that fresh customers will also be added during the period.

The NRK population is 16.25 lakh and a sizeable number of people are Muslims. They normally send money back home for their relatives to celebrate the festival and to buy gifts, said Sudhakar, Chief Marketing Officer, UAE Exchange.

He added that since June, July, August is also a peak season, majority of the NRKs stay overseas as air fares are high during the period.

The money is being remitted through money transfer firms and banks.

“Kerala is one of the largest remittances receiving state in India. In 2013, non-resident Keralites have remitted Rs 75,000 crore. With Ramadan just round the corner, a significant increase of 20 per cent is expected this year. There has been a phenomenal growth in infrastructure requirements across GCC countries due to events such as Expo 2020, which in turn have boosted the percentage of overseas workers’ from Kerala,”  said Sudhesh Giriyan, Vice-President and Business Head, Xpress Money.

Out of the total NRK population of 16.25 lakh, as many as 14.26 lakh are employed. In Kerala, the lives of around 50 lakh people depend on these NRIs. The country which is home to maximum number of Malayalis is UAE (35 per cent), followed by Saudi Arabia (28 per cent). Most of  the NRIs from Kerala are from Malappuram (18 per cent).

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Business>  News / by Pramod Thomas / June 21st, 2014

First super specialty vet hospital in Ernakulam

Agriculture, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature

Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC)
Picture for representational purpose (Photo: DC)

Kochi:

 The Ernakulam District Panchayat is set to establish the first super specialty veterinary hospital in the state at Puthencruz in the eastern part of the district with the support of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU).

The hospital costing Rs 5 crore will be set up on an 83 acre plot and will have a sub-centre of the KVASU to give training to personnel. The district panchayat would mop up Rs 4 crore from various local self-government institutions including the Kochi Corporation and municipalities to set up the hospital while the KVASU would contribute Rs 1 crore for it, said Eldhose Kunnappilly, district panchayat president.

He said that the KVASU had been entrusted with the task of preparing the plan for the building of the hospital. “A team from the district panchayat will visit the Wayanad and Thrissur veterinary hospitals to study the facilities there by July end and I have already spoken to the KVASU Vice-Chancellor Dr B Ashok in this regard to proceed with the work which is expected to start in four months,” said Eldhose.

There will be an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a newborn care centre, labour room and also wards to admit animals for treating them. The hospital will have an ambulance. An Animal Birth Control (ABC) wing also will function to bring stray animals and sterilize them and then return them to the place from where they were brought.

Eldhose said that an animal protection bhavan too would be opened at Maradu to co-ordinate animal protection activities of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals (SPCA).

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / Vinod Nedumundy / June 15th, 2014

Crisp and Crunchy Handmade Pappads

Business & Economy

A meal without the crisp and creamy yellow, pappads and its crunchy, tactile feel, would be unappetising to an average Malayali. It’s demand in various sizes does not stop with the sadya. For most it is a favourite with the Kerala’s own ‘puttu’ or the ‘upma’. The older generation even prefer it to biscuit for tea. Some even like it roasted than fried.

Be it children or adults, pappads are much sought after on the dining table. Children love to down it with rice or ‘kanji’, especially those who can’t stand ‘hot’ and savoury curries.

Yes, the demand for the wheatish and fluffy flat bread is growing by the day, but the industry is short of hands which has taken its toll on the traditional method of pappad-making.

Though manufacturers have slowly turned to mechanisation, handmade pappads still hold sway over the true culinary faithful. To cater to their needs is Viswas Pappads, near Changampuzha park, one of the oldest handmade pappad makers in Kochi.

An extension of Guruvayur manufacturing establishments, Viswas boasts 60 years of tradition. “The unit was set up by my father. and I followed in his footsteps,” says Viswanathan, the proprietor.

The dexterous process of pappad-making is a savoury sight to behold, now fast disappearing. Dal, salt, and ‘pappada karam’ are mixed to form a dough. The dough is kneaded and rolled by hand into long, thick strips which are cut into wafer thin slices and rolled into small flat spheres after which they are dried in the sun. “The handmade ones are sold out within hours of making,” said Viswanathan.

The pappads come in five different sizes, from ‘kutti’ pappads to the larger ones. The ‘kutti’ pappads, ideal for kids, and ‘masala pappads’ sell like hot cakes. “The pappads here are unadulterated, handmade, and delicious. It is profitable too, that is why I am a regular here,” says Jayakumar, an avid pappad lover.

Another legacy of Viswas is the price estimation based on number of pappadams in a packet. While other manufacturers fix them by weight, Viswas pappads go by traditions. It costs `60 for a packet of 100 (medium size).    The ‘art’ of making pappads that requires great speed, skill, and expertise, comes with lots of practice and Viswas has made a mark in it.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Maya Philip,  Jaya Thampi  and Anaida Davis / June 06th, 2014

Launch of Another ‘Pattoor Model’ Today

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram  :

After popularising an organic waste convertor with the epithet ‘Pattoor model’, a mechanism to process non-biodegradable waste is making its appearance at Pattoor from Thursday onwards.

Named ‘Fire-ball Series Green Incinerator,’ the Rs five-lakh worth equipment converts materials made of leather and rubber into ashes at 500 degrees Celsius without consuming fuel or causing environmental pollution.

It is under the aegis of Pattoor Housing Accommodation Scheme Apartment Owners’ and Allottees Association that the initiative has been launched. The machinery is designed by 4 R Technologies in Thrissur.

Fumes emanating during the burning process will be passed through a water scrubber arrangement where toxic gases and particles will dissolve in water and the fumes leaving the chimney would be white in colour. The chimney is installed at a height of 100 feet not to cause atmospheric pollution. To make materials with high moisture content burn faster, an electric blower is also attached.   Getting inspired from the award-winning Malayalam movie ‘Perariyathavar’, the inauguration of the incinerator is to be performed by a Kudumbashree worker Sulochana, who has been engaged in collecting waste from the place for over a decade now. Director of the movie Dr Biju will be honoured by K Muraleedharan MLA. Biju will deliver the keynote address as well.

On the occasion, Mayor K Chandrika will honour three Kudumbashree workers, Sulochana, Mini and Ushakumari. The programme is at 5.30 pm at Pattoor EMS Nagar Apartment Complex.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / May 29th, 2014

Showcasing Imprints of City’s Maritime History

About Kerala, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

The museum that was opened to public at Willingdon island on Monday| express
The museum that was opened to public at Willingdon island on Monday| express

Kochi :

It was exactly 86 years ago that Kochi’s own port became a reality  with S S Padma cruising into its inner berth. In 1928, Sir Robert Bristow  made a indelible signature on Kochi’s history by shaping up a port which is  now the most sought-after one in the South West India.

As the Port Trust celebrates 86th Port Day on Monday, the Cochin Port Trust  along with Bristow Society, Chamber of Commerce and Customs and Sea Marines Association has set up a heritage museum near the Cochin Port Trust office.

Paul Antony, chairman, Cochin Port Trust, inaugurated the museum titled ‘Kochi Maritime Heritage Museum’ at Willingdon Island on Monday.

The museum will be opened to the public from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. The heritage museum unveils the history of the Kochi port during a period of 21 years starting from 1920 to 1941. The photographs exhibited on the walls flaunt the evolution of the port  from a water body to a congested berth of ships.

According to C Unnikrishnan, Cochin Port Trust secretary, the museum is a tribute to Sir Robert Bristow. “The museum has around 70 photos and other devices and instruments that virtually tell the history of the port. The 70 pictures tell the evolution of the port. The photos also convey the efforts made by the architects and construction workers to build a port. It was in 1928 that the ships were berthed at the inner harbour. Before that, the ships were berthed at the outer sea. The visitors can also see the various stages of the construction of the port,” he said.

“The museum will also feature rare documents, navigational instruments plans and devices which were used in the early decades of 20th century. The construction plan of the port drawn by the Robert Bristow is the highlight among the lot. Besides, the parts of the ships, signal devices, anchors and miniatures are also on display, said Unnikrishnan.

The museum will be managed by Bristow Memorial Society. Ticket rate would be `10 per person.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Services – nie / May 27th, 2014

‘Capt Krishnan Nair Model to Younger Generation’

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Travel

Thiruvananthapuram :

Capt Krishnan Nair, the founder chairman of the Leela Group of Hotels who passed away last Saturday, was remembered here on Friday as an enterprising businessman, a successful Malayali and a multi-faceted individual whose interests ranged from subjects as surprisingly diverse as gardening to international diplomacy.

‘’I see him as a amazing man who created a success story with his own labour. He is a model to the younger generation,’’ Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated a commemoration organised by Global Kerala Initiative-Keraleeyam, said.

“He had a vision on Kerala’s development. And he was angry when it did not materliase. Age-wise he was older than many of us. But he interacted with everyone as a friend,’’ Chandy recalled.

Former Ambassador T P Sreenivasan’s first meet with the industrialist was in Fiji during his tenure there. He remembered Krishnan Nair’s avid interest in international matters. ‘’He was there for a week. He apparently had heard about the Regent Resort there and wanted his upcoming hotel in Goa to look like it. I don’t know how he had heard about the Regent,’’ Sreenivasan, who is vice-chairman of the State Higher Education Council and chairs the advisory committee of Keraleeyam, said.

‘’And his knowledge about that small nation was so extraordinary that a Fijian official asked whether he was ‘from your CIA?’’’

‘’In his book he has written how international diplomacy should be conducted. He had a global vision,’’ Sreenivasan said.  Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan recalled Krishnan Nair’s tussle with the State Government over the Halcyon Castle, the industrialist’s interest in gardening and his early days promoting ‘Bleeding Madras,’ the handloom brand. ‘’He was also a keen admirer of V P Menon,’’ Bharat Bhushan said.

Journalist K P Mohanan related how Krishnan Nair, as a young school boy, surprised the then Chirackal ruler with a short verse who then promised to support his education.

E M Najeeb, chairman, Indian Association of Tour Operators, Kerala chapter, also spoke.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 24th, 2014