Protection for Outer Ring Road Project Mooted

Hyderabad:Metro Water Board managing director Ashok Reddy has directed officials to implement comprehensive safety and protection measures around reservoirs constructed under the Outer Ring Road Phase-2 project.

After inspecting the Brundavan Colony, Manchirevula, and Narsingi reservoirs, developed over the past two years, he instructed officials to submit proposals for constructing compound walls around the premises. He also ordered removal of debris, landscaping and gardening works, and construction of internal roads.

Reddy also directed installation of high-entry gates, display boards with reservoir details, and prominent signboards declaring the premises as protected areas with restricted entry. He also reviewed plans for a Master Balancing Reservoir near Neopolis and asked officials to expedite sewage treatment plant works near the twin reservoirs.

Telangana Govt hikes DA for Power staff, clears scholarship dues

Hyderabad:Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday approved 17.651 per cent dearness allowance (DA) for power sector employees, benefiting 71,387 workers, artisans, and pensioners. Reviewed biannually based on the consumer price index, Monday’s DA hike is effective from July 1, 2025.

In TGTransco, it would benefit 9,251 beneficiaries, 6,913 in TGGenco 11,957 in the southern discom, 9,728 in the northern discom. This would add a monthly burden of `9.39 crore.

Hyderabad to Host Indo-Jazz Fusion

Hyderabad:Hyderabad’s cultural calendar will witness a unique cross-cultural collaboration as Australian jazz meets Indian classical traditions in an Indo–Jazz Music and Dance Concert at Ravindra Bharathi on December 26.

The concert, beginning at 6.15 pm, will feature internationally acclaimed Australian jazz musicians Adrian Sheriff and Tony, performing alongside leading Carnatic musicians from South India.

The evening promises an innovative fusion of global jazz rhythms with the depth and structure of Carnatic music, exploring musical dialogues while remaining rooted in classical traditions.

Adding a strong visual dimension, renowned Bharatanatyam exponent Dr Rajeswari Sainath will present a dance performance with her senior disciples. Dr Sainath, who holds a rare PhD in both Mathematics and Dance, is a globally respected artiste with over five decades of performance experience.

She has also performed a solo concert at the prestigious Sydney Opera House, marking a milestone in her artistic journey.

Sarvesh Singh Named CEO of Telangana Life Sciences

Hyderabad:Sarvesh Singh on Monday formally assumed charge as director and CEO of Telangana Life Sciences.

Following his appointment, Singh met IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, who urged him to leverage his extensive experience in the pharma and life sciences sectors to strengthen the state’s ecosystem.

The minister noted that by expanding Genome Valley and upgrading infrastructure, the government was opening doors for new industries in the life sciences sector, positioning Telangana as a hub for innovation and investment.

BJP supporters petition in Telangana High Court challenging GHMC division bifurcation

Hyderabad:A group of city residents and BJP supporters have filed a petition in the Telangana High Court seeking a stay on the delimitation of seats in the enlarged GHMC, claiming that the process had ignored public opinion, local realities, geographical conditions, and population norms. They also sought guidelines to protect local self-governance.

The petitions were filed by Naragudem Mallareddy, Solkar Reddy, Mallesh Yadav, Vijay Kumar, Devara Srinivas, Madhukar Reddy, Gorige Raju, and Venkatesh. They are being represented by advocates Antony Reddy and Avineesh Rao.

The petitioners argued that the bifurcation of the GHMC area would cause administrative chaos, developmental imbalances, and confusion in elected representation. Their petition warned of potential hardships for citizens in accessing services and equitable growth across areas if the process went through in its current form.

In a statement, they alleged non-adherence to statutory rules which rendered the decisions unconstitutional and detrimental to the public interest.

CSIR-IICT Scientist Bags '25 MRSI Medal

Hyderabad:Dr. Surya Prakash Singh, senior principal scientist at the CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), has been selected to receive the Materials Research Society of India (MRSI) Medal 2025 for his contributions to materials science and advanced functional materials research.

Singh’s group focuses on developing advanced functional materials for applications in the chemical industry and energy sectors. He has pioneered molecularly engineered photosensitisers for photonic devices such as dye-sensitised solar cells, organic solar cells, and perovskite solar cells.

The medal will be presented at the MRSI annual general meeting scheduled at NISER, Bhubaneswar, between December 17 and 20.

Among his notable achievements is the development of neutral, room-temperature-stable, non-toxic, and highly fluorescent BODIPY dyes for mitochondrial tracking, successfully transferred to TCI, Japan.

Singh has published 225 research papers in leading international journals, including Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, Advanced Functional Materials, and Chemical Communications.