Araku valley

03.11.2011_The Hindu

It's time to pack your bags and head to the Araku Valley. After a spell of rains, the valley is a verdant green. There's a chill in the air and on misty mornings the fields can be seen slowly creeping into a yellow blanket.

Araku Valley hill satation in Andra Pradesh

Araku Valley is a hill station in Andhra Pradesh, located about 120 km from Visakhapatnam. From August or rather after the monsoon is when the tourist season begins. The best time however is between November and February although by December/January the temperature often drops to four degrees.

Since the days of the Raj, the lush green landscape and the salubrious climate of Araku Valley have been a major draw. Nestled in the Eastern Ghats, the valley has numerous cascading waterfalls and gushing streams. And as one drives through the winding ghat roads, the mild aroma of coffee from the numerous plantations sprinkled across the valley, greets the visitors.

The journey to Araku valley is most enjoyable when you travel by both rail and road, according to the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department. from Visakhapatnam. While the road, covered by thick jungle on both sides, snakes through the Anantagiri range, the rail takes you through 58 tunnels and over 84 bridges. The engineering marvel of the Kottavalasa-Kirandul line on the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway will leave you awestruck. On the way to Araku is Shimliguda, a station perched at 997 m above sea level, which was the first highest broad-gauge railway station in the country till the construction of Qazigund in Jammu and Kashmir. While cabs are aplenty, there is only one train that leaves Visakhapatnam early in the morning and returns late at night.

Though civilisation has made deep inroads, the valley is still steeped in the culture of its ancient tribes. In the interior parts of the valley, the PTG (primitive tribal groups) have still not changed their lifestyle, and are hospitable to outsiders. They even perform the traditional Dhimsa dance in the evenings to entertain tourists.

About 75 km from Visakhapatnam and on the way to Araku is Tyda engulfed by lush green forests, Where A.P. Tourism has set up a resort on a hillock by the road.

NEW CM ARUNACHAL PRADESH

02.11.2011-The Hindu

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee ( APCC) president and dissident leader Nabam Tuki was sworn in as the seventh chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday, bringing to an end the four-month-long political crisis in the state.

Nabam Tuki(New Chief minister of Arunachal)

Governor Gen (Rtd) J J Singh administered the oath and secrecy of office to Tuki at a function held at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhawan. Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, former DoNER minister B K Handique, Congress general secretary Dhaniram Shandil, along with Lok Sabha members Takam Sanjoy and Ninong Ering were present.

Tuki, who is the first CM from the Nyishi community, succeeded Jarbom Gamlin who ruled the state for 180 days. On May 5, Gamlin was sworn in as CM after the death of Dorjee Khandu in a chopper crash on April 30 this year.

Talking to reporters, Tuki said his priority was to ensure communal harmony among all tribes for overall development of the land-locked state. "I will make sure the rule of law prevails in Arunachal. I swear to give my heart and soul to the onerous job not only as a leader but also as a friend and brother to all irrespective of tribe, caste, religion, gender as well as political affiliations. I am a firm believer in inclusive governance and participation of every community, every leader and every citizen of the state in development and welfare initiatives. Together, we can march ahead with guaranteed success," he said.

He added that his government would respect all issue-based agitations staged in a democratic manner and try to resolve the matter by taking the organization concerned into confidence.

"The communal harmony and bonding among various tribes of the state has remained unshakeable since hundreds of years. I appeal to members of all indigenous communities not to be carried away by people having vested interests," he said. He added that no government or security forces can prevent communal tension if the communities involved don't play their part.

"When majority of the citizens are together and united, persons having bad intentions can never harm or even shake the communal harmony prevailing in the state since ages," he added.

He said, "I will work on the development roadmap set by Khandu, who relentlessly worked for a developed Arunachal." Outlining his priorities the chief minister added that he would ensure security to people and try his best to improve law and order, which has deteriorated in recent times.

Saying that there can be no development without peace, Tuki disclosed that he had already summoned top police officers to take stock of the prevailing situation at the state capital. When asked when he would lift prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPc promulgated recently, the chief minister said it would continue for some time.

He added that education, health, power, infrastructure development and tourism would be given top priority.

To a query regarding constitution of the new council of ministers, he said he would prepare the list in consultation with senior party leaders and would go to Delhi soon for getting the seal of approval from Congress high command.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi nominated Tuki as the new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. The three-member AICC team comprising Shinde, Handique and Shandil, which arrived in the state on Monday, held parleys with all 42 Congress MLAs in the state. They had authorized Sonia to nominate the CLP leader.

The change in leadership was demanded by majority of the Congress legislators led by Tuki.