November 21, 2011

@8 Indians Among Top 50 Thinkers@

Is it the business gurus or the executives in the boardroom that shapes the future of global business? Thoughts make a great difference in the world of business. Therefore, going by Thinkers 50 list, business professors and management innovators are the ones who do the real thinking. Thinkers50 is keeping pace with ideas and thoughts that are influencing the global business and managers over a decade now. The ranking will guide us to the personalities who are known little to the general public but admired throughout the business world. Amongst the 50, eight Indians are included in the list of top Management Thinkers from across the globe.

Vijay Govindarajan
1. Vijay Govindarajan
Vijay Govindarajan, popularly known as VG has been ranked at number 3. He is the Earl C. Daum Professor of International Business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Being world's leading expert on strategy and innovation, Govindarajan said, "It is humbling to be ranked number 3 alongside great management thought leaders as well as to receive the Breakthrough Idea Award for the $300 House Initiative. These recognitions are motivators to work even harder to justify the honors." He has penned none books including the best sellers "Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators" and "the Other Side of Innovation". "The Other Side of Innovation" is his recent book which draws spotlight on how to change an innovative idea into a successful commercial business. Govindarajan is also responsible for posing the question that sparked a global challenge to build a $300 house. He has also worked with Jeff Immelt, General Electric's CEO and written a article with him collaborating with Chris Trimble which introduces the concept of reverse innovation and is rated by Harvard Business Review as one of the ten big ideas of the decade, and is the title of his forthcoming book, (with Chris Trimble), to be published by HBR Press in April 2012. Govindarajan has been ranked above Jim Collins (4), Michael Porter (5), Roger Martin (6), Marshall Goldsmith (7), and Marcus Buckingham (8).

Nitin Nohria
2. Nitin Nohria
The dean of Harvard Business School, Nitin Nohria is ranked 13 in the list. The present dean has served in various senior positions at HBS including the co-chair of the Leadership Initiative, senior associate dean of faculty development and head of the organizational behavior unit. The author, co-editor of 16 books and over 50 journal articles, working papers and books has recently published his new book, " The Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice", co-edited with Rakesh Khurana. The book pulls together the most modern thinking on leadership associated with number of experts who attended a leadership colloquium structured by Nitin during the School's centennial celebrations. His three books, "In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders of the 20th Century", "Paths to Power: How Insiders and Outsiders Shaped American Business Leadership" and "Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders: Leadership Lessons from the Airline Industry" glances at the history of American leadership. The books scrutinize the lives of great leaders, their path to power and lessons to be learned by them.

Nirmalya Kumar
3. Nirmalya Kumar
Ranked 26, Nirmalya Kumar is a marketing professor at London Business School. Apart from that, he is also the co-director of Aditya Birla India Centre. The growth of India as an economic force and marketing strategies are his domain of focus. The Author of several books is credited with introducing the concept of "3Vs": valued customer, value network and value proposition. His books like "Marketing as Strategy: Understanding the CEO's Agenda for Driving Growth and Innovation", "Global Marketing" and "Private Label Strategy: How to Meet the Store Brand Challenge" focuses on the marketing strategies. India's Global Powerhouses: How They Are Taking on the World, Kumar gives an insider's guide to doing business with Indian leaders and companies. His latest book "India Inside: The Emerging Innovation Challenge to the West", is co-authored with Phanish Puranam a London Business School colleague. Being a dedicated collector of the work of Indian artist Jamini Roy, Kumar has the largest collection of Roy paintings outside of India.

Pankaj Ghemawat
4. Pankaj Ghemawat
The Anselmo Rubiralta Professor of Global Strategy at IESE Business School, in Spain, Panka Ghemawat is ranked 27th in thelist. Popular for his efforts on globalization, he authored books like "Games businesses play: Cases and Models", "Creating value through international strategy", "Redefining global strategy"; "Crossing borders in a world where differences still matter" and "Strategy and the business landscape". His latest work "World 3.0: Global prosperity and how to achieve it" scrutinizes the assumptions made regarding globalization. He disagrees with the idea of single global economy as mentioned in the The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. He refutes on the base economic measures and indicators. He says, in a semi-globalized world at best.

Vineet Nayar
5. Vineet Nayar
Vineet Nayar, the Vice Chairman and CEO of HCL Technologies, a global information technology services company based in India, is ranked 40th. His exceptional management philosophy of placing his employees first and customers second stimulated his triumph. His book "Employees First, Customers Second" speaks about his management upheaval. Following his less conservative management system, Nayar never minds a dance with company's employee at wide Direction event, both on stage and crowd. He feels it reduces barriers between CEO and employee. With an engineering degree in India, followed by an MBA, Nayar boarded HCL back in 1985 and became the president of the company in 2005, CEO in 2007 and Chairman in 2010. HCL has won awards for best employer and most influential upcoming company under Nayar.

Rakesh Khurana
6. Rakesh Khurana
Ranked as 41st among the top management thinkers, Rakesh Khurana is the Marvin Bower professor of leadership development at the Harvard Business School. His main focus is into macro-organizational theory and the dynamics of executive labor markets. Famous for his book Searching for a Corporate Savior: The Irrational Quest for Charismatic CEOs, Rakesh has authored and edited four books and several articles. His managerial articles throw light on the problems associated with fascinating leadership. "From Higher Aims to Hired Hands: The Social Transformation of American Business Schools and the Unfulfilled Promise of Management as a Profession" is his second book that deals with the expansion of American business education and the profession of management elevated fundamental queries about the efficiency of business education and the types of business leaders and managers they have been educating. Khurana is also the co-author with Nitin Nohria, that positions dominance for generating value for society as the purpose of management.

Sheena Iyengar
7. Sheena Iyengar
The S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, and research director of the Jerome A. Chazen Institute of International Business, Sheena Iyengar is the only Indian female included in the list. She is ranked at 48th number. Known for her work on choice, Iyengar has received the Best Dissertation Award from the Society of Experimental Social Psychology in 1998, for her thesis, "Choice and Its Discontents."The Art of Choosing, the award winning book published in 2010 inspected several aspects of choice like how and why people make choice and how many factors manipulates their choice. She aims at making people better equipped handle the overpowering variety of choice in everyday life. Choices for Iyengar were not that easy. Suffering from worsening sight, she was unable to read and was completely blind by her late teens. Regardless of obstacles, Iyengar pursued her ambitions to go to college, and pursued an academic career.

Subir Chowdhury
8. Subir Chowdhury
The Chairman and CEO of ASI Consulting Group and esteemed quality expert and strategist, Subir Chowdhury is at the 50th number. He suggests CEOs and senior leaders of Fortune 100 companies as well as organizations in the public, private and not-for profit sectors all over the world, serving them make quality a part of their business culture. Business week labeled Chowdhury as "The Quality Prophet". He authored "The Power of Six Sigma: An Inspiring Tale of How Six Sigma is Transforming the Way We Work", an international bestseller and 12 other business titles. Design for Six Sigma is his first book on the topic and credited with popularizing the DFSS philosophy worldwide. The Ice Cream Maker is a business fable about Pete and the ice cream factory he manages; in which he establishes the next generation management system, LEO: Listen, Enrich and Optimize. His latest book is The Power of LEO: The Revolutionary Process for Achieving Extraordinary Results.
Courtesy: Silicon India

Top 10 Landscapes of the World:

We live in a world where we have stunning landscapes preserved by nature, but they are located  at remote places and we don’t get enough time to discover all of them. Most of us probably have dreams of visiting new places whenever possible.
Living in modern cities with high-rise buildings all around and used to sophisticated lifestyle, we often tend to miss the freedom and  the feel of relaxation the Nature offers through its enormous beauty, and even some of those most incredible man-made structures built throughout the course of history. Here are those landscapes that you can plan up to visit at least once in a lifetime.
  
1. Grand Canyon
grand-canyon

Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The best time to visit this place is during summer. 

2. Canadian Rockies
canadian-rockies

Canadian Rockies is one of the most spectacular places on earth. It offers you unforgettable hikes, scenic drives and many more natural highlights. Winter is a great time to enjoy this place. 

3. Machu Picchu
machu-picchu

Located in Peru, this is a great spot to divinity. Listed among the Seven Wonders of the World, this place offers strange forces of nature that permit an individual to attain a contrary cosmic state. 

4. Bora Bora Island
bora-bora-island

Bora Bora island is possibly the single most famous island with its almost unbelievable beauty. A wonderfully relaxing place letting you windsurf, jetski, scuba dive, snorkel, swim.. the list goes on. 

5. Salar of Uyuni
salar-of-uyuni

Salar de Uyuni bears a peculiar name fitting to its interesting scenery. The view here at sunset and sunrise is mindblowing – reflection of the rainbow of colors in the white sands is just awesome.
  
6. The caves of Carlsbad
the-caves-of-carlsbad

Carlsbad Caverns is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains range of New Mexico. It is the third largest chamber in North America and the seventh largest in the world.

7. The Cappadocia and the Goreme valley
the-cappadocia-and-the-goreme-valley

The Goreme Valley in Cappadocia region of Turkey holds one of the best collections of painted cave-churches. The best time to visit this place is early morning. 

8. The Giant’s Causeway
the-giants-causeway

The Giant’s Causeway with its marvellous beauty of  40,000 unique hexagonal basalt columns which form stepping stones that disappear downwards into the sea. The landscape plays a major role in attracting visitors from around the world and often been described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. 

9. Lencois Maranhenses
lencois-maranhenses

The most beautiful landscape in Brazil, Lencois Maranhenses has shifting sand dunes and sparkling freshwater lagoons. The spectacular views of sand dunes stretching far off to the horizon and the deserted beaches make for memorable adventurous tours in dune buggies. 

10. Great Barrier Reef
great-barrier-reef

One of beautiful coral reef in the world is located in Australia, nature’s gift the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty and swimming with the fish in such a place, admiring the colours of the coral is a must for any holiday. Outer reef scuba diving and island day trips are few other common pastimes on the reef.
Courtesy: traveldest

November 20, 2011

Worlds First Air Powered Car From India:

Worlds First Air Powered Car from India.Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors of India thinks so. What will the Oil Companies do to stop it?
It is an auto engine that runs on air.  That's right; air not gas or diesel or electric but just the air around us.  Take a look.
Tata Motors of India has scheduled the Air Car to hit Indian streets by August 2012.
The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N. For Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air to push its engine's pistons and make the car go.
The Air Car, called the "Mini CAT" could cost around 365,757 rupees in India or $8,177 US. The Mini CAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis, a body of fiberglass that is glued not welded and powered by compressed air.  A Microprocessor is used to control all electrical functions of the car.  One tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, turn signals and every other electrical device on the car.  Which are not many.
The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.

There are no keys, just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket.  According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100 KM, that's about a tenth the cost of a car running on gas.  It's mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes it a perfect choice for city motorists.  The car has a top speed of 105 KM per hour or 60 mph and would have a range of around 300 km or 185 miles between refuels.  Refilling the car will take place at adapted gas stations with special air compressors.  A fill up will only take two to three minutes and costs approximately 100 rupees and the car will be ready to go another 300 kilometers.

This car can also be filled at home with it's on board compressor.  It will take 3-4 hours to refill the tank, but it can be done while you sleep. Because there is no combustion engine, changing the 1 liter of vegetable oil is only necessary every 50,000 KM or 30,000 miles.  Due to its simplicity, there is very little maintenance to be done on this car.
This Air Car almost sounds too good to be true. We'll see in August. 2012

+Some Unusual World Guinness Records+

Fastest individual 1 mile run wearing swim fins:

fastest individual 1 mile run wearing swim fins
American Ashrita Furman, nicknamed Mr. Versatility, is no stranger to Guinness World of Records. He set more than 340 official Guinness records since 1979 and currently holds 113, including the record for fastest mile run in swim fins: 7 min 56 sec. Ashrita achieved this record in 2010 at the Marswiese Sportzentrum in Vienna, Austria.
Ashrita Furman has set records in more than 35 different countries, on all seven continents. Marco Frigatti, head of the global records management team for GWR, declared that Ashrita won “the official record for The most current Guinness world records held at the same time by an individual.

Fastest 100m running on all fours:

Fastest 100m running on all fours
The 2008 Guinness World Records Day was, according to GWR,  their biggest day of record-breaking ever, with more than 290000 people taking part in record attempts in 15 different countries. Kenichi Ito’s record attempt was part of this special day. He is just another example of Japanese with ‘super powers’. His ‘super power’ is to run with great speed on all fours. Kenichi Ito run 100m on all fours in 18.58 seconds. The Japanese set this record at Setagaya Kuritsu Sogo Undojyo, Tokyo, in 2008.

Heaviest weight pulled with eye sockets:

Heaviest weight pulled with eye sockets
Believe it or not, the heaviest weight pulled with eye sockets is 907 pounds (411.65 kilograms). This extreme record was set by Chayne Hultgren, also known as The Space Cowboy. The Australian achieved the record  in Milano on the set of “Lo Show Dei Record” in 2009.
Space Cowboy has won the Street Performance World Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. One of the many acts that brought him large media coverage is when he swallowed 27 swords decorated with the flags of all European Union’s members. The record was set on the day when Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty on European Union reform.

Longest ears on a dog:

Longest Dog Ears
A bloodhound from Illinois has the longest ears ever measured on a dog. The right ear is 13.75 in long and the left one 13.5 in. The dog named Tigger earned this title in 2004 and is owned by Christina and Bryan Flessner.
Mr. Jeffries is the previous record holder of this title. Each of his ear measured approximately 11.5 in long. His grandfather used to hold this amazing world record, but when he died Mr. Jeffries took over.

Largest horn circumference – steer:

largest horn circumference
Lurch was the record holder of the world’s largest horn circumference, 37.5 in. He was an African Watusi steer born October 11, 1995 on a ranch in Missouri. Janice Wolf adopted Lurch when he was only 5 weeks old. Unfortunately, the steer died last year of cancer. A form of cancer at the base of one of Lurch’s horns ended the 15 years long beautiful friendship between him and Janice

Most body piercings in one session:

Most Body Piercings in One Session
In May 2010, Chris Elliot and Tyson Turk (USA) set the world record for most body piercings in one session: 3100 in 6 hours and 15 minutes. It all happened at the Tyson Turk Tattoo Studio, Bedford, Texas. Chris and Tyson shattered the previous record of 1015 piercings in 7 hours and 55 minutes set by British Kam Ma and Charlie Wilson.

Most people inside a soap bubble:

most people inside a soap bubble
The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California celebrated this year the 15th anniversary of the BubbleFest. A bubble’s math principles and science were presented and demonstrated at the three-weeks long exhibition. The intriguing Bubble Show was also part of the program. Fan Yang and Deni Yang impressed the audience with their awesome skills for bubble making. The Yang family collaborated with the Discovery Science Center to set a new Guinness World Record for most people inside a soap bubble and they succeeded.
The family that has been working with soap bubbles for 27 years created a huge soap bubble and got 118 people inside it. The record was set on April 4, 2011.

Heaviest pumpkin:

Heaviest Pumpkin
Guinness World Records confirmed on October 09, 2010 that a gigantic pumpkin grown in Wisconsin was officially the world’s heaviest. It weighed 1,810 lb 8 oz and was unveiled by Chris Stevens at the Stillwater Harvest Fest in Minnesota. Stevens’ pumpkin was 85 pounds heavier than the previous record, another huge pumpkin grown in Ohio. The proud farmer said his secret is a precise mixture of rain, cow manure, good soil, seaweed and fish emulsion. Some of the world’s heaviest pumpkins, including the record-holder were on public display at the Bronx Botanical Gardens in New York for several weeks.

November 13, 2011

THINK ECO-FRIENDLY: 21 WAYS TO SAVE THE WORLD

1.Re-Use: A great way to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint is to reuse items. There are two ways to reuse items. Reusing them for their original purpose, such as Ziploc bags, tinfoil, plastic utensils etc. and finding new uses for things you already own. By doing this you are not consuming any more of the world's precious resources. If you can't reuse something of your own, purchasing something secondhand instead of brand new is another way to reduce your consumption of resources. 

 

2. Adjust your Thermostat: Adjusting your thermostat is free, easy and can yield big savings. Every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer will reduce air conditioning bills by about 2 percent. Lowering the temperature by one degree in winter will save you 3 percent on heating bills. Regular maintenance and a tune up every two or three years will keep your heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system operating efficiently, saving energy and money. 

 

3. Switch to CFL: Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They're more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but it only takes about 3 months to make up for the higher sticker price in energy savings. 

 

4. Unplug your Appliances: Many appliances use electricity even when they're turned off. It's called a phantom load, or vampire electricity, and as much as 75 percent of the electricity used by home electronics and small appliances is used while they're turned off. The simple solution is to unplug small appliances and electronics when you aren't using them. Or, plug them into a power strip and turn the power strip off when you aren't using those items. 

 

5. Don't let the water run while you brush: Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You'll conserve up to five gallons of water per day - which could add up to 1.5 billion gallons that could be saved across the country each day. 

 

6. Filter Instead of Buying Bottled: Buy a water filter for your kitchen faucet and put to good use yet another way to do away with those plastic water bottles that are clogging landfills and burning up energy in recycling plants. About 1.5 million tons of plastic are used on the bottling of 89 billion liters of drinking water each year. 

 

7. Clean air filters: Check air conditioning filters monthly to either clean or replace them. This will help the unit run more efficiently. Better yet: buy a permanent filter that can be washed and re-used. This will save you money over the long run and keep all those disposable filters out of landfills. If your unit is outdoors, check to make sure the coils are not obstructed by debris, plants or shrubs. 

 

8. Use Natural fertilizers: Natural fertilizers actually cost less, and using fewer chemicals can save you money and reduce the level of pollution in local waterways and around your home. To boost the health of your lawn, add clover, as it naturally fertilizes the soil and is drought-tolerant. Let the lawn grow a little longer before cutting it - longer grass chokes out the sunlight weeds need to grow. 

 

9. Support 'green' businesses: Many manufacturers, stores, restaurants and coffee houses are greening their businesses with strategies like adopting large scale recycling programs; using sustainable forms of energy, such as solar or wind power; reducing waste; and committing to the use of organic, locally grown or eco-friendly products. By spending your money selectively, you reward greener behavior and encourage other companies to become similarly competitive. And, in many cases, there is no extra cost to consumers. 

 

10. Use recycled paper: Compared to other paper, it takes a lot less energy and water to make. And thanks to increased demand, manufacturers have been able to match quality and performance. Speaking of paper, it's got two sides, so when possible, use them both. 

 

11. Switch Off Your Computer: The "sleep mode" reduces energy use by 60 percent to 70 percent, the EPA estimates. As for turning computers on and off, despite a popular misconception, this won't harm the equipment. It will, however, save energy as long as the computer will be inactive for 16 minutes or more. If your job doesn't require constant computer use, break the habit of turning it on first thing and keeping it on all day. 

 

12. Turn Off your Computer Monitor: Turn off your computer's monitor when you're not using it. Screen savers only save the screen from having a pattern burned into it. Energy saving options in Windows still use energy - switch it off (the switch is likely accessible and easy to find!) 

 

13. Use rechargeable batteries: While it's true that rechargeable batteries cost more to purchase, you'll save money over the long run. A single rechargeable battery can replace up to 1,000 single-use alkaline batteries over its lifetime. Most rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times. 

 

14. Donate clothing and household goods: Donate clothing and household goods to the environmental nonprofit of your choice. Many charitable groups, including those dedicated to saving the planet, will take such gifts. 

 

15. Skip the receipt at the ATM: Most of the time you just take a glance at it and tear it up. Why not see your balance on the ATM itself instead of requesting a receipt. 

 

16. Dispose Properly: Dispose of old paint, oils & chemicals properly- Never put paint, oils, batteries or antifreeze in the trash! Use proper toxic disposal sites. 

 

17. Look for PVC-free Toys: PVC (polyvinyl chloride) seems to be everywhere we look. Some beach toys, teethers, dolls, and even  rubber duckies are cheaply manufactured with the environmentally dubious material. A dioxin-producing powerhouse, PVC releases toxins into the environment all the way through its life cycle from manufacturing to disposal.

 

18. Grow Your Own Food: Start a small vegetable garden. Even if you don’t have a garden at all, herbs and salads can be grown in a window box, and sprouting seeds is an easy way to grow some fresh food too. Complete self-sufficiency might not be realistic, but any food you can grow at home will be an important contribution to cutting food miles, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. It will also taste delicious. 

 

19. Harvest rainwater: Adding a rain barrel is an inexpensive and effortless way to capture mineral- and chlorine-free water for watering lawns, yards, and gardens, as well as washing cars or rinsing windows. By harnessing what's literally raining from the sky, you'll not only notice a marked dip in water costs, but also a reduction in storm water runoff, which in turn helps prevent erosion and flooding. Pop a screen on top of your barrel to keep out insects, debris, and bird missiles, and make frequent use of your water supply to keep it moving and aerated. 

 

20. Recycle your water: If you're a homeowner, consider rearranging your plumbing so that rainwater or waste water from your shower and tub is used to flush your toilet. If you have a garden, water it with leftover bathwater or dishwashing water. 

 

21. Spread the Word: Bring awareness to wasteful people around you not only by telling them to Go Green but by leading by example. By being Green in your life and showing people how easy it can be they gain confidence that they can follow suit. Suggest ways that they could be more eco-friendly and point out how much they save.

November 09, 2011

"KOODANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT"

 
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power station currently under construction in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Project investment cost to India was estimated to be US$ 3 billion (Rs.13,615 Crores) in a 2001 agreement.

As of November 2011, thousands of protesters and villagers living around the plant are trying to avoid the possible disasters like Fukushima (speech by Gopal Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, former West Bengal governor in a lecture on 'India 2021- Hazarding Guesses, Guessing Hazards' in New Delhi) by blocking highways and staging hunger strikes, preventing further construction work, as they believe that the nuclear plant is unsafe. The Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) are fighting for about 25 years in Koodankulam.

 

History:

An Inter-Governmental Agreement on the project was signed on November 20, 1988 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. The project remained in limbo for 10 years due to political and economic upheaval in Russia after the post-1991 Soviet breakup, and also due to objections of the United States on the grounds that the agreement does not meet the 1992 terms of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

There are negotiations over the possible addition of a naval base at the site, both safeguarding the project and as a presence in the southern tip of the country. A small port became operational in Kudankulam on January 14, 2004. This port was established to receive barges carrying over sized light water reactor equipment from ships anchored at a distance of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi). Until 2004 materials had to be brought in via road from the port of Tuticorin, risking damage during transportation.
In 2008 negotiation on building four additional reactors at the site began. Though the capacity of these reactors has not been declared, it is expected that the capacity of each reactor will be 1000 MW or 1 GW. The new reactors would bring the total capacity of the power plant to 9200 MW or 9.2 GW.

In June 2011, Sergei Ryzhov, the chief designer of the light water VVER nuclear reactors used at this Nuclear Power Plant was killed in an airplane accident. The plane belonging to the Rus-Air airlines was flying from Moscow to the Karelian capital Petrozavodsk.

 

Technical description:

Two 1 GW reactors of the VVER-1000 model are being constructed by the Nuclear Power corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Atomstroyexport. When completed they will become the largest nuclear power generation complex in India producing a cumulative 2 GW of electric power.Both units are water cooled water moderated power reactors. The first was scheduled to start operation in December 2009 and the second one was scheduled for March 2010. Currently, the official projections put unit 1 into operation in June 2011, and unit 2 will go in March 2012.

Four more reactors are set to be added to this plant under a memorandum of intent signed in 2008. A firm agreement on setting up two more reactors, has been postponed pending the ongoing talks on liability issues. Under an inter-government agreement signed in December 2008 Russia is to supply to India four third generation VVER-1200 reactors of 1170 MW.

 

Controversy:

As of October 2011, thousands of protesters and villagers living around the Russian-built Koodankulam nuclear plant in the southern Tamil Nadu province, are blocking highways and staging hunger strikes, preventing further construction work, and demanding its closure as they distrust federal government assurances regarding safety. They fear there will be a nuclear accident similar to the radiation leak in March at Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster.

According to SP Udayakumar, of the voluntary People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, "the nuclear plant is unsafe" and "the safety analysis report and the site evaluation study have not been made public. No public hearing was held. It's an authoritarian project that has been imposed on the people." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Tamil Naud Chief Minister J Jayalalitha that "all precautions would be taken at the Koodankulam nuclear plant to maintain the highest safety standards".

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed against the government’s civil nuclear program at the apex Supreme Court. The PIL specifically asks for the "staying of all proposed nuclear power plants till satisfactory safety measures and cost-benefit analyses are completed by independent agencies".

 

Safest Alternatives:

Thermal Power Station: Activists leading the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) want the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to convert the nuclear power plant into coal-fuelled thermal power station.

Solar Power Station: Solar power is way cheaper, say experts. Interestingly, a new study by different wings of the union government says that Tamil Nadu has the potential to be the power house of south India.
Courtesy: Wikipedia

World Famous Political Leaders Biography In Brief:

1.Mahatma Gandhi:

Famous as For His Philosophy of Truth and Non-violence
Born on 02 October 1869
Born in Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Died on 30 January 1948
Nationality India
Works & Achievements Key Role in Indian Freedom Struggle, Philosophy of Truth and Non-violence

2.Abraham Lincoln:

Famous as American President
Born on 12 February 1809
Born in Southeast Hardin County, Kentucky
Died on 15 April 1865
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements Preservation of the United States, Abolition of Slavery in America

 3.Lord Mountbatten:

Famous as Last Viceroy of British India and Governor-General of Independent India
Born on 25 June 1900
Born in Windsor, England
Died on 27 August 1979
Nationality United Kingdom

4.Nelson Mandela:

Famous as Anti-Apartheid Activist, President of ANC and Former President of South Africa
Born on 18 July 1918
Born in Transkei, South Africa
Nationality South Africa
Works & Achievements Nobel Peace Prize (1993), Struggle Against the Apartheid Regime, Leadership of Civil Rights Movement In South Africa

5.Margaret Thatcher:

Famous as and Only Woman Prime Minister of United Kingdom
Born on 13 October 1925
Born in Grantham, England
Nationality United Kingdom
Works & Achievements Revitalizing Britain's Economy, Suppression of Trade Unions

6.Winston Churchill:

Famous as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Born on 30 November 1874
Born in Woodstock, Oxford shire
Died on 24 January 1965
Nationality United Kingdom
Works & Achievements PM of the United Kingdom

7.John F Kennedy:

Famous as 35th President of the United States
Born on 29 May 1917
Born in Massachusetts, USA
Died on 22 November 1963
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements Pulitzer Prize (1973); Known For Contribution in Civil Rights

8.Jawaharlal Nehru:

Famous as Former PM of India & Freedom Fighter
Born on 14 November 1889
Born in Allahabad, India
Died on 27 May 1964
Nationality India
Works & Achievements Authored the Discovery of India, Played an Important Role in Freedom Struggle

9.Indira Gandhi:

Famous as Former Prime Minister of India
Born on 19 November 1917
Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Died on 31 October 1984
Nationality India
Works & Achievements First Woman Prime Minister of India; Lenin Peace Prize (for 1983-1984)

10.George Washington:

Famous as First President of the United States
Born on 22 February 1732
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died on 14 December 1799
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements Victory in the American Revolutionary War

 11.Mao Zedong:

Famous as Communist Leader of China
Born on 26 December 1893
Born in China
Died on 09 September 1976
Nationality China
Works & Achievements Victory in Chinese Civil War, Socio-Cultural reforms in China

12.Aung San Suu Kyi:

Famous as Political Leader (Freedom Fighter) of Myanmar
Born on 19 June 1945
Born in Yangon (Rangoon), Burma (Myanmar)
Nationality Myanmar
Works & Achievements Leader of the National League for Democracy; Nobel Peace Prize Winner (1991)

13.Vladimir Lenin:

Famous as Russian Revolutionary & Head of Communist Party
Born on 04 May 1870
Born in Simbirsk (Today's Ulyanovak)
Died on 21 January 1924
Nationality Russian Federation

14.Joseph Stalin:

Famous as Communist Revolutionary & Ruler of former USSR
Born on 21 December 1879
Born in Gori, Georgia
Died on 05 March 1953
Nationality Georgia
Works & Achievements General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

15.Adolf Hitler:

Famous as Nazi Leader, German Dictator and Chancellor of Germany
Born on 20 April 1889
Born in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungry
Died on 30 April 1945
Nationality Germany

16.F D Roosevelt:

Famous as 32nd President of the United States
Born on 30 January 1882
Born in Hyde Park, New York
Died on 12 April 1945
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements 32nd President of the United States

17.Ho Chi Minh:

Famous as Former PM and President of Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Born on 19 May 1890
Born in Hoang Tru
Died on 02 September 1969
Nationality Vietnam
Works & Achievements Established the communist governed Democratic of Vietnam

18.Thomas Jefferson:

Famous as Political Philosopher & the third President of America
Born on 13 April 1743
Born in Virginia
Died on 04 July 1826
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements Founder of the Republicanism in America, Father of the Virginia University, the main author of the Declaration of Independence

19.Kofi Annan:

Famous as Secretary General of the United Nations
Born on 08 April 1938
Born in Kumasi, Ghana
Nationality Ghana
Works & Achievements Nobel peace Prize (2001)

and

20.Sun Yat Sen:

Famous as Chinese Revolutionary and 'Father of Modern china'
Born on 12 November 1866
Born in Chuiheng, Xiangshan
Died on 12 March 1925
Works & Achievements Creation and leadership of the 'Kuomintang'

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