HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president, N. Chandrababu Naidu met Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar and Union Commerce Minister, Anand Sharma in Delhi on Monday and took up problems faced by paddy, subabul and tobacco farmers.
Mr. Naidu narrated the woes of farmers to Mr. Pawar and appealed to him to extend certain concessions in procurement of paddy. In his meeting with Mr. Sharma, he wanted him to expedite the appointment of chairman to the tobacco board and to sort out problems between subabul farmers and paper mills.
He told the Ministers that farmers in the State were in deep crisis unable to get remunerative price for farm produce. The State government was not showing any interest in coming to the rescue of the farmers.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Rosaiah seeks employees' cooperation for welfare schemes
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah has sought the cooperation of employees for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken by the government to ensure that the benefits of various welfare schemes and programmes reached targeted sections. Addressing government employees for the first time after he took over as Chief Minister at a meeting organised by the AP Secretariat Employees Co-ordination Committee (APSECC) on Monday, Mr. Rosaiah said the government and the employees were like a joint family working for common goals. A decision taken by the government would remain in cold storage if the employees ignored it.
He narrated the circumstances under which he had to take reins of the administration following the tragic death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Referring to a demand raised by APSECC, he said that if any anomalies were found in implementation of the Pay Revision Commission's recommendation, they would be rectified before the next PRC was constituted.
He said he would take a decision soon on APSECC's plea to fix nominal rates for the land allotted to employees' organisations for housing.
Earlier, APSCECC chairman M. Hanumantha Reddy put forth a long list of staff demands, including health cards for the staff, special allowance to drivers and stenographers, implementation of 5-day week, construction of a multiple parking complex in the Secretariat, appointment of additional staff and installation of mineral water plants in each of the eight blocks. He also sought allotment of lands for housing.
Chief Secretary S. V. Prasad, principal secretary (political) R. M. Gonela were present.
He narrated the circumstances under which he had to take reins of the administration following the tragic death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Referring to a demand raised by APSECC, he said that if any anomalies were found in implementation of the Pay Revision Commission's recommendation, they would be rectified before the next PRC was constituted.
He said he would take a decision soon on APSECC's plea to fix nominal rates for the land allotted to employees' organisations for housing.
Earlier, APSCECC chairman M. Hanumantha Reddy put forth a long list of staff demands, including health cards for the staff, special allowance to drivers and stenographers, implementation of 5-day week, construction of a multiple parking complex in the Secretariat, appointment of additional staff and installation of mineral water plants in each of the eight blocks. He also sought allotment of lands for housing.
Chief Secretary S. V. Prasad, principal secretary (political) R. M. Gonela were present.
‘Praja Rajyam not interested in deriving political mileage out of Polavaram yatra'
TENALI: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi has asserted that his party is not keen on deriving political mileage out of the ‘Polavaram Sadhana Yatra.' ``Let them (State Government) take credit for the completion of Polavaram Project. We are not interested in giving it a political colour,''Mr. Chiranjeevi said at a media conference here on Monday before setting off the three-day tour in the district.
While fending off criticism that his tour was aimed at strengthening the party, Mr. Chiranjeevi took potshots against Telugu Desam. “How can a party which called farming a ‘wasteful exercise' hope to win back the trust of the farmers?'' he shot back while replying to criticism from TDP leaders. Sounding upbeat about the prospects of his party, Mr. Chiranjeevi said he would meet evacuees of Polavaram project at Bhadrachalam on May 20 and express solidarity with their demands for increase in relief and rehabilitation package. On May 26, he would take part in ‘Chalo Polavaram' tour.
Raising his objection to the proposed changes in the design of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multipurpose Major Irrigation Project, Mr. Chiranjeevi said any change in the design of Polavaram project would delay it considerably. He also blamed the Government for delaying the execution of the project under the disguise of permission from the Central Water Commission (CWC). Though the project has been originally designed to handle 36 lakh cusecs, changes have been mulled to withstand the Maximum Probable Flood Discharge of 50 lakh cusecs, a rare phenomenon witnessed once in 10,000 years. Mr. Chiranjeevi also raised concern over reports of a shortfall in foodgrain production from 205 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) to 150 lakh MT and sought the Government's intervention to raise the minimum support price of NLR rice.
While fending off criticism that his tour was aimed at strengthening the party, Mr. Chiranjeevi took potshots against Telugu Desam. “How can a party which called farming a ‘wasteful exercise' hope to win back the trust of the farmers?'' he shot back while replying to criticism from TDP leaders. Sounding upbeat about the prospects of his party, Mr. Chiranjeevi said he would meet evacuees of Polavaram project at Bhadrachalam on May 20 and express solidarity with their demands for increase in relief and rehabilitation package. On May 26, he would take part in ‘Chalo Polavaram' tour.
Raising his objection to the proposed changes in the design of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multipurpose Major Irrigation Project, Mr. Chiranjeevi said any change in the design of Polavaram project would delay it considerably. He also blamed the Government for delaying the execution of the project under the disguise of permission from the Central Water Commission (CWC). Though the project has been originally designed to handle 36 lakh cusecs, changes have been mulled to withstand the Maximum Probable Flood Discharge of 50 lakh cusecs, a rare phenomenon witnessed once in 10,000 years. Mr. Chiranjeevi also raised concern over reports of a shortfall in foodgrain production from 205 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) to 150 lakh MT and sought the Government's intervention to raise the minimum support price of NLR rice.
Chiru lashes out at detractors of ‘bus yatra'
Mega attraction:Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi waving to his admirers perched on a building during a road show at Tenali on Monday.
TENALI: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi hit out at detractors criticising the ‘Polavaram Sadhana Yatra' during road show on Monday here.
Addressing a sizable gathering, mostly comprising youth at Gandhi Chowk, Mr. Chiranjeevi lashed out at some Ministers and Telugu Desam leaders, comparing their comments on his tour as ‘Goebbels propaganda'.
``I ask my detractors to set their house in order, before they comment on my tour. There is growing discontent among farmers and ordinary people over the anti-farmer policies of the State Government,'' he said at the meeting evoking thunderous applause from the crowds.
Chiranjeevi, who started the tour in the evening, mostly confined himself to a hotel at Gandhi Chowk.
He ventured for a brief while in the afternoon to a wedding hall where he addressed party workers. Mr. Chiranjeevi, who had a mild bout of fever on Sunday, appeared to have recovered and looked fresh on Monday.
In a bid to woo sections of farmers, Mr. Chianjeevi said he had never minded the oppressive heat conditions and pledged his whole hearted support to farmers.
``I dare the Congress and the Telugu Desam to conduct meetings with farmers. Those parties shy away since they fear the wrath of farmers. They have not been able to solve the drinking water crisis,'' he quipped.
The visit of Chiranjeevi seemed to have galvanised the party cadre, who turned up in large numbers on the narrow streets of the town. Scores of flag-waving youth wroomed away on their motorcycles.
The public response to the visit was not up to the expectations as the oppressive heat forced many to stay indoors. The speech of Chiranjeevi too lacked vigour and most of the time, he spoke in a measure tone disappointing his supporters.
The road show passed through Gandhi Chowk, Ratna Talkies before heading for Vemuru.
Party district president Lingamsetty Eswara Rao, Tenali urban unit leaders and Guntur urban unit president Sk. Showkath were present.
Rosaiah explores option of SAZ in Ranga Reddy
Taking stock: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah with Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy at Yacharam village in Bantaram Mandal in Ranga Reddy district on Monday.
YACHARAM (RANGA REDDY DT.): Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, on Monday, said that he would explore the options of creating a Special Agriculture Zone (SAZ) in Ranga Reddy, a district that presently supplies a major share of vegetables and milk to the State capital.
He was addressing the people of Yacharam village in Bantaram mandal after launching the ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatra', the government's farmer-contact programme, and giving them technical support.
Responding to pleas by local leaders, he said the Congress government was committed towards improving the lot of farmers and asked the Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy to study the prospects of having an SAZ in the district.
Sloganeering
As soon as Mr. Rosaiah started speaking, a handful of youth in the audience began shouting pro-Telangana slogans. Initially he continued his speech but as others in the audience joined the sloganeering, Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy intervened to pacify the slogan-shouting youth.
After the brief interruption, Mr. Rosaiah asserted, “We are here to help farmers. There will always be trouble-makers who do not like a good programme.”
The Chief Minister asked Agriculture Commissioner Sunil Sharma to study farmers' problems in the district and to submit a report to him as to how the government could best serve their interests. “We depend heavily on agriculture and hence their welfare is important,” he said.
Dig at TDP
Mr. Rosaiah took a dig at Telugu Desam President N. Chandrababu Naidu for neglecting the farmers and harping only on computerisation. The Congress government, he said, was open to suggestions from any section of the society or political party if it was for developing the farm sector.
He also said that he would examine the demand for setting up an additional district court in Vikarabad.
Union Minister for Urban Development, S. Jaipal Reddy said that the Centre was helping farmers in under-developed parts of Chevella, Parigi, Tandur and Vikarabad through the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said that as part of the ‘Yatra', special teams of officials - one each for the 1,068 mandals - would touch every village and explain the technological developments in the farm sector.
‘Go to the fields'
He said it was important for officials to go to the fields because about 90 per cent of the farmers were small and marginal ones who did not have the means to contact the administration.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Minister admits to lapses in R&R package implementation
POLAVARAM: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmiah subjected the West Godavari district administration to scrutiny on implementation of the relief and relocation (R&R) package for the project affected persons of the Indira Sagar Project in the light of a host of complaints from the project victims and the ruling party leaders at a programme here on Sunday.
Admitting certain lapses, the minister asked district Collector A. Vani Prasad to look into a specific complaint that money under R&R package was given to the beneficiaries for house construction without allotting sites, leading to money misuse.
Earlier, District Cooperative Central Bank president Karatam Ram Babu and local MLA Tellam Bala Raju of the ruling Congress observed that the project victims from all the seven notified tribal villages failed to receive a better deal under R&R package yet even four years after laying of the foundation stone for the Indira Sagar. Mr. Balaraju said Chegondipalli and Singanapalli villages were notified for evacuation by the official machinery without any due survey.
As a result, the inhabitants from these villages were getting deprived of benefits under the R&R package.
Deadlock
An R&R colony for the project victims was built in a non-scheduled area near Polavaram, denying them the privileges which they were entitled to in the scheduled areas.
The Major Irrigation Minister encountered a deadlock over implementation of R&R which perceivably stalled the efforts of the administration for the evacuation of the project affected persons from the notified villages to pave the way for execution of dam works.
Boragam Venkatalakshmi, president of the Nirvasithula Porata Samithi from Devaragondi said the tribals were not willing to leave their ancestral villages until justice was done to them in implementing R&R.
Proposing to remove ‘gender discrimination' in R&R implementation, she highlighted the need to include all the women who crossed 18 into the list of beneficiaries.
The Collector, however, said the lack of preparedness by the project victims for eviction from their villages hindered the official attempts for developmental activities in the R&R colonies like electrification and drainage and internal roads.
Admitting certain lapses, the minister asked district Collector A. Vani Prasad to look into a specific complaint that money under R&R package was given to the beneficiaries for house construction without allotting sites, leading to money misuse.
Earlier, District Cooperative Central Bank president Karatam Ram Babu and local MLA Tellam Bala Raju of the ruling Congress observed that the project victims from all the seven notified tribal villages failed to receive a better deal under R&R package yet even four years after laying of the foundation stone for the Indira Sagar. Mr. Balaraju said Chegondipalli and Singanapalli villages were notified for evacuation by the official machinery without any due survey.
As a result, the inhabitants from these villages were getting deprived of benefits under the R&R package.
Deadlock
An R&R colony for the project victims was built in a non-scheduled area near Polavaram, denying them the privileges which they were entitled to in the scheduled areas.
The Major Irrigation Minister encountered a deadlock over implementation of R&R which perceivably stalled the efforts of the administration for the evacuation of the project affected persons from the notified villages to pave the way for execution of dam works.
Boragam Venkatalakshmi, president of the Nirvasithula Porata Samithi from Devaragondi said the tribals were not willing to leave their ancestral villages until justice was done to them in implementing R&R.
Proposing to remove ‘gender discrimination' in R&R implementation, she highlighted the need to include all the women who crossed 18 into the list of beneficiaries.
The Collector, however, said the lack of preparedness by the project victims for eviction from their villages hindered the official attempts for developmental activities in the R&R colonies like electrification and drainage and internal roads.
Minister to launch ‘Rythu Chaitanya yatra'
NALGONDA: The Minister for Backward Classes Welfare M. Mukesh Goud will flag off a ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatra' at the agriculture market committee office in the town on Monday. Mr. Goud will address a meeting, to be held in connection with the launch of ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatras', at 10 am here at the market yard. Meanwhile, Collector S.A.M. Rizvi released a booklet on ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatra' at the Collectorate here on Sunday. The booklets will be circulated among the farmers .
Rosaiah apprised of farmers' woes
Farm matters: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah interacting with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and others at his camp office in Hyderabad on Sunday.
HYDERABAD: Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday requested Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to create a market intervention fund with Rs. 1,000 crore to ensure that the farmers get minimum support price for different crops.
An all-party delegation representing 11 parties also met the Chief Minister separately and apprised him of the woes of farming community.
Speaking to mediapersons after meeting the Chief Minister, Mr. Naidu attributed farmers' problems to the inefficiency of the State government. Farmers were not getting MSP for paddy, tobacco, cotton, chilli, pulpwood and Bengal gram. Fruit crops like mango and sweet lime were damaged badly in recent hailstorm and water scarcity.
He alleged that the government had backed out after encouraging the farmers to cultivate NLR variety paddy assuring them of procuring it at Rs. 1,030 per quintal, citing black spots on the grain. The all-party team led by State secretaries of CPI and CPI (M) K. Narayana and B.V. Raghavulu, respectively, said they had suggested a ban on import of some crops to maintain MSP. The Chief Minister had assured them that the group of Ministers would meet in 2-3 days and inform the all-party team about the steps taken.
They would launch an agitation if the government failed to resolve farmers' problems in a month's time and requested the Chief Minister to set up chilli board on the lines of the one for tobacco.
M.Venkateswara Rao (TDP), G.Shouri (BJP), Surender Reddy (TRS), J.Goutham (PRP), K.Srinivasa Rao (Lok Satta), V.Srinivas (Forward Bloc), R.Janakiramulu (RSP), G.Diwakar (CPI-ML New Democracy) and Venkat Reddy (CPI-ML Liberation) were in the all-party team.
“Polavaram Sadhana Yatra aimed at ensuring people's welfare”
TIRUVURU (Krishna dt): Hitting out at criticism by rival political parties, Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Sunday asserted that his ongoing “Polavaram Sadhana Yatra” in Krishna district was truly aimed at ensuring people's welfare and not something being carried out for selfish political gains over other political parties.
The party cadres and fans thronged the place where Mr. Chiranjeevi stayed overnight here before beginning his second day's programmes.
There was an upbeat mood among the activists, even as he first addressed their meeting as part of his plans to enthuse and involve them more in the party activities.
Addressing the activists' meeting in the morning, Mr. Chiranjeevi said that with their full support, the party would be strengthened manifold in the days to come and that the dreams of rival parties of Praja Rajyam's weakening would remain defeated. He said that he would come again to exclusively meet the party activists sometime later, saying that there was not much time to devote for enquiring about local party activities as of now.
Mr. Chiranjeevi talked repeatedly about efforts to be made to build the party structure in a more focussed way, for which he would make special efforts and carry along with him leaders from all over the State.
He spoke words of assurance, saying there were many attempts to harm the interests of Praja Rajyam, but all those would be foiled effectively with collective effort.
Mr. Chiranjeevi reiterated that their party was making sincere efforts on the issue of getting national project status to Polavaram and that they would welcome all other political parties to join the campaign for this noble cause.
He explained that going by the allocation of funds by the Government as of now, there was no guarantee that Polavaram would be completed in the next 40 to 50 years, as costs would go on increasing enormously Later addressing a press conference, Mr. Chiranjeevi refuted criticism of rival parties saying that he started Polavaram campaign true to his belief that agitation would not take birth in Delhi but in “gully”(street).
The party cadres and fans thronged the place where Mr. Chiranjeevi stayed overnight here before beginning his second day's programmes.
There was an upbeat mood among the activists, even as he first addressed their meeting as part of his plans to enthuse and involve them more in the party activities.
Addressing the activists' meeting in the morning, Mr. Chiranjeevi said that with their full support, the party would be strengthened manifold in the days to come and that the dreams of rival parties of Praja Rajyam's weakening would remain defeated. He said that he would come again to exclusively meet the party activists sometime later, saying that there was not much time to devote for enquiring about local party activities as of now.
Mr. Chiranjeevi talked repeatedly about efforts to be made to build the party structure in a more focussed way, for which he would make special efforts and carry along with him leaders from all over the State.
He spoke words of assurance, saying there were many attempts to harm the interests of Praja Rajyam, but all those would be foiled effectively with collective effort.
Mr. Chiranjeevi reiterated that their party was making sincere efforts on the issue of getting national project status to Polavaram and that they would welcome all other political parties to join the campaign for this noble cause.
He explained that going by the allocation of funds by the Government as of now, there was no guarantee that Polavaram would be completed in the next 40 to 50 years, as costs would go on increasing enormously Later addressing a press conference, Mr. Chiranjeevi refuted criticism of rival parties saying that he started Polavaram campaign true to his belief that agitation would not take birth in Delhi but in “gully”(street).
Friday, May 14, 2010
‘Rosaiah scared of losing position'
VISAKHAPATNAM: In spite of senior leaders of his party levelling allegations of corruption against Ministers Chief Minister K. Rosaiah has no guts to launch a probe since he is scared of losing his position, Telugu Desam politburo member and former Union Minster K. Yerran Naidu said here on Thursday.
If the Chief Minster was sincere, he could order a suo motu inquiry into the observation made by senior MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao that there were many Madhu Kodas in the State Cabinet. Some other senior leaders also made serious allegations and the tainted ministers must resign or should be sacked and an inquiry held into the allegations against them, the TDP leader demanded at a press conference. It was not a personal attack but against the Government and its functioning and all the charges were backed by evidence, he asserted.
Without naming Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Mr. Yerran Naidu said that one Minister seeking inquiry and the CM accepting the same was a big drama.
Mr. Yerran Naidu said that Mr. Rosaiah has a five-point formula of making Andhra Pradesh enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the most corrupt state; turning the State into a “Neraandhra Pradesh as the Centre has already said crime rate was highest in the State; making the State a Madyandhra Pradesh as it was getting a revenue of more than Rs. 25,000 crores a year; diluting the welfare programmes introduced by the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who won the elections again with an assurance that the programmes would continue and pushing the farmers into deeper trouble.
Mr. Yerran Naidu also criticised the Government for denying the benefit of corporate education to the SC, ST and BC students by withdrawing the fee reimbursement.
The TDP leaders criticised State Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana and Raghuveera Reddy for levelling corruption charges against his party president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The two ministers were corrupt and thanks to Mr. Satyanarayana the region had lost the Volkswagen car factory, he said.
If the Chief Minster was sincere, he could order a suo motu inquiry into the observation made by senior MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao that there were many Madhu Kodas in the State Cabinet. Some other senior leaders also made serious allegations and the tainted ministers must resign or should be sacked and an inquiry held into the allegations against them, the TDP leader demanded at a press conference. It was not a personal attack but against the Government and its functioning and all the charges were backed by evidence, he asserted.
Without naming Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Mr. Yerran Naidu said that one Minister seeking inquiry and the CM accepting the same was a big drama.
Mr. Yerran Naidu said that Mr. Rosaiah has a five-point formula of making Andhra Pradesh enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the most corrupt state; turning the State into a “Neraandhra Pradesh as the Centre has already said crime rate was highest in the State; making the State a Madyandhra Pradesh as it was getting a revenue of more than Rs. 25,000 crores a year; diluting the welfare programmes introduced by the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who won the elections again with an assurance that the programmes would continue and pushing the farmers into deeper trouble.
Mr. Yerran Naidu also criticised the Government for denying the benefit of corporate education to the SC, ST and BC students by withdrawing the fee reimbursement.
The TDP leaders criticised State Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana and Raghuveera Reddy for levelling corruption charges against his party president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The two ministers were corrupt and thanks to Mr. Satyanarayana the region had lost the Volkswagen car factory, he said.
Chiranjeevi's ‘bus yatra' enters West Godavari
PRP president Chiranjeevi displays a sword presented by an admirer at a rally in Kovvur on Thursday
ELURU: The scorching heat seemingly failed to hinder PRP leader K. Chiranjeevi's ‘bus yatra' on the Indira Sagar Project which rolls into West Godavari district from Rajahmundry on Thursday late in the night. The traffic movement on the 4km-long road-cum-rail bridge linking Rajahmundry and Kovvuru came to a grinding halt for several hours ahead of the Chiru's arrival from Rajahmundry through the bridge and his public address at the Vijaya Vihar centre at Kovvuru. “I see a bright future for my cause on the Indira Sagar from the kind of massive response I received from the people of my native district,” the PRP chief said in elation while addressing the people at Kovvuru. He gave a salute to the ‘Godavari Matha' while reiterating his resolve to fight for harnessing the river waters by exerting pressure on the State and Central governments for early completion of the Indira Sagar Project. He declared that his struggle would continue until the project was completed.
Turns nostalgic
Turning nostalgic, he recalled that his mother used to draw the river water from a canal during his childhood when his father was staying at Nidadavole during his stint as a police constable. It was quite unfortunate that the ordinary people were forced to purchase water in the coastal region which was, although, abundant with water, he said. According to party sources, a public meeting was planned at Polavaram, the site of the Indira Sagar project probably on May 21 after his bus yatra covered West Godavari, Krishna, Gunturu and Prakasam districts. A public interface with the PRP chief and the project oustees is also included in the campaign.
Playing it safe
Chiranjeevi's bus yatra was apparently designed in such a manner that it could help him beat the summer heat. He hits the road only in the evening after the scorching sun relented which will last even beyond midnight some times. Remaining indoors, he is meeting his fans and party workers during the day in a bid to spare himself from the oppressive summer heat.
TDP seeks panel on illegal projects on Godavari
HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has demanded the State government to exert pressure on the Centre to constitute an experts committee on the issue of illegal projects taken up by Maharashtra on river Godavari.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, party leaders N. Janardhan Reddy and E. Dayakar Rao requested Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to form experts committee so that it could go into the loss to the Telangana region, if the illegal projects were completed.
A delegation of TDP would also meet Central Water Commission (CWC) to impress upon it to stop Maharashtra from going ahead with illegal projects, as they would turn five Telangana districts depending on Sriramsagar Project built across Godavari into desert.
They also questioned the sincerity of the government on Telangana projects stating that Ichampally project was neglected all the way.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, party leaders N. Janardhan Reddy and E. Dayakar Rao requested Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to form experts committee so that it could go into the loss to the Telangana region, if the illegal projects were completed.
A delegation of TDP would also meet Central Water Commission (CWC) to impress upon it to stop Maharashtra from going ahead with illegal projects, as they would turn five Telangana districts depending on Sriramsagar Project built across Godavari into desert.
They also questioned the sincerity of the government on Telangana projects stating that Ichampally project was neglected all the way.
Akshaya Tritiya becomes a costly affair
Irresistible:With Akshaya Tritiya falling on May 16, jewellers have come up with several offers to lure customers.
HYDERABAD: The prices of the yellow metal have risen steadily rise in the last few days and the market talk has been that it could end up touching the Rs.20,000 per 10 gm mark in the coming days.
As on Wednesday, with few days left for Akshaya Tritiya, the price of 24k gold rose to Rs.18,450 per 10 gm while the 22k was found reaching Rs.16,900. “The talk in our circles happens to be that the price of 24k gold will soon cross Rs. 20,000 but I feel it might at least end up touching that figure,” says Boorugu Suryaprakash Rao, president of the A.P. Gold, Silver, Jewellery and Diamond Merchant Association.
The sales pitch is being made strongly by the jewellers with Akshaya Tritiya falling on May 16 and several appealing offers are being proffered in the process. Kirtilals has come out with an offer of advance booking with customers having the option of dropping on the Tritiya day to pick their purchase. Also, those booking between May 6 and May 15 will be charged the lowest price that prevailed during this period. “The response has been good and we are receiving quite a lot of pre-bookings for jewellery,” says Kirtilals store manager, R. Raghunath. In the last week, the gold prices have been fluctuating ranging between Rs.16,330 to Rs.16,870 per 10 gm, he observes. Similarly, GRT Jewellers too has opened bookings and is promising that those blocking their choice can pay the price of booking day even if the same goes up on Tritiya day. And in case the prices fall on that day, the difference from the day of the booking will be refunded. “Our offer also comes with Rs. 45 less per gm and the response has been very positive,” says V. Ravichandran of the GRT Jewellers. However, Mr. Suryaprakash Rao feels that gold buying on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya might not be that high this year as compared to earlier ones. “The prices fluctuations are high and varies between Rs.300 to Rs.500,” he says.
Yet, irrespective of the one day sales on this auspicious occasion, the prices could keep climbing in coming days. “Investment in gold is again going up following the happenings in share market and other global developments,” Mr. Suryaprakash Rao adds.
Mega job mela at JNTU-K from tomorrow
Kakinada: JNTU-Kakinada is organising a mega ‘Job Mela' on its premises here on May 15 and 16 in association with SynchroServe Global Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Sixteen companies, including some MNCs, are participating in the event being conducted by the university's Directorate of Industry – Institute Interaction and Training and Placement for the benefit of engineering and MCA students.
ADP, Avantel, Genpact, HCL, Honeywell, Infotech, Leisux, Miracle Soft, Power Mech, SynchroServe, Veda IIT, Incube, Soctronics, AMD, Wipro and 24/7 Customer are the companies offering jobs, according to a press release.
In a preparatory meeting held on Thursday, JNTU-K Vice-Chancellor Allam Appa Rao said it was the first that such a big program was being organized by the university after it's separation from combined JNTU in 2008. The event was aimed at providing for students a direct interface with MNCs and reputed domestic firms.
Appointment letters would be issued on the spot depending on the fulfillment of eligibility criteria and success in the selection process. About 5,000 students are expected to avail of the opportunity. They will be able to interact with representatives of MNCs, who would enlighten them on professional development and tips to success.
ADP, Avantel, Genpact, HCL, Honeywell, Infotech, Leisux, Miracle Soft, Power Mech, SynchroServe, Veda IIT, Incube, Soctronics, AMD, Wipro and 24/7 Customer are the companies offering jobs, according to a press release.
In a preparatory meeting held on Thursday, JNTU-K Vice-Chancellor Allam Appa Rao said it was the first that such a big program was being organized by the university after it's separation from combined JNTU in 2008. The event was aimed at providing for students a direct interface with MNCs and reputed domestic firms.
Appointment letters would be issued on the spot depending on the fulfillment of eligibility criteria and success in the selection process. About 5,000 students are expected to avail of the opportunity. They will be able to interact with representatives of MNCs, who would enlighten them on professional development and tips to success.
Rayapati cries foul over letter
HYDERABAD: The acrimony between Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and Major Industries Minister Kanna Laxminarayana took a curious turn with the surfacing of a letter allegedly written by the former giving details of the corrupt activities of over a dozen Congress leaders from Guntur.
Mr. Sambasiva Rao cried foul alleging that it was a forged letter circulated by some vested interests within the party to malign him. The already surcharged political atmosphere in Guntur district suddenly turned serious with the alleged letter naming a host of Congress leaders from the district.
Complaint to SP
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, the Guntur MP said that he had already lodged a complaint with the local SP seeking an in-depth inquiry into the mischievous letter. “I admit that two letters were submitted to AICC president Sonia Gandhi but that contained only details of the alleged corruption of Mr. Laxminarayana,” he clarified.
He said the letterhead used by the miscreants was an old one with his previous Chennai address. “My latest letterheads are printed with the Guntur and Delhi addresses,” he observed. Further, the MP said the signature on the letterhead was also forged.
Stands by charges
Stating that he stood by the allegations levelled against Mr. Laxminarayana, the senior Congress leader tendered unconditional apology to all the leaders whose names allegedly figure in the forged letter. He said the AICC president had taken a serious note of the charges of corruption against Mr. Lxminarayana and was looking into it.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Hyderabad records 45 degrees, highest in 20 years
Hyderabad, May 12 : Hyderabad is in the grip of an intense heat wave, with temperature Wednesday shooting up to 45 degrees, a record in 20 years.
According to the Hyderabad met office, the mercury soared to 45 degrees a day after crossing 44.5 degrees, which was the highest in 11 years.
For the third consecutive day, the Andhra Pradesh capital experienced scorching heat, rendering the streets virtually deserted. The city Monday recorded 44 degrees, the highest temperature of the current season.
Most people remained indoors to escape the heat while those on the roads covered their heads with scarves and caps. The continuing two-hour electricity shutdown in the city further added to the woes.
"The weather has become unbearable. I never felt such heat in Hyderabad," said Ramakrishna Reddy, a young software engineer.
The met office has attributed the heat wave conditions in Hyderabad and other parts of the state, especially Telangana, to the northwest winds.
According to S.V. Rao of the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, the hot weather conditions were mainly due to the dry winds generated in Rajasthan and blowing through Maharashtra.
Ramagundam and Paloncha in Khammam district became a furnace Wednesday with temperature touching 49 degrees, the highest this season. Ramagundam in the past had recorded 50 degrees.
Several other towns in Telangana region recorded temperatures of over 45 degrees. It was 45.6 in Adilabad and Nizamabad, and over 44 in Karimnagar, Warangal and other districts.
The temperature is five to six degrees above normal in most parts of Telangana and two to three degrees above normal in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.
The worst may not be over for Hyderabd as the weather office has forecast that the severe heat wave would continue for the next four to five days.
According to the Hyderabad met office, the mercury soared to 45 degrees a day after crossing 44.5 degrees, which was the highest in 11 years.
For the third consecutive day, the Andhra Pradesh capital experienced scorching heat, rendering the streets virtually deserted. The city Monday recorded 44 degrees, the highest temperature of the current season.
Most people remained indoors to escape the heat while those on the roads covered their heads with scarves and caps. The continuing two-hour electricity shutdown in the city further added to the woes.
"The weather has become unbearable. I never felt such heat in Hyderabad," said Ramakrishna Reddy, a young software engineer.
The met office has attributed the heat wave conditions in Hyderabad and other parts of the state, especially Telangana, to the northwest winds.
According to S.V. Rao of the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, the hot weather conditions were mainly due to the dry winds generated in Rajasthan and blowing through Maharashtra.
Ramagundam and Paloncha in Khammam district became a furnace Wednesday with temperature touching 49 degrees, the highest this season. Ramagundam in the past had recorded 50 degrees.
Several other towns in Telangana region recorded temperatures of over 45 degrees. It was 45.6 in Adilabad and Nizamabad, and over 44 in Karimnagar, Warangal and other districts.
The temperature is five to six degrees above normal in most parts of Telangana and two to three degrees above normal in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.
The worst may not be over for Hyderabd as the weather office has forecast that the severe heat wave would continue for the next four to five days.
Infosys to hold recruitment drive
HYDERABAD: Infosys BPO and Infosys BPO (Accounts) are organising campus recruitment at six places in the State for selection of students trained in Jawahar Knowledge Centres These places are Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Kurnool, Guntur, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.
The JKC-trained in 2010 and graduated in B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com. streams securing 55 per cent in first/second year without backlogs are eligible.
For enrolment log on to www.apcce.gov.in.
The JKC-trained in 2010 and graduated in B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com. streams securing 55 per cent in first/second year without backlogs are eligible.
For enrolment log on to www.apcce.gov.in.
Two parks in each ward
HYDERABAD: Mayor B. Kartika Reddy said that at least two parks would be developed in each ward for the convenience of local citizens and an action plan was also being prepared for tree plantation.
The ward level parks will also have a separate facility for conducting morning yoga, she said at the weekly review meeting with all GHMC Zonal Commissioners. The proposed citizen service centres are to be opened at all the Deputy Commissioners offices in the next couple of weeks and the disilting of nalas too would be completed before the onset of monsoon, a press release said.
The ward level parks will also have a separate facility for conducting morning yoga, she said at the weekly review meeting with all GHMC Zonal Commissioners. The proposed citizen service centres are to be opened at all the Deputy Commissioners offices in the next couple of weeks and the disilting of nalas too would be completed before the onset of monsoon, a press release said.
20 lakh bogus ration cards removed
HYDERABAD: The government has concluded the integrated survey on white ration cards, an exercise that resulted in the removal of as many as 20 lakh cards which were found bogus.
With this, the number of white ration cards on which rice is supplied at a subsidised price of Rs. 2 a kg has been reduced to 1.86 crore. The existing 20 to 25 lakh pink cards have not been taken up for de-duplication under the survey, as subsidised rice is not supplied to families holding these cards. The removal of the 20 lakh white ration cards will save 40,000 tonnes of rice a month.
Civil Supplies Minister J. Krishna Rao told reporters after discussions with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah here on Wednesday that ration cards would now be issued by June 1 to all four lakh eligible families which applied for these cards long go. These families could not be issued cards earlier as the election code was in force.
The Minister said about 7.61 lakh applications for ration cards, which were still pending, would be cleared by August 15. Mr. Rosaiah is stated to have instructed the Minister to issue these cards positively in three months. Mr. Krishna Rao said that after the end of the survey, a bio-metric database containing 4.7 crore iris images was available with his department. This would be linked to the database being prepared by the Unique Identification Authority of India and could be used for implementation of Aarogyasri, Abhaya Hastham and other welfare schemes.
He said tenders would be invited for supplying standard stoves under Deepam scheme at specified rates.
With this, the number of white ration cards on which rice is supplied at a subsidised price of Rs. 2 a kg has been reduced to 1.86 crore. The existing 20 to 25 lakh pink cards have not been taken up for de-duplication under the survey, as subsidised rice is not supplied to families holding these cards. The removal of the 20 lakh white ration cards will save 40,000 tonnes of rice a month.
Civil Supplies Minister J. Krishna Rao told reporters after discussions with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah here on Wednesday that ration cards would now be issued by June 1 to all four lakh eligible families which applied for these cards long go. These families could not be issued cards earlier as the election code was in force.
The Minister said about 7.61 lakh applications for ration cards, which were still pending, would be cleared by August 15. Mr. Rosaiah is stated to have instructed the Minister to issue these cards positively in three months. Mr. Krishna Rao said that after the end of the survey, a bio-metric database containing 4.7 crore iris images was available with his department. This would be linked to the database being prepared by the Unique Identification Authority of India and could be used for implementation of Aarogyasri, Abhaya Hastham and other welfare schemes.
He said tenders would be invited for supplying standard stoves under Deepam scheme at specified rates.
24/7 emergency centre at GHMC
HYDERABAD: GHMC Special Commissioner Navin Mittal said on Wednesday that an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is being set up at the head office with effect from June 1 onwards to function round the clock in coordination with other departments.
In a meeting held to prepare a monsoon action plan, he said the EOC would act as a nodal agency to coordinate with other departments like R&B, HMWS &SB, District Collectorates of Hyderabad & Ranga Reddy, Chief Engineer, I &CAD, Director of Tourism, APCPDCL, APSRTC, Medical & Health, City Police, Fire, HMDA and others.
The EOC would function in association with about 25 government departments in GHMC limits and each of the department's participating has been asked to nominate a senior official to be a nodal officer.
Respective departmental heads have been requested to send their contact numbers, available tools and other inventory of equipment available on or before May 25.
In a meeting held to prepare a monsoon action plan, he said the EOC would act as a nodal agency to coordinate with other departments like R&B, HMWS &SB, District Collectorates of Hyderabad & Ranga Reddy, Chief Engineer, I &CAD, Director of Tourism, APCPDCL, APSRTC, Medical & Health, City Police, Fire, HMDA and others.
The EOC would function in association with about 25 government departments in GHMC limits and each of the department's participating has been asked to nominate a senior official to be a nodal officer.
Respective departmental heads have been requested to send their contact numbers, available tools and other inventory of equipment available on or before May 25.
YSR memorial park to come up near Imax theatre
Hyderabad: The State government has decided to construct Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy memorial park in an area spanning 20 acres near Imax theatres in the city.
The proposed park would be developed in the 17 acres open place presently housing Doctors Cars near Imax theatre and the three acre Lake View Park would also be included in the new park.
Demonstration
Responding to HMDA's call, 22 private agencies presented detailed demonstrations to a committee constituted by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Of the 22 companies, five, including Kishore D. Pradhan organisation of Mumbai, Studio Nine of Mumbai, D.S. Associates of Hyderabad, Kakani Associates of Ahmedabad and Design Associates from Noida were short-listed under the first stage of screening, said a press release. Based on the demonstrations, the committee which comprises of Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy, Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao, Health Minister D. Nagender and Backward Classes Welfare Minister M. Mukesh would nominate three best agencies to the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.
Successful bidder
The successful bidder would be announced in the presence of the Chief Minister. The proposed park, which is close to Tank Bund, would be devoid of any concrete structures as per the directions of Supreme Court.
The proposed park would be developed in the 17 acres open place presently housing Doctors Cars near Imax theatre and the three acre Lake View Park would also be included in the new park.
Demonstration
Responding to HMDA's call, 22 private agencies presented detailed demonstrations to a committee constituted by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Of the 22 companies, five, including Kishore D. Pradhan organisation of Mumbai, Studio Nine of Mumbai, D.S. Associates of Hyderabad, Kakani Associates of Ahmedabad and Design Associates from Noida were short-listed under the first stage of screening, said a press release. Based on the demonstrations, the committee which comprises of Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy, Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao, Health Minister D. Nagender and Backward Classes Welfare Minister M. Mukesh would nominate three best agencies to the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.
Successful bidder
The successful bidder would be announced in the presence of the Chief Minister. The proposed park, which is close to Tank Bund, would be devoid of any concrete structures as per the directions of Supreme Court.
No end in sight to his travails
SOLDIERING ON: Kathavathu Lakshma Naik carries the burden of taking care of his four visually-challeged children at Chakrayepalem thanda in Guntur district.—
CHAKRAYEPALEM (GUNTUR DT): When men of his age tend to spend leisurely at home, the 70-year-old Kethavathu Lakshma Naik is forced to work in agricultural fields to support a unique medically disadvantage family. This is not the only family in the Chakrayapalem Thanda, there are some other families in despair due to marriage within family and close blood relations a tradition among the tribals. Lakshma Naik's family has four children, all of them congenitally visually impaired, an after effect of consanguineous marriage.
Born in a tribal hamlet, Lakshma Naik married Sonki Bai and the couple had 10 children, most of them following the footsteps of their father and eking out a livelihood as farm labourers. But, tragedy struck the family when the couple discovered that four children were born congenitally visually impaired.
The visually impaired children are -- Kethavathu Rana Naik (28), Hona Naik (30), Hali Bai (26) and Sali Bai (25).
Unfazed, the couple brought up the children and provided all that they could to improve their living standard. But as the four children grew older, maintaining a large family was getting difficult. Till recently, the visually impaired youth had no access to monthly disabled pensions, but when the government came to know about their plight it started giving monthly pensions worth Rs.500. The family was able to construct house with government grant.
Another tragedy
Just when things started to fall in place, tragedy struck again as Sonki Bai, the mother, was paralysed, forcing the old man to bear the burden on his frail shoulders. “I hardly get Rs.150 a day and that is not sufficient to feed five mouths,'' Lakshma Naik bemoans.
The thanda has many such children born with congenital defects, primarily as a result of consanguineous marriages widely practised among tribals. Banavat Venkateswara Rao who is aged about 30 years looks like a five year old and is suffering from dwarfism.
In another family, four girls -- Sravani Bai (8), Eswari Bai (10), Chandini (10) and Keerthi Bai (12) -- were also born congenitally impaired adding to the misery of their parents. But, none of the tribal families has left their children and has been rearing them in the most difficult circumstances.
Most of the tribals were illiterate and wed among their own families and the practice of consanguineous marriage was often found to be root cause of the congenital defects in the children. The district administration could take up a mass awareness programmes in tribal dialects to spread the message of family planning and literacy.
Chief Minister launches Rs. 65,763 cr. credit plan
DEVELOPMENT PLANS:Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, launching the State Credit Plan 2010-11 at the
HYDERABAD: Launching Andhra Pradesh's Credit Plan for 2010-11, projected at Rs. 65,763 crore for the priority sector at the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting here on Wednesday, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah urged banks to reschedule farmers' loans and increase lending to SHGs, housing and medium and small scale units.
Banks had surpassed credit plan target of Rs. 55,500 crore for the priority sector in 2009-10 and achieved Rs. 56,921 crore (102 per cent). Under agriculture, an amount of Rs. 37,573 crore was achieved against the target of Rs. 32,500 crore (115.61 per cent).
The overall credit plan for 2010-11 had been proposed at Rs.82,351 crore, including the target of Rs.16,588 crore for non-priority sector. The target for agriculture was projected at Rs.41,913 crore this year.
Complimenting the banks for their good work, Mr. Rosaiah referred to the severe drought and floods experienced by the State in quick succession during the last crop year and said that conversion was done for only 30 per cent of crop loans. He wanted the situation to be corrected as it would hamper disbursal under ensuing kharif season.
He said financing tenant farmers through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) had not taken off and suggested that a sub-committee with representatives of SLBC, NABARD, Agriculture Department be formed to come out with a “workable solution” before kharif lending begins.
Pointing out that a huge gap was seen for the first time in meeting the target in respect of SHG financing last year, he urged the banks to take corrective steps to achieve the target of Rs.11,775 crore for 2010-11.
Mr. Rosaiah said while the performance of Annual credit Plan for 2009-10 was impressive, certain schemes like Backward Classes Welfare Finance Corporation (35 per cent) did not get the coverage they deserved.
Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy urged banks to take up crop insurance on a priority and also to ensure that 100 per cent tenant farmers were covered.
SLBC president and CMD Andhra Bank R. S. Reddy said that only 10 districts had achieved 100 per cent coverage under financial inclusion programme and suggested June 30 as the final cut off date for declaring the State as 100 per cent financially included.
Friday, May 7, 2010
‘Andhra intellectuals' not against bifurcation
President of Andhra Intellectuals Forum C. Srinivas in Hyderabad on Thursday.
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Intellectuals Forum has said that it is not opposed to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, provided problems of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions like irrigation, industries, employment and capital city are resolved first.
A delegation of the forum led by its president Chalasani Srinivas met Srikrishna Committee member-secretary V.K. Duggal and member Ravinder Kaur here on Thursday to present their view on the present situation. “Instead of just explaining the conditions in our region, we have suggested ways to resolve the imbroglio”, he told media persons after the meeting. Bifurcation of the State would be disastrous for Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema with regard to river waters unless their interests were protected before separation, Mr. Srinivas said.
The committee members had told the forum to represent its apprehensions on river waters to a sub-panel to be formed with a former chairman of CWC as its head.
The forum favoured Hyderabad as the second national capital as suggested by B.R. Ambedkar in the past and developing growth centres in the two regions before bifurcation.
The situation in rest of AP would be much worse than an inferno, if the State was divided without addressing their problems, he warned.
Coastal Andhra-Rayalaseema people were not ready to take lying down the insult of being branded as “exploiters”.
The forum was also not against the idea of Telangana and Rayalaseema together as their (Coastal Andhra people) life with Rayalaseema would also be difficult.
Later, a delegation of Telangana Jagruti Samithi led by its president K. Kavita explained how writers and artistes of the region were being denied their due share of respect over the years.
Talking to media persons, Ms. Kavita, who is daughter of TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, stated that the committee members had asked them about the concept of separation of Telangana without Hyderabad in the event the State was divided.
They had told the committee that it would not be allowed at any cost as Hyderabad was the heart and soul of Telangana and was built with the sweat and money of Telangana people.
Naidu laments neglect of agriculture
HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday accused the State government of neglecting agriculture and not doing anything to rescue farmers reeling under drought, floods, unseasonal rains and poor power supply.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu said the neglect was reflected in Chief Minister K. Rosaiah's recent comment that the government was focussing on industrial sector as agriculture had become unprofitable.
This was not proper as it was made at a time when farmers were in deep crisis, not able to get remunerative price for the agriculture produce especially for paddy, subabul, cotton, chilli and tobacco.
Funds not utilised
Indicating that the party could launch a struggle seeking justice for farmers, he said the government did nothing when there was a loss of Rs. 25,000 crore during the floods last year. The State government put the loss at Rs. 12,500 crore in its report to the Centre and the latter sanctioned Rs. 600 crore though the Prime Minister had announced assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore.
The surprising aspect was that the State could spend only Rs. 500 crore, he added.
Asked to comment on Praja Rajyam leader, Chiranjeevi's campaign on Polavaram, Mr. Naidu said the party would launch a struggle seeking national project status both for Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella. He also condemned the “brutal” lathicharge on candidates demanding solution to DSC 2008 fiasco and release of scholarship and fee reimbursement at Ministers' Quarters here on Thursday. By delaying recruitment of teachers, the government was adding to the deterioration of schools.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu said the neglect was reflected in Chief Minister K. Rosaiah's recent comment that the government was focussing on industrial sector as agriculture had become unprofitable.
This was not proper as it was made at a time when farmers were in deep crisis, not able to get remunerative price for the agriculture produce especially for paddy, subabul, cotton, chilli and tobacco.
Funds not utilised
Indicating that the party could launch a struggle seeking justice for farmers, he said the government did nothing when there was a loss of Rs. 25,000 crore during the floods last year. The State government put the loss at Rs. 12,500 crore in its report to the Centre and the latter sanctioned Rs. 600 crore though the Prime Minister had announced assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore.
The surprising aspect was that the State could spend only Rs. 500 crore, he added.
Asked to comment on Praja Rajyam leader, Chiranjeevi's campaign on Polavaram, Mr. Naidu said the party would launch a struggle seeking national project status both for Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella. He also condemned the “brutal” lathicharge on candidates demanding solution to DSC 2008 fiasco and release of scholarship and fee reimbursement at Ministers' Quarters here on Thursday. By delaying recruitment of teachers, the government was adding to the deterioration of schools.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Lift irrigation schemes may cause power crisis
HYDERABAD: The 31 huge lift irrigation schemes taken up by the government as part of Jalayagnam are likely to cause a precarious situation in the power sector.
These schemes, being implemented at a whopping cost of Rs. 1.18 lakh crore, require 21,484 million units of power for operation. And, they have to be run for 120 days during the crop season to provide water to 62 lakh acres.
The power requirement corresponds to an installed capacity of 8,682 MW which is more than a half of the State's exiting total installed capacity from all sources--14,121 MW. Unless new projects are taken up and commissioned, the requirement of these lift schemes will cut into the capacity.
Enquiries with officials revealed that the government has finalised a schedule to complete a majority of these 31 projects during this fiscal and the remaining by 2014 to provide full or partial benefit of water to farmers. But, will they get the power they require? The answer may be negative as the government will be able to add hardly 2,000-3,000 MW to the grid by then.
If adequate capacity addition is not made, the AP Transco and distribution companies will have to use the existing power plants to operate these lifts at the cost of consumers other than farmers. A precarious situation will unfold wherein drastic power cuts will continue.
New projects
AP Genco has taken up an ambitious programme to set up new power projects at a cost of Rs. 85,000 crore to add 16,122 MW to the grid, but officials say these will be completed only after 2014 except the ones at Bhoopalapalli, Kothagudem, Muddanur and Jurala.
Telangana has a lion's share out of 16 lift schemes, including Alisagar, Guthpa, Devadula, AMR Canal, Kalwakurthy, Bhima, Dummagudem, Pranahita-Chevella, Yellampallii. As estimated, they will account for 7,193 MW out of 8,682 MW assessed as the requirement of the lift schemes.
Chiru sends out tough message on Polavaram
Mass appeal: Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi addressing a meeting at Antarvedi in East Godavari on Wednesday.
ANTARVEDI (Konaseema): Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi warned that there would be a severe drought in the Godavari and Krishna deltas if Polavaram, a major irrigation project on the Godavari, was not accorded national status and constructed on a war-footing.
He was addressing a mammoth public meeting in this small town, which is known for the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple, before launching his ‘bus yatra' to campaign for according national status to Polavaram Project. Thousands of people from Sakhinetipalli, Malikipuram, Razole thronged the town for the meeting.
Wake-up call
Mr. Chiranjeevi asserted that his yatra was not intended to gain political mileage as there were no elections round the corner. “This is a yatra to wake up the State and Central governments to act quickly on this project which has received all statutory clearances,” he declared.
He recalled that Sir Arthur Cotton, whom he described as ‘Apara Bhageeratha' had done tremendous work on harnessing the waters of the Godavari and Krishna, which had helped the State become the rice bowl of the country.
The PR president alleged that leaders of the State were not paying adequate attention to put pressure on the Central government to declare Polavaram as a national project.
He said Polavaram would irrigate six districts in the coastal region, as also Rayalaseema through the balancing reservoirs and the Gundlakamma project besides parts of Telangana.
Mr. Chiranjeevi declared that the PR would fight tooth and nail on behalf of the farmers to see that Polavaram was declared a national project. He criticised some Ministers who were placing hurdles in the completion of the project and trying to divide the State.
The meeting, which was presided over by the district PR chief Jyothula Nehru, was organised by the “Polavaram Sadhana Samiti.” Senior party leaders Kotagiri Vidhyadhara Rao, C. Ramachandraiah, Lieutenant Murthy Jasti, MLAs Vanga Geetha, Pantham Gandhi Mohan, K. Kanna Babu, B. Satyananda Rao and M. Sridhara Krishna Reddy (Nellore) and others attended the meeting.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Rosaiah for more SEZs in coastal area
Good beginning: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah inaugurating an apparel city project at Atchyuthapuram in Visakhapatnam district as Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi and others look on.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Pooh-poohing criticism over allowing more Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the coastal area, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said on Monday that rapid industrialisation was required not only to strengthen the economy but also to create job opportunities.
He was speaking after inaugurating Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) – a textile-centric SEZ developed by the Sri Lankan apparel conglomerate in 1,000 acres at Atchyutapuram near here.
The group plans to create 60,000 jobs once the project is fully operational with a total investment of $1.2 billion.
Mr. Rosaiah said while the State Government was giving due importance to agriculture, it believed that industrial development was vital for any economy. “Hence, we have to create conducive climate to attract investments,” he emphasised.
The Chief Minister also had a word of praise for the accelerated development in Gujarat.
Without naming BJP, he said forget about the party in power in that State but the progress it had achieved in the field of industrialisation was praiseworthy.
Mr. Rosaiah said that more SEZs should be set up in the coastal areas.
He pointed out that the State Government was following the best rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the project affected people .
Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi said the Centre had sanctioned Rs.36 crore to BIAC as part of supporting integrated textile parks and hoped that Brandix would put Vizag in the textile map of the world.
BIAC CEO Ashroff Omar explained about the salient features of the project. State Ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana, B. Satyanarayana, P. Balaraju, Anakapalle MP Sabbam Hari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and Yelamanchili MLA U.V. Ramana Murthy were present.
Monday, May 3, 2010
AP bulk drug capital of India, says Tourism Minister
Growth agenda:Minister for Information and Public Relations, Tourism and Cinematography, J Geetha Reddy going round the new building of Sri Sai Aditya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research after inaugurating it at Surampalem in East Godavari district on Sunday.
Kakinada: Minister for Information and Public Relations, Tourism and Cinematography J Geetha Reddy on Sunday said Andhra Pradesh has the distinction of being the ‘bulk drug capital' of India and it was poised for higher growth in the sector. Nearly one third of the country's bulk drug production comes from the State. The demand for trained manpower in the pharmaceutical sector was therefore bound to grow, she asserted.
Inaugurating the new building of Sri Sai Aditya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research at Surampalem here on Sunday, Ms. Geetha Reddy said the Government has given priority to higher education and it took steps for improving the infrastructure and augmenting the capabilities of teachers.
The Right to Education Act enacted by Parliament recently, would help in increasing the literacy rate. More importantly, children across the social spectrum would be able to study in schools. Children's education was most crucial for all round and equitable development of the country, the Minister added.
Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhaschandra Bose said the State Government was proud of reimbursing fee of poor students on a scale which no other State could do till now.
A sum of nearly Rs 2,900 crore was earmarked for that in the last six years and Rs 2,200 crore was already released.
From this the importance given to education of poor students could be understood.
Later, Ministers Geetha Reddy and Bose distributed post-graduate GATE fellowships to M.Pharm students and congratulated them on their accomplishment.
Aditya educational institutions chairman and Anaparthy MLA N Sesha Reddy, Aditya group vice-chairman N Satish Reddy, secretary Deepak Reddy and principals Ravishankar and Ramesh were present.
Chiru's Telangana tour in June
GEARING UP: Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi releasing a CD on his proposed ‘Polavaram Sadhana Yatra' in Hyderabad on Sunday.
HYDERABAD: Setting at rest speculation on his tour in Telangana, particularly in the backdrop of a change in the party's stand for a united State, Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi stated here on Sunday that he would undertake the trip in the first week of June, in all likelihood.
Speaking after releasing the publicity material, including a video CD, on his proposed ‘Polavaram Sadhana Yatra' from May 5 to 16, the Praja Rajyam president said the schedule would be finalised after his meeting with leaders of the party district committees in Telangana.
He was likely to launch the tour from the take-off point of Pranahita-Chevella Project in Adilabad district.
The CD depicts how Polavaram would benefit Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts.
It explains why the project was being delayed after getting all clearances and the loss to Telangana districts if it was not taken up.
About 3,000 CDs would be distributed en route the yatra. Mr. Chiranjeevi also released posters and pamphlets.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Solve problems of students: Chiru
K. Chiranjeevi.
HYDERABAD: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in the Secretariat on Saturday to seek immediate action by the government to resolve two major problems facing the student community.
He also sought payment of compensation to farmers for the extensive damage caused to crops and fruit orchards in the recent hailstorm in 11 districts. He estimated the loss at over Rs. 400 crore.
K. Rosaiah.
The PR president referred to the non-release of scholarships, tuition fee reimbursements and mess/hostel charges to students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and other weaker sections, saying these students were undergoing mental agony at a time when examinations were close by. He requested the Chief Minister to take steps for immediate disbursal of the money due to the students.
Positive response
Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Chiranjeevi said the Chief Minister had responded positively and assured him that these problems would be immediately addressed.
An arduous journey for a pot of water!
Precious commodity:Residents of Vellaturu collecting potable water from a pit dug up in the bed of Budameru rivulet.
VELLATURU (Krishna district): “Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” This famous line from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” written by Coleridge describes well the plight of people living in this village of G. Konduru mandal in Krishna district.
The village has three overhead reservoirs that supply “protected water”, yet a majority of the villagers walk between one and three km for a pot of drinking water in all seasons. In fact, it is at the height of the rainy season when Budameru rivulet is in spate that they face the worse scarcity of drinking water.
The source of potable water on which they depend is not some hygienic spring seepage from the depths of the earth, but small ditches and holes excavated on the bed of the Budameru. Even in these days of canned water, the villagers depend on this age-old practice to ‘harvest' drinking water.
“Since I was a child, I have been coming to the Budameru to fetch water for my family,” says Subba Rao, 30, a farmer. “We tried to drink water supplied from the overhead tanks when they were built, but we fell sick. We use that water only for washing and bathing.”
Kiran Kumar, a student of engineering in a nearby college at Mylavaram, goes to these waterholes to fetch water when his mother and sisters are busy. “If we drink water from the big tank near the temple we get cold and cough. It is oily and tasteless. The water collected from the waterholes is tastier and healthier,” he says. Nagamani, 30, too has been coming daily with her friends since she married a youth of the village ten years ago. “Those who come for water show a great deal of camaraderie and help each other with cleaning the water holes and scooping the fresh seepage into vessels with a pan,” says Appa Rao, a worker in a textile shop.
The Vellaturu Gram Panchayat has overhead tanks with a cumulative storage capacity of over three lakh litres, but the people are not satisfied with the quality of ground water that is supplied to them, says the sarpanch, G.M Krishna Prasad. The only solution to the water woes of Vellaturu people is supplying water from the Krishna. The Gollapudi-Nuzvid water main that passes a few kilometres from the village could be tapped, but the relevant file is pending in the Chief Minister's office, he says.
More leaders to return to TDP?
HYDERABAD: After former Minister Kala Venkata Rao's decision to quit the Praja Rajyam and return to the TDP, many more are waiting to follow suit.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu had given a call to all those who left the party before the elections to rejoin it. Some of them like former Ministers T. Devender Goud, E. Peddi Reddy and Tammineni Sitaram have already returned.
Sources said more former Ministers like Kothapalli Subbarayudu may also return to the party fold soon. The party wants to ensure that most of the seniors return before the Mahanadu in May last week. Accordingly, senior party leaders were getting in touch with those who for some reason left the party but find the going tough in other parties. The party was especially aiming at those who are in the Praja Rajyam, given their perception that they had no political future there.
Mr. Venkata Rao took the decision during an hour-long meeting with Mr. Naidu on Thursday and is likely to get back to the party after May 14.
Significant meet
Significantly polit bureau member K. Yerran Naidu met Mr. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, a day after Mr. Venkata Rao hinted at rejoining the party, touching off speculation that he was resisting Mr. Rao's return. Mr. Yerran Naidu and Mr. Venkata Rao hailing from Srikakulam had a running feud which was partly responsible for the latter leaving the party before elections.
A party spokesman dismissed the speculation saying Mr. Yerran Naidu called on the party chief to finalise the agenda for the polit bureau meeting slated tomorrow.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu had given a call to all those who left the party before the elections to rejoin it. Some of them like former Ministers T. Devender Goud, E. Peddi Reddy and Tammineni Sitaram have already returned.
Sources said more former Ministers like Kothapalli Subbarayudu may also return to the party fold soon. The party wants to ensure that most of the seniors return before the Mahanadu in May last week. Accordingly, senior party leaders were getting in touch with those who for some reason left the party but find the going tough in other parties. The party was especially aiming at those who are in the Praja Rajyam, given their perception that they had no political future there.
Mr. Venkata Rao took the decision during an hour-long meeting with Mr. Naidu on Thursday and is likely to get back to the party after May 14.
Significant meet
Significantly polit bureau member K. Yerran Naidu met Mr. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, a day after Mr. Venkata Rao hinted at rejoining the party, touching off speculation that he was resisting Mr. Rao's return. Mr. Yerran Naidu and Mr. Venkata Rao hailing from Srikakulam had a running feud which was partly responsible for the latter leaving the party before elections.
A party spokesman dismissed the speculation saying Mr. Yerran Naidu called on the party chief to finalise the agenda for the polit bureau meeting slated tomorrow.
Telugu Desam Telangana, Andhra groups to meet panel on May 10
HYDERABAD: Srikrishna Committee, studying the situation following the demand for separate Telangana, has given appointment to Telugu Desam's Telangana and Andhra/ Rayalaseema delegations for a meeting here on May 10.
In their meeting with the committee slated for May 10 morning, the Telangana delegation comprising Nagam Janardhan Reddy, Revuri Prakash Reddy, T. Devender Goud, Kadiam Srihari and few others would highlight the demand for separate State, its historical past, the backwardness and neglect of the region for the last four decades. It includes a power point presentation.
Team members
Similarly Andhra/ Rayalaseema delegation would comprise senior leaders from the region, K. Yerran Naidu, Y. Ramakrishnudu, Umareddy Venkateswarlu and Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy. There was a possibility of another team from the two regions including younger MLAs like P. Keshav and D. Narendra Kumar of meeting the committee separately.
Both the teams to meet the committee in the afternoon are expected to impress upon the members how people in the two regions favoured an integrated State.
They too would trace the history of Telugus and their long- cherished dream of staying together had become a reality in 1956. The State had made rapid progress during the last five decades as one entity.
In their meeting with the committee slated for May 10 morning, the Telangana delegation comprising Nagam Janardhan Reddy, Revuri Prakash Reddy, T. Devender Goud, Kadiam Srihari and few others would highlight the demand for separate State, its historical past, the backwardness and neglect of the region for the last four decades. It includes a power point presentation.
Team members
Similarly Andhra/ Rayalaseema delegation would comprise senior leaders from the region, K. Yerran Naidu, Y. Ramakrishnudu, Umareddy Venkateswarlu and Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy. There was a possibility of another team from the two regions including younger MLAs like P. Keshav and D. Narendra Kumar of meeting the committee separately.
Both the teams to meet the committee in the afternoon are expected to impress upon the members how people in the two regions favoured an integrated State.
They too would trace the history of Telugus and their long- cherished dream of staying together had become a reality in 1956. The State had made rapid progress during the last five decades as one entity.
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