Sunday, July 30, 2006
Andhrapradesh Regional news July 29th,2006
Clashes mar panchayat polls
Anantapur/Kadapa, July 29: Clashes marred the first phase of panchayat elections in Anantapur district on Saturday. The police were forced to open fire in air to disperse rival groups pelting stones at each other.
A total of 81 per cent polling was recorded in the district. In Nallur of Roddam mandal, SI Umamaheswara Rao and three constables were injured in stone pelting by rival groups. The police fired three rounds in the air to disperse groups. Rival groups pelted stones at each other in Mudigubba and Bukkapatnam mandals.
About 20 persons suffered injuries at Narsimpalli in Bukkapatnam mandal. Miscreants stole four ballot boxes and attacked polling officials at Erradoddi village in Kadiri mandal. Officials decided to conduct repolling in Oruvai in Nallacheuruvu mandal as miscreants poured ink into five ballot boxes.
Warring rival groups destroyed a school bus in Lepakshi. People retaliated against the police, who resorted to lathicharge to disperse mobs at Gorantla and Tanakallu mandals. Meanwhile, presiding officer Malleswarappa was run over by an RTC bus just before the commencement of the polling at Gatturu in Penukonda mandal. The incident occurred when he was crossing road after drinking tea.
Meanwhile, Congress backed candidates won majority of seats in the district. The party won majority of seats in those mandals where the TD won majority ZPTCs. In Kadapa district, barring sporadic incidents the panchayat polls went off peacefully.
A total of 84 per cent polling was recorded in the district. Rival groups hurled bombs at each other at Moyillacheruvu village in Veerapunayunipalli mandal. Nobody was hurt in the incident. Miscreants poured water into ballot boxes in Ulavapalle village in Konduru panchayat of Pendlimarri mandal.
Elections in six wards and sarpanch election were postponed in the village. Rival groups clashed at Eguvapalle village in Pendlimarri mandal and Kondayapalle panchayat in Kamalapuram mandal.
Election panel orders for poll
Kadapa, July 29: The State Election Commission ordered the district administration to hold elections to the Arredpalli gram panchayat in Mydukur mandal, district panchayat officer Satyaprakash said. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said that due to the fault of the returning officer the panchayat was declared elected unanimous.
The candidate who filed nomination for sarpanch post has also filed papers for ward member post and so his papers were rejected by the returning office, the DPO said. Since only two persons filed nominations papers and due to the rejection of the papers, the other person was declared elected unopposed, he said.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the SEC, it said that the nomination papers of the person who filed papers for both ward member and sarpanch posts are valid and ordered for the conduct of elections, Mr Satyaprakash said.
He said that elections to Obaipalle grama panchayat has been postponed due to the death of a candidate who has been contesting for the sarpanch post. The date of elections would be announced later, he said.
Srisailam gets record inflows
Srisailam, July 29: The water level in Srisailam reservoir is increasing gradually with the improved inflows from the upper riparian areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra. While the total reservoir level is 885 feet, water reached 874.30 feet by 6 pm on Saturday.
If the water level goes up by another 10 feet, the official would open the gates and release the floodwater. It is expected that the dam would be filled to capacity in the next four-five days.
As hydroelectric generation was not yet started at Nagarjunasagar, water was not released to Sagar. However, 8,000 cusecs water is being through Pothireddypadu head regulator. The Srisailam dam reached the full reservoir in July for the first time since its inauguration.
Copious water for kharif crop
Khammam, July 29: Irrigation officials, who are confident of supplying sufficient water to the left canal with the increasing water level in Nagarjunasagar reservoir, decided to release water to 10.09 lakh acres in the three zones of left canal.
The water level in Nagarjunasagar touched 561 feet on Friday evening and 42,000 cusecs of water is being received from Srisailam. It is planned to supply water through the left canal not only to the 5.22 lakh acre paddy fields but also to the 4.87 lakh acre irrigated dry crops.
Water is being released to the areas of the first zone since July 1 and it would be continued till December 15 for the paddy crop. The farmers of second zone, which falls in Khammam district would get water from August 1 from Palair reservoir. They can raise paddy in 1.72 lakh acres and irrigated dry crops in 2.34 lakh acres.
The officials would supply water until December-end for the kharif crop. Water would be released from November 1, 2006 to February-end in 2007 for irrigated dry crops. On the other hand, officials released 45,000 cusecs to the left canal and 1,210 cusecs to the right canal. The farmers of third zone in Krishna district would also get water for irrigated dry crops from November 1.
Congress supporters win polls
Ongole, July 29: Candidates supported by the Congress are leading in over 60 per cent of villages in the village panchayat polls held on Saturday. Polling was conducted in the 272 villages for the sarpanch posts in 20 mandals in the Ongole revenue division.
A total of 816 candidates were in the fray for the sarpanch posts. Preliminary reports say that Congress could bag about 70 per cent of the sarpanch posts in 20 mandals. Counting process began late on Saturday evening.
Polling was also conducted for the 2,378 ward member posts. A total of 4,295 candidates were in the fray for these posts. In Tangutur mandal polls were conducted for 14 sarpanch posts. The Congress supporters were leading in eight villages while the Telugu Desam supporters in 4 villages.
In Chirala mandal, polls were conducted for 11 village sarpanch posts. The Congress supporters are leading in eight villages while the TD supporters are leading in three villages. In Addanki mandal, polls were conducted for 22 village sarpanch posts. Congress supporters are leading in over 15 villages.
In Kottapatnam mandal polling was conducted for 13 sarpanch posts. Congress supporters are leading in eight villages while the TD supporters are leading in four villages. In SN Padu mandal, the TD fared better. The TD supporters won 11 village sarpanch posts and the Congress supporters secured only six sarpanch posts.
The initial trends say that the Congress supporters are likely to bag majority of ward member seats in the villages. Though the polls conducted on apolitical basis, the main political parties, the Congress, TD and the Left, have given full support to the contestants.
Barring some stray incidents, the first phase of polling for the village panchayats passed off peacefully in the district. Polling was conducted for 272 sarpanch posts and 2,378 ward member posts in 20 mandals of Ongole division. Over 2,500 police men including some Tami Nadu policemen maintained law and order in the villages. A total of 87 per cent voters exercised their franchise, said district collector B Udaya Lakshmi.
Speaking to reporters at the Collectorate, she disclosed that Maddipadu mandal recorded the highest 93 per cent voting and Yaddanapudi registered the lowest 60 per cent.
Secretary held for campaign
Nellore, July 29: Except for minor incidents, first phase polling was peaceful in Nellore district. Polling was held for 237 gram panchayats and 1,830 wards in 18 mandals of Kavali division on Saturday.
As many as 572 candidates have been contesting for sarpanch posts and 3,909 for ward member posts. Over 82 percentage of voting was recorded in the first phase, according to district collector M Ravichandra. Election process was disrupted briefly when some miscreants poured ink into the ballot box at Rachavaripalem in Duttaloor mandal at about 10 am.
The process continued after a brief interval following instructions from authorities to replace the ballot box and go for fresh election as there are only 97 votes in the booth. A Congress sarpanch was manhandled at Nandipadu village in Duttaloor mandal. Telugu Desam followers did not take part in the election at Ravulakollu village in Kaligiri mandal.
Officials have been asked to ignore the plea for repoll at a polling station in Vempellethoka village in SR Puram mandal when a section of the voters refrained from voting. Senior officials said that they have instructed the election officials to overlook the plea since 31 votes have been polled of a total 46 votes in the polling station.
Senior officials have instructed the police to take a panchayath secretary into custody following a clash between two groups at East Gudladona panchayat in Kaligiri mandal. The secretary allegedly created a flutter by openly canvassing for his daughter who is in the fray.
Giving the details on the incidents, the collector said that they have also ordered action against six teachers for canvassing for their relatives at Udyagiri town. Meanwhile 100 per cent voting was reported at a booth in Thatichetlapalem village in CR Palem Panchayat in Bogole mandal. Three people injured in clash between TD and Congress groups at Chinamachanuru village.
Sops for industries in villages
Kakinada, July 29: Globaliseation and privatisation have paved the way for industrial promotion in all sectors. The government has laid special emphasis on productivity with employment generation activity.
As part of the programme, special attention is being paid for industrial promotion and development of industrial estates in rural areas. The programme was taken by the industries department and entrusted to the development commissioner of small scale industries and agro rural industries under the Government of India.
According to industries department sources, special concessions are being offered to attract entrepreneurs for rural industrialisation and for more employment generation. According to sources, the Central government has taken Punjab as a role model in rural industrial promotion and employment generation.
The other idea is to avoid migration to urban areas in search of employment by rural folk. As part of this programme, the Central government, under the ministry of industries has taken up the development of rural industrial estates in a large scale in the country. In total, Rs 4 crores would be paid to the industrial estate promoter who takes up development in 100 acres of land.
The amount would be paid as grant for development of infrastructure facilities like roads, drains, electrification, construction of sheds and allied activities.
According to East Godavari District Industries Centre general manager V.R. Vijaya Raghava Naik, the grant of Rs 4 crores would be paid for infrastructure development and the entrepreneur has to acquire land on his own. He also said that the State government has come up with another programme for encouraging food-processing units in the State.
As part of the programme, a food-processing unit would be extended a subsidy of Rs 50 lakhs or 25 per cent of the total cost, whichever is lower.
4 women die as trailer falls into gorge
Lingampalem, July 29: Four woman agricultural labourers were killed and 16 others sustained injuries when a tractor-trailer fell into a gorge after getting delinked from the tractor near K. Gokavaram under Lingampalem mandal in West Godavari district on Saturday.
According to sources, the agricultural labourers of Annapanenivarigudem in K. Gokavaram panchayat were travelling by a tractor to cast their vote at K. Gok-avaram. The trailer got delinked and swerved into a roadside gorge.
Manukonda Deevenamma, 50, and Doddigarla Jyothi, 35, were killed on the spot while Khandavalli Mariamma, 35, and Burugu Nirmala, 25, succumbed to injuries when they were being shifted to government hospital at Eluru.
Rachaprolu Mahalakshmi, Peeka Kanthamma, Doddigarla Lakshamana Rao and Doddigarla Aruna sustained serious injuries in the mis-hap. The victims alleged that the tractor driver, under the influence of liquor, drove the vehicle at a great speed resulting in the mishap.
Though there are 1,250 voters at Annapanenivarigudem, the polling station has been sety up eight km away from the village at K. Gokavaram. Eluru RDO Venugopal Reddy and Jangareddygudem DSP Ch. Rama Rao visited the site and consoled the victims.
Central team quizzes tribals
Rajahmundry, July 29: The Central Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of P.V. Jaya Krishnan visited the Polavaram project affected areas. The team members sought clarification on the quantum of unclassified forest land likely to be submerged once the project was taken up.
The committee comprising N.K. Joshi, Mahendranath Das, Siddartha Choudhary and A.D.N Rao was accompanied by irrigation secretary Satish Chandra, forest secretary KD.R. Jaya Kumar and other senior government officials, including the Polavaram project chief engineer M. Venkateswara Rao.
They interacted with the tribals to get first-hand information on the extent of government support they would get once they are evicted from their lands. Raising concern over the submergence of unclassfied forest lands, the members had a glance at the GPS maps taken in the recent past to identify the vegetation cover.
The members directed the irrigation officials to get maps to find out the forest cover in the area. Wildlife sanctuary is spread in East and West Godavari, Krishna district, Bhadrachalam, Palwancha divisions and Visakhapatnam district covering 59,000 hectares of reserve forest land.
The project requires 3,267 hactares land for diversion of water in the East and West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts. The committee members interacted with tribals at Devaragondhi village. A local woman leader in Velugu project, B. Venkata Lakshmi said, “Initially we opposed the Polavaram project. However, after realising its utility, we are ready to shift to Polavaram from the village. The government should provide Rs 80,000 each to help us construct a house in the allotted site. Our new habitation in the plains will help us send our children to schools. We urged the government to provide field for field. About 212 families will be shifting to new area.”
There was some resistance from the villagers at Chegondapalli where the project spillway would be coming up. Villagers from Pragadapalli, Venkatareddipalli and Gunjur asked as to how they could be shifted from the scheduled areas.
Kuda seeks eviction of staff from AJ Mills land
Warangal, July 29: The allocation of Azam Jahi Mills lands to the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (Kuda) here ran into a rough weather. City MLA Baswaraju Saraiah is demanding setting up of Apparel Park or IT Park at the prime location.
The Kuda had already entered into an agreement with the National Textile Corporation (NTC) to purchase the lands and later to develop them into real estate venture and sell them away in auction to raise money. As the famous AJ Mills lands are now worth at least Rs 100 crores in the market, the Kuda wants to make a killing by selling the lands in the open auction.
Differing with the Kuda’s plans to develop the lands into plots and sell them away, the local MLA urged Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy to set up Apparel Park or IT Park at the prime site. Earlier, Mr Saraiah also proposed to set up an indoor stadium at the AJ Mills lands as the historic city lacked the modern sporting facilities.
But Kuda chairman and senior Congress leader Ch. Srinivasa Reddy had impressed the Chief Minister to get the land allocated for the fund-starved urban body.
In a related development, the Kuda and the NTC negotiations, which are almost in a final stage, are also having a major glitch with the Kuda putting forth a condition to the NTC to vacate all the AJ Mills employees from their quarters before handing over the land to it.
But the NTC had expressed its inability to vacate the erstwhile AJ Mills employees from their quarters as the move in all likelihood would result in a political controversy in the city.
The NTC told the Kuda authorities to take the land as is where is basis and negotiate with the staff and get them vacated. But the Kuda was insisting with the NTC to get them vacated from their quarters and give the land in a clean shape for the development purpose.
Meanwhile, the employees, who are residing in a total of 150 staff quarters, are opposing any move to vacate them forcefully and demanded that they be shown alternate site or be given some residential plots in the proposed development plan by the Kuda.
Congress backed nominees win majority seats in polls
Warangal/Karimnagar, July 29: The first phase of gram panchayat elections in the Warangal district was peaceful and a voter turnout of around 80 per cent was registered on Saturday.
The initial results indicated that the candidates supported by the ruling Congress were winning in majority of the villages. In all the mandals, the Congress supported candidates are set to become sarpanches in majority of the villages.
Though there was no major violence during the polling, there were minor incidents in almost all the mandals in the Mulug revenue division, where the first phase was held. There were clashes between the supporters of the contesting candidates and the police dispersed them with mild lathicharges in various villages.
As the polling was conducted between 7 am and 1 pm, scores of voters lined up at the polling booths from the early morning and brisk polling was witnessed. The counting was held up for sometime at Parkal, where the election officials demanded their lunch before taking up the counting. They had only relented after they were assured to give them extra DA.
A clash broke out between the supporters of the BJP and TRS sarpanch candidates after the election authorities declared that BJP candidate was elected as sarpanch at Mulkapally village in Mogullapally mandal.
In Karimnagar, the elections to 271 gram panchayats and 2,254 wards went off peacefully amidst elaborate security arrangements in Manthani and Peddapalli divisions on Saturday. A 70.21 polling percentage was recorded in the district.
A large number of polling officials refrained from the election duty in the Naxal affected areas of the Manthani division. The officials have deputed Anganwadi workers and private school teachers at several polling booths.
Headmaster found guilty
DC Impact
Karimnagar, July 29: Headmaster Rajaiah of Nukalamarri government primary school in Vemulawada mandal was found guilty of breaking the wrist bone of J. Radha, a Class IV student.
Responding to a report published in the newspaper, district collector M.V. Satyanarayana ordered an inquiry. During the inquiry conducted by Vemulawada MEO Raji Reddy, it was established that Rajaiah caned the girl while trying to bring order in the classroom on Tuesday.
Sources said Rajaiah no-ticed two students fighting in the classroom in which one suffered a bleeding injury. Enraged over this, he caned the students at random. Radha who was sitting in the front suffered a fracture.
Stray incidents mar elections
Vijayawada, July 29: The first round of gram panchayat elections in 251 gram panchayats in Nuzvid revenue division of Krishna district and 209 panchayats of Narsaraopet division in Guntur district were peaceful except minor incidents like group clashes and pouring of ink in the ballot boxes.
Elections were held for the 251 gram panchayats of Nuzvid division out of the total 281 as 30 gram panchayats were unanimous. In addition, elections for the 2,395 wards were also held with 4,605 candidates fighting the battle.
Stray incidents marked the first phase of elections for the panchayats and wards. At Kambhampadu village of A Kondur mandal, a group of persons chased Dalit women who were coming to exercise their franchise.
As many as four Dalit women were injured when the rivals attacked them with sticks. On learning about the incidents, the local MRO S. Ravindra Reddy, MPDO K. Basava Rao and sub-inspector K.V.V. Satyanarayana rushed to the spot and cane-charged the group.
In Narsaraopet division of Guntur, 209 panchayats went to polls on the day along with 1,844 wards. A presiding officer at Muthanapalli village of Rompicharla mandal, P.V. Prabhakar, died of cardiac arrest. Prabhakar, who is due for retirement in a month, is a headmaster at the mandal parishad school in Velpuru village under Savalyapuram mandal.
In another incident, polling was stopped as a group of people attacked the presiding officer at Remidicharla village of Bollapalli mandal. In Kambhampadu village under Nuzendla mandal, rival groups hurled bombs creating tension in the village.
The officials have ordered repolling in 12 wards in the village due to violence. One person was injured at Ravipadu village in Narsa-raopet as rival groups clashed after a polling agent poured water in the ballot box.
CPM to mobilise project affected
Khammam, July 29: The CPM is planning to mob-ilise hundreds of affected people of Polavaram project before the Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court on July 30.
CPM leaders decided to explain the woes of the people in the project-affected villages to the members of the committee. The CPM activists tried to meet the committee members at Ak-hinepalli under Dammapet mandal, but the latter did not stop there.
Bhadrachalam MLA S. Rajaiah said that the tribals are the victims of the project and their traditions and culture would be wiped out once the project is completed. He said that the people were eager to meet the members of the committee in Bhadrachalam.
Maoists try to blow up station
Khammam, July 29: A Maoist attempt to blow up Edulla Bayyaram police station under Pinapaka mandal was foiled on Saturday, when the rocket launcher used for the attack was misfired.
The rocket launcher was set up on a tree situated a kilometre away from the police station. Shocked by the sound of explosion, people from surrounding villages came to the site to discover the weapon. The Maoists have been observing martyrs’ week from July 28.
Mansas lands are up for grabs
Visakhapatnam, July 29: The endowments department is all set to safeguard the valuable land belonging to the Maharaja Alak Nara-yan Society for Arts and Sc-iences, popular as Mansas, a trust of Vizianagaram royal family, amidst controversies of encroachments.
The 8,500-acre lands, bel-onging to the Mansas with the Vizianagaram Royal fa-mily’s heir Ananda Gajapathi Raju as chairman, are spread in four north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakh-apatnam and East Godavari. The value of these lands would be around Rs 2,000 crores.
An approximate an-nual income of Rs 50 lakhs generated from these lands was being utilised to run 12 educational institutions of the trust in various parts of the districts for the past many years. Some of these lands were encroached by realtors and private people.
The endowments department filed around 79 cases against various people on ownership rights. In a bid to safeguard these lands, the department is ready to fence the non-litigant lands, erect boards warning that stern action would be taken against those who trespass them.
It is also planning to auction these lands officially as per the recent policy decision taken by the State government to sell endowments lands. The department has already erected these boards in 15 to 20 sites of the Mansas and efforts are on to install these boards in another 150 sites.
Speaking to this correspondent on Saturday, endowments deputy commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan said that they would fight it out to safeguard these valuable lands, as they have necessary evidences.
The start with, the department has already identified three sites in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam for auction. The deputy commissioner also cautioned the public to verify the land documents with the nearest MRO office before purchasing any land in these districts.
“Some realtors are producing fake documents and taking innocent public for a ride. It’s better if the purchaser verifies the ownership and other related documents before buying as the endowments department only has the right to sell these lands. I appeal to the public not to buy these lands. We will officially auction them later,” said Mr Mohan.
Election deferred in 5 poll booths
Seetanagaram (Vizianagaram), July 29: The panchayat election in booth Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 in Su-mitrapuram was countermanded following a clash between the Congress and TD activists on Saturday.
According to information, some people forcibly snatc-hed away ballot papers from returning officer R. Satya Rao in polling booth Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and drop-ped them in ballot boxes after tearing them into piec-es, which led to the clash.
Tension prevailed in the area for some time. An uni-dentified voter poured ink in ballot box in booth No.7 which disturbed the poll process. Special police tea-ms rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Huge turnout of tribals for polls
Visakhapatnam, July 29: The voters in the Agency areas of the district, exercis-ed franchise in large numbers in the first phase of pa-nchayat elections that concluded here on Saturday.
Election was held for 238 panchayats under the Pade-ru Agency division in the first phase. Polling ended on a peaceful note without any untoward incidents.
The overall voting percen-tage was kept at 67 per cent. Tribals in the Maoist-influenced mandals like G.K. Veedhi, Koyyuru, Pedabayalu and Chintapalli voted in large numbers without caring the inclement weather conditions. Around 2,372 polling stations were used for the elections.
On the other hand, polling was countermanded the 4th ward of the Yiragarai panchayat of Araku mandal as some miscreants snatched away the ballot boxes. Similarly, polling was countermanded in 6th and 8th wards under Ananthagiri mandal as miscreants poured ink and water in the boxes.
Rs 3.5 lakh swindled with forged signature
Vizianagaram, July 29: A sum of Rs 3.5 lakh was allegedly misappropriated by forging the signatures of the District Water Management Agency project director S. Krishna Murty.
The issue came to light following a complaint lodged with the One Town police, who registered a case on Friday night. Rumours are doing rounds that the staff working in the District Water Management Agency are indulging in various irregularities with the support local political leaders and the official apathy added fuel to the fire.
The sum was withdrawn to purchase furniture to the department from two Hyderabad-based agencies. Of the total forged amount, a demand draft for Rs 90,000 was taken from State Bank of Hyderabad to pay to Shalimar Furniture Industries while Rs 2.60 lakh for Top and Town Furniture.
Project director Krishna Murty noticed the issue two days ago and finally lodged a complaint with the police. Mr Krishna Murty confirmed forgery and said that they have obtained some evidences too. Sub-inspector Ramana Murty said investigation is on.
Rs 850 cr iridium coin seized
Visakhapatnam, July 29: Police on Saturday arrested seven persons and sei-zed a copper iridium coin having antique value of Rs 850 crores. Iridium is supposed to be costlier than platinum.
Giving the details of the arrests, additional DCP Palle Rama Rao said the arrested include three trad-ers from Nasik, a Mysorebased Tibetan antique eva-luator and two persons from Jaypore in Orissa.
Three traders were in the city to negotiate the purchase of the coin with Tirupati Rao and Dileep Acharya of Jaypore, who had reportedly collected a copper iridium coin in Visakha agency area, three years back from tribals.They have been trying to sell the antique coin, which was issued by the British in year 1616, police said.
Anantapur/Kadapa, July 29: Clashes marred the first phase of panchayat elections in Anantapur district on Saturday. The police were forced to open fire in air to disperse rival groups pelting stones at each other.
A total of 81 per cent polling was recorded in the district. In Nallur of Roddam mandal, SI Umamaheswara Rao and three constables were injured in stone pelting by rival groups. The police fired three rounds in the air to disperse groups. Rival groups pelted stones at each other in Mudigubba and Bukkapatnam mandals.
About 20 persons suffered injuries at Narsimpalli in Bukkapatnam mandal. Miscreants stole four ballot boxes and attacked polling officials at Erradoddi village in Kadiri mandal. Officials decided to conduct repolling in Oruvai in Nallacheuruvu mandal as miscreants poured ink into five ballot boxes.
Warring rival groups destroyed a school bus in Lepakshi. People retaliated against the police, who resorted to lathicharge to disperse mobs at Gorantla and Tanakallu mandals. Meanwhile, presiding officer Malleswarappa was run over by an RTC bus just before the commencement of the polling at Gatturu in Penukonda mandal. The incident occurred when he was crossing road after drinking tea.
Meanwhile, Congress backed candidates won majority of seats in the district. The party won majority of seats in those mandals where the TD won majority ZPTCs. In Kadapa district, barring sporadic incidents the panchayat polls went off peacefully.
A total of 84 per cent polling was recorded in the district. Rival groups hurled bombs at each other at Moyillacheruvu village in Veerapunayunipalli mandal. Nobody was hurt in the incident. Miscreants poured water into ballot boxes in Ulavapalle village in Konduru panchayat of Pendlimarri mandal.
Elections in six wards and sarpanch election were postponed in the village. Rival groups clashed at Eguvapalle village in Pendlimarri mandal and Kondayapalle panchayat in Kamalapuram mandal.
Election panel orders for poll
Kadapa, July 29: The State Election Commission ordered the district administration to hold elections to the Arredpalli gram panchayat in Mydukur mandal, district panchayat officer Satyaprakash said. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said that due to the fault of the returning officer the panchayat was declared elected unanimous.
The candidate who filed nomination for sarpanch post has also filed papers for ward member post and so his papers were rejected by the returning office, the DPO said. Since only two persons filed nominations papers and due to the rejection of the papers, the other person was declared elected unopposed, he said.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the SEC, it said that the nomination papers of the person who filed papers for both ward member and sarpanch posts are valid and ordered for the conduct of elections, Mr Satyaprakash said.
He said that elections to Obaipalle grama panchayat has been postponed due to the death of a candidate who has been contesting for the sarpanch post. The date of elections would be announced later, he said.
Srisailam gets record inflows
Srisailam, July 29: The water level in Srisailam reservoir is increasing gradually with the improved inflows from the upper riparian areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra. While the total reservoir level is 885 feet, water reached 874.30 feet by 6 pm on Saturday.
If the water level goes up by another 10 feet, the official would open the gates and release the floodwater. It is expected that the dam would be filled to capacity in the next four-five days.
As hydroelectric generation was not yet started at Nagarjunasagar, water was not released to Sagar. However, 8,000 cusecs water is being through Pothireddypadu head regulator. The Srisailam dam reached the full reservoir in July for the first time since its inauguration.
Copious water for kharif crop
Khammam, July 29: Irrigation officials, who are confident of supplying sufficient water to the left canal with the increasing water level in Nagarjunasagar reservoir, decided to release water to 10.09 lakh acres in the three zones of left canal.
The water level in Nagarjunasagar touched 561 feet on Friday evening and 42,000 cusecs of water is being received from Srisailam. It is planned to supply water through the left canal not only to the 5.22 lakh acre paddy fields but also to the 4.87 lakh acre irrigated dry crops.
Water is being released to the areas of the first zone since July 1 and it would be continued till December 15 for the paddy crop. The farmers of second zone, which falls in Khammam district would get water from August 1 from Palair reservoir. They can raise paddy in 1.72 lakh acres and irrigated dry crops in 2.34 lakh acres.
The officials would supply water until December-end for the kharif crop. Water would be released from November 1, 2006 to February-end in 2007 for irrigated dry crops. On the other hand, officials released 45,000 cusecs to the left canal and 1,210 cusecs to the right canal. The farmers of third zone in Krishna district would also get water for irrigated dry crops from November 1.
Congress supporters win polls
Ongole, July 29: Candidates supported by the Congress are leading in over 60 per cent of villages in the village panchayat polls held on Saturday. Polling was conducted in the 272 villages for the sarpanch posts in 20 mandals in the Ongole revenue division.
A total of 816 candidates were in the fray for the sarpanch posts. Preliminary reports say that Congress could bag about 70 per cent of the sarpanch posts in 20 mandals. Counting process began late on Saturday evening.
Polling was also conducted for the 2,378 ward member posts. A total of 4,295 candidates were in the fray for these posts. In Tangutur mandal polls were conducted for 14 sarpanch posts. The Congress supporters were leading in eight villages while the Telugu Desam supporters in 4 villages.
In Chirala mandal, polls were conducted for 11 village sarpanch posts. The Congress supporters are leading in eight villages while the TD supporters are leading in three villages. In Addanki mandal, polls were conducted for 22 village sarpanch posts. Congress supporters are leading in over 15 villages.
In Kottapatnam mandal polling was conducted for 13 sarpanch posts. Congress supporters are leading in eight villages while the TD supporters are leading in four villages. In SN Padu mandal, the TD fared better. The TD supporters won 11 village sarpanch posts and the Congress supporters secured only six sarpanch posts.
The initial trends say that the Congress supporters are likely to bag majority of ward member seats in the villages. Though the polls conducted on apolitical basis, the main political parties, the Congress, TD and the Left, have given full support to the contestants.
Barring some stray incidents, the first phase of polling for the village panchayats passed off peacefully in the district. Polling was conducted for 272 sarpanch posts and 2,378 ward member posts in 20 mandals of Ongole division. Over 2,500 police men including some Tami Nadu policemen maintained law and order in the villages. A total of 87 per cent voters exercised their franchise, said district collector B Udaya Lakshmi.
Speaking to reporters at the Collectorate, she disclosed that Maddipadu mandal recorded the highest 93 per cent voting and Yaddanapudi registered the lowest 60 per cent.
Secretary held for campaign
Nellore, July 29: Except for minor incidents, first phase polling was peaceful in Nellore district. Polling was held for 237 gram panchayats and 1,830 wards in 18 mandals of Kavali division on Saturday.
As many as 572 candidates have been contesting for sarpanch posts and 3,909 for ward member posts. Over 82 percentage of voting was recorded in the first phase, according to district collector M Ravichandra. Election process was disrupted briefly when some miscreants poured ink into the ballot box at Rachavaripalem in Duttaloor mandal at about 10 am.
The process continued after a brief interval following instructions from authorities to replace the ballot box and go for fresh election as there are only 97 votes in the booth. A Congress sarpanch was manhandled at Nandipadu village in Duttaloor mandal. Telugu Desam followers did not take part in the election at Ravulakollu village in Kaligiri mandal.
Officials have been asked to ignore the plea for repoll at a polling station in Vempellethoka village in SR Puram mandal when a section of the voters refrained from voting. Senior officials said that they have instructed the election officials to overlook the plea since 31 votes have been polled of a total 46 votes in the polling station.
Senior officials have instructed the police to take a panchayath secretary into custody following a clash between two groups at East Gudladona panchayat in Kaligiri mandal. The secretary allegedly created a flutter by openly canvassing for his daughter who is in the fray.
Giving the details on the incidents, the collector said that they have also ordered action against six teachers for canvassing for their relatives at Udyagiri town. Meanwhile 100 per cent voting was reported at a booth in Thatichetlapalem village in CR Palem Panchayat in Bogole mandal. Three people injured in clash between TD and Congress groups at Chinamachanuru village.
Sops for industries in villages
Kakinada, July 29: Globaliseation and privatisation have paved the way for industrial promotion in all sectors. The government has laid special emphasis on productivity with employment generation activity.
As part of the programme, special attention is being paid for industrial promotion and development of industrial estates in rural areas. The programme was taken by the industries department and entrusted to the development commissioner of small scale industries and agro rural industries under the Government of India.
According to industries department sources, special concessions are being offered to attract entrepreneurs for rural industrialisation and for more employment generation. According to sources, the Central government has taken Punjab as a role model in rural industrial promotion and employment generation.
The other idea is to avoid migration to urban areas in search of employment by rural folk. As part of this programme, the Central government, under the ministry of industries has taken up the development of rural industrial estates in a large scale in the country. In total, Rs 4 crores would be paid to the industrial estate promoter who takes up development in 100 acres of land.
The amount would be paid as grant for development of infrastructure facilities like roads, drains, electrification, construction of sheds and allied activities.
According to East Godavari District Industries Centre general manager V.R. Vijaya Raghava Naik, the grant of Rs 4 crores would be paid for infrastructure development and the entrepreneur has to acquire land on his own. He also said that the State government has come up with another programme for encouraging food-processing units in the State.
As part of the programme, a food-processing unit would be extended a subsidy of Rs 50 lakhs or 25 per cent of the total cost, whichever is lower.
4 women die as trailer falls into gorge
Lingampalem, July 29: Four woman agricultural labourers were killed and 16 others sustained injuries when a tractor-trailer fell into a gorge after getting delinked from the tractor near K. Gokavaram under Lingampalem mandal in West Godavari district on Saturday.
According to sources, the agricultural labourers of Annapanenivarigudem in K. Gokavaram panchayat were travelling by a tractor to cast their vote at K. Gok-avaram. The trailer got delinked and swerved into a roadside gorge.
Manukonda Deevenamma, 50, and Doddigarla Jyothi, 35, were killed on the spot while Khandavalli Mariamma, 35, and Burugu Nirmala, 25, succumbed to injuries when they were being shifted to government hospital at Eluru.
Rachaprolu Mahalakshmi, Peeka Kanthamma, Doddigarla Lakshamana Rao and Doddigarla Aruna sustained serious injuries in the mis-hap. The victims alleged that the tractor driver, under the influence of liquor, drove the vehicle at a great speed resulting in the mishap.
Though there are 1,250 voters at Annapanenivarigudem, the polling station has been sety up eight km away from the village at K. Gokavaram. Eluru RDO Venugopal Reddy and Jangareddygudem DSP Ch. Rama Rao visited the site and consoled the victims.
Central team quizzes tribals
Rajahmundry, July 29: The Central Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of P.V. Jaya Krishnan visited the Polavaram project affected areas. The team members sought clarification on the quantum of unclassified forest land likely to be submerged once the project was taken up.
The committee comprising N.K. Joshi, Mahendranath Das, Siddartha Choudhary and A.D.N Rao was accompanied by irrigation secretary Satish Chandra, forest secretary KD.R. Jaya Kumar and other senior government officials, including the Polavaram project chief engineer M. Venkateswara Rao.
They interacted with the tribals to get first-hand information on the extent of government support they would get once they are evicted from their lands. Raising concern over the submergence of unclassfied forest lands, the members had a glance at the GPS maps taken in the recent past to identify the vegetation cover.
The members directed the irrigation officials to get maps to find out the forest cover in the area. Wildlife sanctuary is spread in East and West Godavari, Krishna district, Bhadrachalam, Palwancha divisions and Visakhapatnam district covering 59,000 hectares of reserve forest land.
The project requires 3,267 hactares land for diversion of water in the East and West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts. The committee members interacted with tribals at Devaragondhi village. A local woman leader in Velugu project, B. Venkata Lakshmi said, “Initially we opposed the Polavaram project. However, after realising its utility, we are ready to shift to Polavaram from the village. The government should provide Rs 80,000 each to help us construct a house in the allotted site. Our new habitation in the plains will help us send our children to schools. We urged the government to provide field for field. About 212 families will be shifting to new area.”
There was some resistance from the villagers at Chegondapalli where the project spillway would be coming up. Villagers from Pragadapalli, Venkatareddipalli and Gunjur asked as to how they could be shifted from the scheduled areas.
Kuda seeks eviction of staff from AJ Mills land
Warangal, July 29: The allocation of Azam Jahi Mills lands to the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (Kuda) here ran into a rough weather. City MLA Baswaraju Saraiah is demanding setting up of Apparel Park or IT Park at the prime location.
The Kuda had already entered into an agreement with the National Textile Corporation (NTC) to purchase the lands and later to develop them into real estate venture and sell them away in auction to raise money. As the famous AJ Mills lands are now worth at least Rs 100 crores in the market, the Kuda wants to make a killing by selling the lands in the open auction.
Differing with the Kuda’s plans to develop the lands into plots and sell them away, the local MLA urged Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy to set up Apparel Park or IT Park at the prime site. Earlier, Mr Saraiah also proposed to set up an indoor stadium at the AJ Mills lands as the historic city lacked the modern sporting facilities.
But Kuda chairman and senior Congress leader Ch. Srinivasa Reddy had impressed the Chief Minister to get the land allocated for the fund-starved urban body.
In a related development, the Kuda and the NTC negotiations, which are almost in a final stage, are also having a major glitch with the Kuda putting forth a condition to the NTC to vacate all the AJ Mills employees from their quarters before handing over the land to it.
But the NTC had expressed its inability to vacate the erstwhile AJ Mills employees from their quarters as the move in all likelihood would result in a political controversy in the city.
The NTC told the Kuda authorities to take the land as is where is basis and negotiate with the staff and get them vacated. But the Kuda was insisting with the NTC to get them vacated from their quarters and give the land in a clean shape for the development purpose.
Meanwhile, the employees, who are residing in a total of 150 staff quarters, are opposing any move to vacate them forcefully and demanded that they be shown alternate site or be given some residential plots in the proposed development plan by the Kuda.
Congress backed nominees win majority seats in polls
Warangal/Karimnagar, July 29: The first phase of gram panchayat elections in the Warangal district was peaceful and a voter turnout of around 80 per cent was registered on Saturday.
The initial results indicated that the candidates supported by the ruling Congress were winning in majority of the villages. In all the mandals, the Congress supported candidates are set to become sarpanches in majority of the villages.
Though there was no major violence during the polling, there were minor incidents in almost all the mandals in the Mulug revenue division, where the first phase was held. There were clashes between the supporters of the contesting candidates and the police dispersed them with mild lathicharges in various villages.
As the polling was conducted between 7 am and 1 pm, scores of voters lined up at the polling booths from the early morning and brisk polling was witnessed. The counting was held up for sometime at Parkal, where the election officials demanded their lunch before taking up the counting. They had only relented after they were assured to give them extra DA.
A clash broke out between the supporters of the BJP and TRS sarpanch candidates after the election authorities declared that BJP candidate was elected as sarpanch at Mulkapally village in Mogullapally mandal.
In Karimnagar, the elections to 271 gram panchayats and 2,254 wards went off peacefully amidst elaborate security arrangements in Manthani and Peddapalli divisions on Saturday. A 70.21 polling percentage was recorded in the district.
A large number of polling officials refrained from the election duty in the Naxal affected areas of the Manthani division. The officials have deputed Anganwadi workers and private school teachers at several polling booths.
Headmaster found guilty
DC Impact
Karimnagar, July 29: Headmaster Rajaiah of Nukalamarri government primary school in Vemulawada mandal was found guilty of breaking the wrist bone of J. Radha, a Class IV student.
Responding to a report published in the newspaper, district collector M.V. Satyanarayana ordered an inquiry. During the inquiry conducted by Vemulawada MEO Raji Reddy, it was established that Rajaiah caned the girl while trying to bring order in the classroom on Tuesday.
Sources said Rajaiah no-ticed two students fighting in the classroom in which one suffered a bleeding injury. Enraged over this, he caned the students at random. Radha who was sitting in the front suffered a fracture.
Stray incidents mar elections
Vijayawada, July 29: The first round of gram panchayat elections in 251 gram panchayats in Nuzvid revenue division of Krishna district and 209 panchayats of Narsaraopet division in Guntur district were peaceful except minor incidents like group clashes and pouring of ink in the ballot boxes.
Elections were held for the 251 gram panchayats of Nuzvid division out of the total 281 as 30 gram panchayats were unanimous. In addition, elections for the 2,395 wards were also held with 4,605 candidates fighting the battle.
Stray incidents marked the first phase of elections for the panchayats and wards. At Kambhampadu village of A Kondur mandal, a group of persons chased Dalit women who were coming to exercise their franchise.
As many as four Dalit women were injured when the rivals attacked them with sticks. On learning about the incidents, the local MRO S. Ravindra Reddy, MPDO K. Basava Rao and sub-inspector K.V.V. Satyanarayana rushed to the spot and cane-charged the group.
In Narsaraopet division of Guntur, 209 panchayats went to polls on the day along with 1,844 wards. A presiding officer at Muthanapalli village of Rompicharla mandal, P.V. Prabhakar, died of cardiac arrest. Prabhakar, who is due for retirement in a month, is a headmaster at the mandal parishad school in Velpuru village under Savalyapuram mandal.
In another incident, polling was stopped as a group of people attacked the presiding officer at Remidicharla village of Bollapalli mandal. In Kambhampadu village under Nuzendla mandal, rival groups hurled bombs creating tension in the village.
The officials have ordered repolling in 12 wards in the village due to violence. One person was injured at Ravipadu village in Narsa-raopet as rival groups clashed after a polling agent poured water in the ballot box.
CPM to mobilise project affected
Khammam, July 29: The CPM is planning to mob-ilise hundreds of affected people of Polavaram project before the Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court on July 30.
CPM leaders decided to explain the woes of the people in the project-affected villages to the members of the committee. The CPM activists tried to meet the committee members at Ak-hinepalli under Dammapet mandal, but the latter did not stop there.
Bhadrachalam MLA S. Rajaiah said that the tribals are the victims of the project and their traditions and culture would be wiped out once the project is completed. He said that the people were eager to meet the members of the committee in Bhadrachalam.
Maoists try to blow up station
Khammam, July 29: A Maoist attempt to blow up Edulla Bayyaram police station under Pinapaka mandal was foiled on Saturday, when the rocket launcher used for the attack was misfired.
The rocket launcher was set up on a tree situated a kilometre away from the police station. Shocked by the sound of explosion, people from surrounding villages came to the site to discover the weapon. The Maoists have been observing martyrs’ week from July 28.
Mansas lands are up for grabs
Visakhapatnam, July 29: The endowments department is all set to safeguard the valuable land belonging to the Maharaja Alak Nara-yan Society for Arts and Sc-iences, popular as Mansas, a trust of Vizianagaram royal family, amidst controversies of encroachments.
The 8,500-acre lands, bel-onging to the Mansas with the Vizianagaram Royal fa-mily’s heir Ananda Gajapathi Raju as chairman, are spread in four north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakh-apatnam and East Godavari. The value of these lands would be around Rs 2,000 crores.
An approximate an-nual income of Rs 50 lakhs generated from these lands was being utilised to run 12 educational institutions of the trust in various parts of the districts for the past many years. Some of these lands were encroached by realtors and private people.
The endowments department filed around 79 cases against various people on ownership rights. In a bid to safeguard these lands, the department is ready to fence the non-litigant lands, erect boards warning that stern action would be taken against those who trespass them.
It is also planning to auction these lands officially as per the recent policy decision taken by the State government to sell endowments lands. The department has already erected these boards in 15 to 20 sites of the Mansas and efforts are on to install these boards in another 150 sites.
Speaking to this correspondent on Saturday, endowments deputy commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan said that they would fight it out to safeguard these valuable lands, as they have necessary evidences.
The start with, the department has already identified three sites in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam for auction. The deputy commissioner also cautioned the public to verify the land documents with the nearest MRO office before purchasing any land in these districts.
“Some realtors are producing fake documents and taking innocent public for a ride. It’s better if the purchaser verifies the ownership and other related documents before buying as the endowments department only has the right to sell these lands. I appeal to the public not to buy these lands. We will officially auction them later,” said Mr Mohan.
Election deferred in 5 poll booths
Seetanagaram (Vizianagaram), July 29: The panchayat election in booth Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 in Su-mitrapuram was countermanded following a clash between the Congress and TD activists on Saturday.
According to information, some people forcibly snatc-hed away ballot papers from returning officer R. Satya Rao in polling booth Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and drop-ped them in ballot boxes after tearing them into piec-es, which led to the clash.
Tension prevailed in the area for some time. An uni-dentified voter poured ink in ballot box in booth No.7 which disturbed the poll process. Special police tea-ms rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Huge turnout of tribals for polls
Visakhapatnam, July 29: The voters in the Agency areas of the district, exercis-ed franchise in large numbers in the first phase of pa-nchayat elections that concluded here on Saturday.
Election was held for 238 panchayats under the Pade-ru Agency division in the first phase. Polling ended on a peaceful note without any untoward incidents.
The overall voting percen-tage was kept at 67 per cent. Tribals in the Maoist-influenced mandals like G.K. Veedhi, Koyyuru, Pedabayalu and Chintapalli voted in large numbers without caring the inclement weather conditions. Around 2,372 polling stations were used for the elections.
On the other hand, polling was countermanded the 4th ward of the Yiragarai panchayat of Araku mandal as some miscreants snatched away the ballot boxes. Similarly, polling was countermanded in 6th and 8th wards under Ananthagiri mandal as miscreants poured ink and water in the boxes.
Rs 3.5 lakh swindled with forged signature
Vizianagaram, July 29: A sum of Rs 3.5 lakh was allegedly misappropriated by forging the signatures of the District Water Management Agency project director S. Krishna Murty.
The issue came to light following a complaint lodged with the One Town police, who registered a case on Friday night. Rumours are doing rounds that the staff working in the District Water Management Agency are indulging in various irregularities with the support local political leaders and the official apathy added fuel to the fire.
The sum was withdrawn to purchase furniture to the department from two Hyderabad-based agencies. Of the total forged amount, a demand draft for Rs 90,000 was taken from State Bank of Hyderabad to pay to Shalimar Furniture Industries while Rs 2.60 lakh for Top and Town Furniture.
Project director Krishna Murty noticed the issue two days ago and finally lodged a complaint with the police. Mr Krishna Murty confirmed forgery and said that they have obtained some evidences too. Sub-inspector Ramana Murty said investigation is on.
Rs 850 cr iridium coin seized
Visakhapatnam, July 29: Police on Saturday arrested seven persons and sei-zed a copper iridium coin having antique value of Rs 850 crores. Iridium is supposed to be costlier than platinum.
Giving the details of the arrests, additional DCP Palle Rama Rao said the arrested include three trad-ers from Nasik, a Mysorebased Tibetan antique eva-luator and two persons from Jaypore in Orissa.
Three traders were in the city to negotiate the purchase of the coin with Tirupati Rao and Dileep Acharya of Jaypore, who had reportedly collected a copper iridium coin in Visakha agency area, three years back from tribals.They have been trying to sell the antique coin, which was issued by the British in year 1616, police said.
