Monday, July 31, 2006
Hyderabad City News july 30,2006
High bills, low tariff drain water board
Hyderabad, July 30: Hefty power bills, subsidised water and huge dues from consumers has landed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in the red. The board at present has accumulated water bills to the tune of Rs 100 crores.
The board has already incurred a loss of nearly Rs 30 crores in the first quarter of the present financial year. It is now looking up to the State government to bail it out of the present crisis. There is more trouble for the water board with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy recently announcing supply of drinking water free of cost to consumers with consumption less than five kilo-litres (KL) per month.
Sources in the water board told this newspaper that its request to the State government to increase the water tariff had fallen on deaf ears. Though the board had hiked water cess last year it was confined to only non-domestic consumers.
The last time the board hiked the tariff for domestic users was in June 2002. The board had also written to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Aperc) requesting it to reduce the tariff for power supplied to it. But Aperc refused stating that the move would compel it to reduce the tariff to other water supplying boards and municipalities in the State.
At present, the board is getting electricity supply at the rate of Rs 2.80 per unit against its request to reduce the price to Rs 1.50 per unit. There is no reimbursement from the government for the losses incurred by board on account of subsidy.
The two-phase Krishna project, which is being implemented, to bring water to the city is only adding to the financial woes. Getting water from the completed Krishna Phase-I, from a distance of 120-km is costing the board heavily in form of power consumption.
When contacted, water board director (finance) G.K. Rao confirmed to this correspondent that the board was running into losses. “A KL of water from Krishna Phase-I costs us about Rs 18 while we are collect only Rs 6 per KL from our consumers due to government subsidy.”
The board, according to him, is paying electricity bills of Rs 12 crores per month. Of this, Rs 4 crores is towards pumping water from Singur and Rs 8 crores from Krishna Phase-I. The electricity consumption bill is likely to cross Rs 20 crores per month when the board starts pumping water from Krishna Phase-II which is scheduled to be completed by October-November this year.
“Besides, we have to pay Rs eight crores towards interest and instalment to banks every month for Rs 500 crore loans obtained for Krishna Phase-I project. We also need Rs seven crores towards salaries of our employees every month and another Rs 3-Rs 4 crore towards maintenance. Whereas. the total collections from water bills every month is only Rs 24 crores,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s announcement on free supply for consumption up to 5 KL per month will only worsen the situation. The board has no data on consumers using less than 5 KL of water per month, as only 40 per cent of the total 5.10 lakh consumers in the city have meters.
Though a detailed plan is yet to be prepared to implement the order, senior officials are of the view that this facility should be confined to only select white ration card holders and that figure may be nearly 1.50 lakhs. Even this would make the board incur an additional loss of Rs 2 to Rs 3 crores per month.The board hopes the that the State government comes to its rescue by way of extending financial support and get the electricity tariff reduced to bail it out from the crisis.
Stickers to tame road rage
Hyderabad, July 30: The traffic police hit upon an unique method to sensitise traffic violators in the city: When hefty fines don’t work try being nice.Taking a leaf out of the book of Gujarat traffic police, who distributed roses among traffic violators, the State traffic department plans to either give out stickers or paste them on vehicles instead of issuing challans. The stickers have catchy slogans highlighting traffic rules.
The department began its new drive on Saturday by handing out these stickers. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) A.K. Khan said, “We printed three lakhs stickers as part of this campaign which aims to educate and sensitise motorists. The stickers have interesting slogans like, ‘No mobile while mobile,’ printed on them.”
“We are pasting them on fuel tanks and headlights. The response seems to be good. Gujarat police had done a similar experiment but only for a few days. We plan to carry out the exercise for some more time and analyse its effectiveness,” Mr Khan said.The slogans highlight 23 different violations including drunken driving, autorickshaw safety for school children, footpath usage and zebra crossings. G. Anudeep, a BPO employee, feels that the drive may work.
“I was surprised to see the policeman pasting stickers. It is more effective to inculcate traffic sense among people. When traffic rule violators are not penalised and treated with politeness, they will feel guilty and mend their ways,” he said.
The “sticker drive” will be conducted every Saturday and Sunday at 27 select junctions in the city. Begumpet Airport, Lakadikapul, Panjagutta, MJ Market and Road No. 12 Banjara Hills are some of the selected “heavy-traffic” junctions chosen by the department. On weekdays, the violators will be penalised. The traffic junctions not chosen for the drive too will see traffic rule-breakers being punished.
Medical colleges vie for merit pie
Hyderabad, July 30: The State government’s strict vigil coupled with competition has forced the two Muslim minority medical colleges in the State to fall in line and admit students purely on merit basis.This is the first time in many years that admissions into minority medical colleges are being done in a near transparent manner.
Both the Deccan Medical College and Shadan Medical College have followed the State government’s new rules on admissions and fee structure as far as 70 per cent Eamcet merit seats are concerned.However, they are yet to release the list of candidates admitted under the 30 per cent management quota seats.
The colleges will have to follow a fixed fee structure of Rs 4.50 lakh per year for 30 per cent management quota seats . While Shadan Medical College has called Eamcet rank-holders within the ranks from 1 to 3,442 for counselling, the Deccan Medical College has invited 5,000 toppers from the rank list.
The competition between the two colleges has benefitted the meritorious students, who otherwise used to run from pillar to post. Deccan Medical College collected the prescribed Rs 30,000 per year from students seeking admission under the 70 per cent Eamcet seats. This has forced the Shadan Medical College, which collected Rs 1.60 lakh from students, to announce that it would return the excess amount.
“Even at the government prescribed rate, minority colleges get Rs 1.56 crore an year from 100 students as against Rs 1.55 crore in case of non-minority medical colleges. When the other colleges can manage with that fee, the minority colleges can also do that,” Muhammad Ansari of APMERPC said.
Code virus hits city mobiles
Hyderabad, July 30: A cellphone virus named after the controversial film, The Da Vinci Code, has hit mobile phone users in the city almost two months after it was first detected in Mumbai. Unlike common viruses, the Da Vinci Code virus attacks only mobile phones equipped with the wireless Bluetooth technology. It also spreads to laptops connected through such mobile phones.
According to computer virus experts, this virus has crippled at least a thousand cellphones in the Hyderabad since it made its entry a week ago. The virus simply barges cellphones through a pop-up message enticing the users with a preview of The Da Vinci Code (the film). Once it makes its way into the cellphone or the laptop, it clandestinely destroys the stored data crippling the services.
“A graphic of an eye with a cross in it suddenly appeared on my cellphone. Following this all the data stored in the phone got erased. The phone book was affected first,” local businessman Y. Srinivasa Rao said. The virus can be removed from the hard disk of a cellphone through simple formatting. But given the cost of cellphones with Bluetooth technology, even formatting the hard disk costs anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500. This is the first major virus to spread in the country after the world’s first-ever cellphone virus was detected two years ago.
However, some software experts are sceptical and argue that the virus is not a new one. Someone has just renamed an existing cellphone virus to draw the attention. Says anti-virus technology expert M.H. Nobel, “there’s no such virus as The Da Vinci Code. It is just a rumour making rounds, first in Mumbai and now in Hyderabad.”
Pills at grocery shops soon
Hyderabad, July 30: Over-the-counter drugs could become accessible in departmental stores and the local grocery shops with the Central government finally planning to allow the sale of commonly used drugs in non-pharmacy outlets.
Officials of Over-the-Counter (OTC) committee which was set up by the government are pointing out that commonly used drugs like oral rehydration salts, balms, gripe water for infants or a simple tincture iodine can be made available in general stores.
Member of OTC committee and Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, Bharat Patel said, “This arrangement will greatly help people in those instances when they do not have an easy access to a drug store. The recommendations have been made and we are hoping that it will be implemented soon.”
Officials point out that an amendment needs to be carried out to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to ensure the sale of common drugs in non-pharmacy outlets.Officials also pointed out that introduction of such a rule will increase the risk of self-care among the public which can be very dangerous.
Road rules for class 3
Hyderabad, July 30: The State government is seriously contemplating inclusion of lessons on traffic safety in school syllabus from class three, said home minister K. Jana Reddy. “Traffic lessons will help to bring awareness among children from a very young age,” he said.
“We have identified 500 places in the city where MCH has been asked to develop zebra crossings, set up school zone boards etc. It will be made mandatory to get the permission of traffic police for setting up new schools. The schools will be asked to appoint one security guard for every 300 kids,” he added.
Mr Reddy was addressing the gathering at ‘Think Road Safety’ campaign organised by city police at Apollo Hospitals.In the programme, the school students came out with impressive slogans like “It is better to be Mr late than late Mr ‘ ’, “Seat belts are more important than waist belts”, “Better to lose one minute of life than life in one minute”, “When the school is near, drive slowly dear” etc.
Singer Karunya, Badminton ace Pulella Gopichand and fitness instructor Dinaz encouraged the traffic commandos. At least 500 schoolchildren took part in the ‘Traffic Awareness Run’. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) A. K. Khan said, “We have trained 6,000 children as traffic commandos to assist police and homeguards. Schools have been requested to allow the vehicles into the premises.”
Cyberabad Commissioner of police M. Mahendar Reddy said, “Around 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in road mishaps last year . The mind set of road users needs to be changed. Children can effectively influence their parents and make them more responsible.”
Dr K Hariprasad, CEO of Apollo Hospitals said that 250 cops had been trained so far to give first aid care. “We intend to extend the training to school buses’ drivers also,” he added.
Gangster held for robbery attempt, revolver seized
Hyderabad, July 30: Gopalapuram police on Sunday took an Uttar Pradesh-based gangster into custody in connection with ‘attempt to robbery’ case and also seized a revolver from his possession. Police said that two of his gangsters, are absconding and the hunt is on for them.
The accused, on July 27 around 8.30 pm had gone to the house of Taranjit Kaur, 30, wife of Mr Sabarwal, in Madhu Kunj Apartments on Sarojini Devi Road, and threatened her at gunpoint.On hearing her cries for help, neighbours from the nearby apartments rushed to her home forcing the gangsters to flee.
Police had registered a case of robbery attempt as per the complaint lodged by Mr Sabarwal. Gopalapuram Inspector of Police Mohammed Ismail said, “We are probing into the case. However, we are yet to receive full details about the absconding men.”
Water woes end
DC impact
Hyderabad, July 30: Officials of Officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Sunday visited Journalists Colony and oth-er localities in Banjara Hills and interacted with several residents before conveying their regrets for the inconvenience caused due to non-supply of drinking water on Saturday morning.
The visit was in response to a news report published in these columns that these localities went without water supply as the power supply to water board’s booster at Nagarjuna Hills was disconnected by Central Discom after the board failed to clear pending bills. The water board officials confirmed that water supply was affected. They also explained that their officials acted swiftly and got the power supply restored to their booster by evening.
Farmers listed for Padma awards
Hyderabad, July 30: For the first time, the State government has decided to recommend names of farmers, who registered outstanding results in agriculture, for the prestigious “Padma” awards for this year.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy directed the officials to work out complete details about farmers who recorded good progress in agriculture, achieved more productivity with less inputs and adopted innovative methods in agriculture.
“It will be a tribute to late prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, if farmers get national awards,” he said. Dr Reddy was reacting to a letter written by chairman of National Commission on Farmers Prof. M.S. Swaminathan to him urging the State government to recommend suitable farmers for recognition through Padma awards.
CM to celebrate his friendship with KVP today
Hyderabad, July 30: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy will celebrate his 40 years of association with his bosom friend and advisor (public affairs) to the government K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao on Monday.
According to Chief Minister’s Office sources, it will be strictly a private celebration for Dr Reddy and Dr Rao at the former’s residence. “Both the leaders cherish July 31 as a special day in their lives as it was on this day in 1966 that they had known each other and vowed to remain friends forever,” a CMO spokesman said.
Dr Rao, better known as KVP in the political circles, was a year junior to Dr Reddy at Gulbarga Medical College. On July 31, 1966, Dr Rao was assaulted by a few college students and Dr Reddy came to his rescue. They had instantly become good friends and their friendship strengthened, as both of them entered politics.
“Both have a common trait — of supporting persons in whom they have strong faith. They will go to any extent to help them,” the spokesman said. While Dr Rao’s aim is to see that Dr Reddy would be an undisputed leader, the latter was committed to stand by the former under any circumstances.
“If I am the body, KVP is soul,” Dr Reddy commented on an occasion. He had surprised the party leaders in Delhi by saying that for him, KVP was more important than the CM’s post.
It’s a political problem: BJP
Hyderabad, July 30: BJP national vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday felt that Naxalism was not a socio-economic problem but a “political confrontation”. “The Maoists have been openly saying that power flows only through the barrel of the gun. Their aim is to capture power. When their ideology is crystal clear, how can it be a socio-economic problem. It is nothing but a political challenge and confrontation,” Mr Venkaiah Naidu observed.
Addressing a press conference at State BJP office here, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre should deal with the Naxal problem after arriving at a consensus with State governments. “It is an established rule that no government will hold talks with the Maoists carrying arms. If the Maoists are really interested in peace talks with the government, they should shun violence and drop arms,” he said.
Mr Venkaiah Naidu praised the Chhattisgarh State government for its support to the Salwa Judum movement of Dalits. He charged the Maoists with luring poor and illiterate Dalit youths into the Maoist movement.
UPA food policy fuelled prices: Venkaiah
Hyderabad, July 30: BJP vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Congress-led United Progress Alliance government at the Centre should own the responsibility for unchecked inflation and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities in the country.
Addressing a press conference at State BJP office here, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the UPA government had failed to procure enough stocks of food grain through the Food Corporation of India during the last two years leading to inflation. As against the minimum buffer stock of 17.1 million tonnes of food grain to be maintained for any food emergency, the United Progress Alliance government piled up just 4.9 million tonnes. This is the lowest figure in the last 10 years.
He said when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government demitted office in May 2004, the country had a buffer stock of 50 million tonnes of food grain. Now this has been reduced to 4.9 million. Finding fault with the Central government, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said, “It did not pay even the minimum support price of Rs 650 per quintal of wheat to farmers as against the market price of Rs 1,300 last year. And now it is importing wheat by paying Rs 850 to Rs 900 per quintal.”
The senior BJP leader clarified that though the previous NDA government had removed all controls on essential commodities on February 15, 2002, it included a provision that State government could conduct raids on hoarders by taking the permission of the Central government. Even Congress and Left chief ministers had supported the NDA government then, he added.
Hyderabad, July 30: Hefty power bills, subsidised water and huge dues from consumers has landed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in the red. The board at present has accumulated water bills to the tune of Rs 100 crores.
The board has already incurred a loss of nearly Rs 30 crores in the first quarter of the present financial year. It is now looking up to the State government to bail it out of the present crisis. There is more trouble for the water board with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy recently announcing supply of drinking water free of cost to consumers with consumption less than five kilo-litres (KL) per month.
Sources in the water board told this newspaper that its request to the State government to increase the water tariff had fallen on deaf ears. Though the board had hiked water cess last year it was confined to only non-domestic consumers.
The last time the board hiked the tariff for domestic users was in June 2002. The board had also written to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Aperc) requesting it to reduce the tariff for power supplied to it. But Aperc refused stating that the move would compel it to reduce the tariff to other water supplying boards and municipalities in the State.
At present, the board is getting electricity supply at the rate of Rs 2.80 per unit against its request to reduce the price to Rs 1.50 per unit. There is no reimbursement from the government for the losses incurred by board on account of subsidy.
The two-phase Krishna project, which is being implemented, to bring water to the city is only adding to the financial woes. Getting water from the completed Krishna Phase-I, from a distance of 120-km is costing the board heavily in form of power consumption.
When contacted, water board director (finance) G.K. Rao confirmed to this correspondent that the board was running into losses. “A KL of water from Krishna Phase-I costs us about Rs 18 while we are collect only Rs 6 per KL from our consumers due to government subsidy.”
The board, according to him, is paying electricity bills of Rs 12 crores per month. Of this, Rs 4 crores is towards pumping water from Singur and Rs 8 crores from Krishna Phase-I. The electricity consumption bill is likely to cross Rs 20 crores per month when the board starts pumping water from Krishna Phase-II which is scheduled to be completed by October-November this year.
“Besides, we have to pay Rs eight crores towards interest and instalment to banks every month for Rs 500 crore loans obtained for Krishna Phase-I project. We also need Rs seven crores towards salaries of our employees every month and another Rs 3-Rs 4 crore towards maintenance. Whereas. the total collections from water bills every month is only Rs 24 crores,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s announcement on free supply for consumption up to 5 KL per month will only worsen the situation. The board has no data on consumers using less than 5 KL of water per month, as only 40 per cent of the total 5.10 lakh consumers in the city have meters.
Though a detailed plan is yet to be prepared to implement the order, senior officials are of the view that this facility should be confined to only select white ration card holders and that figure may be nearly 1.50 lakhs. Even this would make the board incur an additional loss of Rs 2 to Rs 3 crores per month.The board hopes the that the State government comes to its rescue by way of extending financial support and get the electricity tariff reduced to bail it out from the crisis.
Stickers to tame road rage
Hyderabad, July 30: The traffic police hit upon an unique method to sensitise traffic violators in the city: When hefty fines don’t work try being nice.Taking a leaf out of the book of Gujarat traffic police, who distributed roses among traffic violators, the State traffic department plans to either give out stickers or paste them on vehicles instead of issuing challans. The stickers have catchy slogans highlighting traffic rules.
The department began its new drive on Saturday by handing out these stickers. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) A.K. Khan said, “We printed three lakhs stickers as part of this campaign which aims to educate and sensitise motorists. The stickers have interesting slogans like, ‘No mobile while mobile,’ printed on them.”
“We are pasting them on fuel tanks and headlights. The response seems to be good. Gujarat police had done a similar experiment but only for a few days. We plan to carry out the exercise for some more time and analyse its effectiveness,” Mr Khan said.The slogans highlight 23 different violations including drunken driving, autorickshaw safety for school children, footpath usage and zebra crossings. G. Anudeep, a BPO employee, feels that the drive may work.
“I was surprised to see the policeman pasting stickers. It is more effective to inculcate traffic sense among people. When traffic rule violators are not penalised and treated with politeness, they will feel guilty and mend their ways,” he said.
The “sticker drive” will be conducted every Saturday and Sunday at 27 select junctions in the city. Begumpet Airport, Lakadikapul, Panjagutta, MJ Market and Road No. 12 Banjara Hills are some of the selected “heavy-traffic” junctions chosen by the department. On weekdays, the violators will be penalised. The traffic junctions not chosen for the drive too will see traffic rule-breakers being punished.
Medical colleges vie for merit pie
Hyderabad, July 30: The State government’s strict vigil coupled with competition has forced the two Muslim minority medical colleges in the State to fall in line and admit students purely on merit basis.This is the first time in many years that admissions into minority medical colleges are being done in a near transparent manner.
Both the Deccan Medical College and Shadan Medical College have followed the State government’s new rules on admissions and fee structure as far as 70 per cent Eamcet merit seats are concerned.However, they are yet to release the list of candidates admitted under the 30 per cent management quota seats.
The colleges will have to follow a fixed fee structure of Rs 4.50 lakh per year for 30 per cent management quota seats . While Shadan Medical College has called Eamcet rank-holders within the ranks from 1 to 3,442 for counselling, the Deccan Medical College has invited 5,000 toppers from the rank list.
The competition between the two colleges has benefitted the meritorious students, who otherwise used to run from pillar to post. Deccan Medical College collected the prescribed Rs 30,000 per year from students seeking admission under the 70 per cent Eamcet seats. This has forced the Shadan Medical College, which collected Rs 1.60 lakh from students, to announce that it would return the excess amount.
“Even at the government prescribed rate, minority colleges get Rs 1.56 crore an year from 100 students as against Rs 1.55 crore in case of non-minority medical colleges. When the other colleges can manage with that fee, the minority colleges can also do that,” Muhammad Ansari of APMERPC said.
Code virus hits city mobiles
Hyderabad, July 30: A cellphone virus named after the controversial film, The Da Vinci Code, has hit mobile phone users in the city almost two months after it was first detected in Mumbai. Unlike common viruses, the Da Vinci Code virus attacks only mobile phones equipped with the wireless Bluetooth technology. It also spreads to laptops connected through such mobile phones.
According to computer virus experts, this virus has crippled at least a thousand cellphones in the Hyderabad since it made its entry a week ago. The virus simply barges cellphones through a pop-up message enticing the users with a preview of The Da Vinci Code (the film). Once it makes its way into the cellphone or the laptop, it clandestinely destroys the stored data crippling the services.
“A graphic of an eye with a cross in it suddenly appeared on my cellphone. Following this all the data stored in the phone got erased. The phone book was affected first,” local businessman Y. Srinivasa Rao said. The virus can be removed from the hard disk of a cellphone through simple formatting. But given the cost of cellphones with Bluetooth technology, even formatting the hard disk costs anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500. This is the first major virus to spread in the country after the world’s first-ever cellphone virus was detected two years ago.
However, some software experts are sceptical and argue that the virus is not a new one. Someone has just renamed an existing cellphone virus to draw the attention. Says anti-virus technology expert M.H. Nobel, “there’s no such virus as The Da Vinci Code. It is just a rumour making rounds, first in Mumbai and now in Hyderabad.”
Pills at grocery shops soon
Hyderabad, July 30: Over-the-counter drugs could become accessible in departmental stores and the local grocery shops with the Central government finally planning to allow the sale of commonly used drugs in non-pharmacy outlets.
Officials of Over-the-Counter (OTC) committee which was set up by the government are pointing out that commonly used drugs like oral rehydration salts, balms, gripe water for infants or a simple tincture iodine can be made available in general stores.
Member of OTC committee and Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, Bharat Patel said, “This arrangement will greatly help people in those instances when they do not have an easy access to a drug store. The recommendations have been made and we are hoping that it will be implemented soon.”
Officials point out that an amendment needs to be carried out to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to ensure the sale of common drugs in non-pharmacy outlets.Officials also pointed out that introduction of such a rule will increase the risk of self-care among the public which can be very dangerous.
Road rules for class 3
Hyderabad, July 30: The State government is seriously contemplating inclusion of lessons on traffic safety in school syllabus from class three, said home minister K. Jana Reddy. “Traffic lessons will help to bring awareness among children from a very young age,” he said.
“We have identified 500 places in the city where MCH has been asked to develop zebra crossings, set up school zone boards etc. It will be made mandatory to get the permission of traffic police for setting up new schools. The schools will be asked to appoint one security guard for every 300 kids,” he added.
Mr Reddy was addressing the gathering at ‘Think Road Safety’ campaign organised by city police at Apollo Hospitals.In the programme, the school students came out with impressive slogans like “It is better to be Mr late than late Mr ‘ ’, “Seat belts are more important than waist belts”, “Better to lose one minute of life than life in one minute”, “When the school is near, drive slowly dear” etc.
Singer Karunya, Badminton ace Pulella Gopichand and fitness instructor Dinaz encouraged the traffic commandos. At least 500 schoolchildren took part in the ‘Traffic Awareness Run’. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) A. K. Khan said, “We have trained 6,000 children as traffic commandos to assist police and homeguards. Schools have been requested to allow the vehicles into the premises.”
Cyberabad Commissioner of police M. Mahendar Reddy said, “Around 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in road mishaps last year . The mind set of road users needs to be changed. Children can effectively influence their parents and make them more responsible.”
Dr K Hariprasad, CEO of Apollo Hospitals said that 250 cops had been trained so far to give first aid care. “We intend to extend the training to school buses’ drivers also,” he added.
Gangster held for robbery attempt, revolver seized
Hyderabad, July 30: Gopalapuram police on Sunday took an Uttar Pradesh-based gangster into custody in connection with ‘attempt to robbery’ case and also seized a revolver from his possession. Police said that two of his gangsters, are absconding and the hunt is on for them.
The accused, on July 27 around 8.30 pm had gone to the house of Taranjit Kaur, 30, wife of Mr Sabarwal, in Madhu Kunj Apartments on Sarojini Devi Road, and threatened her at gunpoint.On hearing her cries for help, neighbours from the nearby apartments rushed to her home forcing the gangsters to flee.
Police had registered a case of robbery attempt as per the complaint lodged by Mr Sabarwal. Gopalapuram Inspector of Police Mohammed Ismail said, “We are probing into the case. However, we are yet to receive full details about the absconding men.”
Water woes end
DC impact
Hyderabad, July 30: Officials of Officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Sunday visited Journalists Colony and oth-er localities in Banjara Hills and interacted with several residents before conveying their regrets for the inconvenience caused due to non-supply of drinking water on Saturday morning.
The visit was in response to a news report published in these columns that these localities went without water supply as the power supply to water board’s booster at Nagarjuna Hills was disconnected by Central Discom after the board failed to clear pending bills. The water board officials confirmed that water supply was affected. They also explained that their officials acted swiftly and got the power supply restored to their booster by evening.
Farmers listed for Padma awards
Hyderabad, July 30: For the first time, the State government has decided to recommend names of farmers, who registered outstanding results in agriculture, for the prestigious “Padma” awards for this year.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy directed the officials to work out complete details about farmers who recorded good progress in agriculture, achieved more productivity with less inputs and adopted innovative methods in agriculture.
“It will be a tribute to late prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, if farmers get national awards,” he said. Dr Reddy was reacting to a letter written by chairman of National Commission on Farmers Prof. M.S. Swaminathan to him urging the State government to recommend suitable farmers for recognition through Padma awards.
CM to celebrate his friendship with KVP today
Hyderabad, July 30: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy will celebrate his 40 years of association with his bosom friend and advisor (public affairs) to the government K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao on Monday.
According to Chief Minister’s Office sources, it will be strictly a private celebration for Dr Reddy and Dr Rao at the former’s residence. “Both the leaders cherish July 31 as a special day in their lives as it was on this day in 1966 that they had known each other and vowed to remain friends forever,” a CMO spokesman said.
Dr Rao, better known as KVP in the political circles, was a year junior to Dr Reddy at Gulbarga Medical College. On July 31, 1966, Dr Rao was assaulted by a few college students and Dr Reddy came to his rescue. They had instantly become good friends and their friendship strengthened, as both of them entered politics.
“Both have a common trait — of supporting persons in whom they have strong faith. They will go to any extent to help them,” the spokesman said. While Dr Rao’s aim is to see that Dr Reddy would be an undisputed leader, the latter was committed to stand by the former under any circumstances.
“If I am the body, KVP is soul,” Dr Reddy commented on an occasion. He had surprised the party leaders in Delhi by saying that for him, KVP was more important than the CM’s post.
It’s a political problem: BJP
Hyderabad, July 30: BJP national vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday felt that Naxalism was not a socio-economic problem but a “political confrontation”. “The Maoists have been openly saying that power flows only through the barrel of the gun. Their aim is to capture power. When their ideology is crystal clear, how can it be a socio-economic problem. It is nothing but a political challenge and confrontation,” Mr Venkaiah Naidu observed.
Addressing a press conference at State BJP office here, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre should deal with the Naxal problem after arriving at a consensus with State governments. “It is an established rule that no government will hold talks with the Maoists carrying arms. If the Maoists are really interested in peace talks with the government, they should shun violence and drop arms,” he said.
Mr Venkaiah Naidu praised the Chhattisgarh State government for its support to the Salwa Judum movement of Dalits. He charged the Maoists with luring poor and illiterate Dalit youths into the Maoist movement.
UPA food policy fuelled prices: Venkaiah
Hyderabad, July 30: BJP vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the Congress-led United Progress Alliance government at the Centre should own the responsibility for unchecked inflation and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities in the country.
Addressing a press conference at State BJP office here, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the UPA government had failed to procure enough stocks of food grain through the Food Corporation of India during the last two years leading to inflation. As against the minimum buffer stock of 17.1 million tonnes of food grain to be maintained for any food emergency, the United Progress Alliance government piled up just 4.9 million tonnes. This is the lowest figure in the last 10 years.
He said when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government demitted office in May 2004, the country had a buffer stock of 50 million tonnes of food grain. Now this has been reduced to 4.9 million. Finding fault with the Central government, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said, “It did not pay even the minimum support price of Rs 650 per quintal of wheat to farmers as against the market price of Rs 1,300 last year. And now it is importing wheat by paying Rs 850 to Rs 900 per quintal.”
The senior BJP leader clarified that though the previous NDA government had removed all controls on essential commodities on February 15, 2002, it included a provision that State government could conduct raids on hoarders by taking the permission of the Central government. Even Congress and Left chief ministers had supported the NDA government then, he added.
