Andhranews

Guntur, Aug. 11: The District Primary Education Programme would start a unique scheme from September 5, which would last till the month-end to admit dropouts to schools.

An informant would get Rs 58 per dropout if the dropout’s particulars are given. Explaining the intention of the programme, assistant project coordinator Srirama Murthy said by the time the programme starts, the field staff of DPEP would have finished the enrollment of all dropouts promptly.

“So, in other words, we leave no stone unturned in making efforts to absorb all dropouts into residential bridge schools and also to non-residential bridge schools,” he said. It is aimed to achieve total literacy and stable attendance through DPEP and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme, he said. “The SSA aims at achieving universal primary education by 2007 and universal elementary education by 2010,” he said.

“According to the statistics available by July-end, there are 15,228 dropouts and also children who were never enrolled. We arrived at this tentative figure with village–wise survey in all mandals,” he added. When the children below 10 years age were considered, the number would be roughly 4,000.

Rajahmundry, Aug. 11: West Godavari administration has come up with estimates for carrying out repair works to the damaged structures due to incessant rains and floods on a permanent basis at a cost of Rs 310.5 crores.

For carrying out restoration of 321 damaged structures (some temporary) in irrigation circles in both Eluru and Dowleswaram, it was estimated to cost Rs 61.2 crores, panchayat raj works including roads and buildings at Rs 125.29 crores, roads and buildings works including surface damages, scours, breaches and others at Rs 37.2 crores, rural water supply works at Rs 11.7 crores, APTransco works at Rs 40 lakhs and public health pertaining to municipalities at a cost of Rs 70.6 crores would be taken up.

The district suffered seven deaths in total as per official records. About 37 villages were inundated in the floods affecting 2,065 houses fully and 4,574 partly. About 43,886 people from 13,816 families were evacuated to safety and 29 relief camps held to provide immediate relief to the affected. Flood banks suffered 20 breaches and 28 medium irrigation sources were affected.

Agriculture department suffered crop loss to an extent of Rs 211.5 crores where paddy, sugarcane, maize, cotton and pulses were damaged in 29,700 hectares. Horticulture crops like banana, vegetables, papaya and beetle leaves suffered damages in 4,947 hectare land cuasing an estimated loss of Rs 112.7 crores.

Fisheries department also suffered loss to the tune of Rs 22.5 crores. In order to provide medical care to the flood affected victims, 37 medical teams were despatched to the affected areas in the district.

Karimnagar, Aug. 11: Cheekodu is a village in grief. A pall of gloom descended on the village located 65 kms from Karimnagar in the drought-prone Mustabad mandal, as the villagers mourned the tragic death of one of the migrant workers of the village, G Mallaiah, in a bomb blast in the war ravaged Iraq.

Mallaiah, is one among the many unemployed persons of the village, who had migrated to different Gulf countries in search of livelihood. With her hopes shattered due to the gory death of her husband in Iraq, Vijaya, the grief-stricken wife of Mallaiah, wailed inconsolably at her hut along with her two sons, Mahesh and Madhu, throughout the day.

Her misery has further compounded when some of the co-workers of Mallaiah reportedly told her family members over phone that the body was so badly mangled that it is most unlikely to reach home.

“He had borrowed a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh on hefty interest rate and left for the alien land last year in search of livelihood little realising about the risky life ahead,” wailed Ms Vijaya. Speaking to this newspaper, she said, “My worst fear came true when I received the phone call from Iraq about his death on Thursday,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Terribly upset over the news that even the body may not reach home due to its bad condition, she said, “Had livelihood opportunities are available here he would have not gone there,” she lamented. “The government should at least ensure that his body reaches home to enable us pay our last respects,” she said.

Meanwhile, one more Gulf migrant from the district died in a firing incident in Kuwait about a week ago. According to sources, Syeed Hussain, 40, a resident of Khanpura in Karimnagar, died in the firing while going to a town bordering Iraq. His body reached home at Khanpura on Friday morning.

Srikakulam, Aug. 11: The State government issued orders christening Vamsadhara project after noted Congress leader Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao. Rajagopala Rao made a mark for himself in the region in 60s and was active till his death.

In a release, the executive engineer of the project, K. Sudhir, said hereafter all transactions would be made under the new name. All the five division under the circle were named after him.

They include project construction division at Hiramandalam, investigation division Amudalavalasa, project division No. 1 in Amadalavalasa and project maintenance division in Narasannapeta.

Nellore, Aug. 11: Poor inspection by the endowment department led to large-scale irregularities in temple administration in the district. The department’s laxity led to revenue loss amounting to lakhs of rupees to historic Kamakshi Thai temple in Jonnawada. The administration had not maintained account of assets and offerings made to the temple by the devotees.

The annadanam scheme became a money spinner to corrupt officials. Temple staff swindled money in the auction of saris. Contrary to the entries in account books, enquiry officials found more than 3,000 saris, most of them silk, lying in the temple.

As many as eight employees of the temple have been suspended after initial enquiry proved their role behind the unprecedented irregularities. There are allegations that the endowment department failed to mention the details of the gold kept in the SBI in their hurry to submit the details to the Assembly. Temple EO Yanadi Settee, who joined duties recently, said that the gold was properly accounted and kept in SBI.

He said that he had to verify the records to find out whether it was mentioned in the list sent to the Assembly. Meanwhile, the temple committee of historical Prasanna Venkateswara-swami temple located at Konda Bittragunta levelled serious charges against the present and former executive officers of the temple.

Temple committee chairman P.T. Jagannadhan raised several issues in his recent representation submitted to the assistant commissioner endowments seeking a probe into the misdeeds. He alleged that the former EO kept a large number of gold articles offered to the God in his possession and failed to submit them to the endowment inspection officer during his visit last month although he handed over the gold kept in a bank locker.

Interestingly, the official handed over the gold kept with him to the assistant commissioner along with an abstract when he conducted an inquiry in the temple on August 8. He questioned why the gold was not handed over to the inspection officer earlier. He suspected the veracity of the abstract while stressing the need to verify the same with hundi registers from 1992-2005.

“We wonder how such huge quantities of gold articles can be held by the temple authorities without proper appraisal for 14 years,” the chairman said. He said that the then EO never disclosed the expenditure pertaining to Brahmotsvams organised in 2005 despite repeated requests for obvious reasons. Even the present EO was not forthcoming in disclosing the income and expenditure accounts, he said.

Chirala (Prakasam), Aug. 11: Handloom Exports Development Promotion Council (HEDPC), Chennai, has decided to focus on the exports of handloom products from the State, which is one of the leading manufacturers of handloom products in the country.

In spite of having high production capacity, the State is far behind in exporting textile products to other countries compared to other South Indian States. Of the 2,000 odd exporters in the country, less than 20 exporters have been registered from the State. On the other hand, over 800 traders registered from Tamil Nadu and more than 400 traders registered in Kerala.

Most of the traders from the two States purchase handloom products from Andhra Pradesh and export to other countries with their brand names and registered trademarks. As a result, handloom traders and labourers in the State are losing profits. To export handloom products directly from Andhra Pradesh, the HEDPC has decided to educate local traders and weavers.

Mr Matthi Vathanan, IAS, executive director, HEDPC, has visited Chirala and addressed the workshop on Friday organised by HEDPC with the association of AP Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Matthi Vathanan said that weavers and traders should learn rules relating to export of textiles.

He made it clear that success could be achieved by maintaining quality, competitive price and timely execution of business orders.
Mr Jayaraj, managing director of IRTS, the wing of the Apco, Mr Satyanarayanaraju, AD, Ongole Handlooms and Textiles department and others spoke on the occasion.

Rajahmundry, Aug. 11: With flood water receding in the affected villages, district administration has taken up measures on a war-footing by despatching me-dical and para-medical teams with supplies of medicine to contain possible outbreak of epidemics in East Godavari district.

The Godavari floods affected many villages in several mandals, mainly in Amalpuram division while a few villages were also affected due to overflowing rivulets following incessant rains in the Agency mandals of Devipatnam, Indukuripalem, Korukonda and Seetanagaram and others.

With flood water slowly receding from the villages, the people are facing a new problem to deal with the stinking smell emanating from the bodies of humans and carcasses of livestock. Hundreds of heads of cattle and other animals perished in the flood waters during last week. Now, their bodies are being found entangled in bushes, to pol-es and elevated structures in a decomposed condition.

A large number of flies and mosquitoes hovering around is causing panic to the people. Though the flood-affected people are able to withstand hardshipsearlier, now they face a gigantic task to see that they should not fall prey to epidemics like gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, jaundice, Japanese encephalitis, skin diseases, viral fevers like malaria, flu and water-borne diseases.

The district medical and health administration has come up with cases related to diarrhoea-1, dysentery-15, skin diseases-136, eye diseases- 91, ear diseases-60 and about 49,000 people received treatment for minor ailments at the medical camps and relief centres held in the last few days in the district.

Medical camps are being held with 50 doctors, 450 para-medical staff and 320 medical relief camps are being held in the affected zones. In all, 20 vehicles have been pressed into service for distribution of medicines and transportation of medical teams.

About two lakh chlorine tablets were being distributed and blea-ching powder is being spr-ayed in the villages. At the medical camps, people are being given paracetamol, anti-influenza, anti- inflammatory and other tablets. APVVP hospitals doctors have also formed into teams to render medical services to the affected people. Instructions were given to the medical teams to conduct post-mortem to the bodies on the spot and prepare a report.

District medical and health officer Dr D. Jaya-ram said, “We are creating awareness among the people on health tips through the public address system in the villages. The villagers are being advised not to take contaminated water and ad-ulterated food besides keeping their environs clean by spraying disinfectants like bleaching powder.”

Amalapuram, Aug. 11: Minister for major irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah said repair works to the breached bund at Sane-pallilanka and other bunds would be taken up once the flood water recedes.

Taking part in a review on the rehabilitation and rest-oration works here on Friday, the minister said that if the flood water level at Do-wleswaram barrage recedes to 13.75 feet, it would be possible for taking up rep-air works to the breached bund at Sanepallilanka which affected several ma-ndals marooning thousands of villagers for several days in Konaseema region.

He said that they were expecting the flood water to come down to 13.75 feet by Saturday evening at the barrage and added that it could help take up restoration works.

Referring to breaches to bunds at Mundepilanka and P. Gannavaram, the minister said that if the flood water recedes, they would take up formation of ring roads on a permanent basis. The minister also said that they would provide seeds at a subsidy to the affected farmers.

The minister earlier stated that they were providing 20 kg of rice and five litre of kerosene to each flood-affected family in addition to supply of potable water and milk.

Nizamabad, Aug. 11: Sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday trapped and caught a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) red-handed while taking a bribe from his driver.

According to Nizamabad ACB DSP Koteswara Rao, M. Williams, who took charge as Nizamabad DSP here recently, had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from his driver, T. Srinivas, an Armed Reserved Force constable, for not framing tough charges against him in a dowry harassment case. The shocked driver bargained for Rs 15,000 and informed the ACB about the deal.

“The driver’s wife, Vijaya Kumari, had lodged a complaint with police in July against her husband under the SC and ST Atrocities Act and the Dowry Harassment Act. She also approached superintendent Mahesh Chandra Laddah for the arrest of her husband. Mr Laddah instructed the DSP to probe the matter,” Mr Rao said.

According to the DSP’s report, the driver was suspended, but it was stayed by the High Court. Later, the SP ord-ered the arrest of Srinivas under the SC and ST Atrocities Act. Srinivas, then, met the DSP and requested him against writing a tough chargesheet. However, the DSP demanded a bribe, which got him in the ACB trap, Mr Rao said.

Nizamabad, Aug. 11: State BJP general secretary Dr K. Lakshman said that a party delegation would meet Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy on August 14 and submit a detailed report on the damages caused by the floods in the State.

He said that five teams from the State BJP have been touring the flood-hit districts in the State to assess the damage caused by floods and they would complete their tour by August 13.

As part of the tour, a two-member team including K. Lakshman and party Medak and Nizamabad zonal in-charge Bheem Rao arrived here on Friday to assess the crop damage and console the flood victims. Senior BJP leader Baddam Linga Reddy, district BJP chief Yendla Lakshminarayana and others accompanied the team in the tour.

Later, speaking to newsmen, Mr Lakshman said that the State government should waive all crop loans and sanction fresh loans to farmers. He said that party president Rajnath Singh is likely to visit the flood-affected districts in the State on August 13.

He said that the BJP president will conduct an aerial survey in East and West Godavari districts and interact with flood victims. Mr Rajnath Singh will also address a press meet in Hyderabad.

Khammam, Aug. 11: Though the flood water receded in almost all the villages, snakes and siltage turned out to be a curse to the flood victims to return to their villages. In Bhadrachalam, the local people staged a dharna seeking drinking water as the water supply was not restored and the pump houses which was submerged in the flood waters is still under water. Water is being supplied to some localities through tanks.

Many villages remained in the dark due to lack of power. Power was not restored in 50 villages in seven mandals of VR Puram, Kunavaram, Chintoor, Bhadrachalam, Charla, Venkatapuram and Vazedu. APTransco was directed to revive the lines on a war-footing.

Mud and mire precipitated on roads and houses after water receded and as a result, the villagers are facing hardships to reach their destinations. They are cleaning the roads and their houses with the water. The snakes which protected themselves by hanging to branches of trees are moving around the houses. The villagers are lighting a fire to keep the reptiles away from their houses. It is stupendous task for drivers to ply the vehicles on Kunavaram, Chintoor and Venkatapuram roads because of the accumulated mud on the roads.

Payam Kondamma, a housewife from VR Puram, said that she noticed five snakes in her house. She said it took at least 15more days to settle down. D. Sanker, a driver, said that his vehicle slipped in the mud and it was difficult to ply the vehicle on the roads. On the other hand, flood victims of various villages are complaining that the officials were not coming to their villages though the water receded.

K. Ramulu of Sivapuram under Velierpad mandal said, “We faced hardships for the last five days but no official turned up in our village. He said that he did not get any help from the officials.

Guntur, Aug. 11: Sale of maize is set to touch a record high this year with huge stocks being accumulated at the AP Markfed godowns. Market watchers predict a steep rise in prices of maize because of the increase in global demand.

To make good use of the situation, the State government engaged Dwacra women and self-help groups in Guntur and Warangal to purchase and stock the maize. Thanks to the support of the government, Dwacra women made it a big success. As the purchases were made by paying remunerative prices, it also made the farmers happy.

The State has now emerged as the largest procurer of maize in India. Demand for maize had spiralled because of the growth in meat and poultry consumption. Maize is used as livestock feed in many places. Besides this, maize is also used for manufacturing starch, flour, liquid glucose and also by paper and pharmaceutical industries.

At present, the price of maize is hovering around Rs 700 per quintal at Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizambad and around Rs 670 per quintal at Guntur, Pedanandipadu and Kollipara. Markfed sources said that if auctions were held at these prices, an income of Rs 5,000 crore could be generated.

Visakhapatnam, Aug. 11: All efforts were being made to extend the relief to the flood affected areas in the district, district collector A.K. Singhal said. The floods caused extensive damages to the houses, agriculture, roads and other basic infrastructural facilities and took a toll of 17 lives. The worst hit were Agency areas which includes the landslide at Kodupunjuvalasa where 17 were crushed under the mud slide. Six persons were still missing and efforts were on to trace them.

About 45 persons suffered injured in the four-day rains. An amount of Rs 50,000 as ex gratia was given to the family of each dead and Rs 5,000 to the injured persons. Singhal said that 900 houses were damaged either completely or partially in the district due to the floods and gales caused by the deep depression. So far 180 tonnes of rice, 47,000 litres of kerosene and Rs 38 lakh worth clothes and utensils were distributed to the affected persons, he said.

Regarding loss to the agriculture sector, the collector said 50 per cent of the crop was destroyed in 286 hectares. Drinking water supply scheme was badly affected and Rs 42 lakh was sanctioned for taking up immediate repairs.

Same amount was sanctioned for roads under R&B department. The gale also dislocated the power supply system. Supply was affected in 1,125 villages and resumed in 1,084 villages. About 336 transformers were destroyed and of them 176 were replaced. He said Rs 59.5 lakh was sanctioned for taking panchayat raj department works which include roads, school buildings and other government units.

“In all Rs 38 crore was needed to bring back total normalcy in the district,’’ Singhal said. He added that governing body meeting of DRDA would be held on August 14 and IDTA on August 20.

Makkuva (Vizianagaram), Aug. 11: A mandal development officer was pulled up by A.K. Sinha, the project officer of Integrated Tribal Development Agency, on Thursday for irregularities in the implementation of the Rural Em-ployment Guarantee Sche-me and his failure to conve-ne a meeting of sarpanches to discuss the implementation of the scheme.

According to sources, Mr Sinha had asked MDO G. Shankar Rao to convene a meeting of all sarpanches in the ma-ndal on Thursday to discuss about the REG scheme. However, Mr Sinha found neither MDO nor sarpanches, when he arrived at 11.45 am on Thursday at the MDO office.

Angered by the MDO’s recklessness, the project officer summoned office staff and verfied the records on the implementation of the scheme, in which he found many irregularities. Subsequently, the MDO entered the room only to be pulled by the project officer for the irregularities and asked him to go off the room. Threatening him of suspension, Mr Sinha asked the MDO to explain the reasons for spending only Rs 9 lakhs out of Rs 50 lakhs sanctioned for the scheme.

The project officer said: “Why was the implementation of scheme irregular in the entire mandal? Why did you spend only Rs 9 lakhs out of Rs 50 lakhs sanctioned. I will recommend your suspension.” The project officer said that the implementation of the sch-eme had completely took back seat in the mandal .