Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Hyderabad City News Aug 1st,2006
Be it Desam or Congress, World Bank calls the shots
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: When in power, parties tamely follow World Bank’s well-known prescriptions on economic reforms to the dot but use it as a punching bag when they are eased out of the gaddi.For instance, the farmer-friendly Congress is now finding new virtues in the World Bank, while the tech-savvy Telugu Desam now considers it a villain.
The controversy over the GO Ms No. 5 pertaining to financial restructuring of public sector enterprises has once again brought this fact to light. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy has hurriedly denied allegations that the government was planning to sack nearly 64,000 PSE employees and has assured people that he was no “yes man” of the World Bank.
Meanwhile, Telugu Desam leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Uma Reddy Venkateshwarulu created a sense of déjà vu by terming him a “bonded labourer of the World Bank.” This brought back echoes of the Congress allegations against Mr Chandrababu Naidu when he was ruling the State.
The Telugu Desam leaders demanded immediate scrapping of the GO and asked the government to make public all its “secret” deals with the World Bank. They pooh-poohed finance minister K. Rosaiah’s statement that the GO would not be implemented. “Why did they issue it then?” the TD leaders asked.
Mr Ramakrishnudu alleged that the government had even drawn up detailed plans to sack almost 64,000 employees. However, hotly denying any underhand deals, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said in an open letter to the people that he would not bend to World Bank diktats or accept its conditions. “I am not a jee hukum person,” he said.In the three-page letter, the Chief Minister assured that none of the employees of PSEs would be retrenched.
Lie-test shows Rao bribed for power unit
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: A lie-detector test has revealed that Krushi Bank scamster Kosaraju Venkateswara Rao was not telling the truth when he said that he did not bribe former Union minister and Telugu Desam leader S. Venugopalachary.
This is significant since the CID is trying to ferret out the scamster’s links with the former Union minister of State for power. Venkateswara Rao had denied earlier that he had bribed Mr Venugopalachary to facilitate setting up his Gold Crest Power Project.
A lie-detector test conducted at the AP Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL) also cast doubts on Venkateswara Rao’s claim that he was not hiding in Andhra Pradesh with the help of the police before slipping out of India in 2001.
To the question put forth by the CID, “Did you bribe Mr Venugopalachary (then Union minister of State for power) to set up Gold Crest Power Project,” his (Rao’s) answer was, “No.” The lie-detector found this to be false. The test also picked holes in Rao’s statement that he did not bribe RBI officials to suppress audit objections in 2001.
Venkateswara Rao had earlier told the police that Mr Venugopalachary had attended his marriage at Ventraparagada. But he had denied any other link with the former minister. CID sleuths are now probing how Rao got permission for the power project.
However, when contacted, Mr Venugopalachary denied the allegations and said that he had only attended Venkateswara Rao’s marriage and had no other ties with him. “The present government is trying to implicate me,” he said. “I came to know that the investigating officials are under pressure from the ruling party.”
He added that he did not know anything about the power project. “It is wrong to say that I was bribed,” he said. “Power project MOUs are usually between the State government and the party. The Centre has no role.” The lie-detector test also helped the CID ascertain that Venkateswara Rao forged share certificates and cheated people at Visakhapatnam. They also discovered that he lied when he said that he did not purchase any property in Bangkok.
HCU to get xenograft study centre
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Will a dog’s heart fit you, or a pig’s? Research on xenotransplantation — transplanting animal organs into humans — will be taken up in our own University of Hyderabad shortly.The university got the go-ahead to set up the newly-formed National Institute Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) on its campus. The university bagged the project over five other States which were vying for the institute. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal Pradesh and New Delhi had shown interest in setting up the institute.
The institute assumes significance in the backdrop of rising requirement for high quality research on animal organs that could replace failed human organs.The first xenografts involving human beings were performed by Dr Keith Reemtsma between 1963 and 1964, in which 13 chimpanzee kidneys were transplanted into humans. Twelve of the 13 recipients died within two months, while the 13th survived for nine months after the procedure.
While whole-organ xenografts have been unsuccessful, less radical transplants have demonstrated great success. Hundreds of thousands of patients have received pig heart valves since 1975, when the procedure first became commercially available. Cow heart valves have likewise been used in humans since 1981.
Researches being conducted across the globe have shown that modern genetic techniques may be used to alter animal organs so they are not rejected by the human immune system. At present experiments are being conducted only on small animals, but one day larger animals too will enter the field.
Dr Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain, vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, with the backing of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy convinced the Central Department of Biotechnology to locate its new project at Hyderabad with the promise that all necessary support would be made available to it.
The university’s offer of providing 150 acres on its campus to set up the proposed NIAB, estimated to cost nearly Rs 300 crores, was accepted by the DOB after it received a letter from Dr Rajasekhar Reddy endorsing the offer.Besides research on animal organs, the NIAB will also be involved in extraction of enzymes, clotting factors and bioactive proteins from the animal milk.
The university and the NIAB will be interactive academic partners. The teaching staff and the students of the university will take part in the research projects while the scientists at the NIAB will have an opportunity to teach at the University of Hyderabad, Dr Hasnain said.
6 children killed as bus falls in canal
Sonepat, Haryana: Six children, including three girls, were killed and three persons were injured when a school bus fell into a canal near Sonepat on Tuesday. The bus carrying 28 children from Satkumba Vidya Mandir school in Kheri Gujjar village fell into the Western Yamuna Canal when its driver tried to avert a collision with a mule cart that came in front of it, an official spokesman said.
The dead children, all aged between five and 15, were on their way to school, he said. The dead have been identified as Ankush (6) and Priyanka (8), Monica (5), Manisha (15), Vishal (10) and Jatinder (12).
Power cut threat to Gandhi
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Gandhi Hospital, the second bi-ggest health care institution in the government sector, may soon plunge into darkness if it does not pay its power bills. This may cause untold difficulty to thousands of poor people who depend on this government hospital for medical help.
Thanks to government apathy, the hospital has not been able to pay its electricity bills since May 2006.Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd has served notices on the hospital management warning that power would be disconnected if dues were not settled.The pending bills for May and June amounts to Rs 9.56 lakh and Rs 8.67 lakh respectively. Added to this is the power bill for the month of July, which is nearly Rs 9 lakh.
Gandhi Hospital superintendent B. Balraj told this newspaper that the hospital was unable to pay dues as the health department did not release the required budget. “Medical services fall under Essential Services Maintenance Act and they cannot simply disconnect power supply.”
Central Discom Metro Zone chief general manager D. Victoria told this correspondent that notices were served on the hospital after giving sufficient time to pay the dues. “While all other government departments and institutions have started paying their arrears and bills, Gandhi Hospital management was dilly-dallying,” she added.
Central Discom North Zone superintending engineer V. Panduranga Murthy said that the hospital management had given authorisation letters stating that it would clear the bills for May and June before August 15, and would pay the bill for the month of July in instalments.
Ganeshas will soon get eco-friendly
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: With the Andhra Pradesh High Court maintaining a tough stance on immersion of idols in Hussainsagar, the Ganesh Utsav Committee has decided to go in for bio-degradable paints for the idols this year.
The committee has asked the State government to provide them with a separate place near the NTR Marg and Tank Bund so that the pollutants from the idols do not spread to other parts of the lake.Ganesh Utsav Committee secretary G. Hanumantha Rao told this correspondent, “There are earlier orders which the High Court issued in 1998 and 1995 allowing us to take up immersion at Hussainsagar. This time too we are hopeful that the immersion will take place at Hussainsagar. We have agreed to use natural dyes and colours.”
Environmentalists welcome the move of the committee. President for National Green Corps W.G. Prasanna Kumar told this newspaper, “The paints and plaster-of-Paris were polluting the lake. A separate place for immersion and natural dyes could be the solution.” But the committee’s move seems to have come in a bit late. A top official from Buddha Poornima Project Development Authority said, “There is no time to take up construction of separate ponds in Hussainsagar.”
Though the committee has expressed its readiness to use natural dyes and bio-degradable colours for Ganesha idols, artisans at Dhoolpet and Uppal have already completed 90 per cent of Ganesha idols with plaster-of-Paris, the official added. The government officials have pointed out that except using about 10 water bodies located in and around the twin cities including Hussainsagar, there are not many options left.
Panel set up to spot illegal structure
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice G.V. Seethapathy on Tuesday appointed a committee comprising DGP Fire Services and two advocate commissioners to inspect Hyderabad Central to verify whether the alleged illegal construction on the terrace of the building is still existing or demolished.
The bench asked the committee to submit the report by Wednesday. The bench was informed that the illegal construction of office room on the terrace of Hyderabad Central was not demolished in spite of notices issued by the MCH while Hyderabad Central claimed in its affidavit that it was demolished.
Officials struggle to serve water bills
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: The impact of corruption and inefficiency, besides just 40 per cent installation of water meters, has left Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) struggling to serve water bills and collect dues from the 5.15 lakh consumers registered with it.
The board reportedly has a whopping Rs 100 crore arrears of water bills. Interestingly, the Board does not have data on consumers who are not served with water cess bills. Water board director (finance) G.K. Rao admitted the lapses. He also said that the lower rung officials accept money from consumers and ignore the bill collection. He says that the bill-serving staff were also scared to go to localities where there are complaints of polluted drinking water supply.
Secunderabad Cantonme-nt Board and its surrounding municipalities were also blamed for not serving bills to all their consumers. Cantonment Board water superintendent Chandraprakash says: “We are short of staff. There only two bill collectors against the requirement of seven. There are 14,000 consumers registered with the Cantonment Board and another 4,000 illegal connections exist.”
The Water Board has adopted a strategy of outsourcing the billing work and fixing meters. While the monthly billing by private agencies will start from this month wherein personnel of private agencies would make spot billing on the lines of central Discom, the Board has planned that one lakh consumers are covered under meter installation programme every year.
State to claim surplus water
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Minister for major irrigation Ponnala Laxmaiah on Tue-sday said the State government would demand its right over surplus waters of the river Krishna. The minister made this statement at an all-party meeting after the Opposition parties took the government to task for surrendering its right on surplus waters of the river Krishna before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal during its recent hearing on interlocutory applications filed by the riparian States.
The meeting was conven-ed to seek suggestions from various political parties on the stand to be taken by Andhra Pradesh before the tribunal in the next hearing. At the meeting, representatives of the Telugu Des-am, CPI, CPI-M and the BJP came down heavily on the government for giving an undertaking to the tribunal that the State would not claim any permanent right over surplus waters of Krishna. The TD boycotted the meeting alleging indifferent attitude of the government.
Former TD minister Kad-iam Srihari said the State government had mortgaged the interests of the State before the tribunal by foregoing the right on surplus waters. Though Andhra Pradesh had been allocated Krishna water based on 75 per cent dependability, it was in a disadvantageous position during drought years, when the upper ripa-rian States of Maharashtra and Karnataka would not release water downstream.
In this backdrop, the previous Bachawat Tribunal had given the liberty to the State to use surplus waters of Krishna river, though it did not give any permanent right. Telugu Desam’s view was echoed by the representatives of the CPI, BJP, and CPI(M). TRS reprsentatives demanded constitution of a Krishna River Valley Authority.
The Congress argued that the State had no legal right to claim permanent right over surplus waters. The minister said, “the State had to submit a memo to the new tribunal to save five projects. However, that does not mean we are foregoing the right on surplus water. We will, indeed, demand our right over surplus waters.”
Legislative council next year
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: The much-awaited State Legislative Council will be a reality only next year.High placed sources in the State government told this correspondent on Tuesday that the Legislative Council would be constituted by March next year.
“It will take at least five months or more for the process to be completed. Council is likely to be constituted by March,” a highly placed source in the government said. The source, however, said that a kick-start has been given for the revival of the Council.
In the 90-member Legislative Council, 31 members will be elected by MLAs, 31 members by local bodies, eight by graduates, eight by teachers and 12 members will be nominated by the Governor.
The delay will certainly dampen the spirits of Congress leaders and others aspiring to become MLCs, particularly those, who were denied tickets in the 2004 Assembly elections and tho-se who failed to get corporation posts.Many aspirants for MLCs posts expected the new council to be formed in September or October.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy convened a high-level meeting on the issue and asked the officials to expedite the process of reviving the Legislative Council. The Cabinet expansion as predicted will certainly be in two spells, first likely to be in September and second after the revival of the council since it has to be represented in the Cabinet.
For delimitation of constituencies relating to graduates and teachers, population was considered the most appropriate basis as this criterion ens-ures that the constituencies of teachers and graduates are co-terminus.
Elderly to get priority in Haj
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: With the demand for Haj growing every year and Saudi authorities refusing to increase India’s quota, city Islamic scholars have proposed that senior citizens should be given priority in the Haj selections.
The Saudi Arabian government has put a cap of 1.5 lakh pilgrims for Haj every year from India. Of this, the Central Haj Committee (CHC) processes ab-out 1.10 lakh Hajis and the remaining 40,000 quota is shared among themselves by private tour operators.
In the current year, most of the State Haj Committees received applications in excess of the quota allotted to them. For instance, Andhra Pradesh State Haj Committee has received about 9,300 applications as against its quota of around 6,800 pilgrims.
Even as the CHC has directed its State units to select prospective pilgrims through a draw of lots (Qurrah), Muslim religious scholars proposed that people above 60 years of age and women should be allo-wed to perform Haj without going through the proc-ess of Qurrah. Those below 18 years of age (excluding infants) should be barred from performing Haj. Applicants in the age group 18-60 years should be selected through a draw of lots and only those who make it in the Qurrah should be allowed to perform Haj.
Moulana Abdul Moghni Mazahiri, proctor of Sab-eelul Falah has suggested that the problem of excess applications could be solv-ed by simply permitting senior citizens and women for Haj without any restrictions. “There should be Qurrah only for the young and able-bodied people,” he pointed out.
Girl escapes from brothel
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Police on Tuesday registered a case against a 30-year-old man, who allegedly married a girl and tried to force her into prostitution. Police said Fakruddin, a native of Mumbai, married the girl on June 15. He took her to Mumbai and forced her into prostitution. She, however, escaped and lodg-ed a complaint with police. A police team will be sent to Mumbai to arrest him.
Fine for men in women’s bogies
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Sleuths of the Railway Protection Force have rounded up men who occupy MMTS train compartments meant exclusively for women. RPF officers launched a special drive two weeks ago after getting complaints from women commuters that some men habitually travelled in compartments reserved for them and indulged in eve teasing and harassment.
In the past 15 days, Secunderabad RPF cops arrested 188 such violators, most of them youth. “As per section 162 of Railways Act, it is a crime for men to travel in compartments meant for women,” said Secunderabad RPF Inspector Satish Prabhu. “They can be fined up to Rs 1,500 and imprisoned if fine is not paid”.All the offenders were produced in the court and were fined.
“Five of them didn’t pay the fine and they were imprisoned for seven days,” said the RPF officer. At least 52 services of MMTS trains are taken out in the city. The first and last compartments are exclusive meant for women. “We have booked cases and most of the violators are youth between the ages of 20 to 35,” said Mr Satish Prabhu. “More than half of them are professionals working for various companies, ”he added.
T. Ragamai, a bank executive residing in Lingampally, said that young men used to regularly enter women’s compartments to create mischief. “I travel by MMTS train every day from office to home and this is a constant problem,” she said. Women commuters are happy over the drive by the Railway Protection Force. “This is good and gives us a feeling of security,” said Ms R. Nandita, another commuter.
Hunt on for student killer
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Family members and students of Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology at Amberpet were in a state of shock after the murder of two students on Monday night.
Police said that four to five students had witnessed the killing but no one prevented killer Naveen Kumar from committing the crime. All of them watched numb without trying either to stop him or nab him after the murder.
Charan, an eyewitness said, “We tried to stop him but he threatened to attack us too. So we could not do anything and he boarded an auto and fled.” Parents of Sanay Sherian and Sanjay Pill, both third year students of the institute, had reached Hyderabad on Tuesday. Sanay Sherian’s body was flown to Delhi, where his family is settled.
Sanjay Pill was cremated at Bansilalpet crematorium in the city.Nallakunta police have launched a massive hunt for Naveen Kumar. All major junctions enroute Secunderabad to Delhi have been alerted.
Police arrests brother in realtor’s murder
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: City police on Tuesday arrested businessman Paramjeet Singh alias Raja for allegedly conspiring the murder of his brother Jasbir Singh Sadana, a realtor.However, several questions remain unanswered in the sensational case.
Jasbir Singh was murdered at his residence in Anandnagar Colony under Punjagutta police station limits, on April 28 this year. Since then, four Nepalis, who were working as guards in his house, have been absconding.
Paramjeet’s diary, seized by the police is said to contain information about the ‘bribes’ he paid to police officials to shield him in the case. Investigating officials said the details had to be decoded. Paramjeet admitted that he had approached DGP Swaranjit Sen to get the case transferred to CID.
Earlier, police had arrested Paramjeet’s driver Shakeel who helped the guards escape in his car.Police also seized two swords, a dagger used for hunting wild animals, and a pistol from Paramjeet’s possession.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajeev Trivedi said: “Paramjeet had property and financial disputes with his brother. He planned the murder and ordered his guard Prem to kill his brother. Jasbir had come in an inebriated condition at 1.30 am on April 28. Later, Paramjeet and Prem entered the room in which Jasbir was sleeping and hit him with a stick. After he died, Prem was given Rs 2.5 lakh and was asked to leave the country along with the other Nepali guards.
Ever since, Paramjeet has changed 90 sim cards.However, “there is no involvement of any police official in the case,” Mr Trivedi said.“I planned the killing, we had cold war between us. I can’t explain any more,” was all Paramjeet said.Interestingly, Punjagutta in-charge inspector Anonya, who investigated the case, has gone on leave.
MCA student’s body found
Hyderabad: The body of an MCA student of GVSR College has been found near the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology late on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Vishnuvardhan Reddy, a resident of Badichowdi. No injuries were found on his body. Police was yet to ascertain the cause of death.
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: When in power, parties tamely follow World Bank’s well-known prescriptions on economic reforms to the dot but use it as a punching bag when they are eased out of the gaddi.For instance, the farmer-friendly Congress is now finding new virtues in the World Bank, while the tech-savvy Telugu Desam now considers it a villain.
The controversy over the GO Ms No. 5 pertaining to financial restructuring of public sector enterprises has once again brought this fact to light. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy has hurriedly denied allegations that the government was planning to sack nearly 64,000 PSE employees and has assured people that he was no “yes man” of the World Bank.
Meanwhile, Telugu Desam leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Uma Reddy Venkateshwarulu created a sense of déjà vu by terming him a “bonded labourer of the World Bank.” This brought back echoes of the Congress allegations against Mr Chandrababu Naidu when he was ruling the State.
The Telugu Desam leaders demanded immediate scrapping of the GO and asked the government to make public all its “secret” deals with the World Bank. They pooh-poohed finance minister K. Rosaiah’s statement that the GO would not be implemented. “Why did they issue it then?” the TD leaders asked.
Mr Ramakrishnudu alleged that the government had even drawn up detailed plans to sack almost 64,000 employees. However, hotly denying any underhand deals, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said in an open letter to the people that he would not bend to World Bank diktats or accept its conditions. “I am not a jee hukum person,” he said.In the three-page letter, the Chief Minister assured that none of the employees of PSEs would be retrenched.
Lie-test shows Rao bribed for power unit
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: A lie-detector test has revealed that Krushi Bank scamster Kosaraju Venkateswara Rao was not telling the truth when he said that he did not bribe former Union minister and Telugu Desam leader S. Venugopalachary.
This is significant since the CID is trying to ferret out the scamster’s links with the former Union minister of State for power. Venkateswara Rao had denied earlier that he had bribed Mr Venugopalachary to facilitate setting up his Gold Crest Power Project.
A lie-detector test conducted at the AP Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL) also cast doubts on Venkateswara Rao’s claim that he was not hiding in Andhra Pradesh with the help of the police before slipping out of India in 2001.
To the question put forth by the CID, “Did you bribe Mr Venugopalachary (then Union minister of State for power) to set up Gold Crest Power Project,” his (Rao’s) answer was, “No.” The lie-detector found this to be false. The test also picked holes in Rao’s statement that he did not bribe RBI officials to suppress audit objections in 2001.
Venkateswara Rao had earlier told the police that Mr Venugopalachary had attended his marriage at Ventraparagada. But he had denied any other link with the former minister. CID sleuths are now probing how Rao got permission for the power project.
However, when contacted, Mr Venugopalachary denied the allegations and said that he had only attended Venkateswara Rao’s marriage and had no other ties with him. “The present government is trying to implicate me,” he said. “I came to know that the investigating officials are under pressure from the ruling party.”
He added that he did not know anything about the power project. “It is wrong to say that I was bribed,” he said. “Power project MOUs are usually between the State government and the party. The Centre has no role.” The lie-detector test also helped the CID ascertain that Venkateswara Rao forged share certificates and cheated people at Visakhapatnam. They also discovered that he lied when he said that he did not purchase any property in Bangkok.
HCU to get xenograft study centre
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Will a dog’s heart fit you, or a pig’s? Research on xenotransplantation — transplanting animal organs into humans — will be taken up in our own University of Hyderabad shortly.The university got the go-ahead to set up the newly-formed National Institute Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) on its campus. The university bagged the project over five other States which were vying for the institute. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal Pradesh and New Delhi had shown interest in setting up the institute.
The institute assumes significance in the backdrop of rising requirement for high quality research on animal organs that could replace failed human organs.The first xenografts involving human beings were performed by Dr Keith Reemtsma between 1963 and 1964, in which 13 chimpanzee kidneys were transplanted into humans. Twelve of the 13 recipients died within two months, while the 13th survived for nine months after the procedure.
While whole-organ xenografts have been unsuccessful, less radical transplants have demonstrated great success. Hundreds of thousands of patients have received pig heart valves since 1975, when the procedure first became commercially available. Cow heart valves have likewise been used in humans since 1981.
Researches being conducted across the globe have shown that modern genetic techniques may be used to alter animal organs so they are not rejected by the human immune system. At present experiments are being conducted only on small animals, but one day larger animals too will enter the field.
Dr Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain, vice-chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, with the backing of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy convinced the Central Department of Biotechnology to locate its new project at Hyderabad with the promise that all necessary support would be made available to it.
The university’s offer of providing 150 acres on its campus to set up the proposed NIAB, estimated to cost nearly Rs 300 crores, was accepted by the DOB after it received a letter from Dr Rajasekhar Reddy endorsing the offer.Besides research on animal organs, the NIAB will also be involved in extraction of enzymes, clotting factors and bioactive proteins from the animal milk.
The university and the NIAB will be interactive academic partners. The teaching staff and the students of the university will take part in the research projects while the scientists at the NIAB will have an opportunity to teach at the University of Hyderabad, Dr Hasnain said.
6 children killed as bus falls in canal
Sonepat, Haryana: Six children, including three girls, were killed and three persons were injured when a school bus fell into a canal near Sonepat on Tuesday. The bus carrying 28 children from Satkumba Vidya Mandir school in Kheri Gujjar village fell into the Western Yamuna Canal when its driver tried to avert a collision with a mule cart that came in front of it, an official spokesman said.
The dead children, all aged between five and 15, were on their way to school, he said. The dead have been identified as Ankush (6) and Priyanka (8), Monica (5), Manisha (15), Vishal (10) and Jatinder (12).
Power cut threat to Gandhi
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Gandhi Hospital, the second bi-ggest health care institution in the government sector, may soon plunge into darkness if it does not pay its power bills. This may cause untold difficulty to thousands of poor people who depend on this government hospital for medical help.
Thanks to government apathy, the hospital has not been able to pay its electricity bills since May 2006.Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd has served notices on the hospital management warning that power would be disconnected if dues were not settled.The pending bills for May and June amounts to Rs 9.56 lakh and Rs 8.67 lakh respectively. Added to this is the power bill for the month of July, which is nearly Rs 9 lakh.
Gandhi Hospital superintendent B. Balraj told this newspaper that the hospital was unable to pay dues as the health department did not release the required budget. “Medical services fall under Essential Services Maintenance Act and they cannot simply disconnect power supply.”
Central Discom Metro Zone chief general manager D. Victoria told this correspondent that notices were served on the hospital after giving sufficient time to pay the dues. “While all other government departments and institutions have started paying their arrears and bills, Gandhi Hospital management was dilly-dallying,” she added.
Central Discom North Zone superintending engineer V. Panduranga Murthy said that the hospital management had given authorisation letters stating that it would clear the bills for May and June before August 15, and would pay the bill for the month of July in instalments.
Ganeshas will soon get eco-friendly
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: With the Andhra Pradesh High Court maintaining a tough stance on immersion of idols in Hussainsagar, the Ganesh Utsav Committee has decided to go in for bio-degradable paints for the idols this year.
The committee has asked the State government to provide them with a separate place near the NTR Marg and Tank Bund so that the pollutants from the idols do not spread to other parts of the lake.Ganesh Utsav Committee secretary G. Hanumantha Rao told this correspondent, “There are earlier orders which the High Court issued in 1998 and 1995 allowing us to take up immersion at Hussainsagar. This time too we are hopeful that the immersion will take place at Hussainsagar. We have agreed to use natural dyes and colours.”
Environmentalists welcome the move of the committee. President for National Green Corps W.G. Prasanna Kumar told this newspaper, “The paints and plaster-of-Paris were polluting the lake. A separate place for immersion and natural dyes could be the solution.” But the committee’s move seems to have come in a bit late. A top official from Buddha Poornima Project Development Authority said, “There is no time to take up construction of separate ponds in Hussainsagar.”
Though the committee has expressed its readiness to use natural dyes and bio-degradable colours for Ganesha idols, artisans at Dhoolpet and Uppal have already completed 90 per cent of Ganesha idols with plaster-of-Paris, the official added. The government officials have pointed out that except using about 10 water bodies located in and around the twin cities including Hussainsagar, there are not many options left.
Panel set up to spot illegal structure
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice G.V. Seethapathy on Tuesday appointed a committee comprising DGP Fire Services and two advocate commissioners to inspect Hyderabad Central to verify whether the alleged illegal construction on the terrace of the building is still existing or demolished.
The bench asked the committee to submit the report by Wednesday. The bench was informed that the illegal construction of office room on the terrace of Hyderabad Central was not demolished in spite of notices issued by the MCH while Hyderabad Central claimed in its affidavit that it was demolished.
Officials struggle to serve water bills
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: The impact of corruption and inefficiency, besides just 40 per cent installation of water meters, has left Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) struggling to serve water bills and collect dues from the 5.15 lakh consumers registered with it.
The board reportedly has a whopping Rs 100 crore arrears of water bills. Interestingly, the Board does not have data on consumers who are not served with water cess bills. Water board director (finance) G.K. Rao admitted the lapses. He also said that the lower rung officials accept money from consumers and ignore the bill collection. He says that the bill-serving staff were also scared to go to localities where there are complaints of polluted drinking water supply.
Secunderabad Cantonme-nt Board and its surrounding municipalities were also blamed for not serving bills to all their consumers. Cantonment Board water superintendent Chandraprakash says: “We are short of staff. There only two bill collectors against the requirement of seven. There are 14,000 consumers registered with the Cantonment Board and another 4,000 illegal connections exist.”
The Water Board has adopted a strategy of outsourcing the billing work and fixing meters. While the monthly billing by private agencies will start from this month wherein personnel of private agencies would make spot billing on the lines of central Discom, the Board has planned that one lakh consumers are covered under meter installation programme every year.
State to claim surplus water
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Minister for major irrigation Ponnala Laxmaiah on Tue-sday said the State government would demand its right over surplus waters of the river Krishna. The minister made this statement at an all-party meeting after the Opposition parties took the government to task for surrendering its right on surplus waters of the river Krishna before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal during its recent hearing on interlocutory applications filed by the riparian States.
The meeting was conven-ed to seek suggestions from various political parties on the stand to be taken by Andhra Pradesh before the tribunal in the next hearing. At the meeting, representatives of the Telugu Des-am, CPI, CPI-M and the BJP came down heavily on the government for giving an undertaking to the tribunal that the State would not claim any permanent right over surplus waters of Krishna. The TD boycotted the meeting alleging indifferent attitude of the government.
Former TD minister Kad-iam Srihari said the State government had mortgaged the interests of the State before the tribunal by foregoing the right on surplus waters. Though Andhra Pradesh had been allocated Krishna water based on 75 per cent dependability, it was in a disadvantageous position during drought years, when the upper ripa-rian States of Maharashtra and Karnataka would not release water downstream.
In this backdrop, the previous Bachawat Tribunal had given the liberty to the State to use surplus waters of Krishna river, though it did not give any permanent right. Telugu Desam’s view was echoed by the representatives of the CPI, BJP, and CPI(M). TRS reprsentatives demanded constitution of a Krishna River Valley Authority.
The Congress argued that the State had no legal right to claim permanent right over surplus waters. The minister said, “the State had to submit a memo to the new tribunal to save five projects. However, that does not mean we are foregoing the right on surplus water. We will, indeed, demand our right over surplus waters.”
Legislative council next year
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: The much-awaited State Legislative Council will be a reality only next year.High placed sources in the State government told this correspondent on Tuesday that the Legislative Council would be constituted by March next year.
“It will take at least five months or more for the process to be completed. Council is likely to be constituted by March,” a highly placed source in the government said. The source, however, said that a kick-start has been given for the revival of the Council.
In the 90-member Legislative Council, 31 members will be elected by MLAs, 31 members by local bodies, eight by graduates, eight by teachers and 12 members will be nominated by the Governor.
The delay will certainly dampen the spirits of Congress leaders and others aspiring to become MLCs, particularly those, who were denied tickets in the 2004 Assembly elections and tho-se who failed to get corporation posts.Many aspirants for MLCs posts expected the new council to be formed in September or October.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy convened a high-level meeting on the issue and asked the officials to expedite the process of reviving the Legislative Council. The Cabinet expansion as predicted will certainly be in two spells, first likely to be in September and second after the revival of the council since it has to be represented in the Cabinet.
For delimitation of constituencies relating to graduates and teachers, population was considered the most appropriate basis as this criterion ens-ures that the constituencies of teachers and graduates are co-terminus.
Elderly to get priority in Haj
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: With the demand for Haj growing every year and Saudi authorities refusing to increase India’s quota, city Islamic scholars have proposed that senior citizens should be given priority in the Haj selections.
The Saudi Arabian government has put a cap of 1.5 lakh pilgrims for Haj every year from India. Of this, the Central Haj Committee (CHC) processes ab-out 1.10 lakh Hajis and the remaining 40,000 quota is shared among themselves by private tour operators.
In the current year, most of the State Haj Committees received applications in excess of the quota allotted to them. For instance, Andhra Pradesh State Haj Committee has received about 9,300 applications as against its quota of around 6,800 pilgrims.
Even as the CHC has directed its State units to select prospective pilgrims through a draw of lots (Qurrah), Muslim religious scholars proposed that people above 60 years of age and women should be allo-wed to perform Haj without going through the proc-ess of Qurrah. Those below 18 years of age (excluding infants) should be barred from performing Haj. Applicants in the age group 18-60 years should be selected through a draw of lots and only those who make it in the Qurrah should be allowed to perform Haj.
Moulana Abdul Moghni Mazahiri, proctor of Sab-eelul Falah has suggested that the problem of excess applications could be solv-ed by simply permitting senior citizens and women for Haj without any restrictions. “There should be Qurrah only for the young and able-bodied people,” he pointed out.
Girl escapes from brothel
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Police on Tuesday registered a case against a 30-year-old man, who allegedly married a girl and tried to force her into prostitution. Police said Fakruddin, a native of Mumbai, married the girl on June 15. He took her to Mumbai and forced her into prostitution. She, however, escaped and lodg-ed a complaint with police. A police team will be sent to Mumbai to arrest him.
Fine for men in women’s bogies
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Sleuths of the Railway Protection Force have rounded up men who occupy MMTS train compartments meant exclusively for women. RPF officers launched a special drive two weeks ago after getting complaints from women commuters that some men habitually travelled in compartments reserved for them and indulged in eve teasing and harassment.
In the past 15 days, Secunderabad RPF cops arrested 188 such violators, most of them youth. “As per section 162 of Railways Act, it is a crime for men to travel in compartments meant for women,” said Secunderabad RPF Inspector Satish Prabhu. “They can be fined up to Rs 1,500 and imprisoned if fine is not paid”.All the offenders were produced in the court and were fined.
“Five of them didn’t pay the fine and they were imprisoned for seven days,” said the RPF officer. At least 52 services of MMTS trains are taken out in the city. The first and last compartments are exclusive meant for women. “We have booked cases and most of the violators are youth between the ages of 20 to 35,” said Mr Satish Prabhu. “More than half of them are professionals working for various companies, ”he added.
T. Ragamai, a bank executive residing in Lingampally, said that young men used to regularly enter women’s compartments to create mischief. “I travel by MMTS train every day from office to home and this is a constant problem,” she said. Women commuters are happy over the drive by the Railway Protection Force. “This is good and gives us a feeling of security,” said Ms R. Nandita, another commuter.
Hunt on for student killer
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: Family members and students of Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology at Amberpet were in a state of shock after the murder of two students on Monday night.
Police said that four to five students had witnessed the killing but no one prevented killer Naveen Kumar from committing the crime. All of them watched numb without trying either to stop him or nab him after the murder.
Charan, an eyewitness said, “We tried to stop him but he threatened to attack us too. So we could not do anything and he boarded an auto and fled.” Parents of Sanay Sherian and Sanjay Pill, both third year students of the institute, had reached Hyderabad on Tuesday. Sanay Sherian’s body was flown to Delhi, where his family is settled.
Sanjay Pill was cremated at Bansilalpet crematorium in the city.Nallakunta police have launched a massive hunt for Naveen Kumar. All major junctions enroute Secunderabad to Delhi have been alerted.
Police arrests brother in realtor’s murder
Hyderabad, Aug. 1: City police on Tuesday arrested businessman Paramjeet Singh alias Raja for allegedly conspiring the murder of his brother Jasbir Singh Sadana, a realtor.However, several questions remain unanswered in the sensational case.
Jasbir Singh was murdered at his residence in Anandnagar Colony under Punjagutta police station limits, on April 28 this year. Since then, four Nepalis, who were working as guards in his house, have been absconding.
Paramjeet’s diary, seized by the police is said to contain information about the ‘bribes’ he paid to police officials to shield him in the case. Investigating officials said the details had to be decoded. Paramjeet admitted that he had approached DGP Swaranjit Sen to get the case transferred to CID.
Earlier, police had arrested Paramjeet’s driver Shakeel who helped the guards escape in his car.Police also seized two swords, a dagger used for hunting wild animals, and a pistol from Paramjeet’s possession.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajeev Trivedi said: “Paramjeet had property and financial disputes with his brother. He planned the murder and ordered his guard Prem to kill his brother. Jasbir had come in an inebriated condition at 1.30 am on April 28. Later, Paramjeet and Prem entered the room in which Jasbir was sleeping and hit him with a stick. After he died, Prem was given Rs 2.5 lakh and was asked to leave the country along with the other Nepali guards.
Ever since, Paramjeet has changed 90 sim cards.However, “there is no involvement of any police official in the case,” Mr Trivedi said.“I planned the killing, we had cold war between us. I can’t explain any more,” was all Paramjeet said.Interestingly, Punjagutta in-charge inspector Anonya, who investigated the case, has gone on leave.
MCA student’s body found
Hyderabad: The body of an MCA student of GVSR College has been found near the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology late on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Vishnuvardhan Reddy, a resident of Badichowdi. No injuries were found on his body. Police was yet to ascertain the cause of death.
