| New Delhi, Aug. 19: The government has finally dropped the move to amend the Right to Information Act in the current session of Parliament in view of the strong opposition from different sections of the society to keep out of public purview file notings in some areas. The Congress-led UPA government was earlier confident to amend the RTI Act but finally failed to get support from the activists and the Left parties. While the government failed to quell the impression that the proposed amendment was being brought under the pressure of bureaucracy, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi remained silent on it ever since the Cabinet approved the draft bill. She neither endorsed it nor expressed her reservation to the proposed amendments. Minister of State for parliamentary affairs Suresh Pachauri said here that following a decision taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the amendment bill was not likely to be introduced in the “current session of Parliament” concluding on August 25. He said there have been considerable apprehensions about the proposed changes and clarifications in the Right to Information Act. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the PM have received several representations in this regard and it has been decided that the issue should be first discussed with all stakeholders, he said. In view of this, Mr Pachauri said, the bill to amend the RTI Act was not likely to be introduced in this session. Recently, the sources said, the Centre had said that notings of officials on social and developmental issues would be made public and this would cover 85 per cent of all notings.
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| Hyderabad, Aug. 19: Police are still clueless about which Maoist dalam was behind the attack on Atmakur (M) police station in Nalgonda district on Friday night. A group of Maoists attacked the police station under the cover of darkness and shot dead three cops. Police are toying with the theory that Maoists from various parts of the State formed a special action team for this. They also believe that the attack was planned at the State level. Maoists picked the isolated police station since police and the intelligence apparatus believe that the attack was planned at the State level. Maoists picked the isolated police station since police and the intelligence apparatus was focused on Hyderabad, where the Assembly session was going on. Intelligence sources admitted that police did not anticipate the attack though they had information about movement of Maoists in the area. The Maoists who attacked the station used AK-47 and 12 bore weapons. Police found empty cartridges of bullets used in AK-47 in the premises. Additional Superintendent of Police (operation) Venkateswara Rao said that at least 12 armed Maoists took part in the attack. The most active group in Nalgonda, the Krishnapatti dalam, was spotted in Chandampat and its involvement was ruled out by the police. Neither are there any suspicions about the involvement of the Rachakonda dalam. Police sources said Mahbubnagar district committee secretary Sambasivudu may have played a key role in the plot.Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen said that the attackers could have come from Nalgonda or Warangal. A note signed by District Committee Secretary Ravi was found at the Atmakur police station after the attack. It stated that the police were resorting to fake encounters like the one staged to kill Maoist leader Madhav in Nallamala. The note also asked all Congress leaders to resign from their posts. Yadagiri, a police constable who escaped the attack, said that he fled as soon as he had the sound of firing. “After reaching a neighbouring village, I called up the station but nobody responded,” he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, who heli-hopped to Nalgonda, found it difficult to pacify the angry families of the police personnel who died. They were particularly angry at Nalgonda SP Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagawat. The daughter of Sub-Inspector Chand Pasha, who was killed, said that he had sought leave several times because of cardiac problems, but the SP had denied his request. “He was posted in a station with no protection,” she said. Home Minister K. Jana Reddy and the DGP, too, visited Atmakur police station on Saturday morning. he State government announced an ex gratia of Rs 9 lakh to the families of Chand Pasha and ASI Mohiuddin and Rs 5 lakh to that of homeguard Lingaiah. The families were also promised house sites of 500 yards either at Nalgonda or Miryalaguda. Mr Jana Reddy said that the families would be paid the salaries of the victims till the time they would have retired. One member of each family would be given a job, he said. The bodies of the police personnel were shifted to Nalgonda hospital and were handed over to the families after post mortem examination. Injured police constable Kareem, who was shifted to Kamineni Hospitals, is now fighting for life. Doctors operated upon him on Saturday. In all, 11 police personnel and 26 civilians were killed by Maoists this year. On the other hand, 94 Maoists were killed in police encounters.
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| Hyderabad, Aug. 19: Andhra Pradesh is not likely to get natural gas from the Krishna Godavari deep sea gas field of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), where production may start on March 2008.
It is learnt that overwhelming commitments to other customers will not allow RIL to supply gas to the State. The State government, meanwhile, is pinning all its hopes on gas supply from RIL wells in K-G basin. It has been demanding that RIL provide gas to other consumers only after meeting the requirements of Andhra Pradesh, since the gas pipeline will run through the State. According to a report from Ernst and Young, consultants to APTransco, the State will require 57.8 million cubic metres of gas per day for its existing, ongoing and proposed power plants by 2010. After 10 years, the requirement would touch 81.9 mcmd. The government hopes to get much of this from the RIL field and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation. Energy department sources, however, say there is no way RIL can meet the demand. Originally, RIL planned to produce 14.5 trillion cubic feet of gas (one tcf is approximately equal to 28,320 million cubic metres, the standard measure of gas supply). However, as per the more conservative estimates it chalked out later, the gas reserves would be only around 8.3 tcf, which includes 2.5 tcf proved, 3.4 tcf probable and 2.6 tcf possible reserves. Subsequent studies made by the US-based consultants, Degolyer and MacNaughton, further brought down the figure to 6.17 tcf, which comes to around 40 mcmd for approximately 16 years. Though it scaled down its production targets, RIL has been signing Memoranda of Understanding with many customers. In 2004, it won an NTPC bid to supply 12 mcmd of gas to its two power plants — Kawas and Gandhar — by 2007. Besides, it has to supply 28 mcmd of gas to Reliance Energy Ltd (now owned by Anil Ambani) for its 5,600 MW power plant at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. These two plants alone will consume 40 mcmd of gas. RIL has a 17-year contract with Dadri and a 15-year contract with NTPC. “We believe that RIL would be able to manage gas supply to these two power plants only, going by the available figures,” sources said. However, RIL is learnt to have promised to supply gas to the 1,000 MW power plant near Bangalore and also to a 1,000 MW plant in Tamil Nadu. But how it will fulfil these two commitments is a mystery.
| Illegal taxis cost RTC dear | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: The AP State Road Transport Corporation is hoping to be financially viable if the illicit operation by lorries, maxi cabs and jeeps is curbed completely.The premier transport agency estimates that the illicit operation by private vehicles is causing a financial loss of nearly Rs 500 crore to the RTC every year. The RTC, which has a debt of around Rs 1,100 crore, has been facing financial hardship for five years. The meagre profit of 42 crore registered in 2005-2006 financial year is not sufficient to save the organisation from the debt trap.RTC officials and union leaders are united on this issue and blame the State Transport Authority for not taking serious action against illicit operators.The National Mazdoor Union of RTC will submit the details of the illicit operations to STA on Monday demanding immediate action.
“At present, the occupancy ratio (OR) in RTC buses is nearly 66 per cent. The ratio will increase once the unlawful activities of the private operators are controlled,” said an RTC official. STA officials did not agree with the argument. “The RTC is unable to provide adequate services to the passengers which is why the public are relying on other transport facilities,” said an STA official.
“In Andhra Pradesh there are only 22 buses for one lakh people,” he added. However, STA officials said they had been booking cases throughout the year against illegal operators. A recent order on survey of “proven uneconomic routes” has further fuelled the issue. The RTC unions have expressed doubts that the STA was paving the way for privatisation of RTC routes on the pretext of “uneconomic routes.” |  |
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Dewan snubbed in car wars with tourism chief | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: Former Chief Secretary T.K. Dewan is having a bumpy ride in his new avatar as chairman of the AP Tourism Development Corporation. The finance department has shot down a proposal sent by the APTDC to purchase a fancy car costing Rs 17 lakh for the new chairman. It may be noted that the APTDC is a public sector enterprise slotted for restructuring. Otherwise too, government officials are only allowed to purchase cars which do not cost more than Rs 7 lakh and even for that they have to get prior sanction from the government.
The proposal to purchase a Toyota Camry was forwarded to the government by APTDC Managing Director Raymond Peter. However, officials of the finance department asked the APTDC to be content with a Honda City which costs about Rs 7 lakh. Mr Peter is using the Mitsubishi Lancer which was used by his predecessor C. Anjaneya Reddy. Sources said that the MD forwarded the proposal since he had a tiff with Mr Dewan over cars the day he took charge as chairman and wanted to avoid further trouble. Mr Peter reportedly sent a hired Ford Ikon to pick up Mr Dewan from his house. While taking a reverse turn, the car rammed into his gate. An irritated Mr Dewan then enquired why a hired car was sent. He was told that the only ‘worthy’ car in APTDC was being used by the MD. There is also a Ford Endeavour but used only for long trips. There was yet another tiff over rooms. Mr Peter was occupying the office used by Mr Reddy and wanted Mr Dewan to be given another room to which Mr Dewan disagreed.
The MD had no option but to shift. | |
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Traffic curbs on Necklace Road | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: City police has imposed traffic curbs on the Necklace Road for a week from August 21 to conduct the 5-km run to recruit police constables. The venue was changed from the Golconda Artillery Centre to Necklace Road. The following curbs will be in effect from 4 am to 11.30 am from August 21 to 28. The road will be closed for traffic between Necklace rotary and Nallagutta Bridge. Traffic coming from Vishveshwarayya statue/ Prasad’s Imax towards Necklace Road will be diverted at Necklace Rotary towards Telugu Talli statue. Traffic from Secunderabad towards Necklace Road should take the Upper Tank Bund Road. Walkers on Necklace Road and Sanjeevaiah Park have to park their vehicles near Nallagutta Bridge or at Prasad’s Imax rotary. | |
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Police vows revenge on Maoists | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: The State police has vowed revenge for the killing of its personnel by Maoists and has sent warning signals to Maoists, their sympathisers and Right activists.
Director General of Police Swaranjit Sen said that they would curb Maoists who are resorting to inhuman acts of violence. He came down heavily on the Rights activists for not criticising the Maoist action. DGP Swaranjit Sen ordered to intensify combing operation to end the Maoists trouble. Even the Police Officers Associations warned that they would take revenge for these atrocities and demanded that Virasam (revolutionary writers association) be banned. Sources said that a conspiracy case is likely to be booked against the Rights activists and balladeer Gaddar and others who had organised Anti Salwa Judum meet at Basheerbagh press club three days ago. DGP Swaranjit Sen said, “Recently they held an anti Salwa Judum campaign in the city and many civil liberties activists took part in it. Attacking an unguarded police station is a coward act. The SI and ASI were popular among the public and no body expected that they would launch this attack.” DGP Sen asked the media to highlight the plight of the miserable families and denounce such acts of cold blooded murder. Meanwhile, Rights activist Bala Gopal said State should realise the need for peace talks. | |
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Schoolkid crushed by lorry | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: A student in his way home from school was crushed to death by a lorry on Saturday. K. Sreekanth Reddy, a Class 8 student of Gautami School in Hayatnagar on the city outskirts was knocked down by the lorry heading towards Vijayawada. Police said that Sreekanth had got down from a RTC bus near Dandu Mailaram. He was trying to cross the road when the lorry hit him, police said. Sreekanth died on the spot.
Immediately after the accident, the lorry driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the place, police said. Hayat Nagar police registered a case of rash and negligent act leading to death against the absconding driver. | |
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Lift lands bike rider in prison | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: If you are unlucky, even an offer for a lift can land you in the jail. An accident at Ibrahimpatnam on Friday highlighted the lacuna in the Act pertaining to road accidents. Mallesh, who had given a lift to his friend Basaiah, is facing criminal charges as the scooter skidded off the road and his fri-end succumbed to injuries. Police booked a case under 304 A IPC against him. As per the 304 A IPC Act, whoever causes the death of any person by committing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. | |
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State Congress tries to split TRS | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders in New Delhi have set a fresh deadline for Statehood to Telangana but the AP Congress is learnt to be quietly trying to split the party. According to reliable sources, certain Congress leaders have been in touch with TRS legislators for the last few days. Taking the help of the rebel TRS legislators who have previously moved close to the Congress, these leaders are telling the TRS legislators that their future would be secure with the Congress rather than TRS, which is a sinking ship. “The response was not very encouraging,” sources said. The TRS is also hard at work to keep its flock of 24 legislators together. Over of the past few months, seven of them have rebelled against the party leadership. The TRS has previously accused Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and his aides of trying to split the party. During a similar crisis in July last year, TRS legislators had turned rebels and rejoined the party within hours. The TRS camp received a jolt on Friday when Mr S. Ramalinga Reddy, TRS legislator from Dommat in Medak district, did not go to New Delhi along with his colleagues despite an invite from party president K. Chandrasekhar Reddy. Instead, he called on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy at his residence, triggering rumours that he had joined the seven rebel TRS legislators. That Mr Ramalinga Reddy was accompanied by Sangareddy legislator T. Jayaprakash Reddy, a hardcore TRS rebel, lent credence to these rumours. Following that, the TRS leadership tried hard to get in touch with Mr Ramalinga Reddy who suddenly became incommunicado. Senior TRS leaders managed to track him down late in the night and convinced him to drop the idea of joining the rebels. On Saturday morning, Mr Ramalinga Reddy left for New Delhi. “I met the Chief Minister to seek special assistance to my drought-prone constituency,” he said. “I had no plans of deserting the TRS or my (party) president K Chandrasekhar ao, who gave me this political life.”The threat of the Congress is still hanging on the TRS. There is every possibility that the party may split if it decides to sail with the BJP after deserting the UPA, sources added.
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Liquor prices cut to boost sales | | |
| | Hyderabad, Aug. 19: The State government is to reduce prices of premium and low category liquor following rationalisation of tax structure, officials said. Premium liquor would be cheaper by up to Rs 370. The excise department has begun the process and official sources told this correspondent that the new prices may come into force from October. Officials have worked out the new tax rates on premium brands and are calculating new rates for lower category liquor. The price of Teacher’s Scotch is likely to come down from Rs 1,548 to Rs 1,177 , VAT 69 from Rs 1,158 to Rs 879, Blender’s Pride from Rs 652 to Rs 562 and Royal Challenge from Rs 577.50 to Rs 497. The department has also proposed cut in the margin of AP Beverages Corporation Limited for premium brands, sources added. Officials said the high rates of excise duty and sales tax was keeping the prices of liquor much above those in the neighbouring States and retailers were allegedly preferring to sell smuggled liquor. Rationalising taxes, according to officials, will help control smuggling and increase sales from the AP Beverages Corporation.“It will increase our revenues by about Rs 200 crore,” a senior official said. Sources said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had approved the rationalisation at a recent meeting with senior revenue and excise department officials. The excise department levies excise duty of Rs 45 for liquor brands whose basic price is below Rs 400, Rs 70 for liquor in the Rs 401-Rs 700 category, and Rs 80 for above liquor costing above Rs 700.
In the new plan, the officials have increased the number of slabs, fixing different basic prices and reducing the gap between the slabs. The department is believed to have proposed seven slabs: Brands with basic price upto Rs 300 (excise duty Rs 35); Rs 301-Rs 350 (Rs 40), Rs 351-Rs 400 (Rs 45), Rs 401-Rs 500 (Rs 50), Rs 501-Rs 700 (Rs 65), Rs 701-Rs 3,000 (Rs 76) and above Rs 3,001 (Rs 76). | |
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