Andhranews

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Most packaged drinking water brands available in the market fail one or the other quality test and only a few of them conform to international standards. This newspaper submitted packaged water from six brands to the government-controlled State Food Laboratory for analysis. The water bottles were purchased from different outlets in Secunderabad. They were given to the laboratory for testing well within the “best before” date. According to the laboratory norms, the seals were intact at the time the bottles were given for tests.

Water from the following brands were submitted for the test: Bisleri, Kinley, Fresh, Aqua Gold, Aquafina and Manjeera. A sample of municipal tap water filtered through Aquaguard was also submitted. Except Bisleri, all samples, including tap water, were declared “not adulterated” by the State Food Laboratory primarily because they did not contain any pathogens or cyanide.

However, almost every sample had some shortcoming or the other: One water sample had coliform bacteria and an aerobic microbial count, which shows that the source of water is contaminated with human or animal faeces. Some samples had high total dissolved solids for water purified by the process of reverse osmosis (RO). Some samples were acidic (the ideal is for water to be neutral or slightly alkaline).

We mentioned these results to the Bureau of Indian Standards. R.S. Sarma, BIS Hyderabad unit chief, said, “We have been analysing samples quite regularly. Whenever we find any deviation in quality, we take action, including cancellation of licences. If the State Food Laboratory report mentions adulteration of water samples, a complaint can be lodged with us.”

We also contacted M. Rajendra Prasad, manager of the local Bisleri unit. He told this correspondent that he could not make any comment. “I am out of the city and will be back on Tuesday. I will comment only after seeing the laboratory report,” he said. Microbial count: Water from Bisleri failed the all-important microbiological examination at the State Food Laboratory. The aerobic microbial count (total plate count) in the water sample was 100 colonies per ml.

There were also four colonies/ml of coliform bacteria. However, no E. coli, salmonella, yeast and moulds and Salmonella aureus were found in the water samples. The presence of coliform indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. The pathogens could cause diarrhoea, cramps, nausea and headaches and may pose severe health risks for infants and children.

No tests were conducted for the presence of cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite commonly present in water bodies. Cryptosporidium tests are not mandatory though bottled water sources often are just as prone to cryptosporidium contamination as any other drinking water source.

pH levels: Drinking water should be neutral (pH of 7) or slightly alkaline (slightly above pH 7). Bisleri and Fresh showed a pH of 6.83 and 6.9 respectively, making the water acidic. According to the United States Environment Protection Agency, water with pH 5.8 to 6.9 is acidic as it contains hydrogen ions. Acidic water is good for external use and industrial purposes, but not for long-term human consumption. If consumed the water attracts minerals from the body and cause mineral deficiencies.

Acidic water is also good for plant growth, crops and livestock as it will help keep a much lower mortality rate and cleaner environment by killing bacteria. It provides excellent relief from mosquito bites. Total Dissolved Solids (TSD): According to US Environmental Protection Agency norms, ideal drinking water from reverse osmosis, distillation, de-ionisation and microfiltration should contain TDS less than 50 mg per litre. According to the test, Bisleri had 62 mg/lt; Kinley 68 mg/lt; Fresh 112 mg/lt and Aqua Gold 118 mg/lt.

Nitrates: Bisleri and Kinley had 10.44 mg/lt and 0.90 mg/lt of nitrates while tap water had 2.88 mg/lt nitrates. Though all samples, except Bisleri, had nitrates within the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/lt, the lesser the nitrate content the better the quality of water. Presence of nitrates in water could mean contamination from runoff from fertiliser use, leaking from septic tanks, sewage or erosion of natural deposits.

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrates in excess of MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.
All water samples passed the turbidity, cyanide, mineral oil and fluoride tests. As for as the presence of chlorides and sulphates are concerned, even the World Health Organisation has not set any standards for these materials.

Trouble in a bottle
* Total dissolved solids high for water purified by reverse osmosis method.
* Water was acidic, better used for gardening than for drinking.
* Aerobic microbes, coliform bacteria present, indicating contamination with human or animal waste.
* Nitrates in water point to presence of farm runoff or contamination by sewage

New Delhi, Aug. 26: Foreign secretary Shyam Saran has gone to Sweden and Norway to drum up support for the Indo-US nuclear deal just after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament that there are still several sticking points in the deal. Mr Saran’s hard-sell of the deal contradicts the Prime Minister’s appeal urging the nation to await the final outcome of the US legislative process.

No sooner had the Prime Minister assured the Lok Sabha that he had concerns over the draft US legislation than Mr Saran took off for Scandinavia to lobby with states opposed to the US-India deal. Norway and Sweden are among the nearly dozen member-states of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers’ Group that have expressed reservations about the NSG amending its export guidelines to give effect to the Indo-US deal.

It is odd that Dr Manmohan Singh should have sent Mr Saran to Scandinavia to directly lobby for a deal whose final shape is far from clear, and which at present carries conditionalities unacceptable to India.
As the Prime Minister told the Rajya Sabha earlier, “We have concerns over both the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Since the two bills are somewhat different in content, according to US practice they will need to be reconciled to produce a single piece of legislation.” Dr Singh added: “If in their final form the US legislation or the adopted NSG guidelines impose extraneous conditions on India, the government will draw the necessary conclusions, consistent with the commitments I have made to Parliament.”

Similarly, he told the Lok Sabha: “If it goes in a direction that hurts us, we will draw appropriate conclusions.” Had the deal been headed in the right direction, Mr Saran’s direct lobbying efforts would have made sense. But when the Prime Minister has himself outlined some major sticking points which the US has yet to address, the despatch of the foreign secretary to Norway and Sweden suggests that despite what was said in Parliament, it is business as usual for the handful of deal-pushers in the government.

It also indicates that the shortcomings in the proposed US legislation are neither being considered critical nor are being allowed to stand in the way of New Delhi persevering in its efforts to close the deal. Seeking to reassure an increasingly sceptical nation on the controversial nuclear deal, Dr Singh made statements in both Houses of Parliament that were short on specifics but long on platitudes.

The oddity of Mr Saran’s visit is also underlined by the fact that the US has yet to submit a proposal to the NSG to exempt India from its export guidelines. In any event, Mr Saran’s interlocutors will surely ask him about the Prime Minister’s statements in Parliament and inquire if the US legislation, as proposed, is acceptable or not to India. Will he say that the deal in its present form needs a lot of change but that he is seeking support for the yet-fuzzy deal in advance? Or will he tell his interlocutors that the Prime Minister’s assurances were intended merely to comfort the domestic constituency?

Mr Saran’s exuberance for the deal has been known from his frequent background briefings to select journalists and his public statements. When the US House International Relations Committee inserted many humiliating conditionalities in June in the official bill, Mr Saran actually welcomed the development in his media briefings.

On his Scandinavian visit, Mr Saran is accompanied by officials from the ministry of external affairs and the Department of Atomic Energy. The visit is seen as part of a coordinated effort with the US in which India has agreed to assume a proactive role. In recent weeks, Mr Saran has also been busy lobbying on a different front — for an extension of his term as foreign secretary when he retires next month.

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Karnataka has again ignored pilferage of Tungabhadra water by its farmers, denying Andhra Pradesh its rightful share for the more than a month. Water from the Tungabhadra dam is released through the high level and the low level canals; the release is managed by the Tungabhadra Board. Water was being released into the low level canal (LLC) since July 17, 2006. Out of 1,800 cusecs of water released into the canal, 725 cusecs would be delivered to Andhra Pradesh at the 250.58 km (the total length of the canal is 348.20 km).

Though there was heavy inflow into the Tungabhadra, AP has been getting meagre quantity of water at the border. The Irrigation department took up the issue with the Tungabhadra Board and the Karnataka government. The Tungabhadra Board secretary replied (letter no. 1818/B1/2004 dated August 23, 2006) stating that due to a prolonged dry spell, farmers were breaching canals and diverting water to their fields.

They damaged the canal thrice: at 62nd km on July 26, at 94th km on August 10 and at 76th km at August 19. The official said whenever the canal is breached, water flow is reduced to carry out repairs. For this reason, the discharge had come down from 1,800 cusecs to 50 cusecs for every three hours.
“To push the required discharge at the border of Karnataka and AP requires about a week.

This is the reason for delivering less discharge at the border,” the official said. Sources said that unidentified persons made another breach early on August 21 at the 84th km. At the time of the breach, the canal had a discharge of 1,200 cusecs at the breach site. Tungabhadra Board officials said the breach was noticed by field officers and discharge reduced to close the breach.

“The work is in progress... water supply will be resumed gradually and is likely to reach the border within a week. It may take a few days to realise the required discharge at the border,” the official said. AP irrigation secretary Rajiv Ranjan Mishra has asked Karnataka officials whether they had lodged a complaint with the local police and taken action against those who breached the canals. There was no response from Karnataka, sources said.

New Delhi, Aug. 26: The Election Commission on Saturday said it would examine petitions against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union finance minister P. Chidambaram seeking their disqualification as MPs on the ground that they held offices of profit as trustees of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF).

A few days after President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam gave assent to legislation on the office-of-profit issue, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami confirmed a complaint has been received against the Prime Minister and the Union finance minister. “We have received this complaint only three days ago. We will find out the exact position, like the date of appointment and benefits, if any,” he told reporters in Dehra Dun. However, at the same time, he indicated that the commission would take some time to probe the complaint.

Sources disclosed that disqualification has been sought on the ground that both Dr Manmohan Singh and Mr Chidambaram, as trustees of the RGF, attract disqualification. Sources in the Election Commission, when asked whether action could be taken against the Prime Minister and the Union finance minister, indicated that the office of chairperson or trustee of any trust, whether public or private, has been exempted from disqualification.

Though the matter was under scrutiny, a section of officials felt the membership “may not attract disqualification”. They were, however, quick to add that “nothing much could be said till the complaints were properly probed”. The legislation on the subject, which has the assent of the President, exempted 56 posts held by 40 MPs, mainly of the Congress Party and CPI(M). Before giving his assent, the President had returned the office-of-profit bill. While returning the Bill on May 30, the President had wanted the exemption criteria made “fair and reasonable” and applicable in a “clear and transparent” manner across the States and Union Territories.

Another important point the President had raised was in relation to the posts sought to be exempted by the new law. The implication was that the names of offices for which petitions were already under process by the competent authority, should be addressed by Parliament while reconsidering the bill.

Mumbai, Aug. 26: “We were treated as though we were terrorists by the Dutch police,” said 24-year-old Sohail Aziz, one of the 12 persons detained by the Amsterdam police due to “suspicious behaviour” on a Mumbai-bound Northwest Airlines flight that had to be escorted back to Amsterdam on Wednesday by F-16 fighter jets.

The 12 detained Indian men landed in Mumbai early on Saturday morning. They were cleared and freed by the Dutch authorities.Mr Sohail Aziz is a resident of Memon colony in Jogeshwari. Relating his experience to this newspaper, he said, “We were 12 members travelling in a group. After boarding the aircraft I felt sleepy as we had just flown 22 hours from Tobago to Amsterdam. But just when we were settling down, we were handcuffed by three US sky marshals. We were not told why we were handcuffed despite repeatedly asking them. They did not say why we were handcuffed.”

He added: “When we were handcuffed I felt that my life had come to a standstill. I was wondering what we had done that we had to be put through such humiliation. The US marshals behaved very badly with us, as though we had committed some crime, as though we were terrorists. It was a painful experience. The sky marshals made us shift to different seats and we were all separated. It was humiliating as people on the flight were looking at us with suspicion.”

Asked what exactly they were doing on the aircraft that aroused the suspicion of the US sky marshals, Mr Aziz said, “We were not playing any games on the mobile phones nor were we misbehaving. In Tobago, cell phones are very cheap so all of us brought at least two cell phones each for our family members. All were different so we were exchanging them and looking at the configuration of the cell phones.”

Mr Aziz said, “It was not that we were misbehaving on the plane. It was not the first time that we were travelling. As businessmen we have been doing our business for several years. When the plane returned to Amsterdam we were handed over to the airport police and they interrogated us for nearly four hours.” Later, all 12 men were handed over to the Amsterdam police.

Describing his experience in his prison cell (each one was in his own cell), Mr Aziz said, “We were not physically assaulted, but were mentally tortured and harangued. We were repeatedly asked why we were in Amsterdam and if we were Muslims. I don’t know why being a Muslim would harm anyone. We were interrogated one by one in a small cell and we were interrogated by two police officials.”

Mr Aziz added, “But later the Indian high commission’s Rivya Ganguly visited our cells and told us everything was fine. All this took about six to eight hours. We were taken to the hotel, and then on Friday morning we boarded the flight and came to Mumbai. We are happy that we are back and preparing again to do our business abroad.”

Patna, Aug. 26: The commission formed by the ruling NDA in Bihar to probe the Bhagalpur communal riots failed to hold even a single meeting. The deadline for the Bhagalpur Riots Commission to submit its report passed two days ago.

Now, Justice N.N. Singh, a former judge of the Patna High Court who heads the commission, is seeking an extension so that the probe can start. More than 1,000 persons, mostly of the Muslim community, were killed in the communal riots in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district in September-October 1989.

There is an apparent divide between the commission and the government over the reasons that have caused the delay. “If we had been provided with proper infrastructure on time, the probe would have started much earlier. We were to visit Bhagalpur but there were no vehicles,” B.N. Shahi, the secretary of the commission, said.

Bihar home secretary Afzal Amanullah was of the view that now, when the government has provided the infrastructure and other facilities, the commission should start its probe. Interestingly, the office provided to the commission in Patna just 10 days ago is under renovation and there are no proper sitting arrangements.

Meanwhile, another controversy has cropped up over the “validity” of the commission. The Hindi version of the government order regarding the constitution of the commission on February 24 suggests the tenure would be six months while the English version says it would be six months from the first meeting. Going by the order in Hindi, the tenure of the commission expired on August 24, but the order in English claims the commission is still “active” as no meeting has been conducted.

Bihar’s home department, which was of the view that six months means “six months from the first meeting”, added to the confusion by mooting a proposal to give the commission another six months. Those who have raised objections say if the commission’s tenure is six months from its first meeting, what is the need for an extension when the commission has not yet met.

The commission, which is currently engaged in trying to find out whether or not it is active, was assigned the task to probe who, including politicians, were behind the communal riots, and why were several accused were set free despite there being evidence against them. The commission was also to probe who caused inordinate delays in distribution of compensation to the riot victims.

The official death count in the Bhagalpur communal riots (October 1989) was 1,891 with thousands others scarred for the rest of their lives. So horrific was the situation in Bhagalpur at that time that in Logain village an entire Muslim mohalla (area) was wiped out. The bodies of 120 Muslim men, women and children were dumped in a shallow pond. When the stench became unbearable, the decomposing corpses were fished out, buried in a field and planted over with cauliflower saplings.

Karunakar not fit for TTD, says Indrasena

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: The appointment of Karunakar Reddy as Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam chairman turned controversial with Bharatiya Janata Party taking exception to an “atheist” and “former Naxalite” being made head of a sacred religious institution. BJP State president N. Indrasena Reddy alleged that Mr Karunakar Reddy was the founder member of Revolutionary Students Union, a wing of the erstwhile People’s War Group which is now referred to as CPI (Maoist), and was arrested by police in some cases. The BJP leader said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had already hurt the sentiments of Hindus by reducing the area of Tirumala hills and turning a Nelson’s eye to the spread of Christianity there. in the abode of Lord Venkateswara. “It is a continuation of attack on Hinduism,” he said.

Congress not keen on T-State: Fernandes

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: National Democratic Alliance convenor and Janata Dal (U) leader George Fernandes on Saturday declared that the formation of separate Telangana was not possible as long as the Congress was in power and it should be achieved only through prolonged struggle. Mr Fernandes said during the two-day discussion on Telangana issue in Parliament, all the major political parties, except the Congress, had approved the demand of Telangana Rashtra Samiti for a separate Telangana State. “The Congress has not at all applied its mind to the sentiments of the people of Telangana, who have been deprived of justice in the last 50 years,” Mr Fernandes alleged. He said the talk of formation of second States Reorganisation Commission and making Hyderabad a Union Territory were just another ploy of the Congress party. “Cheating the people with such gimmicks has been its natural habit,” he said. Mr Fernandes reminded that he had warned TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao against joining the UPA government, since the Congress was known for betraying and cheating the allies. Ruling out the possibility of NDA moving a Private Bill in Parliament for Telangana State, the NDA convenor said in the history of Parliament, only once a Private Bill was passed. "In the present circumstances, except the people's struggle, there is no other way of achieving separate Telangana," he asserted. Ridiculing the TRS leaders for still pinning their hopes on Sonia Gandhi, he said that she, too, could not resolve the issue. He said he had a long association with the Telangana struggle and he would continue to support the movement.

Telangana growth is a myth, says TRS

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti Legislature Party on Saturday challenged the Congress to an open debate on the development of Telangana, which it said was a myth. TRS legislators alleged that the Telangana region was deprived of justice during the tenure of Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. The Pothireddypadu head regulator (which diverts water from Srisailam dam to Rayalaseema) was a glaring example to prove that injustice had been done to Telangana, they said. The TRS leaders reiterated that the TRS was not against the people of Andhra, but only wanted self-rule for the people of Telangana. “Even after the formation of Telangana State, Andhra industrialists can happily stay here and invest,” they said.Legislators Nayani Narasimha Reddy, T. Harish Rao, Padma Devender Reddy, Padma Rao and others said that they would not be held responsible for the tension caused by comments made by Congress leaders like Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and J.C. Diwakar Reddy.

Maoists flay political parties on Telangana

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Speaking out their stand on separate Telangana for the first time after the failure of peace talks, the Maoists on Saturday said a separate Statehood for the backward region would become a reality only through an armed struggle. Coming down heavily on Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders and former Union ministers K. Chandrasekhar Rao and A. Narendra, CPI Maoist Party State official spokesperson Janardhan said his party was ready to support any political party that would fight for the cause of separate Telangana and distribution of land to landless poor. “People now have seen the real faces of Chandrasekhar Rao and Narendra. Shamelessly they clung to power all these years without fighting for the cause of Telangana. It is welcome that at least they have learnt a lesson after people of Telangana rejected the TRS in local and civic body elections. The TRS leaders’ claim that they would intensify the agitation if the party bagged the majority of seats in next Assembly elections is hollow. “It is nothing but yet another method adopted by them to deceive people,” he pointed out. He criticised them for believing Sonia Gandhi though the Congress leadership had made its stand clear on separate Telangana. The Maoists also found fault with the Left parties for supporting the proposal of the Congress government to revive regional development boards. He appealed to people to take up a “militant fight” for the cause of separate Telangana.

T-State a drama: Naidu

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Telugu Desam politburo accused Congress and TRS of enacting a “drama” on Telangana to cheat the people and stick to power. The TD politburo, chaired by party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu said after all the mudslinging it would not be a surprise if TRS accepts second SRC. “Both Congress and TRS won the confidence of people with a spate of promises, including Telangana, but forgot the same after winning 2004 Assembly polls. Both the parties are re-enacting the drama once again,” Mr Kadiam Srihari, general-secretary, Telugu Desam, said after the meeting. Politburo members Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, Umareddy Venkateshwarulu and others were present.Hitting out at Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy for describing the Telangana issue as “sensitive,” they said the Assembly had discussed much more sensitive issues. “The ruling party is scared of discussions because burning issues will come to the fore and the party would not be able to answer Opposition parties. Hence they are avoiding discussion on the issue,” Mr Chandrasekhar Reddy said.The politburo took stock of the just-concluded Panchayat polls and decided to conduct review meetings from mandal to district level through out the State from August 28. The politburo will meet again on September 7 and review the results of the State-wide meetings.

Minister promises new public transport policy

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: The Centre will come out with a new comprehensive policy soon to encourage the public transport to reduce congestion and heavy pollution in all major cities. Union minister for shipping, transport and highways T.R. Balu said on Saturday, “We will be conducting a high level meeting in Shimla on September 5 to discuss various issues with transport ministers of all the States and evolve a policy.” The Centre intends to approach the Planning Commission to assist State governments to strengthen their public transport systems. Mr. Balu was speaking to the media after participating in a national seminar on ‘Need of the Public Transport in the Present Scenario’ conducted by Staff and Workers Federation of APSRTC. He expressed concern ov-er the decline in public tran-sport and advised the States to rationalise the tax structure for encouraging the use of bus as mass mode of transport. The minister said that increasing numbers of two-wheelers and cars has led to adverse consequences like congestion, pollution and accidents. The Karnataka RTC vice-chairman and managing director M.R. Sreenivasa Murthy suggested the State governments to allow public transport undertakings for fare revision whenever oil prices go up. It would help them to be financially viable, he added. The staff and workers federation general-secretary R. Lakshmaiah said that the strengthening of public transport would slash the expenditure of exchequer on road widening, pollution control and public health.

CM’s aide complains his sign forged for Rs 6 lakh

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: The city detective department is investigating into the alleged forgery of the signature of M.G.V.K. Bhanu, special secretary to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, to collect Rs 6 lakh in compensation for a temple submerged by the Somasila dam two decades ago. The investigation follows a complaint lodged by Mr Bhanu with the deputy commissioner of police, detective department on August 21. Sources in the irrigation department said the issue pertains to payment of Rs 6 lakh to one Jale Ayyavaru Chetty, who claimed to be the owner of Sri Venugopala-swamy temple at Yellampet village of Rajampet constituency in Kadapa district. The village along with the temple was submerged in the backwaters of Somasila dam almost two decades ago. Payment of compensation was delayed due to a dispute over the ownership, with the family members of former Congress legislator late Sabhapathi reportedly claiming rights over it. In his complaint to the police, Mr Bhanu said that the office of special deputy collector, Somasila project, Unit IV, Rajampet, had received a fax message purportedly sent by him (Mr Bhanu) wher-ein it was mentioned that Mr Ayyavaru Chetty had a right over certain structure and 80 per cent of the compensation was to be paid as per the orders of High Court. The fax bore the number “letter no. 11972/Gen/2006, dated July 19, 2006.” The draft notification and draft declaration proposals were published on November 23, 2004, and December 1, 2004. The award enquiry was conducted on May 2, 2005. The fax quoted an earlier letter (ref. no. 9273/Gen/2006 dated March 25, 2006) from the CMO to expedite the matter. It also referred to some phone calls made by the Chief Minister’s Office to the special deputy collector. “The matter should not be delayed under any circumstances and the relevant cheques be handed over to Jale Ayyavaru Chetty immediately to avoid further complications,” the fax said. The alleged forgery was detected when the special deputy collector’s office called back to cross-check with Mr Bhanu’s office. Mr Bhanu said in his complaint that he had verified the letter and found it was fabricated. “My signature was fraudulently forged,” Mr Bhanu stated. Special deputy collector Lakshmi Das told this correspondent that Mr Chetty had not been paid any compensation but the amount was deposited with the court. He feigned ignorance about the alleged forgery.

Rented school buildings unsafe

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: About 3,000 students are going to government schools that are run from 15 rented buildings which have been declared dilapidated and unsafe. It has been almost a month since district collector R.V. Chandravadan issued orders to the Hyderabad district education office to repair these buildings or to shift to safer venues. Over the past month, the department has failed to identify new premises. Officials blame it on the norms for hiring buildings. On the other hand, owners of the buildings are not allowing the DEO to repair the buildings. The reason: They want the schools out so that they can cash in on the real estate boom. A senior official of the department told this correspondent that as per the agreement, which is 10 years old, the owners should repair the buildings. This is clearly not happening. No one was ready to rent their premises to government schools, sources said. The government has stringent rules like all taxes and charges on the building should have been paid and that they should have all clearances. The State pays the rent every three months. Owners of these buildings said they have had enough of the problems from giving schools on rent to the government. Hyderabad DEO Jagannath Reddy said, “We have served notices to all the 15 owners to take up repairs or face legal action. We have formed teams to identify new buildings to shift the schools.”

24-hour water to arrest diseases

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Prof. V. Srinivas Chary, Director of Urban Governance in Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) said that uninterrupted water supply would reduce the vulnerability of people to water borne diseases. He made this statement at at a national seminar on water and sanitation, held at Administrative Staff College of India on Saturday where problems caused by interrupted water supply was the main concern. From the national seminar it emerged that the major problem was not that of availability of water, but of managing the distribution of water. Prof. Srinivas Chary also said that regular supply of water also had an effect on checking the infant mortality rate. “Continuous water supply is not just the State’s responsibility but is also an important element in good governance,” he added. According to him, cross contamination of drinking water with sewage can also be checked through regular supply of water.

State against toddy shops in twin cities

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Firm on not allowing toddy shops in the twin cities, the State government has taken the legal battle over closure of shops to the Supreme Court. The excise department has recently filed a special leave petition in the apex court challenging an AP High Court judgment which had struck down the government which order prohibited toddy shops in the city. The State had issued GO 767 disallowing toddy shops in areas where toddy trees were not available within 50 kms. The stated objective was to prevent adulteration. Despite widespread resentment, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy stuck with the decision to ban toddy shops in the twin cities. Subsequently, the AP High Court struck down the GO on a petition filed by the Addagutta Toddy Tappers Cooperative Society. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice G. Bhavani Prasad set aside the order of single judge on the grounds that the appellants (Addagutta TCS) were granted licenses under Rule 3 (2) of the Toddy Rules. It observed that the State’s contention that licence period is only for one year is not applicable as the licence is issued under 3 (2) of toddy rules. Inquiries revealed that the government had landed in a tricky situation thanks to previous Telugu Desam government’s pre-poll decision to grant licenses to TCS or TFT (Tree For Tapper scheme) for more than one year and in some cases on a permanent basis. “The previous decision itself is in violation of the AP Excise Act, 1968 and the AP Excise (lease of right to sell liquor in retail) Rules, 1969,” sources said. “These clearly state that the licence period granted to TCS and TTF shall be for one year and licence held by them shall be renewed for one year at a time,” the sources said. It will be brought to the Supreme Court’s notice that Rule 3 (2) determines the power of granting “licence” to TCS and TTF of one year which shall be renewed for one year at a time.

Kids to make eco-friendly idols

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Students from about 360 city schools have decided to make eco-friendly idols for Ganesh Chathurti on Sunday.The National Green Corps has said that it would provide clay to the schools. NGC is advising schools as well as Ganesha devotees to use eco-friendly material like straw, bamboo and flour to make the idols. The NGC told students that it would be better to immerse the eco-friendly idols in buckets of water at their homes and reuse the water for plants. “This way we are giving back what we have taken from nature,” said NGC director W.G. Prasanna Kumar. Akhila, a class IX student of St. Mary’s High School, Nallkaunta, who took part in an NGC camp, said, “The environment is getting polluted by the plaster that is being used in making idols. We wanted to make the festival eco-friendly.” Mrs. V. Namadevan, management representative of St. Anne’s High School, Lothukunta, Secunderabad, said, “Involvement of children in idol-making increases the child’s imagination and lets out his creativity.” For those who are not making the idols themselves, the eco-friendly idols are available in Narayanaguda, Rajendranagar, Alwal, Uppal and other parts of the city. Curbs for fest Hyderabad, Aug. 26: Commissioner of Police A. K. Mohanty has issued an alert after holding a review meeting with city police officials on the eve of Ganesh festival on Saturday. The police also imposed curbs during the 10-day festival. Following are prohibited: * Installation of mandapams or taking out processions without police permission. * Carrying arms including sticks with or without flags. * Bursting and throwing fire crackers on roads. * Sprinkling gulal on any stranger against his wishes. * Playing music system or broadcasting through loud speakers beyond permitted hours. * Making a speech, gesture or mimetic representation, exhibition or dissemination of pictures, symbols, play cards, or any other thing which is against morality and decency or is likely to create religious animosity or hatred between communities or is likely to bring about commission of an offence or disturbance of peace.

Man ends life for fear of police

Hyderabad, Aug. 26: A 45-year-old wallpainter, P. Padma Rao, who was asked by police to come to police station, ended his life by hanging on Friday night at his residence in Vemukunta under Chandanagar police station limits. The victim’s family said that the fear of police harassment made him end his life. Chandanagar Inspector of Police Madhusudhan Reddy said, “Padma Rao’s niece Kavita had lodged a complaint with us a few days back stating that she was beaten up by him as she wanted to marry a relative. Though a constable was sent to Padma Rao’s home, he was not questioned as he was in an inebriated condition.” “We did not bring him to the police station. We have never harassed or questioned him,” Reddy added. Police has booked a case of suspicious death.

Engineering student in kidnap drama

Hyderabad. Aug. 26: Police arrested an engineering student and his associate while they were reportedly collecting ransom to release a five-year-old boy on Friday evening. The boy, P. Arogya Tarun Reddy, was rescued without harm. Police arrested Ambati Marreddy, 21, of Chintalacheruvu village near Patancheru and Anil of Nadergul and is looking out for Dhanraj, an intermediate student of Royal College. Police said Marreddy, a B.Tech second year student of Bharat Engineering College, was the mastermind and is related to Tarun Reddy. Tarun’s father Dr P. Rajashekar Reddy is working in the West Indies, and his mother Jyothi Reddy had come to India three months ago for delivery. They were staying with her father Mr Inna Reddy who runs ‘My Family School’ at Premnagar. Tarun is a Class 1 student in the school. Sanathnagar inspector M. Sridhar Reddy said that the kidnappers took away Tarun as he came out of school and demanded Rs 10 lakh for his release. The family decided to pay up, and Ms Reddy went in an autorickshaw to Sagar Road, the designated drop point. “We received a tip-off from their relatives and our men in plainclothes followed her. When the boy was released our team pounced on the kidnappers,” the inspector said. Marreddy’s father Shoury Reddy said he did not know that his son was among the kidnappers, “When the police arrested them, I was shocked to see my son. He made friends with rogues,” he said.