Andhranews

Nallamada (Anantapur), Oct. 7: The Congress government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy is making all out efforts to improve facilities for the animal husbandry and dairy development, which is an affiliate to the agriculture sector, said animal husbandry minister and district in-charge minister Gollapalli Surya Rao.

He participated as chief guest in the inauguration of an animal husbandry sub-centre which was sanctioned at Donnikota in the mandal on Saturday. Mandal Praja Parishad president M.D. Lalithamma performed puja in a room in local panchayat office marking the inauguration of the sub-centre, while Zilla Parishad chairperson Topudurthi Kavita cut the ribbon and inaugurated the veterinary hospital.

Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, Mr Surya Rao said that as part of the development of animal husbandry, they had so far granted 85 veterinary hospitals in the State under their regime. Of them, five veterinary hospitals were allocated to Anantapur district. Of the five, three hospitals were set up in Kadiri and Nallamada constituencies, he added.

The minister further said that 226 veterinary doctor posts, 435 compounder pos-ts and 1,352 attender posts were filled so far, he added. The land to set up the hospital at Donnikota was donated by Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple committee chairman Pratap Reddy and the government had sanctioned Rs 5 lakh to construct the building, the minister announced.

Mr Surya Rao alleged that there was an increased number of farmers’ suicides during the Telugu Desam regime, as it ignored to develop the agricultural as well as animal husbandry and dairy industry. Local MLA K Mohan Reddy said that the Congre-ss government was committed to fulfill all the promises made during the elections.

The sanction of veterinary hospital at Donnikota and a 33 KV electric sub-station at Pulagampalli prove this commitment, he added. ZP chairperson Kavitha expressed her satisfaction over the sanctioning off five veterinary hospitals to the district.

Nellore, Oct. 7: Revenue officials are gearing up to launch a massive operation to clear encroachments from Koduru and Eduru joint tank in TP Gudur mandal on Sunday. A large contingent of police is being deployed in the precincts of the tank for the operation.

According to sources, 200 constables, 28 sub-inspectors, 8 circle-inspectors and four DSPs are being drafted for the operation to avoid any untoward incident. The tank, with an extent of 1,960 acres, is the only source to address the irrigation needs of 8,000 acres and drinking water needs of people living in 13 villages in Thotapalli Gudur mandal.

Like many other tanks in the district, this one was also subjected to encroachments and most of the extent was converted into aqua ponds. At least, 502 acres of the tank was subjected to encroachment by about 183 persons. In addition to this, revenue authorities gave pattas for 354 acres for paddy cultivation.

Farmers in the lower level ayacut area approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, alleging that their riparian rights were at stake. They alleged that they were getting only polluted water because of the aqua ponds.

A senior revenue official said that though they gave notices to the encroachers following a High Court order to remove encroachments, they could not proceed further because of the local body and panchayat elections.

The administration is forced to act now because of a recent contempt petition. Though aqua farmers asked for 45 days to clear the encroachments on the pretext of prawn seed growing in the tanks, revenue authorities gave them only three days.

“We gave enough time for them to clear,” district collector M. Ravichandra said. Speaking to this newspaper on Saturday, he said that so-me farmers had already fallen in line and cleared prawn stocks from the tanks.

Referring to the pattas given in the tank, he said that they would not face any problem if they continued with paddy cultivation for which the land was allotted. The collector expressed confidence in clearing encroachments without any hassles, referring to the discussions he held with all political parties as well as farmers.

The collector said that they would start the operation by clearing the tanks which had already emptied stocks to give breathing time to those who have engaged labourers to clear stock.

Ongole, Oct. 7: The State government has sufficient funds to deal with seasonal diseases which are rampant in the State, minister for finance, medical and health K. Rosaiah said. Addressing an awareness seminar on seasonal diseases at Prakasam Bhavan here on Saturday, the minister asserted that the government was committed to ensure public health by all means.

He said that his ministry was taking all necessary steps on a war-footing with the help of people’s representatives to contain the spread of chikungunya, dengue, malaria and filaria in the State. He advised the district administration to launch effective measures to curb the mosquito menace. He said that a Unicef team had also toured the State. He refuted allegations of the opposition that people are dying because of chikungunya.

Referring to a national-level meeting under the auspices of the Union health ministry slated for October 11 on chikungunya, which has spread to 10 States in the country, he said that he would participate in the meeting along with senior officials.

The minister said that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy initiated a three-year drive to eradicate chikungunya, dengue and malaria in the State. He advised officials to take long-term measures to prevent the outbreak of epidemics instead of reacting after occurrence.

He directed officials to clear drainage ponds and ensure the closure of trenches in granite mines reminding that they were the breeding centres for mosquitoes. Mr Rosaiah directed municipal commissioners to maintain hygienic conditions in towns and launch fogging operations in all slum areas. He said that they would organise seminars on seasonal epidemics in all the 23 districts shortly.District collector B. Udayalakshmi explained the steps being taken to prevent diseases in the district.

Markapuram (Prakasam), Oct. 7: Unable to cope with successive setbacks in the form of encounters, loss of arms and ammunition, and massive surrenders, the CPI-Maoist Nallamala forest division committee reportedly passed a resolution, requesting its State committee to wind it up.

According to documents recovered by police during encounters, the NFDC passed this resolution a month ago. A district police officer confirmed it to this newspaper. The NFDC used to have 95 dalam members in 2004. Their strength has come down to 20 at present, sources said.

The police official, quoting the documents, said that after the killings of Maoist State committee secretary Madhav, central committee member and Guntur district committee member Matta Ravi and Chandravanka dalam secretary Shruthi, in various encounters, the NFDC had come to the conclusion that Nallamala was no more a safe zone and asked the remaining dalam members to be merged either with the Kurnool district committee or the Dandakaranya dalam.

The Nallamala forest used to be the heart of Naxalite activities till 16 months ago. However, things changed dramatically after the Maoist leaders came out from the Nallamala forests to participate in peace talks with the State Government.

After the talks failed, the Government launched a major offensive and achieved huge success. Nallamala forest division committee secretary Sudershan who was gunned down in an encounter in Anantapur on Friday, had escaped 25 times.

Chittoor, Oct. 7: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy reiterated his government’s commitment to provide five per cent reservation to Muslims while taking part in an iftar party at Chittoor on Saturday.
He said that reservations earmarked for Muslims helped 200 youth of the community to bag seats in medical colleges and 3,000 in engineering colleges.

Addressing a press conference at Ambedkar Bhavan here on Saturday, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy announced Rs 11 crores towards input subsidy for the farmers of Chittoor district in view of withering of the crop in about two lakh acres because of deficit rainfall.

Referring to the acute shortage for drinking water in Madanapalle town, he directed the officials to resolve the problem by making use of the summer storage tank while assuring a permanent solution through Handri-Neeva and Sujala Sravanthi irrigation projects.

Kakinada, Oct. 7: Kakinada will be one of the major IT centres in the near future as it has the three qualities required for development, said Wipro Technologies vice-chairman B. Krishna Murty. Speaking to mediapersons on Saturday, Mr Murty said that the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) which is to be inaugurated in December will pave the way for the over-all development of the region.

The Wipro vice-chairman said that availability of people, infrastructure and money would definitely pave the way for this development. There are a number of professional colleges also in this region which would help in making selections for the IT centre easy, Mr Murty observed.

Speaking on IT prospects in the global arena for Indian youth, Mr Murty felt that development of language skills, particularly in countries like China and Japan, would not hamper the prospects of Indian youth.

Warangal, Oct. 7: The zilla parishad (ZP) general body meeting was stalled before the noon when the Telugu Desam (TD) and the CPI(M) ZPTC members created a ruckus over the washout of the Gundlavagu irrigation project.

It may be mentioned that a report “CM’s Project Washed Out” was carried in these columns.The agitating CPI(M) members supported by the TD members demanded that criminal cases be registered against the contractor of the washed out project.

As soon as the meeting began, the CPI(M) staged a sit-in at the podium displaying the placards demanding criminal action against the contractor on his alleged failure to adhere to quality norms resulting in the total washout of the project.

Supporting the CPI(M), the TD members too joined the protest demanding immediate action against the contractor. CPI(M) lone ZPTC member Kalavathy was vociferous and declared that she would not allow the proceedings until action was initiated against the contractor and three of her party mandal parishad presidents (MPPs) joined the chorus.

The 22-member strong TD group and their MPPs came forward and sat in dharna in front of the podium.They had heated arguments with Mulug MLA Podem Veeraiah who tried to explain that the government was doing its best to rehabilitate the victims.

Angered by the explanation of the legislator, the Left and the TD leaders asked him not to shield the contractor and reiterated their demand that they would allow the house proceedings after action was taken against the contractor.

Major irrigation minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, social welfare minister D.S. Redya Naik, district collector K. Damayanti were present.
ZP chairperson L. Dhanwanti, who was presiding over the meet, tried to pacify the agitating members in vain. Later in the afternoon, the agenda was taken up and the subjects like agriculture, power supply and other issues were discussed in the ZP meet.

Meanwhile, Builders Association of Andhra Pra-desh State president K. Sudharshan Reddy said that it was not proper on the part of the Opposition parties to unilaterally blame Gundlavagu project contractor V. Satyamurthy for the project washout.

Karimnagar, Oct. 7: The Congress campaign managers have decided to take the help of former friends-turned-foes of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao to defeat the TRS president in the ensuing by-election to the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat.

The party has already entrusted the task to former MLAs K. Mrutyunjayam, Juvvadi Chandresekhar Rao and R. Papa Rao, former MP Gotte Bhoopathi, and former zilla parishad chairman K.V. Rajeshwar Rao.

The veteran leaders have been mainly focusing on the factors like Mr Chandrasekhar Rao’s “failure” to visit the people of his constituency during the times of distress in the last two-and-a-half years and accomplish the development works promised by him.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday, former Karimnagar MLA J. Chandrasekhar Rao alleged that the TRS president had neglected his constituency. “The TRS chief made a mockery of the people’s verdict for individual reasons”, he charged. He ridiculted the TRS contention that the outcome of the bypoll was a referendum on Telangana.

Vijayawada, Oct. 7: Keeping everyone guessing on her resignation, mayor Tadi Sakuntala left the Vijaya-wada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Saturday. Sources close to Ms Sakuntala told this correspondent that she decided to quit the post on October 9 when the council meets again to complete the business listed on the agenda. “She had met the party leaders and clarified that she would tender her resignation on Monday,” the sources said.

Though it was speculated that Ms Sakuntala would resign on Saturday as she had completed her one-year term in office, she left the council after lunch break leaving the task of conducting rest of the proceedings to deputy mayor Ch. Krishna Kumar. Even the deputy mayor could not give any information about the unavailability of the mayor and had postponed the meeting to October 9.

Expecting that Ms Sakuntala would step down at the end of the council meeting, the aspirants from the Congress even secured clearance from the high command. The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee formally named M.V. Rathna Bindu as the next mayor for two years, while Mallika Beg-um would succeed her for the last two years.

Ms Sakuntala had tried for an extension to ensure that the developmental works initiated by her through Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) would be put in the right direction. In fact, the mayor and commissioner Natarajan Gulzar worked hard to get Rs 7,300 crores Central funds under the JNNURM.

The funds have just started flowing in, but Ms Sakuntala had to step down due to the agreement reached between the Left parties and the Congress last year. The Congress was not in favour of continuing Ms Sakuntala in the chair as the party has many aspirants. The CPI leadership too was unwilling to allow Ms Sakuntala to continue in the office due to internal squabbles.

Vijayawada, Oct. 7: The CPI, CPI(M) and the Telugu Desam (TD) corporators in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) have singled out the Congress for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

The business in the council was conducted as dictated by the three parties and the independents while the Congress corporators remained spectators. Mayor Tadi Sakuntala allowed the Opposition to have a field day as her one-year term came to an end on Saturday.
Several Congress members did not attend the meeting for the past two days.

Though the Congress wanted to postpone discussion on the public-private partnership programme of the VMC, the Left and the TD debated the issue and demanded withdrawal of the proposal. They even insisted on the Council taking up voting on the subject, but it was dropped as the Congress pleaded for postponement.

Senior Congress corporator Sistla Ramalinga Mur-thy and deputy mayor Ch. Krishna Kumar tried their best to save the Congress from the crisis, in vain. When the issue of giving 3,248 square yards of the VMC’s land at the APIIC Colony for development under the public-private participation was raised, CPI floor leader P. Gow-tham Reddy opposed it and said the officials have proposed to give the prime land to a private company at a throw-away price.

He said that the private company had proposed to construct a multi-storeyed complex by paying a nominal lease to the VMC. Stating that the cost projections by the private company were more while the land value projections by the VMC were less, Mr Reddy wondered why the VMC wanted to give away the prime land to the private company. He requested the council to reject the proposal and take up the same project on its own with the financial support from nationalised banks.

CPI(M) floor leader Ch. Babu Rao wanted to know why the VMC had to give the prime land to a private company when the government departments like tourism and others were promoting the same. He said that the private companies have come forward to construct food courts, multiplex theatres and shopping malls and wondered why the VMC should take up a similar project.

TD floor leader Y. Ramana Rao, CPI corporator D. Shankar and CPI(M) corporator D. Kasinatha also insisted on the council rejecting the proposal. However, Mr Ramalinga Murthy requested the agitated members to restrain from insisting on a decision as the issue was postponed for the next meeting.

The Congress had to face strong criticism when Central funds and privatisation of garbage collection and the vehicles maintenance came up for discussion.

4 areas in city identified by VMC

Visakhapatnam, Oct. 7: The Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) had identified four vulnerable areas in the city for the possible spread of dengue fever. The areas include MVP Colony, Chilakapeta, Kotaveedhi and Dykes tank area.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here on Saturday, GVMC commissioner N. Srikanth said that 40 special teams were deployed in these areas to take up anti-larval measures like pyrathrum spraying and fogging. “Apart from this, around 400 additional workers were deployed to undertake preventive measures in various other parts of the city,” Mr Srikanth said.

Stating that Tiger mosquito that breeds in cool and shady areas is the main cause for dengue, the commissioner appealed to the people to observe ‘dry day’ once a week. “It would be better if public observe ‘dry day’ in a week. On that particular day let them empty all their utensils used to stock water, clean them and also dispose all the plastic covers in their houses. These are all preventive measures which they have to take from their side,” Mr Srikanth said.

He added that until now the authorities did not identify any dengue cases in the city. The GVMC authorities also informed all the hospitals in the city to immediately get back to them if anyone approaches the hospitals with the symptoms of dengue which include rashes, severe body pains and high fever.

Visakhapatnam, Oct. 7: The Greater Visakha Mun-icipal Corporation (GVMC) authorities are contemplating to rationalise the water charges under all the categories after the corporation elections. This was disclosed by GVMC commissioner N. Srikanth. He said that the water charges collected in Vizag were lower than the charges collected in Vijayawada and Hyderabad.

“Public have to pay more amounts in addition to the water charges in the name of other charges in Vijayawada and Hyderabad. But here they need to pay only according to the meter reading,” Mr Srikanth said. The commissioner was reacting to the claim of some apartment-dwellers that they were forced to pay more amounts as water charges against those staying in independent houses.

Mr Srikanth said that they would resume water supply to the 40 apartments if the apartment-dwellers give letters stating that they would pay one fourth of the pending bills and cheques towards the amounts by October 10.

When asked why water supply was disconnected to only 40 apartments out of the approximate 900 apartments which have to pay dues, the commissioner said that they disconnected water supply after giving two months of time to pay the pending bills. “We will withdraw water supply without any discrimination if anyone fails to pay pending bills” he said.