Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Andhrapradesh Regional News July 20th,2006
LPG backlog comes down in Kakinada
Kakinada, July 19: LPG supplies which were affected in the past 10 days, improved to some extent. At present, consumers are getting cylinders after a week from the date of booking. The backlog is likely to continue till the end of the month.
There are about six lakh LPG connections in East Godavari out of which two lakh connections were distributed under the Deepam scheme. According to sources, while the average consumption of a regular connection holder is one 14.2 kg cylinder per month, the consumption of Deepam connection holder varies from 60 to 90 days. There are 41 outlets to distribute supplies for IOC, HPCL and BPCL in the district.
Two reasons were attributed for the backlog in the district. These are short supplies from oil companies because of technical reasons, panic-booking among consumers and the spread of rumours over the likely increase in the price of LPG.
According to sources, the district requires 15,000 cylinders at an average per day. It is learnt that the backlog is confined only to two companies out of the three, as supplies from the IOC are normal. With the improvement in supplies in the last three days, the backlog is coming down in the district, and it is likely to come to current booking by the end of the month. Gas company outlets are receiving 15 to 20 per cent more than the normal booking for LPG supply in the last one week.
When this correspondent contacted district supply officer of East Godavari Rajiv Sharma on Wednesday, he said that the backlog had occurred in the BPCL supplies only as there was some delay in receiving LPG consignment.
Shiploads which were supposed to reach Visakhapatnam in the last week of June were received in the first week of July. He added that LPG supplies were going on as per the current booking in Amalapuram area. There is a backlog at present in two outlets at Rajahmundry and one outlet in Kakinada. He assured that the backlog would be cleared by the end of the month.
Special teams to curb factions
Anantapur, July 19: Factionism has been creating a lot of problems to the common people in the district. The faction culture, which was almost extinct in Kadapa and Kurnool districts, is continues to plague the Anantapur district.
As political leaders are patronising the factionists, the police are finding it difficult to take action against them. The scourge of factionism was started in 1970s in the district with the killing of father of Paritala Ravi. The factionism was increased after the murder of Maddilacheruvu Suri’s father.
As per police records, 44 faction incidents occurred in the last 17 years in the district and over 100 people died in the incidents. Three faction incidents occurred in 1989, two in 1991, six in 1994, eight in 1995, one in 1996, one in 1997, four in 1999, one in 2000, three in 2001, one in 2003, five in 2004 and two faction-related incidents occurred in 2005. Seven faction incidents have occurred so far in the district this year. The factionism, which showed downward trend for sometime, reared its ugly head in the last two years.
Factionism is one of the main reasons for the backwardness of the district in all spheres. As Mafia and Maoists are also helping the factionists the violent incidents have been increasing in the district. Hired killers are playing a key role in various faction killing in the district. The hired killers and the faction leaders are having a field day during the election time.
The police decided to constitute faction zone teams with an inspector, four SIs and 20 constables to eradicate factionism in the district. The police officials decided to appoint only those police personnel who had no links with political leaders in teams.
The police top brass also decided to a constitute a special wing in the special branch to crack the whip on the factionism. The police officials are also planning to extern history sheeters and faction leaders from the district.
Anantapur range DIG Jayarami Reddy announced that the Preventive Detention Act would also be used against those encouraging factions in the district.
Police mediate in auction of sarpanch post
Proddutur (Kadapa), July 19: An auction was conducted for the sarpanch post of Parlapadu village in Rajupalem mandal on Wednesday and the police mediated between the Congress and the Telugu Desam leaders, who vied with each other to clinch the post. Mr Tolla Papaiah, supported by the TD, who offered to pay Rs 8.01 lakh for the post, won the auction.
According to sources, Many Congress and TD leaders wanted to contest for the sarpanch post, which was reserved for SCs. Leaders of both the parties held several rounds of talks on Tuesday night, but could not reach a consensus on the issue.
The Congress leaders obstructed Mr Tolla Papaiah, who along with 10 ward member contestants tried to file nominations, at Arkatavemula. Both the Congress and the TD men hurled stones at each other and tension prevailed in the village.
Proddutur DSP S.M. Basha and rural CI Ramachandra Reddy with additional police forces reached the village and brought the situation under control. The police organised a meeting with the leaders of the Congress and the TD at the temple. Congress leader Maheswara Reddy, TD leader Venkatapathi Reddy and others took part in the discussions.
The leaders decided that the sarpanch candidate should be selected through sealed tenders. Mr Papaiah supported by the TD filed tender for Rs 8.01 lakhs and Mr Avula Bhaskar supported by the Congress filed tender for Rs 3,41,118.
Mr Papaiah, who “won” the tender promised to pay the amount by the date of withdrawal of nominations. The leaders also agreed to spend the amount for development of the temple.
Rules to ease traffic in Ongole
Ongole, July 19: Ongole traffic police have made changes in traffic rules on some important routes and parking places in the town to ease traffic. Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Town CI Mr Bala Venkateswara Rao and Traffic Sub-Inspector Mr Srikanthbabu said that one way traffic would be introduced in Pattivari Street between Enuguchettu centre to the mosque.
As Pattivari Street was very narrow, it could not cope up with two-way traffic. One way traffic will also be implemented between PSR Statue at Tata Buildings to the end of Kanayaka Parameswari street. Traffic police imposed a ban on movement of autos and four- wheelers from Gandhi statue to Flower Bazaar on Trunk road from 8 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm. One- way traffic being implemented between Mastan Darga and Miriyalapalem centre would continue as usual.
Parking for four wheelers was provided from HCM school to Miriyalagudem centre near Srinivasa theatre line, from NTR statue to MSR statue on South side and also on Ura Cheruvu road. However, parking of four-wheelers were banned on Kurnool road, Market Centre and Trunk road. Entry of pushcarts was prohibited from the RTC exit gate to the Magunta Subbaramireddy statue.
Security beefed up at rail stations
Ongole, July 19: The recent serial train blasts in Mumbai have prompted the railway authorities to beef up security arrangements in trains and railway stations. The SC Railway Vijayawada division is taking measures to install the state-of-art surveillance cameras and metal detector gates at important railway stations between Visakhapatnam and Gudur.
Officials have decided to increase escort strength in trains and at railway stations to prevent any extremist activity. Railways is taking serious measures to increase security in the region because a large number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala pass through Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore railway stations.
Officials suspect that extremists could target trains passing between Vijayawada and Tirupati. In this backdrop, S. Mayank, senior security commissioner, SC Railway Vijayawada division is visiting all major railway stations between Gudur and Visakhapatnam and reviewing security measures taken by the RPF and the government railway police.
He visited Ongole on Wednesday and conducted a review meeting with officials. Later, speaking to this newspaper, he said that train escort strength would be increased and metal detectors would be set up at important railway stations. Proposals were also being considered to provide entry door frame metal detectors in train compartments, Mr Mayank said.
Talking about surveillance cameras, he said that each camera would record film for 30 days without break, and would be extremely useful to security staff. So far, surveillance cameras were installed only in Vijayawada railway station, the senior commissioner said.
He added that the railways had taken up the major task of rebuilding confidence among train passengers in the wake of the serial bomb blasts in Mumabi. Asked about security measures in railway stations and trains in coastal districts, he expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements.
He insisted that security staff be more vigilant in railway stations between Vijayawada and Nellore because a large number of Hindu devotees visiting Tirumala, pass through this route.
Spy cameras at rail stations
Ongole, July 19: The recent serial blasts in Mumbai has prompted the railway authorities to beef up security in trains and railway stations. The South Central Railway, Vijayawada division, is taking measures to install surveillance cameras and metal detectors at important railway stations between Visakhapatnam and Gudur.
Officials have decided to increase escort strength in trains and at railway stations to prevent any extremist activity. Railways are taking serious measures to increase security in the region, because a large number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala pass through Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore railway stations. Officials suspect that extremists could target trains passing between Vijayawada and Tirupati.
In this backdrop, S. Mayank, senior security commissioner, SC Railway, Vijayawada division is visiting all major railway stations between Gudur and Visakhapatnam, and reviewing security measures.Mr Mayank said that each surveillance camera would record film for 30 days without break.
Medical teams rush to mandals
Rajahmundry, July 19: Following the prevalence of viral fevers in largescale in Dwarakatirumala, Devarapalli, Jangareddygudem, Koyyalagudem, Jeelugimilli and other mandals, medical teams were despatched to provide medical care to the affected people in West Godavari district.
District medical and health authorities said that medical teams were sent to the mandals where large number of viral fevers were noticed in the last few days. Blood smears and serum were being collected from the people suffering from fevers at the PHCs in the villages and they were being sent for analysis to Pune.
District medical and health officer Dr D.S. Sarma told this newspaper that special medical teams from Hyderabad visited the affected areas to get first-hand information on the extent of the problem in the district.
He said that the district medical and health department, in association with panchayat raj and rural water supply officials, took up chlorination of the water bodies and added that if people could maintain sanitation in their close environs they could avoid falling a victim to viral fevers including chikungunya. He said that as they were still awaiting the reports from Pune, there were no confirmed cases of people infected with chikungunya so far.
He denied reports of the death of two persons at Kamavarapukota due to chikungunya. He said that death of Relangi Kantamma, 48, from Yadavalli village was due to health problem as blood traces were found in her vommiting and motion also. With reference to the eath of P. Veeraiah, 60, hailing from Ramannapalem panchayat, the DMHO said that it was due to heart failure.
The DMHO said that they were taking all measures to contain the spread of fevers in villages and added that they were providing medical stocks at PHCs for the patients in addition to sending medical teams to provide medical care.
Bypass to ease Warangal traffic
Warangal, July 19: The Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (Kuda) has decided to develop a 100-ft bypass road from Bandham Cheruvu to the Hunter Road bridge so as to decongest traffic on the busy city roads.
The proposed road will help divert heavy vehicular traffic entering the city from the REC petrol pump via Bandham Cheruvu to Hunter Road. A road will be formed along the railway tracks and would connect the Hunter Road bridge on way to the Khammam highway.
Though the road was planned in the master plan, successive dispensations at Kuda and other civic bodies ignored it. The manifold increase in traffic has necessitated the formation of the road. Speaking to this correspondent, joint collector Syed Omer Jaleel said that road works would be taken up very soon and efforts were on to mobilise funds.
Works estimations were also in progress. Asked about unauthorised layouts along the railway tracks, the joint collector said that all unauthorised layout managers would be issued notices and there would be a thorough enquiry into their legal rights over the lands, and their permissions to the layout the land would also be verified.
Elaborating on other developmental programmes taken up by Kuda, Mr Jaleel said that Kuda would soon launch works on its convention centre at the Kakatiya Musical Gardens.
Expressing confidence on its early completion, he said that the proposed centre would be thrown open by August 15. It would accommodate 600 to 800 people at a time. The drainage canal outside the park would be covered and a new look would be given to the backdrop of the centre.
Besides roads and the convention centre development, Kuda has taken up traffic island development programme in a big way. Setting up of water fountains, rhythmic lighting and developing greenery would be taken up by Kuda.
Desam bags two mandals, TRS gets one
Karimnagar, July 19: The Telugu Desam bagged two mandal parishad president posts while the TRS secured one MPP post in the elections held in three mandals on Wednesday.
Elections were postponed earlier in Saidapur, Dharmaram and Eliged mandals for want of quorum on July 11. The TD MPTCs N. Linga Rao and Ammula Iylamma won the Saidapur and Eliged MPP posts respectively. The TRS MPTC member Kodari Hanmaiah was elected as the Dharmaram mandal parishad president.
Veeresham and T. Sanjeev Rao of the TD bagged the Saidapur and Eliged mandal parishad vice-president posts respectively. Komatireddy Buchi Reddy of the TD secured the Dharmaram mandal parishad vice-president post.
The elections went off peacefully amid tight security. After the latest results, the MPP posts held by different political parties in the district are as follows: The Congress (29), the TD (18), the TRS (6), the CPI (1), the BJP (1) and independents (2). The newly-elected MPPs and the office bearers will assume charge at the special meet to be held in the respective mandals on July 22.
Similarly, the newly-elected ZP chairman Arepalli Mohan will assume office along with his new team at the ZP special meet slated for July 23. The term of the previous ZP chairman expires on July 22. Meanwhile, the aspirants of the gram panchayat posts vied with each other to file nomination papers on the last day on Wednesday.
A total of 385 nominations were submitted for the 29 sarpanch posts in Karimnagar mandal. As many as 1,541 nominations were filed in respect of the panchayat wards in the mandal. The ZP vice-chairman T. Ravinder Goud’s wife Revathi was elected unanimously for the sarpanch post from Hanmajipet in Vemulawada mandal. Only her single nomination was received for the post.
Leftists call to roll back prices
Vijayawada, July 19: Tension prevailed on Mahatma Gandhi Road for a couple of hours with the police and the activists of the Left parties fighting over the latter’s dharna against price hike in the State. The activists of the CPI and the CPM held a massive dharna at the sub-collectorate on Wednesday protesting against the incr-ease in prices of essential commodities.
The activists raised slogans against the government and threatened to intensify agitation if the prices of the essential commodities were not brought down. At the fag end of the agitation, CPM district unit secretary V. Umamahes-wara Rao was addressing the gathering when the assistant commissioner of police S.M. Vali took away the mike from him.
Angered by the ACP’s act, women and youth from the CPI and CPM pushed the ACP away and shouted slogans against the police. The police and the Left activists hurled abuses at each other leading to mild tension in the area. In an attempt to clear the activists from the busy MG Road, the police arrested CPI corporator D. Shankar and pushed him into the police van which further irked the activists. The activists rushed to the corporator’s rescue.
However, with women taking the lead in the agitation, the police retreated allowing them to withdraw on their own from the road. The angry activists then held a road blockade blaming the police of trying to suppress their voice using force. “We have seen several canes and guns and you cannot stop us from agitating against the anti-people policies of the government,” the women activists warned the police.
Later, addressing the activists, the Left leaders blamed the State and the Central government for having failed to control the ever-increasing prices of essential commodities. The leaders said that those in the government in the State and at the Centre have no control over the administration and were allowing bureaucracy to take World Bank-dictated decisions.
The Left leaders asked the government to rollback the prices of all essential commodities and ensure that the common minimum programme was strictly implemented. CPI legislator Shaik Nasarvali, former MLA K. Subba Raju, senior leader Kolli Nageswara Rao, CPI district secretary V. Umamaheswara Rao and corporator D. Kasinath were among those who participated in the agitation.
Jamaat decries bomb blasts
Vijayawada, July 19: The national general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mohammed Jafar on Wed-nesday condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar last week. Mohammed Jafar, who was here to interact with the local leaders, paid tributes to those who were killed in the massive explosions.
He demanded that the government take stringent action against those who were res-ponsible for the incident and ensure that such incidents did not recur in the future. He said that the Jamaat-e-Islami had taken active part in the relief and rehabilitation of the bomb blast victims.
However, he condemned the media reports linking the Jamaat-e-Ismali with the terrorist groups and holding it responsible for the blasts. He said that such reports have hurt the sentiments of several Muslims across the country.
He stated that the terrorist activities were being carried out by a few disgruntled elements, while majority of the Muslims in the country were peace-loving. He called upon the people to understand the difference and stop suspecting every Muslim.
Mohammed Jafar also asked the government and the officials to catch the real culprits behind such incidents.
Desam support helps rival
Khammam, July 19: The Congress has bagged Konijerla mandal praja parishad chairmanship with the support of its arch rival, the Telugu Desam. Konijerla MPTC and Congress candidate Talluri Venkatamma was elected mandal parishad chairperson. Out of the 16 MPTCs, 15 attended the special meeting of mandal parishad conducted on Wednesday.
Ms Venkatamma was elected unanimously as no one else contested against her. The Telugu Desam, which won five MPTC seats, decided to support the Congress which bagged four MPTCs. Telugu Desam candidate Potla Srinivas was elected vice-chairman with the support of the Congress. Though the CPI won seven MPTC seats, it also supported the Congress, but it did not get any post in the Konijerla mandal pari-shad.
On the other hand, the Congress won the mandal parishads of Burgumpahad and Kha-mmam Urban and the Telugu Desam bagged Tirumalayapalem and Nelakondapalli pari-shads. Telugu Desam candidate and Medepalli MPTC Aludas Anja-neyulu was elected mandal parishad chairman of Tirumalayapalem and CPM candidate Nukala Bikshama Reddy was elected the vice-chairman.
The Congress planned to use the internal squabbles in TD to get the Tirumalayapam mandal parishad. But, the Telugu Desam leadership okayed the candidature of A. Anjaneyulu, who is the follower of former legislator Sandra Venkata Veeraiah. Khanapuram-1 MPTC and Congress candidate Dongala Indira was elected Khammam Urban mandal parishad chairperson and CPI candidate U. Krishna Reddy as vice-chairman.
AMC help sought over fevers
Visakhapatnam, July 19: The public health department of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation sought the assistance of Andhra Medical College professors to deal with the fever cases which had gone up since February this year.
The specialists drawn from medicine, Social Preventive Medicine (SPM) and microbiology would conduct a brief survey and submit a report to the corporation suggesting remedial and preventive measures.
Sources said 13 people have died due to chikungunya and of them six died in Venkateswara Colony alone recently. Deaths could be more but they were not registered as the treatment was done in smaller clinics or by the quacks.
Denying deaths due to chikungunya, municipal commissioner N. Srikanth said the survey was being conducted to ascertain the reason for sudden rise in the fever cases in the urban areas of entire south India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Talking to this correspondent here on Wednesday, the commissioner said the instead of repenting later, it was better to know the cause of fevers now. Ruling out incidence of chikungunya in the city, he said rumours were floated about gunya which was found mostly in African countries and in France.
“There was no sudden increase in the traffic or any event occurred in the city or in the region which could have drawn people from France or African countries to trigger the fevers. Even five samples that were sent for testing for chikungunya turned out to be negative. We want to break this mystery,” the commissioner said.
But the public health department would continue sanitation drive and fight against the mosquitoes, the commissioner added. He said only five per cent of the population was suffering from fever which was normal for the city.
Police warns senior students
Visakhapatnam, July 19: City police commissioner V.S.K. Kaumudi and the deputy commissioner, Bhavana Saxena, advised the senior students of the Andhra University not to resort to ragging and ruin their own careers.
Speaking at an interactive session “Prohibition of ragging on the campus” organised by the varsity to sensitise students on the menace here on Wednesday, Mr Kaumudi asked the students to treat the newcomers with love and affection as they come from distance places leaving their beloved to stay in the hostels.
He asked them to embrace the juniors and guide them. Deputy commissioner of police Bhavana Saxena explained the law on ragging that came into force in 1997 to control the problem in colleges and varsities. She said that if a student was booked in a ragging case it might lead to the cancellation of his passport, which deprives him of dream job abroad.
“Sometimes a student booked for ragging may end up in jail for five years besides paying huge fines. So don’t spoil your careers by indulging in ragging. Be a responsible senior student and guide your juniors,” said the deputy commissioner. Ms Bhavana Saxena also said that the responsibility of controlling ragging vests also with the teachers on the campus.
She asked the juniors to come forward boldly and lodge complaint with the authorities if they were subjected to ragging. Andhra University vice-chancellor Prof. L. Venugopala Reddy also spoke on the occasion.
ABK calls for an end to mummy daddy culture
Nizamabad, July 19: Official Language Commission chairman A.B.K. Prasad said that the Commission had written a letter for the second time to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to declare Telugu as a classical language a few days ago.
The Prime Minister had responded to a special delegation which met him two months ago in New Delhi. Speaking to this newspaper in Nizamabad, he said, “I stated in the letter that an announcement should be made on August 15”.
Mr A.B.K. Prasad arrived here on Wednesday to participate at a programme called “Telugu-Vikasam” which aims to explain Telugu implementation to district level officials. He said that the Commission had decided to form special teams with senior officials to strictly implement Telugu for office correspondence.
“We will form one special team each for 3 districts.” This team will tour districts and submit a detailed report once a month to the Commission regarding the progress of implementation. He also said that the commission was also insisting that parents teach Telugu to their children. Children were forgetting our mother tongue, he lamented.
Parents should not ask their children to call them mummy and daddy. In Egypt, corpses were called mummy. Daddy could well be dummy. Parents should habituate their children to call them Amma and Nanna, he appealed.
Ragging will cancel your passport
Visakhapatnam, July 19: Vizag deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Bhavana Saxena on Wednesday said that if a student is booked under ragging it might lead to the cancellation of his or her passport, which deprives their chances of going abroad.
“A student may also be jailed at least for five years if he or she is booked in a ragging case besides being slapped with fines,” the DCP said. She cautioned the senior students not to resort to ragging and ruin their careers.
Ms Saxena was speaking at an interactive session on ‘Prohibition of ragging on the campus’ organised by the Andhra University. The session was held in the backdrop of four AU students being suspended on Monday for ragging a junior student.
The DCP explained that a law on ragging came into force in 1997 to control the menace in the colleges and varsities. Speaking on the occasion, city police commissioner V. S.K. Kaumudi urged the students to treat the newcomers with love and affection as they come from far away places and stay in hostels. Mr Kaumudi asked the seniors to guide the junior students in their future endeavours.
Kakinada, July 19: LPG supplies which were affected in the past 10 days, improved to some extent. At present, consumers are getting cylinders after a week from the date of booking. The backlog is likely to continue till the end of the month.
There are about six lakh LPG connections in East Godavari out of which two lakh connections were distributed under the Deepam scheme. According to sources, while the average consumption of a regular connection holder is one 14.2 kg cylinder per month, the consumption of Deepam connection holder varies from 60 to 90 days. There are 41 outlets to distribute supplies for IOC, HPCL and BPCL in the district.
Two reasons were attributed for the backlog in the district. These are short supplies from oil companies because of technical reasons, panic-booking among consumers and the spread of rumours over the likely increase in the price of LPG.
According to sources, the district requires 15,000 cylinders at an average per day. It is learnt that the backlog is confined only to two companies out of the three, as supplies from the IOC are normal. With the improvement in supplies in the last three days, the backlog is coming down in the district, and it is likely to come to current booking by the end of the month. Gas company outlets are receiving 15 to 20 per cent more than the normal booking for LPG supply in the last one week.
When this correspondent contacted district supply officer of East Godavari Rajiv Sharma on Wednesday, he said that the backlog had occurred in the BPCL supplies only as there was some delay in receiving LPG consignment.
Shiploads which were supposed to reach Visakhapatnam in the last week of June were received in the first week of July. He added that LPG supplies were going on as per the current booking in Amalapuram area. There is a backlog at present in two outlets at Rajahmundry and one outlet in Kakinada. He assured that the backlog would be cleared by the end of the month.
Special teams to curb factions
Anantapur, July 19: Factionism has been creating a lot of problems to the common people in the district. The faction culture, which was almost extinct in Kadapa and Kurnool districts, is continues to plague the Anantapur district.
As political leaders are patronising the factionists, the police are finding it difficult to take action against them. The scourge of factionism was started in 1970s in the district with the killing of father of Paritala Ravi. The factionism was increased after the murder of Maddilacheruvu Suri’s father.
As per police records, 44 faction incidents occurred in the last 17 years in the district and over 100 people died in the incidents. Three faction incidents occurred in 1989, two in 1991, six in 1994, eight in 1995, one in 1996, one in 1997, four in 1999, one in 2000, three in 2001, one in 2003, five in 2004 and two faction-related incidents occurred in 2005. Seven faction incidents have occurred so far in the district this year. The factionism, which showed downward trend for sometime, reared its ugly head in the last two years.
Factionism is one of the main reasons for the backwardness of the district in all spheres. As Mafia and Maoists are also helping the factionists the violent incidents have been increasing in the district. Hired killers are playing a key role in various faction killing in the district. The hired killers and the faction leaders are having a field day during the election time.
The police decided to constitute faction zone teams with an inspector, four SIs and 20 constables to eradicate factionism in the district. The police officials decided to appoint only those police personnel who had no links with political leaders in teams.
The police top brass also decided to a constitute a special wing in the special branch to crack the whip on the factionism. The police officials are also planning to extern history sheeters and faction leaders from the district.
Anantapur range DIG Jayarami Reddy announced that the Preventive Detention Act would also be used against those encouraging factions in the district.
Police mediate in auction of sarpanch post
Proddutur (Kadapa), July 19: An auction was conducted for the sarpanch post of Parlapadu village in Rajupalem mandal on Wednesday and the police mediated between the Congress and the Telugu Desam leaders, who vied with each other to clinch the post. Mr Tolla Papaiah, supported by the TD, who offered to pay Rs 8.01 lakh for the post, won the auction.
According to sources, Many Congress and TD leaders wanted to contest for the sarpanch post, which was reserved for SCs. Leaders of both the parties held several rounds of talks on Tuesday night, but could not reach a consensus on the issue.
The Congress leaders obstructed Mr Tolla Papaiah, who along with 10 ward member contestants tried to file nominations, at Arkatavemula. Both the Congress and the TD men hurled stones at each other and tension prevailed in the village.
Proddutur DSP S.M. Basha and rural CI Ramachandra Reddy with additional police forces reached the village and brought the situation under control. The police organised a meeting with the leaders of the Congress and the TD at the temple. Congress leader Maheswara Reddy, TD leader Venkatapathi Reddy and others took part in the discussions.
The leaders decided that the sarpanch candidate should be selected through sealed tenders. Mr Papaiah supported by the TD filed tender for Rs 8.01 lakhs and Mr Avula Bhaskar supported by the Congress filed tender for Rs 3,41,118.
Mr Papaiah, who “won” the tender promised to pay the amount by the date of withdrawal of nominations. The leaders also agreed to spend the amount for development of the temple.
Rules to ease traffic in Ongole
Ongole, July 19: Ongole traffic police have made changes in traffic rules on some important routes and parking places in the town to ease traffic. Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Town CI Mr Bala Venkateswara Rao and Traffic Sub-Inspector Mr Srikanthbabu said that one way traffic would be introduced in Pattivari Street between Enuguchettu centre to the mosque.
As Pattivari Street was very narrow, it could not cope up with two-way traffic. One way traffic will also be implemented between PSR Statue at Tata Buildings to the end of Kanayaka Parameswari street. Traffic police imposed a ban on movement of autos and four- wheelers from Gandhi statue to Flower Bazaar on Trunk road from 8 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm. One- way traffic being implemented between Mastan Darga and Miriyalapalem centre would continue as usual.
Parking for four wheelers was provided from HCM school to Miriyalagudem centre near Srinivasa theatre line, from NTR statue to MSR statue on South side and also on Ura Cheruvu road. However, parking of four-wheelers were banned on Kurnool road, Market Centre and Trunk road. Entry of pushcarts was prohibited from the RTC exit gate to the Magunta Subbaramireddy statue.
Security beefed up at rail stations
Ongole, July 19: The recent serial train blasts in Mumbai have prompted the railway authorities to beef up security arrangements in trains and railway stations. The SC Railway Vijayawada division is taking measures to install the state-of-art surveillance cameras and metal detector gates at important railway stations between Visakhapatnam and Gudur.
Officials have decided to increase escort strength in trains and at railway stations to prevent any extremist activity. Railways is taking serious measures to increase security in the region because a large number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala pass through Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore railway stations.
Officials suspect that extremists could target trains passing between Vijayawada and Tirupati. In this backdrop, S. Mayank, senior security commissioner, SC Railway Vijayawada division is visiting all major railway stations between Gudur and Visakhapatnam and reviewing security measures taken by the RPF and the government railway police.
He visited Ongole on Wednesday and conducted a review meeting with officials. Later, speaking to this newspaper, he said that train escort strength would be increased and metal detectors would be set up at important railway stations. Proposals were also being considered to provide entry door frame metal detectors in train compartments, Mr Mayank said.
Talking about surveillance cameras, he said that each camera would record film for 30 days without break, and would be extremely useful to security staff. So far, surveillance cameras were installed only in Vijayawada railway station, the senior commissioner said.
He added that the railways had taken up the major task of rebuilding confidence among train passengers in the wake of the serial bomb blasts in Mumabi. Asked about security measures in railway stations and trains in coastal districts, he expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements.
He insisted that security staff be more vigilant in railway stations between Vijayawada and Nellore because a large number of Hindu devotees visiting Tirumala, pass through this route.
Spy cameras at rail stations
Ongole, July 19: The recent serial blasts in Mumbai has prompted the railway authorities to beef up security in trains and railway stations. The South Central Railway, Vijayawada division, is taking measures to install surveillance cameras and metal detectors at important railway stations between Visakhapatnam and Gudur.
Officials have decided to increase escort strength in trains and at railway stations to prevent any extremist activity. Railways are taking serious measures to increase security in the region, because a large number of pilgrims visiting Tirumala pass through Vijayawada, Ongole and Nellore railway stations. Officials suspect that extremists could target trains passing between Vijayawada and Tirupati.
In this backdrop, S. Mayank, senior security commissioner, SC Railway, Vijayawada division is visiting all major railway stations between Gudur and Visakhapatnam, and reviewing security measures.Mr Mayank said that each surveillance camera would record film for 30 days without break.
Medical teams rush to mandals
Rajahmundry, July 19: Following the prevalence of viral fevers in largescale in Dwarakatirumala, Devarapalli, Jangareddygudem, Koyyalagudem, Jeelugimilli and other mandals, medical teams were despatched to provide medical care to the affected people in West Godavari district.
District medical and health authorities said that medical teams were sent to the mandals where large number of viral fevers were noticed in the last few days. Blood smears and serum were being collected from the people suffering from fevers at the PHCs in the villages and they were being sent for analysis to Pune.
District medical and health officer Dr D.S. Sarma told this newspaper that special medical teams from Hyderabad visited the affected areas to get first-hand information on the extent of the problem in the district.
He said that the district medical and health department, in association with panchayat raj and rural water supply officials, took up chlorination of the water bodies and added that if people could maintain sanitation in their close environs they could avoid falling a victim to viral fevers including chikungunya. He said that as they were still awaiting the reports from Pune, there were no confirmed cases of people infected with chikungunya so far.
He denied reports of the death of two persons at Kamavarapukota due to chikungunya. He said that death of Relangi Kantamma, 48, from Yadavalli village was due to health problem as blood traces were found in her vommiting and motion also. With reference to the eath of P. Veeraiah, 60, hailing from Ramannapalem panchayat, the DMHO said that it was due to heart failure.
The DMHO said that they were taking all measures to contain the spread of fevers in villages and added that they were providing medical stocks at PHCs for the patients in addition to sending medical teams to provide medical care.
Bypass to ease Warangal traffic
Warangal, July 19: The Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (Kuda) has decided to develop a 100-ft bypass road from Bandham Cheruvu to the Hunter Road bridge so as to decongest traffic on the busy city roads.
The proposed road will help divert heavy vehicular traffic entering the city from the REC petrol pump via Bandham Cheruvu to Hunter Road. A road will be formed along the railway tracks and would connect the Hunter Road bridge on way to the Khammam highway.
Though the road was planned in the master plan, successive dispensations at Kuda and other civic bodies ignored it. The manifold increase in traffic has necessitated the formation of the road. Speaking to this correspondent, joint collector Syed Omer Jaleel said that road works would be taken up very soon and efforts were on to mobilise funds.
Works estimations were also in progress. Asked about unauthorised layouts along the railway tracks, the joint collector said that all unauthorised layout managers would be issued notices and there would be a thorough enquiry into their legal rights over the lands, and their permissions to the layout the land would also be verified.
Elaborating on other developmental programmes taken up by Kuda, Mr Jaleel said that Kuda would soon launch works on its convention centre at the Kakatiya Musical Gardens.
Expressing confidence on its early completion, he said that the proposed centre would be thrown open by August 15. It would accommodate 600 to 800 people at a time. The drainage canal outside the park would be covered and a new look would be given to the backdrop of the centre.
Besides roads and the convention centre development, Kuda has taken up traffic island development programme in a big way. Setting up of water fountains, rhythmic lighting and developing greenery would be taken up by Kuda.
Desam bags two mandals, TRS gets one
Karimnagar, July 19: The Telugu Desam bagged two mandal parishad president posts while the TRS secured one MPP post in the elections held in three mandals on Wednesday.
Elections were postponed earlier in Saidapur, Dharmaram and Eliged mandals for want of quorum on July 11. The TD MPTCs N. Linga Rao and Ammula Iylamma won the Saidapur and Eliged MPP posts respectively. The TRS MPTC member Kodari Hanmaiah was elected as the Dharmaram mandal parishad president.
Veeresham and T. Sanjeev Rao of the TD bagged the Saidapur and Eliged mandal parishad vice-president posts respectively. Komatireddy Buchi Reddy of the TD secured the Dharmaram mandal parishad vice-president post.
The elections went off peacefully amid tight security. After the latest results, the MPP posts held by different political parties in the district are as follows: The Congress (29), the TD (18), the TRS (6), the CPI (1), the BJP (1) and independents (2). The newly-elected MPPs and the office bearers will assume charge at the special meet to be held in the respective mandals on July 22.
Similarly, the newly-elected ZP chairman Arepalli Mohan will assume office along with his new team at the ZP special meet slated for July 23. The term of the previous ZP chairman expires on July 22. Meanwhile, the aspirants of the gram panchayat posts vied with each other to file nomination papers on the last day on Wednesday.
A total of 385 nominations were submitted for the 29 sarpanch posts in Karimnagar mandal. As many as 1,541 nominations were filed in respect of the panchayat wards in the mandal. The ZP vice-chairman T. Ravinder Goud’s wife Revathi was elected unanimously for the sarpanch post from Hanmajipet in Vemulawada mandal. Only her single nomination was received for the post.
Leftists call to roll back prices
Vijayawada, July 19: Tension prevailed on Mahatma Gandhi Road for a couple of hours with the police and the activists of the Left parties fighting over the latter’s dharna against price hike in the State. The activists of the CPI and the CPM held a massive dharna at the sub-collectorate on Wednesday protesting against the incr-ease in prices of essential commodities.
The activists raised slogans against the government and threatened to intensify agitation if the prices of the essential commodities were not brought down. At the fag end of the agitation, CPM district unit secretary V. Umamahes-wara Rao was addressing the gathering when the assistant commissioner of police S.M. Vali took away the mike from him.
Angered by the ACP’s act, women and youth from the CPI and CPM pushed the ACP away and shouted slogans against the police. The police and the Left activists hurled abuses at each other leading to mild tension in the area. In an attempt to clear the activists from the busy MG Road, the police arrested CPI corporator D. Shankar and pushed him into the police van which further irked the activists. The activists rushed to the corporator’s rescue.
However, with women taking the lead in the agitation, the police retreated allowing them to withdraw on their own from the road. The angry activists then held a road blockade blaming the police of trying to suppress their voice using force. “We have seen several canes and guns and you cannot stop us from agitating against the anti-people policies of the government,” the women activists warned the police.
Later, addressing the activists, the Left leaders blamed the State and the Central government for having failed to control the ever-increasing prices of essential commodities. The leaders said that those in the government in the State and at the Centre have no control over the administration and were allowing bureaucracy to take World Bank-dictated decisions.
The Left leaders asked the government to rollback the prices of all essential commodities and ensure that the common minimum programme was strictly implemented. CPI legislator Shaik Nasarvali, former MLA K. Subba Raju, senior leader Kolli Nageswara Rao, CPI district secretary V. Umamaheswara Rao and corporator D. Kasinath were among those who participated in the agitation.
Jamaat decries bomb blasts
Vijayawada, July 19: The national general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mohammed Jafar on Wed-nesday condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar last week. Mohammed Jafar, who was here to interact with the local leaders, paid tributes to those who were killed in the massive explosions.
He demanded that the government take stringent action against those who were res-ponsible for the incident and ensure that such incidents did not recur in the future. He said that the Jamaat-e-Islami had taken active part in the relief and rehabilitation of the bomb blast victims.
However, he condemned the media reports linking the Jamaat-e-Ismali with the terrorist groups and holding it responsible for the blasts. He said that such reports have hurt the sentiments of several Muslims across the country.
He stated that the terrorist activities were being carried out by a few disgruntled elements, while majority of the Muslims in the country were peace-loving. He called upon the people to understand the difference and stop suspecting every Muslim.
Mohammed Jafar also asked the government and the officials to catch the real culprits behind such incidents.
Desam support helps rival
Khammam, July 19: The Congress has bagged Konijerla mandal praja parishad chairmanship with the support of its arch rival, the Telugu Desam. Konijerla MPTC and Congress candidate Talluri Venkatamma was elected mandal parishad chairperson. Out of the 16 MPTCs, 15 attended the special meeting of mandal parishad conducted on Wednesday.
Ms Venkatamma was elected unanimously as no one else contested against her. The Telugu Desam, which won five MPTC seats, decided to support the Congress which bagged four MPTCs. Telugu Desam candidate Potla Srinivas was elected vice-chairman with the support of the Congress. Though the CPI won seven MPTC seats, it also supported the Congress, but it did not get any post in the Konijerla mandal pari-shad.
On the other hand, the Congress won the mandal parishads of Burgumpahad and Kha-mmam Urban and the Telugu Desam bagged Tirumalayapalem and Nelakondapalli pari-shads. Telugu Desam candidate and Medepalli MPTC Aludas Anja-neyulu was elected mandal parishad chairman of Tirumalayapalem and CPM candidate Nukala Bikshama Reddy was elected the vice-chairman.
The Congress planned to use the internal squabbles in TD to get the Tirumalayapam mandal parishad. But, the Telugu Desam leadership okayed the candidature of A. Anjaneyulu, who is the follower of former legislator Sandra Venkata Veeraiah. Khanapuram-1 MPTC and Congress candidate Dongala Indira was elected Khammam Urban mandal parishad chairperson and CPI candidate U. Krishna Reddy as vice-chairman.
AMC help sought over fevers
Visakhapatnam, July 19: The public health department of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation sought the assistance of Andhra Medical College professors to deal with the fever cases which had gone up since February this year.
The specialists drawn from medicine, Social Preventive Medicine (SPM) and microbiology would conduct a brief survey and submit a report to the corporation suggesting remedial and preventive measures.
Sources said 13 people have died due to chikungunya and of them six died in Venkateswara Colony alone recently. Deaths could be more but they were not registered as the treatment was done in smaller clinics or by the quacks.
Denying deaths due to chikungunya, municipal commissioner N. Srikanth said the survey was being conducted to ascertain the reason for sudden rise in the fever cases in the urban areas of entire south India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Talking to this correspondent here on Wednesday, the commissioner said the instead of repenting later, it was better to know the cause of fevers now. Ruling out incidence of chikungunya in the city, he said rumours were floated about gunya which was found mostly in African countries and in France.
“There was no sudden increase in the traffic or any event occurred in the city or in the region which could have drawn people from France or African countries to trigger the fevers. Even five samples that were sent for testing for chikungunya turned out to be negative. We want to break this mystery,” the commissioner said.
But the public health department would continue sanitation drive and fight against the mosquitoes, the commissioner added. He said only five per cent of the population was suffering from fever which was normal for the city.
Police warns senior students
Visakhapatnam, July 19: City police commissioner V.S.K. Kaumudi and the deputy commissioner, Bhavana Saxena, advised the senior students of the Andhra University not to resort to ragging and ruin their own careers.
Speaking at an interactive session “Prohibition of ragging on the campus” organised by the varsity to sensitise students on the menace here on Wednesday, Mr Kaumudi asked the students to treat the newcomers with love and affection as they come from distance places leaving their beloved to stay in the hostels.
He asked them to embrace the juniors and guide them. Deputy commissioner of police Bhavana Saxena explained the law on ragging that came into force in 1997 to control the problem in colleges and varsities. She said that if a student was booked in a ragging case it might lead to the cancellation of his passport, which deprives him of dream job abroad.
“Sometimes a student booked for ragging may end up in jail for five years besides paying huge fines. So don’t spoil your careers by indulging in ragging. Be a responsible senior student and guide your juniors,” said the deputy commissioner. Ms Bhavana Saxena also said that the responsibility of controlling ragging vests also with the teachers on the campus.
She asked the juniors to come forward boldly and lodge complaint with the authorities if they were subjected to ragging. Andhra University vice-chancellor Prof. L. Venugopala Reddy also spoke on the occasion.
ABK calls for an end to mummy daddy culture
Nizamabad, July 19: Official Language Commission chairman A.B.K. Prasad said that the Commission had written a letter for the second time to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to declare Telugu as a classical language a few days ago.
The Prime Minister had responded to a special delegation which met him two months ago in New Delhi. Speaking to this newspaper in Nizamabad, he said, “I stated in the letter that an announcement should be made on August 15”.
Mr A.B.K. Prasad arrived here on Wednesday to participate at a programme called “Telugu-Vikasam” which aims to explain Telugu implementation to district level officials. He said that the Commission had decided to form special teams with senior officials to strictly implement Telugu for office correspondence.
“We will form one special team each for 3 districts.” This team will tour districts and submit a detailed report once a month to the Commission regarding the progress of implementation. He also said that the commission was also insisting that parents teach Telugu to their children. Children were forgetting our mother tongue, he lamented.
Parents should not ask their children to call them mummy and daddy. In Egypt, corpses were called mummy. Daddy could well be dummy. Parents should habituate their children to call them Amma and Nanna, he appealed.
Ragging will cancel your passport
Visakhapatnam, July 19: Vizag deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Bhavana Saxena on Wednesday said that if a student is booked under ragging it might lead to the cancellation of his or her passport, which deprives their chances of going abroad.
“A student may also be jailed at least for five years if he or she is booked in a ragging case besides being slapped with fines,” the DCP said. She cautioned the senior students not to resort to ragging and ruin their careers.
Ms Saxena was speaking at an interactive session on ‘Prohibition of ragging on the campus’ organised by the Andhra University. The session was held in the backdrop of four AU students being suspended on Monday for ragging a junior student.
The DCP explained that a law on ragging came into force in 1997 to control the menace in the colleges and varsities. Speaking on the occasion, city police commissioner V. S.K. Kaumudi urged the students to treat the newcomers with love and affection as they come from far away places and stay in hostels. Mr Kaumudi asked the seniors to guide the junior students in their future endeavours.
