Andhranews

Kadapa, Aug. 22: The Kadapa municipal corporation has taken up cleaning up of unauthorised layouts plots at the district headquarters.
The task force had removed unauthorised plots planned in over eight-acre land which has no approval from the municipal corporation here on Tuesday.

The operations of task force started created a flutter among the realtors, who are not showing the enthusiasm like earlier in doing their business.The task force, led by corporation’s city planner Venkatapathi Reddy inspected a plot at Choutapalli on the outskirts of the town on Tuesday.

The task force personnel destroyed the marks meant for the design of plots in over eight acres land and removed the marking stones.
The land belongs to four persons, who together planned to sell the land by marking it into plots.However, the details of the purchasers of those plots and the sellers are not immediately known as none of them were present during the task force’s inspection.

It may be mentioned that there was a boom in the real estate business in recent times in the district headquarters but the Tuesday’s attack created panic among the realtors. The reason is that the realtors had to lose valuable land if they apply for the approval of layouts from the municipal corporation.

As per the rules for the layout approval, the developers had to leave specific area for laying of roads, greenery, parks, ventilation and other such provisions.Hence the realtors are marking the layouts on their own and selling to the gullible customers secretly without the civic body’s approval.

Moreover, those who apply for the approval of layouts should be registered real estate firms and this would adversely affect them in the form of income tax, as they have to reveal all their transactions to the Income Tax Department.

However, the customers who had already purchased such unauthorised plots are in a quandary as they could not take up any construction activity in the absence of approval of plots and layouts.
Now the realtors are busy finding ways to escape from the task force attacks.

Anantapur, Aug. 22: At last the II Town police filed a charge-sheet against the accused in the murder case of Kanaganapalli former sarpanch Tagarakunta Prabhakar here on Tuesday. After the filing of charge-sheet magistrate M. Moses posted the case to September 5 for further hearing.

It may be recalled that the rivals shot dead Prabhakar, the close follower former MLA Paritala Ravindra, in broad daylight in September 2004. While the murder plan was allegedly hatched by Maddelacheruvu Suri alias Moddu Seenu, the police named nine other accused including Vadde Seenu, Konda, Obulreddy and Narayana Reddy.

Except Suri and Moddu Seenu other accused were arrested by the Anantapur police immediately after the murder. The Anantapur First Class Magistrate directed the police to file charge sheet as two years were elapsed since the arrest of the accused.

With lots of hardships, the police finally filed the charge sheet and the case would have to be shifted to the district and sessions court for inquiry. Meanwhile, the police produced the principal accused Maddelacheruvu Suri and other accused before the magistrate on Tuesday.

Nellore, Aug. 22: The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) would be approac-hing the Government of India shortly to request for a special economic zone status for the lands it is procuring in Nayudupeta region where it is planning to establish an industrial park.

The APIIC move was prompted by a host of inquiries it is getting from leading industrial houses. According to reliable information, Delhi-based Moza Shoes has shown interest to set up their unit in the region, besides Sri Lanka based Intimate Fashions. The latter is said to be negotiating with the government to establish a garment factory in the Nayudupeta region.

It may be recalled that another Sri Lanka firm, MS Holdings, had already expressed its interest to set up a spinning mill in the region. The State government has about 4,500 acres of land in the region and is proposing to acquire private lands to the tune of another 1,500 acres in the area.

The Government of India has already accorded SEZ status to Apache Footwear Company at Tada and also to another industrial park, Sri City, coming up over 5,000 acres in Chittoor district, close to Tada. Sri City, which is promoted by noted software professional Mr Ravi Sannareddy would be developed on the lines of Mahendra city, an IT park located about 40 km from Chennai, according to information.

The APIIC officials feel that SEZ status to the proposed industrial park at Nayudupet would automatically bring industries. SEZ status would help industries get exemption in sales tax, income tax, customs and excise duties in all areas, including on cement and steel, the APIIC officials said.

Meanwhile, at least three private power-producing companies have approached the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for land in the Krishnapatnam area to establish power projects. According to sources in the department, Navbharath Power Private Limited, Malaxmi NBFA Ventures and Meenakshi Power Limited have shown interest to set up units at Krishnapatnam.The APIIC has 1,237 acres of land at its disposal in the Krishnapatnam region.

Ongole, Aug. 22: Joint collector Siddhardh Jain directed officials to speed up relief and rehabilitation works for displaced families in four colonies under the Gundlakamma scheme. The joint collector, along with officials of the Roads and Buildings, the Rural Water Supply, APTransco, irrigation and panchayat raj departments, visited four colonies in Chinnamallavaram and Gundlapalli villages on Tuesday.

He inspected the works being taken up with approximately Rs 15 crores and asked officials to complete them by the scheduled time and ensure quality. Some works should be completed by the end of September and some by October 15, he said. Rehabilitation works for Burepalli, Ghadiapudi and Chinnamallavaram villages are taking place in four colonies at Gudlapalli village and Chinnamallavaram villages.

He inspected the works of drinking water, power supply, construction of roads and veterinary hospital in these colonies. Construction of houses has also begun at Mallavaram village. Speaking to this correspondent, Mr Jain said that officials were also studying the problems being faced by the displaced families.

The Gundlakamma special deputy collector Srilatha, Roads and Buildings executive engineer Madhusudhan Reddy and other officials visited these colonies.

Medical staff for security by State

Rajahmundry, Aug. 22: Doctors developed a fear psychosis in treating patients, especially those in a critical condition, following the attack on the casualty medical officer at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam by the kin of an accident victim on Sunday.

Doctors are taking care of only emergency and surgery cases at government general hospitals and AP Vaidya Vidhana Parishad hospitals in both East and West Godavari districts. However, medical care was not affected at health centres, dispensaries and primary health centres. Most government and private doctors demand that the government provide them security immediately.

East Godavari district medical and health officer (DMHO) Dr D. Jayaram said, “We have asked doctors at 84 PHCs, 35 dispensaries and three community health centres in the district to take care of medical services as several people, especially from Amalapuram and Rampachodavaram divisions were affected in the floods. Our doctors are providing services without any disruption.” In West Godavari, medical services were affected but not entirely. DMHO Dr D.S. Sarma, said 68 PHCs and seven dispensaries were working.

Eluru, Aug. 22: The town will be developed at a cost of Rs 63 lakh following sanction of funds under the AP Urban Services for the Poor (APUSP) scheme shortly. Mayor K. Babu Rao stated that about Rs 46 lakhs were sanctioned for taking up solid waste management, Rs 2.80 lakhs for a record room and Rs 14 lakhs for renovating the office.

In addition, APUSP project co-ordinator Janardhan Reddy assured to sanction funds for proposals seeking Rs 15 lakhs for developing a vermicompost shed and Rs 5 lakhs for developing a cemetery at Thangellamudi.

He also said that 100 electrical pole boxes were sanctioned. The mayor also said that as a part of the APUSP, if any person of the weaker sections lost any limb in an accident, they would be sent to Hyderabad for treatemnt free of cost.

Nizamabad, Aug. 22: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy has decided to sanction grant-in-aid to old churches for repairs. Similarly, grant-in-aid would be sanctioned to new churches. He is the first chief minister to take the decision to give a facelift to abandoned churches. State Government has issued a specific GO Ms No. 21, stating that Rs. 80,000 will be sanctioned to each church for repair and renovation purposes, and Rs.1.50 lakh for constructing a church in the shape of grant-in-aid.

Repairs and renovation of abandoned churches and constructing new churches would be taken massively in the State. The responsibility to promulgate these orders was allocated to the Minorities Welfare Department.Mr M.S. Parvez, district minorities welfare officer, told this correspondent that the GO was communicated to all 36 mandal parishad development officers of the entire district. According to the GO, the concerned MPDOs could invite proposals for churches from church authorities for repair and renovation, and also invite proposals from church preachers to construct new churches, in their jurisdictions.

He also said that the proposals, which the MPDO receives, should include a blueprint copy of the plan, detailed estimate in original, duly approved by the mandal engineer, a letter of permission and recommendation by the panchayat authorities for the construction of a new church, representation on the letterhead of the Church Committee, documentary evidence of the property of the church in case of new construction. Rev. T. Bhasker, District Churches Council, Nizamabad said that 300 churches were spread over in the district with a 100 year history. Of them, 200 are in poor condition and some churches had already collapsed.

Warangal, Aug. 22: Thousands of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) activists from the district left for New Delhi to take part in the proposed hunger strike by TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao in Delhi.

The AP Express, and other express trains bound for Delhi were full with TRS activists. The TRS district unit also gave a call for staging dharnas and taking up similar hunger strikes across the district on Wednesday in order to express their solidarity with the party chief.

District TRS convenor Kommuri Pratapa Reddy said that he had informed all mandal-level leaders to carry out dharnas and rasta rokos in all the mandal headquarters on Wednesday. “District people are emotional and are waiting for the movement to get intensified at the grassroots level,” Mr Pratap Reddy added.

TRS senior leaders Gudimalla Ravi Kumar, Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, Kola Janardhan and others decided to observe a day-long fast at the district collectorate. Members of other pro-Telangana organisations are also expected to take part in the proposed dharnas in the district.

Warangal, Aug. 22: There was all-round appreciation for the resignations of Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders K. Chandrasekhar Rao and A. Narendra, who have decided to come out of the UPA government. The TRS and leaders of other separate Telangana organisations hailed the resignations of the two Union ministers as the UPA government had failed to deliver on its assurance of forming a separate Telangana State.

“This (the resignation) is a right step in the right direction. Now they (Messrs Chandrasekhar Rao and Narendra) should intensify the movement for separate Telangana at the grassroots level,” said Prof. K. Venkatnarayana of the Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika. Similarly, Prof. Srinivasa Reddy and Prof. T. Papi Reddy of the Kakatiya University and other faculty members associated with the separate Telangana movement also welcomed the decision, stating that it was a correct move.

“There is no point in continuing in the UPA coalition which is sitting on the Telangana issue and was only adopting delaying tactics on the issue,” said Prof. Papi Reddy. In a separate move, the TRS and its allied organisations like the Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika and the Telangana Aikya Vedika have already started building pressure against the Congress leaders of the region and the rebel TRS leaders.

They staged dharnas in front of the residences of rebel TRS MLAs Mandadi Satyanarayana Reddy in Hanamkonda and B. Shara Rani at Parkal. In Hanam-konda, scores of intellectuals belonging to the Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika took part in the protest and demanded that the veteran MLA not backtrack from his original stand of fighting for a separate Telangana. They also had heated arguments with Mr Satyanarayana Reddy, who in turn tried to blame Mr Chandrasekhar Rao for the present mess.

Thousands of TRS workers in Parkal staged a massive protest dharna against the local legislator Shara Rani. They demanded her resignation from the Assembly as she had won on the TRS ticket. With the resignations of top TRS leaders, the district will witness an intensified movement for a separate Telangana.

Vijayawada, Aug. 22: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) conducted an inquiry into the allegations against the micro- finance institutions (MFIs) here on Tuesday. The commission members, Justice P. Ramakrishnam Raju and Justice E. Emmanuel, conducted the hearing and recorded the complaints from various women groups from the district.

The commission also recorded the replies given by the MFIs. The panel enquired with the family members, who were reported as the victims of the MFIs. A woman, Kanna Venkayamma, told the commission that her son, K. Satyanarayana, had taken Rs 20,000 loan from MFI called Share, besides another Rs 10,000 from Spandana. She said that her son could not repay the loans to the two MFIs and had finally committed suicide.

She further alleged that the MFIs had pressurised them to pay Rs 1,400 and even prevented them from taking their son’s body for cremation. She said that her husband, Raghavulu too had died four months later as the harassment by the two MFIs increased.

She said her daughter-in-law had left the house leaving her alone, as the harassment by the two MFIs increased with the two deaths in the family. Responding to the allegations, Spandana general manager, M. Narendra Prasad, told the commission that they had collected Rs 1,400 towards the instalment for that month, when Satyanarayana died.

However, he said that the company had waived the total loan of the family, besides arranging Rs 5,000 insurance claim to Venkayamma. Share operations manager M. Srinivasa Reddy also informed the commission that they have paid Rs 2,000 to the family for the final rites and waived the total loan.

Another victim, Bezawada Nageswara Rao, said that his son had taken some loan from Asmita, another MFI and died due to the harassment of the MFI for repayment of the loan. However, he said that the MFI had recovered two instalments from the family even after his death.

Asmita divisional manager K. Venkata Reddy replied to the commissioner that they had to collect the two instalments from the family as they failed to produce the death certificate. He further said that they had paid Rs 2,000 for the funeral expenditure. After recording the statements of tow sides, the commission posted the next hearing for September 20 in Hyderabad.

Vijayawada, Aug. 22: The water level at Prakasam Barrage hs come down on Tuesday much to the relief of the administration and the people. The officials withdrew the first warning signal from the Prakasam Barrage, as the water levels receded.

The inflows to the river from Nagarjunasagar reduced considerably to 1.35 lakh cusecs by Tuesday noon, while the officials at Prakasam Barrage have discharged 2.70 lakhs cusecs of water to the downstream. The officials at Srisailam reservoir released 3.88 lakhs cusecs of water to the downstream, which is expected to reach Nagarjunasagar reservoir by Wednesday evening.

Though the inflows to the river came down, the officials are keeping their options open as the water level may increase any time. The flood-hit families, which were shifted to the relief camps on August 4, were asked to stay back in their respective camps till further instructions from the officials.

Though some of the residents started to go back to their houses on Tuesday, the officials prevented them from doing so as they expected more water to come by due to the rains. “We have kept all our options open. The reservoirs are now full to their capacities and any inflows may cause inundation again,” district collector Navin Mittal told this correspondent.

The administration is also contemplating rehabilitation of the victims on a permanent basis, particularly with the available houses under the Vambay scheme in the city. “We are considering several options. Some of the victims would be rehabilitated on a permanent basis, while some others would be rehabilitated later. The government cleared the proposal and we will rehabilitate the victims in a phased manner,” the collector said.

Srikakulam, Aug. 22: The land acquisition for Vamsadhara project would be completed by March next year, said joint collector M. Veerabrahmaiah.The joint collector reviewed the Vamsadhara and Thotapalle projects with the senior district officials and the project engineers in his chambers here on Tuesday.

An amount of Rs 80 crores will be needed as compensation to those who lose their land and for rehabilitation of the displaced persons. Out of Rs 80 crores, Rs 50 crores would be spent on rehabilitation and resettlement and the rest would be paid as compensation to those who lose land, the joint collector said.

Mr Veerabrahmaiah asked the executive engineer of the project to prepare the details of compensation and rehabilitation to be paid to the affected persons at the earliest. He asked the horticulture department joint director D. Rama Mohan and forest officials to make a survey of trees and plants in the lands to be acquired and estimate the compensation to be paid to the farmers.

Mr Veerabrahmaiah added that by the month-end 478 acres of land would be acquired and asked the engineers to complete the compensation details. The joint collector was very particular that there should not be resentment from any farmers on the payment of compensation.

Parents worried after rumours

Visakhapatnam, Aug. 22: Rumours that bombs have been placed in different schools in the old town area of the city triggered off panic among the parents here on Tuesday. Worried parents rushed to the educational institutions to know about the safety of their children after rumours. They entered into arguments with managements of the schools to take their children home. Police are clueless on the origin of the rumours.This is the second time in a week bomb scare hit schools of the city.

On August 17, two anonymous callers informed that bombs were placed in a private school on Town Kotha Road and a government school in Relli Veedhi. The calls turned out to be hoax after police searched the schools for bombs.

In the latest case too the city police dispatched bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs to various schools for a thorough check for bombs. Much to the relief of the police, school managements and parents no bombs were found. Some schools were forced to declare a holiday.

The rumours started doing rounds around noon and for two hours anxious parents began calling the police control room and newspaper offices for the names of the schools in which bombs were planted.
Deputy educational officer K.L.N. Varma said SFS School in Seethammadhara, Kotak High School in China Waltair, Viskaha Valley, Andhra University High School and all the schools in the old city were closed.

The rumour was first floated near MNR School in Dabagardens where the police commenced the first check for the bombs. “After the school premises were checked, the managements, along with the police personnel tried to convince the parents not to take away the children but they remained adamant and took away their wards,” Mr Varma said.

Vizag deputy commissioner of police Bhavana Saxena appealed to the parents not to believe rumours. In another incident, a rumour that a powerful bomb has been placed in the Lord Shiva temple near Kotha Road set off panic among the devotees and they rushed out of the temple. The Vizag police control room staff said they did not receive any bomb threat.