Andhranews

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: All the three breaches on the Godavari flood banks were purely man-made, the result of poor flood management and gross negligence of the officials, records with the government show. The three breaches inundated vast tracts of agriculturally rich land Konaseema in East Godavari and West Godavari districts. The breaches occurred in Sanepalli Lanka, Mondepu Lanka in East Godavari and Nakkala Kaluva outfall sluice in West Godavari district.

As soon as the breaches were reported Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, apparently based on briefings by officials, announced that the height of the flood banks had been reduced due to siltation and water had overflown the “weak” bunds. But sources said that the designated river conservator had failed to maintain full supply level in the bank canals which flow parallel to the river.

“The basic principle of flood management is that bank canals should be maintained at full level as soon as signs of flood are noticed,” a chief engineer with the irrigation department explained. “Otherwise flood water in the river will try to enter the canals.” If the canal level is not maintained, the gushing water will ultimately overrun the banks, the chief engineer said on condition of anonymity. In all the three places, water was recorded at two feet below Top of Bank Level (TBL), exposing the “overflow” theory put forth by the government.

Sources said that 1,500 cusecs of water per day should be released into bank canals from the Dowlaiswaram barrage to maintain FSL. The data at the headworks division, Dowlaiswaram, indicated that 1,000 cusecs of water was released on August 4, sources said. This came down 300 cusecs on August 5, when the second flood warning was issued at Dowlaiswaram.

Officials recorded that 1,500 cusecs of water was released on August 6 but inquiries revealed the water was released only in the afternoon because of which the FSL could not be built up. Sanepalli Lanka breached in the evening followed by Mondepu Lanka in the night, both in East Godavari district, inundating the Konaseema area.

“In Mondepu Lanka the locks (river gates) were closed, leaving the bank canal downstream almost empty,” official sources said. “In western division there was no release of water to maintain FSL on August 5 and 6, resulting in the breach of the Nakkala Kaluva outfall sluice (in West Godavari district),” official sources said.

The EE, headworks, did not procure flood material including sand, empty cement bags and casurina logs and place them at vulnerable points till July 25, official sources said. East Godavari district collector M. Subrahmanyam was the first to notice the delay in procuring flood material and pulled up Muralidhar, executive engineer of headworks division, Dowlaiswaram, who is the designated conservator for the delay.

“As per general practice the procurement of flood material and their placement should take place in April,” sources said. The material was not available even in June when a flash flood occurred. The flood however quickly receded without causing any damage. The irrigation officials did not learn from the June experience.

“I pulled up the officials when it was noticed that the procurement of flood material was delayed. I even took an undertaking from the EE that the material would be kept ready by July 15,” collector Subrahmanyam told this correspondent. On not maintaining the FSL, Mr Subrahmanyam said he would enquire into the matter.

Though the EE gave an undertaking that the material would be kept ready by July 15, the actual placement did not take place till July 25. Sources said that because of the delay in finalising tenders, the irrigation department could not procure adequate sand. “Sand is procured from dry river beds in April. Due to rain in July, sand could not be lifted,” sources said. Material stocked by private construction companies was utilised to control the damage on August 6.

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: Beginning Saturday, almost all offices in the State, government and otherwise, educational institutions can enjoy five holidays at a stretch if they bunk on Monday. August 12 was a second Saturday, a government holiday, followed by Sunday (August 13). Tuesday is the Independence Day holiday followed by Sri Krishna Janmastami on August 16, a public holiday for the government and educational institutions and many private organisations.

A casual leave applied for Monday, August 14, will give them five straight days of holidays. Some sectors like banks will have a four-day stretch since Saturday is a half-day. Court staff can also avail a five-day holiday stretch. Such luck however does not obtain for personnel in BPOs, healthcare and media sectors.

Also, government officials involved in flood relief operations in coastal districts and others have been asked to report for work. Of the 365 days in a year, State government employees enjoy about 100 holidays including Sundays. There are 21 public holidays including three national holidays — Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Republic Day, 15 optional holidays besides 52 Sundays, 12 second Saturdays.

This is apart from the different categories of leave! “Many employees have taken leave on Monday,” a Secretariat employee said with a chuckle. “It pays to be a government employee.” AN IAS officer, however, said that holidays help them in clearing backlogs. “We get a stream of visitors during working days, which disrupts work. Holidays like these help us clear backlogs.”

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, some ministers like D. Srinivas and Redya Naik besides Chief Ministers Office officials and others were present till afternoon on Saturday at the Secretariat in view of various review meetings.

Warangal, Aug. 12: The war in Chhattisgarh between the CPI (Maoists) and the Salva Judum, the government-sponsored vigilante group fighting the extremists, has forced thousands of tribals to seek refuge in border districts in Andhra Pradesh like Khammam and Warangal.

The number of tribals coming into Andhra Pradesh rose sharply following the June-end massacre of 32 tribals at Erraboru, in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. These refugees simply crossed the Godavari river, which forms the border with Chhattisgarh, and entered Andhra Pradesh. “You have to be with the Maoists or the Salva Judum to live in Chhattisgarh. There is no peace for those who want to live on their own,” Madakam Lingaiah, one of the first refugees at Eturnagaram in this district, told this correspondent.

More than 500 families have shifted to the tribal areas, the so-called Agency areas, in the district from the Erraboru attack. Mandals like Eturungaram, Tadwai, Mangapet, and Govindraopet are housing families from Chhattisgarh. This is apart from tribals taking shelter in Khammam district. Refugees said that unlike the Maoist violence in Andhra Pradesh, every incident of violence in Chhattisgarh involves loss of life and destruction on a large scale like the Erroboru massacre.

The ferocity of the violence is another reason why the tribals are migrating to Andhra. “We had to leave everything in our village, we came here with just the clothes we were wearing, Bali Jodi said. “But here too there is a lot of harassment from forest and police officials.” The local populace is also apprehensive about their presence, fearing that it could invite attacks by vengeful Marxists or harassment by the police.

Apprehensive of both the Maoists and police, the locals do not give them work or accommodate them otherwise in the economic or social structure. The refugees, who also do not have State support are leading driven to desperation. They have taken to poaching and fishing and falling afoul of forest officials. The police is worried that the refugee settlements in the forest areas could become safe zones for the Maoists, who no longer have the patronage of the locals.

Forest officials in the north division of the Warangal forest zone see in the settlement of Chhattisgarh tribals the loss of valuable forest area. “We do not oppose their migration to the state. What we are worried about is the felling of trees. We are only cracking down against those who are clearing the forest to erect their settlements,” conservator of forests Mohammed Ilyas Rizvi said.

However, they are finding life as difficult in their new refuge, where locals, police and forest officials seem to be ganged up against them. “There were not many Naxalites from among us in Chhattisgarh,” Hanma, 37, told this correspondent. “But the Andhra Maoists have ruined our lives.” Maoists from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh moved into Chhattisgarh, where they set up a liberated zone. The Chhattisgarh government supported the Salva Judum, which has triggered a war between the two sides.

“We want to live a peaceful life without harassment by the police and Maoists. We will not go back to Chhattisgarh even if we are forced to because we will be killed,” said Madakam Lingaiah, adding, “The AP government should allow us to settle here.”

Hyderabad: The State government on Saturday decided to replace the controversial GO 72 with a fresh order for implementation of Girglani Commission report in the wake of protests from political parties, reports our correspondent.

Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy took this decision after a meeting with minister for rural development D. Srinivas, Social Welfare Minister, Mr Redya Naik and other officials. The GO 72 was issued to rectify technical problems encountered during the implementation of Girglani Commission report, which pointed to non-implementation of Presidential Order on employment and postings in Telangana region.

YSR drives MLAs to villages

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: The AP Congress Committee has instructed its party legislators to visit every village affected by floods and rain before the monsoon session of Assembly commences on Thursday.The order comes in the backdrop of Opposition parties getting ready to attack the government for “tardy” relief work. Congress legislators will have to complete their tours by August 16 and submit a report to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. Their inputs will help the government counter the Opposition onslaught in Assembly. “Officials have submitted their reports to the government. But we do not want to rely on the official reports. We want first-hand information through our legislators, so we have asked them to visit each and every village affected by floods, meet people and assess the damage,” State Congress official spokesperson Paladugu Venkat Rao said. Asked if the Congress legislators had not visited the flood-affected places so far, Mr Rao said, “We want them now to visit all the villages, not to leave even a single one.” Opposition parties have charged that the State government had neglected flood relief work and officials and Congress legislators had not visited interior villages. APCC official spokesperson N. Tulasi Reddy took the TD to task saying that the latter could secure a financial assistance of just Rs 64.25 crores on an average per year from the Centre during its nine years of rule as against the Congress securing an assistance of Rs 139.29 crores per year on an average during the last three years.

Rain deserts Rayalaseema

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: If people in some north AP districts are praying for the rain to stop, those in the rest of the State, especially the Rayalaseema region, are praying for the heavens to open up. A dry wave is sweeping the four Rayala-seema districts of Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool. As against the normal average rainfall of 201.3 mm by now, the four districts have received 138.6 mm, according to a report submitted to the government on rainfall situation up to August 8. Worst-hit Kapada received 97.9 mm rainfall as against the normal of 199.7 mm. Though Telangana region as a whole recei-ved good rainfall — 431.1 mm rainfall aga-inst 422.9 mm — some districts in the region experienced deficits. Mahbubnagar had 31 per cent less rain, recording 173 mm against the norm of 249.9 mm. Other deficient rainfall districts include Ranga Reddy, Medak, Karimnagar and Nalgonda. Hyderabad district received 10 per cent surplus rainfall: 361.2 mm against the normal of 328.9 mm.Revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said, “We are expecting rains soon in Rayalaseema. There is no cause to worry. However, we have put the officials on alert.”

Mother of all murders

Siblings kill uncle on mum’s order Hyderabad, Aug. 12: Two siblings instigated by their mother allegedly chased and killed their uncle for his property at Premnagar in Khairatabad in the wee hours of Saturday. According to police and witness accounts, D. Ranjit Kumar Yadav, 28, and his brother Surjit Kumar Yadav broke open the door of their uncle D. Chandrakanth Yadav’s house and stabbed him. He managed to escape and began running, but they chased him for about half-a-kilometre and hit him with boulders. Varalakshmi, 55, the mother of Ranjit and Surjit, and her sister Parvati, 45, were reportedly present when the first attack took place. Chandrakanth was the brother of Varalakshmi’s husband Vijayendar. Chandrakanth’s wife, Eswaramma, said that her husband had lodged a complaint with the police stating that he faced a threat to his life from Varalakshmi’s family but the police ignored it. Panjagutta inspector B. Srinivas Reddy said that Chandrakanth and Vijayendar had inherited 100 yards of land in Premnagar. Since Chandrakanth was issueless, Varalakshmi expected to get his property. However, Chandrakanth sold his plot despite her opposition and had taken an advance. Eswaramma, who was also injured, said that when Ranjit and Surjit attacked Chandrakanth their mother was shouting, “Kottu, champu (kill him)”. Police said that Ranjit, Surjit, Varalakshmi and Parvati are absconding.

Police arrests Mantri Shankar

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: Mantri Shankar, who has committed over 200 burglaries and thefts, has been arrested in relation with seven cases of thefts on Saturday. In a typical film like scene, his two wives rushed to Musheerabad police station soon after the arrest seeking the release of their husband. His second and third wives Godavari and Shalini are now trying to get bail for their husband. Chikkadapally Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sumathi said, “Mantri Shankar was arrested during a frisking operation at Gandhinagar. He was found riding a stolen vehicle.” Two knives, swords and Rs 70,000 were seized from his possession. “He was planning to kill his earlier associates with whom he had fought while in jail,” he added. Mantri Shankar was convicted in at least 50 cases.

Terror suspect escapes with a machine gun

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: Task Force sleuths and Counter Intelligence agencies have launched a hunt for a terror suspect who has gone missing with a gun. The suspect, Ayoob alias Javed, is an associate of the Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Shakeel, who was arrested late on Thursday night in the city. It is not clear whether the weapon is AK-47 or a country made revolver. Police agencies have received two separate inputs: one says it was an AK-47 and the other says that it was a country made revolver. Shakeel confessed to police that he had handed over the weapon to Ayoob, a resident of Baba Nagar, in 2004 during the plot to kill BJP leader Indra Sena Reddy. Shakeel had handed over the weapon as per the directions of AP’s most wanted terrorist, Shahed, of Jaish-e- Mohammed. Search at the residence of the suspect by the police proved futile. “If the suspect is caught with the weapon he will be booked under the Arms Act. So far our information says that he is not directly involved in the plot,” said a police official.

2 held in NGO fraud

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: The Central Bureau of Investigation, Hyderabad unit, has arrested two persons in connection with the scam by non-governmental organisations. CBI said the two persons, S. Papa Rao and Thota Anuradha, had floated eight NGOs. They had allegedly produced fake documents and forged the signatures of Central government officials to get crores of worth of grant in aid. Payment of funds were stopped at the 11th hour when the fraud was detected. Rao and Anuradha had registered NGOs with different names in different locations.

APIDC, APIIC set for Dec. 31 merger

Move on despite go-slow on reforms Hyderabad, Aug 12: The assurance of the State government that it had kept in abeyance the controversial GO (No. 5) on restructuring of public sector units notwithstanding, officials of the Industries and Commerce Department have initiated the procedure for the merger of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC) with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APIIC). The deadline set for the merger is December 31, 2006. Though the government’s announcement that it had kept the GO in abeyance was made in July, the Industries and Commerce Department circulated a letter to APIDC, AP State Financial Corporation, APIIC and the Commissioner of Industries on August 7 seeking immediate steps for the merger. The APIDC has been directed to take legal advice on cancelling the loan sanctions in cases in which disbursement has not commenced. However, it will continue disbursement in partly disbursed cases before its merger with the APIIC. APIIC has been given the free hand to select employees of the APIDC after the merger in a position lower than held in the APIDC. The loan portfolio of APIDC will be valued and transferred to APSFC. The Opposition parties, particularly the Telugu Desam and the CPM, have been demanding that the government withdraw the GO No. 5. Unless clear instructions are issued to officials and the Government Order withdrawn, officials will continue with their job of preparing estimates for merger or closure of PSUs, CPM State secretary B.V. Raghavulu observed.

New order to replace GO 72, says CM

Hyderabad, Aug. 12: The government on Saturday decided to replace the controversial GO 72, which among others allows employees from all regions of the State to be posted in Hyderabad, with a fresh order to implement the Girglani Commission report, government sources said. The decision by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy comes ahead of the Assembly’s Monsoon Session and follows the report of a high-level committee comprising secretaries of the departments of services, HRD, home and law which studied critical issues in GO 72. Dr Reddy took the decision after his meeting with ministers D. Srinivas, Redya Naik and officials. Opposition parties have said that the GO violated the recommendations of the Girglani Commission on protecting the rights of personnel from Telangana. The GO 72 was issued in a bid to rectify the technical problems.