Andhranews

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Close relatives who get married are more likely to have children with heart ailments. Officials who undertook the State government initiative to help children with heart problems have come across many such cases in the last two years. “Many children suffering from heart ailments are born of consanguinual marriages,” said Principal Secretary (Health) I.V. Subba Rao. “There are also other causative factors”.

The State government has decided to conduct fresh screenings in September to detect more children with heart ailments. Screenings will be conducted on three Sundays in September and one Sunday in October. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who reviewed the progress of the scheme in the last two years, instructed health officials to ensure availability of medical facilities for heart operations in government hospitals too.

As part of this, a cath lab is being set-up in Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, by spending Rs 3 crore. Other district government hospitals too would be upgraded soon to handle such cases. Health officials informed the chief minister that 5,500 children had been identified with heart ailments. Out of them, 4,700 had been treated in 41 private and government hospitals. Surgeries had been performed on 3,500 of them.

Mr Subba Rao disclosed that 130 children belonging to high-risk group died of various complications. “As of now, the parents are undertaking post-operative care as per the guidelines given by doctors,” he said. “We are now thinking of providing such care too”. He agreed that cases had accumulated because of the delay in making arrangem-ents for the surgeries and treatment in hospitals acro-ss the State. “We have sp-ent about Rs 11 crore for the surgeries and interventions so far,” he said.

“This the first time any State has taken up such an arduous task”. Mr Subba Rao said that there were fears that heavy rains might trigger a malaria outbreak. “We are identifying endemic pockets in the State and are focusing on them,” he said. “Surveillance and door-to-door delivery of medicine will be undertaken.”

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board will not hike water tariff this year. A decision to this effect was taken at the board mee-ting presided over by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who is also chairman of the board.

Board officials informed the Chief Minister that dri-nking water supply position was comfortable in the Twin Cities and inflows in-to Singoor, one of the main sources of drinking water supply to city, was on rise. The government has agreed to give a grant of Rs 50 crore to the board towards maintenance.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has agreed to give 50 per cent rebate to the board on road cutting charges. However, the board decided to construct a new seven storied administrative buil-ding at a cost of Rs 18 crore in Khairatabad.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: A study conducted by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) on Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari river has indicated that the backwaters of the project would submerge the temple town of Bhadrachalam, if the inflows in the river are 36 lakh cusecs at the pond level of 140 feet.

This observation is in sharp contrast to the assurance given by Central Water Commission to the State government that there would be no threat of submergence to Bhadrachalam due to the construction of Polavaram project. According to the CESS report, incorporated in the Environment Impact Assessment report of Polavaram, the spillway of the project is designed for the flood of 36 lakh cusecs recorded in river Godavari in 1986, which was considered to be the maximum in the last 500 years.

If the pond level of 140 ft from mean sea level (MSL) is maintained at Polavaram dam, the backwater level at Bhadrachalam would be 186 ft at MSL. During the current floods, the MSL at Bhadra-chalam is 180 ft and as it is, the town has been inundated. “However, the full reservoir level of Polavaram dam is 150 ft and at this level, the temple town would be completely inundated,” Dr Bikhsham Gujja, policy advisor to World Wildlife Fund International on Global Water issues and Partnerships, said.

The CWC authorities argue that in the event of heavy floods, the water discharge would be regulated on the basis of flood warnings or anticipated inflows into the reservoir to avoid submergence of Bhadrachalam. They said the pond level would not be kept higher than the reservoir level of 145 ft, if the inflow into the Polavaram reservoir exceeded 3 lakh cusecs.

According to environmentalist Prof Sivaji Rao, it would not be possible to make progressive releases of water in the event of heavy inflows, since there would be little time to regulate the flow. The most worrying aspect in the Polavaram project is the dam break analysis conducted by National Institute of Hydrology at Roorkee. The institute has estimated that the hypothetical Polavaram dam break flood attains a peak value of 55 lakh cusecs in 30 minutes at the dam site and will be reduced to 50 lakh cusecs in 10 hours at Rajahmundry.

“If the Polavaram dam breaks, the flash floods will devastate Rajahmundry-Kovvur region within six hours; Tanuku, Ravulapalem and Mandapeta areas in 10 hours; Attili, Kothapeta and Draksharamam areas in 14 hours and Narsapur, Amalapuram and Mummidivaram regions in 16 hours. It would be a watery grave for 45 lakhs of people of East and West Godavari districts,” Prof Rao said adding that the report should have been made public for a debate.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Taken aback by the mounting criticism from the Telugu Desam, the Congress has decided to utilise the services of women and college girls in distributing relief material to people affected by recent cyclonic floods.

The APCC on Tuesday deputed teams of Mahila Congress leaders to coordinate relief measures in the affected areas. The AP Mahila Congress, at its State executive meeting at Gandhi Bhavan, decided to involve college girls and women members of various social service clubs and organisations in the relief work.

“We are capable of taking up any challenging task. The Mahila Congress had participated in relief work during the 1986 Go-davari floods. We will conduct a door-to-door survey and provide the much-needed healing touch to the affected people,” State Mahila Congress president Ganga Bhavani said.

The Mahila Congress te-ams, who will stay in districts for a week, will also “create awareness” among people about the “wrong and misleading campaign” of the TD. Telugu Desam leaders have been accusing the Congress government of failure to provide timely succour to the affected people. The Mahila Congress programme is mainly to counter the Telugu Desam’s charge.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Home minister K. Jana Reddy on Tuesday received an invitation from University of Barcelona, Spain, to participate in an international seminar on peace.The seminar aims to improve negotiations between rebel groups and governments. The State government had held negotiations with CPI Maoists which failed. The home minister had recently said that he wished to resume dialogue with the Maoists if they gave up arms. The international seminar will be held on September 28, 2006.

Meanwhile, director general of police Swaranjit Sen on Tuesday left for Delhi and from there, he will be going to Chandigarh to witness air show. The DGP is visiting the show to get details on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the State police department to keep a watch on Naxal movements.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: A tough battle is on the cards for the post of vice-president in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board.Hectic lobbying has already started with the announcement of the SCB poll results. The vice-president is to be elected after a fortnight.

Given the emerging scenario, Jampanna Pratap will not find it easy to retain the coveted post.
There are two challengers to his claim — P. Gouri Sankar of the Congress and the first elected woman member of SCB, E. Manjula Reddy of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. Sources say had the Congress won four seats it would have been a cakewalk for Mr Pratap.

The party’s calculations went awry with the TRS candidate defeating Mr Nawab in ward No. III. Out of the seven wards, Congress won three, TRS grabbed two and Telugu Desam and BJP got one each.Congress leaders are now trying to get the support of Ms Manjula Reddy and Mr Prabhakar.

Despite not having the requisite majority, Mr Pratap is exuding confidence. “I have been serving the people with honesty,” he said. “I am confident that we will make it, ” he added. Sources said that Mr Pratap’s good relationship with the members will help him. Congress leaders are confident that Mr Pratap would garner support even from TD representative P. Venkat Rao.However, TRS members are looking for a fight. “It is about time we had a new vice-president,” said an aide of Ms Reddy.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Mumbai underworld don Chhota Rajan’s alleged close aide Baba Reddy alias Azeez Reddy went on trial at the first metropolitan sessions judge court here on Tuesday.

Baba Reddy is allegedly involved in seven cases of murder in Mumbai, where he shot dead associates of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and other cases of extortion, kidnapping and violations of the Arms Act. He was arrested in 2004 in Macha Bollarum in the city by Task Force personnel for possessing sophisticated foreign weapons including the Uzi semi-automatic rifle and a Czech pistol.

Police describes him as a dreaded gangster and sharpshooter, The complainant, then Task Force inspector Venu Gopal, deposed before the court and supported the version of the prosecution. Then Task Force sub-inspector V. Shyam Babu (now inspector, Musheerabad) who took part in a shootout with Baba Reddy’s gang is to depose on Wednesday.

Court additional public prosecutor Challa Seshu Reddy said, “AP Control of Organised Crime Act (APCOCA) has been discharged against the accused the trial will be on extortion, attempt to murder and Arms Act violations.” He said eight persons were facing trial. Baba Reddy has spent about two years in jail in the the city and in Mumbai. Baba Reddy, a native of Nalgonda, was a resident of Musheerabad but was staying away from the city and sharpshooter of Chota Rajan’s gang.

He went to Mumbai and worked as a guard with Dhananjeya Shetty the owner of Chandini Bar. Later he joined Sanjay Ghatia and was involved in series of murders. Baba Reddy visited Bangkok and Indonesia and continued his operations. He returned to India with the weapons and kept six of the weapons with him. The other accused in the case are Javed, V.S. Krishnam Raju, B. Maruthi Sawanth, Anand Sravan Bhawar and K. Gopal and Rachamallu Srinivas.

After Mumbai serial bomb blasts in 1993, Chhota Rajan `assigned’ Aziz for killing the accused in the blasts. Aziz was reported to have killed eight persons. He was later arrested and was in jail for three years. After release from jail in 1999-2000, Aziz was sent to Singapore and then to Bangkok by Chhota Rajan.

He took a passport on a bogus name and travelled to Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and other European countries. He used to operate Chhota Rajan’s network in Mumbai positioning himself in South East Asian countries. When differences cropped up with Rajan’s associates over financial matters, Aziz returned to India in December 2002.

He went to Kasi in Uttar Pradesh and worked with another Mafia don, Subhash Thakoor (presently in jail). There, he was believed to have executed two murders at the instance of Thakoor. When Thakoor insisted that Aziz start operations in Mumbai on his behalf, Aziz distanced himself, as he faced a threat in Mumbai.

He then decided to establish his network in the city on the name `Baba Reddy and Company’ and visited the city twice in the last two months for the purpose. He had contacted his old pal, Srinu, who provided him shelter. Baba Reddy was involved in cases in Juhu, Shivaji Park, Kher, Marg, Bhoiwada, Oshiwara, Thane, Kala Chowki, Dogiri and CID of Mumbai and Thane.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Krushi Bank chairman Kosaraju Venkateswara Rao’s judicial remand has been extended till August 22. Rao was produced in court on Tuesday from Chanchalguda central prison for the hearing.

Rao’s counsel Ashok Reddy said that the order on narcoanalysis test will be delivered on August 9. The CID had sought narcoanalysis test to be conducted at the Ahmedabad Forensic Science Laboratory in Gujarat to aid its probe into Rao’s role in the collapse of Krushi Bank.

In another case, the 23rd metropolitan magistrate’s court granted police custody of realtor Paramjeet Singh till August 14. Police has accused Paramjeet of allegedly killing his brother Jasbir Singh at Punjagutta. Paramjeet reportedly stated in his confession that he could show police the Nepali guards who killed Jasbir if they took him to Nepal.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: The recent rains have destroyed roads to an extent of 125 kilometres in the twin cities and permanent repair works of these roads will be delayed by a good two months. MCH officials point out that about Rs 20 crore will be needed to carry out the repair works of the battered roads and getting administrative sanctions for such a huge amount would take a lot of time.

As a measure to pacify people, MCH officials have come out with several temporary arrangements like filling up of the existing pot holes and cleaning up of roads which have become dusty because of the brittle layering. Far from the truth, MCH officials claim that they have already completed repair works on several major roads of the twin cities.

MCH chief engineer Dhan Singh says, “We have already completed major works in several parts of the twin cities including old city where the roads were heavily damaged. At the moment we are just filling up the potholes and cleaning up the dusty surface which causes much inconvenience.”

However, the fact remains that there are several stretches of roads in the twin cities including the flyovers along the Sardar Patel road and Begumpet road with many potholes. Many roads have gone dusty as well. “Cars and motor vehicles are skidding very frequently here because of the tar particles which have come off. It has become very dangerous for people to drive along this road which is always very busy,” says Rakesh Upadhyay, a resident of Bowenpally and frequent traveller to the Begumpet area.

MCH officials point out that recarpeting of these roads is not a safe option during this part of the year because there is every chance of more rain. “Generally, Hyderabad receives rains till October and it is not wise to take up recarpeting of the roads.” Mr Dhan Singh said. Now, we are planning to use reinforced concrete to lay the roads so that the first layer of the road does not come off,” added Mr Singh.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: The first additional district judge court in Medak on Tuesday convicted three persons including two women in connection with a murder case. Y. Durgamma, 25, killed her husband after bobbiting him with the help of her paramour and another woman on January 28, 2006. The other two persons convicted in the case were G. Mallesh, 30, of Kohir and Indiramma. They were arrested on February 4. Medak police said Durgamma had murdered her husband and threw body in a well.

Hyderabad, Aug. 8: Traffic curbs will be imposed by city police on the following routes in connection with the visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Sharifovich Rahmonov to Hyderabad on August 9 and 10. Mr Rahmonov will be staying at Hotel Grand Kakatiya.
Traffic curbs will be placed on these routes:

On 09-08-2006
Airport to BHEL:
1.45 pm to 3 pm: At Airport, PNT Junction, HPS, Greenlands Monappa island (Rajeev Gandhi statue), Punjagutta Junction, NFCL Junction, Sri Nagar T Junction, Green Mosque, KBR Statue, Jubilee Hills Checkpost, Peddamma temple Junction, Road No.36, Madhapur.

BHEL to Hotel Kakatiya:
3.30 pm to 4.30 pm:At BHEL, Madhapur, Road No.36, Peddamma temple junction, Jubilee Hills Checkpost, KBR Statue Junction, Green mosque, Srinagar T Junction, NFCL , Punjagutta Junction, Monappa island, Greenlands Junction and Hotel Kakatiya.

Hotel Kakatiya to Raj Bhavan:
7.15 pm to 8 pm: At Hotel Kakatiya, Monappa island (Rajeev Gandhi Statue), Yashoda Hospital, Raj Bhavan and V.V.Statue traffic.

On 10-08-2006
Hotel Kakatiya to Golconda Fort:
8.45 am to 10 am: At Hotel Kakatiya, Monappa island, Punjagutta Junction,NFCL, Hotel Taj Krishna, Road No. 1/12 Junction, Kaja Mansion, Masab tank, NMDC, SD Eye Hospital, Humayun Nagar, Mehdipatnam Junction, RetibowliNanal Nagar, RTA west zone office, Moghal Residency, Tolichowki, Police outpost, Banjari Darwaza, Katora House, Golconda Area Hospital, Bala Hissar Seven Tombs,Golconda Fort .

Golconda fort to Qutub Shahi Tombs:
10.30 am to 11 am: At Golconda fort, Golconda Area Hospital, Katora House, Banjari Darwaza, Seven Tombs.

Qutub Shahi Tombs to Airport
11 am to 12.30 pm: At Tombs, Pro Agro Seeds Co. Ltd., Mahboob Garden function hall, Arbab hotel, Tolichowki, Limra function hall, Moghal residency, RTA west zone office, Nanal nagar, Reti bowli, Mehdipatnam, Humayun nagar, SD Eye Hospital, NMDC, Masabtank, Kaja mansion, Road No.1/12 Junction, Road No.1/10 Junction, Hotel Taj Krishna, NFCL, Punjagutta Junction, Monappa island, Greenlands, Hyderabad Public School, PNT, Airport. Officials informed that traffic will either be diverted or blocked ay the above mentioned places. People using these routes are requested to take alternative routes to reach their destinations.