Andhranews

Leaders vie to mobilise crowds


Kurnool, Sept. 26: The much-awaited visit of All India Congress Committee president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Rayalaseema had boosted the morale of the Congress cadres in the region.
Mrs Gandhi is arriving here to take part in several programmes in Kadapa and Kurnool districts on Wednesday.

The Congress leaders of Rayalaseema are trying their best to show their strength by mobilising huge crowds to the public meetings in which the AICC president will participate. Especially, in Kadapa, the native district of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the Congress ministers and the MLAs, besides other leaders are camping to monitor the arrangements for Mrs Gandhi’s visit and make the programme a success.

At the same time, the Kurnool district MLAs are also making serious efforts to mobilise crowds to the public meeting from the bordering mandals.Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy and Dhone MLA Kotla Sujatamma are striving hard to mobilise people to the Kurnool public meeting.The efforts of the legislators to mobilise crowds to the public meeting assumed significance in the wake of the impending Cabinet expansion.

On the one hand, the Congress leaders are trying to attract Mrs Gandhi’s attention by mobilising crowds, and on the other they are making efforts to prove their strength before Dr Rajasekhar Reddy with an eye on a ministerial berth. It may be mentioned here that the Kurnool MP categorically declared that they were trying to make Mrs Gandhi’s meet a grand success and took it as a challenge, despite non-cooperation by certain MLAs and party leaders.

Meanwhile, the police is making elaborate security arrangements for Mrs Gandhi’s visit. The police is maintaining a strict vigil in the city. Special Protection Group (SPG) officials from Delhi were supervising the security arrangements. At least 3,000 police constables and 200 police officials were kept on guard to avoid any kind of untoward incident. District in-charge minister Konathala Ramakrishna, collector Danakishore, SP B Mallareddy and DIG Kishorekumar were reviewing the arran-gements.




Cloud seeding yields results in Anantapur


Anantapur, Sept. 26: The cloud seeding which was taken up in the district for the past 10 days yielded positive results. According to official sources, a total of 7.4 mm rainfall occurred in Peddavadugur, Guthi, Peddapappur and Yadiki mandals in the district held on Monday.

Though there was rain for about five minutes in Dimmagudi village under Peddavadur mandal it was a natural phenomenon, the officials added. However, there was a slight drizzle in Yengilikonda in Guthi mandal, Rayalacheruvu, Puppala, Nagaru, Kamalapadu, Nittur, Peddapappur mandals of Yadiki mandals. But it is still unclear whether the rain was due to cloud seeding or rain. In order to clear the confusion, the rain samples were sent to Hyderabad through the radar centre.

So far, the cloud seeding was taken up on Anantapur skies for three days. While the first two attempts were failed, the third attempt was stated to have yielded results with 7.4 mm rainfall. Cloud seeding was also taken up at Pamidi, Dharmavaram, and Kanaganapalli mandals on September 20 and in Rayadurgam and Kanekal mandals on September 21, and in Tadipatri and Peddavadugur on September 25.

Meanwhile, there was a heavy rain under Allagadda mandal limits on Tuesday afternoon. Normal life was paralysed due to the rain which lasted for about one-and-a-half hour. Almost all the areas in the mandal were filled with rainwater.






Tourism projects a non-starter


Nellore, Sept. 26: The proposals to develop tourism centres in the district are gathering dust because of the apathy of the State tourism department. Though the government signed an agreement with a private promoter to set up a beach complex at Ramtheerdham village in Vidavalur mandal in 2003 on a build-operate-transfer basis, the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 1 crores is yet to see the light of day because of the alleged delay in handing over the land to the promoter by the authorities.

Similarly, a beach complex proposed at Mypadu near Nellore is a non-starter. In fact, the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced Rs 50 lakhs to develop tourist amenities during his visit to the village but tourism department allegedly failed to take any concrete steps. The department is yet to pay attention to develop historical tourist places like Udayagiri, Prabhagiripatnam, Narasimha-konda and Pulicat lake.

The proposal to establish a family entertainment centre at a cost of Rs 6 crores near Pulicat lake which is located on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border has been kept on the backburner allegedly due to problems in getting permission from the wildlife department for boating in the lake.

However, tourism officials said that they have called for tenders recently to set up the centre at an outlay of Rs 1 crores near Bhimulavaripalem near Tada, which is located near Pulicat lake. It may be mentioned here that thousands of tourists throng this region to observe flamingoes and other birds during winter.

Lack of accommodation and other facilities force tourists coming from places like Chennai to return the same day. With respect to the Ramatheerdham project tourism officials said that there was resistance from fishermen for setting up the project though the site belongs to the government. Officials said that the collector directed revenue officials to give possession of the land to the promoter recently.

Meanwhile, the district tourism officials sent proposals for construction of a guest house, park and public amenities at temple town of Jonnawada near Nellore at an outlay of Rs 26 lakhs. The other proposals include a park, water and toilet facilities at Udayagiri at an estimated cost of Rs 11 lakhs and similar facilities and landscaping at AS Peta with Rs 13 lakhs.

They also sought Rs 15 lakhs to set up a canteen and landscaping at Krishnapatnam, Rs 22 lakhs for development of a pond and boating besides landscaping at Golagamudi and Rs 8 lakhs to provide tourist amenities near the ancient Ayyappa temple at Thummagunta village. District tourism officer Nagabhushanam expressed confidence in getting sanction for their proposals referring to the initiative being taken by collector M. Ravichandra.




2 MLAs vie for Cabinet berth


Ongole, Sept. 26: Two legislators from the district are in the fray for berth in the State Cabinet. They are Markapuram and Ongole legislators K.P. Kondareddy and Balineni Srinivasa Reddy respectively. K. Rosaiah from Chirala segment from east Prakasam region represents the district in the Cabinet and holds key portfolios like finance and health. He devotes most of his time to State affairs and spends less time for the district.

In this backdrop, district Congress leaders are of the view that another ministerial post should be allocated to the district so that focus is laid on the development of the region. The district has 12 Congress MLAs, including Darsi MLA Buc-hepalli Subbareddy who was elected as an independent and later joined the Congress.

Mr Kondareddy is elected four times and represents the backward Markapuram region of western Prakasam. People believe that Mr Kondareddy could focus on the development of the region if he is given a berth in Cabinet. Western Prakasam voters are unhappy with the successive governments which failed to allocate a portfolio to the region for more than 25 years. Mr Kandula Obula Reddy was the last minister from the region in 1978.

People feel that injustice is done to the region in allocation of important posts. Ongole legislator Balineni Srinivasa Reddy is another contender for the post of minister. He is a relative of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and was elected twice from Ongole segment successively. He is playing a key role in party activities in the district.

Party insiders say that the government should allocate a portfolio to a candidate from western Prakasam to maintain the balance between two regions.




Bill soon to stop propaganda at Tirumala: YSR


Tirupati, Sept. 26: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy on Tuesday said that the State government was bringing in a legislation to avoid recurrence of propaganda by other religions at Tirumala. He was reiterating the government’s commitment to protect religious interests in the temple town at a function organised in connection with the release of a book, Srimadandhra Mahabharatha Grandham, here.

The Chief Minister said that a decision was taken to provide Rs 3,000 on behalf of the government and Rs 2,000 on behalf of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to revive 30,000-odd temples in the State, which have no means of income, to help them perform daily rituals. Stating that they had allotted Rs 20 crores for publicity of Hindu religion, he said that he would not mind increasing the sum to Rs 200 crore if necessary.

Dr Reddy performed Sudarshana Yagam in the house of TTD chief priest Venkataramana Deekshithulu on Tuesday. He said that he had performed the ritual for the welfare of the State and its people. No one except TTD chairman B. Karunakar Reddy was with the Chief Minister when he took part in the yagam between 6 am and 7 am.
Even ministers and legislators were not allowed inside the house.
Though there is a restriction on individuals performing yagam or homams at the hill shrine, there is no room for controversy as the Chief Minister has claimed that he had performed the yagam for the benefit of the State and its people.






Drive to curb medicine abuse


Rajahmundry, Sept. 26: In view of the increasing tendency among youth and the aged to take habit-forming drugs to beat anxiety, tension, insomnia and similar symptoms, the drug control administration (DCA) has launched a special drive to restrict their sale across counters in five districts from West Godavari to Srikakulam.

To cope with day-to-day pressures, youngsters are popping pills and capsules, while some are even opting for a shot. The aged too are taking drugs due to health problems to get rid of severe pain in the body and also to induce sleep. Habit-forming drugs like Alprazolam, capsules containing formulations like Spasmoproxyvon, Butaproxyvon and Fortwin injections, to name just a few, are being used by both youth and the aged beyond their prescribed limits.

For instance, a fire accident victim who suffered nearly 75 per cent burns was given Fortwin injections to give him relief from the pain, as well as facilitate healing. Over a period of time, he started taking injections in excess doses to keep the pain at bay, risking other health hazards.

Youngsters pursuing higher and professional courses and those working in BPOs and corporate houses are becoming more vulnerable to taking such drugs. A local youth pursuing post-graduation at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam confessed, “Some of us start drugs for fun and to get relief from tension. But gradually, we feel like taking them even to face an internal examination in the department.”

The DCA has taken up a special drive to keep a tab on such abuses. Recently, it seized supplies from a medical shop as stocks did not have bills at Sriharipuram in Visakhapatnam. The drug was supplied by a Hyderabad-based firm

The DCA will be booking cases against the medical shop owner and manufacturer. DCA assistant director R.V.S.R.B Sarma said, “We have directed all pharmacists to ensure that such drugs are sold only based on a prescription issued by a qualified doctor. ]Any violation leads to suspension and even cancellation of licences of medical shops as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.”




New highways to be built in 3 districts


Kakinada, Sept. 26: To meet changing transport needs and enable people and goods reach destinations quickly, the government is giving special priority to the development of highways. As part of the programme, two National Highways 214 and 214 A are being developed in the coastal districts.

The former is from Kathipudi in East Godavari (connecting NH5) to Pamarru in Krishna district for a distance of 242.53 kilometres, and the latter from Digumarru in West Godavari to Ongole in Prakasam district for a distance of 261 km and connects to NH 5 there.

It passes through the sea coast of West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts. NH 214 passes through Pithapuram, Kakinada, the union territory of Yanam, Amalapuram, Razole. Chinchinada, Bhimavaram en route to Pamarru. Three bypass roads are proposed at Kakinada, Amalapuram and Bhimavaram for smooth flow of traffic.

Project reports are being prepared by the concerned authorities in this regard. As the part of the highway, a road bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crores at Bodasakuru- Pasarlapudi on the Vainateya, a branch of the Godavari in Konaseema area of East Godavari. At present, traffic on this route is being diverted at Bodasakurru.

According to NH 214 and 214A executive engineer B. Mallikarjuna Rao, tenders for the project are at the finalising stage and work is likely to start in January 2007. It is expected to be completed in three years by the end of 2009, he said.

The completion of the highway is expected to improve transport facilities in all the three districts through which it passes. In addition to transport facility for agricultural produce, the transport needs of ONGC, Reliance, Cairn Energy will be met.

The commercial production by both ONGC and Reliance which are conducting offshore drilling operations in the K-G basin is expected by the next couple of years. This is in addition to transport of rice, coconut products and other allied activity.






T-leaders to stay put in Karimnagar


Warangal, Sept. 26: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Members of Parliament (MP), Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and other leaders have decided to camp in Karimnagar where a byelection will be conducted to the Lok Sabha constituency following the resignation of party founder-president and former Union minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The two MPs from the district — B. Vinod Kumar of Hanamkonda and D. Ravindra Naik of Warangal — have already announced that they would stay in Karimnagar after the announcement of the byelection schedule till the end of the polling process.

Similarly, TRS MLAs from the district, G. Vijayarama Rao, K. Pratap Reddy, and K. Laxma Reddy too have declared that they would take part in the campaigning for the party. Many other second rung leaders like Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, Gudimalla Ravi Kumar, Jannu Jakaraiah, and Devarakonda Prakash, K. Babu Rao and others too would camp in the neighbouring district till the end of election.

“As our party president had already declared that this byelection would be a referendum on separate Telangana issue it is going to be a prestigious election for us. Though we are confident of emerging victorious with a thumping majority, we cannot be complacent,” Mr Vinod Kumar said.

Reacting to the announcement of parties like the Telugu Desam and the BJP that the byelection cannot be called a referendum on the Telangana issue, Mr Vinod Kumar said: “they (other parties) have accepted defeat even before the announcement of the election schedule by going back on their challenge.”

He stated that TRS leaders from the district were showing keen interest to take part in the campaigning and expose the “anti-Telangana” parties. Besides the leaders, the Telangana cultural troupes like the famous Bal Kishan troupe and the Telangana Dhoom Dham’s services would also be used to create awareness on the separate Telangana issue.

The party’s strategy for the byelection is to involve all sections of the people including intellectuals, academics, artistes, and others from the region. The TRS hopes to bring momentum to the separate Telangana movement through the bypoll by taking the message to the grassroots.




Six students debarred


Karimnagar: Six students who were copying in the degree supplementary examinations, were debarred in the district on Monday and Tuesday. Flying squad convenor M. Narayana said that the squad visited examination centres in Karimnagar, Metpally, Korutla, Jagityal, Agraharam and Vemulawada.

Mr Narayana said that one student in Vemulawada college, three in Korutla college and two students in SRR College in Karimnagar were debarred. He said that P. Balaiah, G. Narayana and V. Anand were members of the flying squad.





Tainted officials take their share


Warangal, Sept. 26: Unscrupulous mandal-level officials are making money from pensions meant for the aged, widows and handicapped persons through a crafty ruse. They put the pension amounts in banks as limited period fixed deposits and release them only once in three months and pocket the accrued interest.

If some among the hapless lot of pensioners question these officials about the delay in release of pensions, the officials threaten to cancel their pensions. Terrified, they stay silent. Shocked by the illegal practice, District Collector K. Damayanti has issued a circular to all 51 mandal parishad development officers asking them to submit statements of the bank accounts immediately.

“We will take steps to recover the interest illegally drawn by the MPDOs after verifying their bank account statements,” said the collector. The authorities are confident that after perusing the bank account details and the pension dispersal reports, they would be able to isolate and expose the tainted officials.

The banks offer interest on fixed deposits which are kept for 45 days or more. A total of 1.57 lakh people including 1.08 lakh old people, 18,000 physically challenged persons and 19,000 widows are getting a monthly pension of Rs 200 under the government’s social security scheme.

The district releases Rs 3.14 crore every month to the mandal parishads for this. “Such illegal activities by officials have been reported from Mogullapally, Atmakur, Chityal and other mandals,” said Mr Prashant Kumar, in-charge project director of the District Rural Development Agency which allocates pensions.

Mr Kumar said that an inquiry had been ordered into the malpractice. “We will recover the money from the guilty MPDOs, and will take action against them,” he said. Authorities have decided to maintain stricter vigil on the disbursal of pensions in each mandal to avoid the recurrence of such scams.






VMC eyes private partnership


Vijayawada, Sept. 26: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation(VMC) is gearing up to pool up funds for the city’s development apart from the Rs 7,300 crore Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds. The VMC, as part of the implementation of the GO MS No. 160, is now contemplating private participation in providing better amenities for the people.

Construction of commercial complexes, hotels, resorts, family entertainment centres, food courts, amusement parks and other public places is being planned to mobilise funds for the city development of the city. The money earned through these activities would be spent on basic amenities like roads, drainage system and drinking water.

The AP Tourism Development Corporation, the AP Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and several other wings of the State government have already experimented with the public-private partnership and succeeded. The scheme envisages the civic administration or the government to create ground for the private investment and thus share profits, which would be used for further strengthening of the civic services.

The VMC had already proposed a multi-storeyed shopping complex at Autonagar, residential apartments, a commercial complex at Brindavan Colony, another commercial complex at Besant Road, a multiplex and an entertainment centre at Vidyanagar. The VMC is confident of mobilising funds for the proposals from the interested private partners.

The VMC with mayor, Tadi Sakunthala, commissioner N. Gulzar already held several rounds of meetings with the officials, corporators and the interested private companies. The elected body of the VMC is likely to take up the proposal of public-private participation in the next round of meeting. “As the VMC cannot do everything, we are inviting the private companies and individuals to share the work and earn as well,” Ms Sakunthala asserted.




Ragging: Colleges warned


Jangareddygudem, Sept. 26: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) recommended to the State government to initiate action against those college managements which failed to curb the practice of ragging on the campus.

Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, SHRC secretary S. Chellappa said that the managements of colleges had the responsibility to keep a tab on ragging and added that the commission had recommended to the government to initiate action under Section 4(1) against managements if they failed to take any action.

He said that the commission had taken up inquiry into three cases pertaining to ragging. Noting that the SHRC had completed one year, Mr Chellappa felt the need to provide an investigation wing to the commission. Though the commission receives 20 to 30 complaints per day, five to 10 cases pertained to general cases.

He said that in case human rights were violated under Articles 21 and 21 (A) of the Constitution, such cases would come under the purview of the HRC. Mr Chellappa said that since there was no fee to approach the SHRC, a large number of complaints were being received at the Commission’s office and added that the affected party could directly explain their problem to the Commission.






Hearing on fever deaths


Rights panel to arrive on Sept. 28

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 26: The Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission (APHRC) will conduct a public hearing at Paderu at 3 pm on September 28 on the deaths related to malaria, malnutrition and other diseases during the rainy season from May- end to November.

The commission will not only hear the people, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), people’s representatives, victim families and the officials, but may also visit to hospitals, medical aid centres, hostels and other public areas. APHRC chairman Justice G. Subhashan Reddy will preside over the hearing.

The APHRC had already issued interim directions to the Visakhapantam district collector, the Paderu Integrated Tribal Development Agency and the Visakhapatnam district medical and health officer to take measures to contain occurrence of deaths during the season.






Doctor booked in dowry case


Vizianagaram, Sept. 26: A Hyderabad-based doctor, who was accused of demanding additional dowry from his wife ,was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by magistrate L. Annapurnasri here on Tuesday. A police team from II town headed by assistant sub-inspector Malleswara Rao brought Dr Kishore Kumar Koya from Hyderabad and produced him in the additional first class judicial magistrate court.

Dr Kishore Kumar allegedly deserted his wife K. Sreelakshmi and his five-year-old daughter five years ago allegedly seeking more dowry. He allegedly used to harass his wife since their marriage and allegedly went abroad deserting his family.

Since then, Ms Sreelakshmi had been fighting for justice after lodging a case with the local police by staying with her parents. The airport officials apprehended Dr Kishore Kumar when he arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad in the wee hours of September 16. When Dr Kishore Kumar complained of chest pain, he was admitted to Kims in Secunderabad.

On receipt of information, the local police team went to Hyderabad and brought him to Vizianagaram. When contacted, II Town sub-inspector Narasimha Murty told this correspondent that cases have been filed against Dr Kishore Kumar under Sections 498-A of Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act and investigation is on.




Women troubled in mega FP camp


Salur (Vizianagaram), Sept. 26: Women, who underwent family planning operations and their attendants at the Mega Family Planning camp held here on Monday, were put to trouble as most of them were forced to sleep on the floor. In an effort to reach its annual target, the medical and health department has been organising mega FP camps at various parts of the district without providing minimum facilities.

A total of 180 women from Salur town and rural, Pachipenta and Makkuva mandals underwent surgeries but the authorities failed to provide even minimum facilities at the hospital. With temperature soaring on Monday, the patients as well as their attendants carrying little kids aged between one to three years faced a lot of problems. Most of the attendants were seen sitting with their children under trees as there was no place in the hospital.

The district medical and health wing was making arrangements to perform atleast 200 surgeries in each mega camp. Further, patients suffering from diarrohoea were asked to lay down on the benches as there was no separate ward for them.




AU bid to preserve oral literature of tribals


Visakhapatnam, Sept. 26: Pakrothi mane bondh acha se se modima, mora padam sabdase santoec, Porimone upane rokoci phol manor raibayi (the bond between me and this nature is binding wine, she is my first mother, she quivers and thrills at my foot steps, pat pat she splash the terrain, feeds me the yummy taste of delicious fruit feast).

This poem came instantly from the mouth of Butiya, a woman belonging to Valmiki tribe of Lambasingi hamlet in the Vizag agency area when Andhra University professor S. Prasanna Sree and his project members visited this place recently as part of “Translating of tribal oratures”, a UGC major research project launched in 2005.

The project was launched in an attempt to preserve the oral tradition of the tribes living together in the agency areas of the district.
Around 200 hundred such songs, poems and proverbs of nearly nine tribal dialects that are commonly spoken like Valmiki, Gadaba, Bagatha, Porja and Konda tribal communities have been translated into English and are being preserved in CDs.

The project team has made several trips to many tribal villages in Chintapalli, G. Madugula, Paderu and other mandals and recorded these songs from elderly persons and many other tribals. “The great Hindu epic Ramayana would not have reached the future generations if Valmiki, a tribal, had not written it. In a similar way there are many things to learn from the tribals, especially the poems, songs and proverbs which are philosophical in nature and has messages about nature,” said Prasanna Sree. She lamented that there were incidents where the present generation tribals do not know such ‘oral traditional songs’.