Andhranews

Kurnool MP’s dream come true


Kurnool, Sept. 27: All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Kisan Ghat, constructed in memory of late chief minister Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy here on Wednesday. Mrs Gandhi also unveiled the life-size statue of the late leader on the occasion. After inaugurating the Kisan Ghat, she laid a wreath on the memorial of Vijayabhaskara Reddy and paid rich tributes.

The AICC president garlanded the portrait of the late chief minister and lighted a lamp in front of it. Mrs Gandhi spoke to Ms Shyamalamma, wife of late Vijayabhaskara Reddy and enquired about her health. Mrs Gandhi sat near the memorial and observed silence. An all-religion prayer was organised on the occasion, in which she participated for a while along with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president K. Keshava Rao and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, city mayor and DCC president Raghurami Reddy, AICC secretary Iq-bal Singh, district in-charge minister Konathala Ramak-rishna, State tourism minister J. Geeta Reddy, minister M. Mareppa, Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy, Dhone MLA Kotla Sujata-mma and other leaders also were present.

Earlier, Mrs Gandhi was accorded a warm welcome at the helipad. She arrived here one hour behind schedule. Mr Raghurami Reddy presented a bouquet and welcomed her to the city. Later, she inspected the photo exhibition on the drought situation in the district.Mrs Gandhi spent only one minute near the memorial and left for the public meeting along with Mr Rajasekhar Reddy.






Woman barbers launch fast


Tirupati, Sept. 27: Demanding jobs, nine woman barbers, who were interviewed and not given appointments in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, began an indefinite fast in front of the TTD administrative office here on Wednesday under the auspices of the Samhita Mahila Sangam and Thyagarajaswamy Nayee Brahmin Association.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Radhadevi, a representative of the association said that they were waging a relentless fight for recruitments in the TTD since the last three years and submitted several representations to peoples’ representatives, the AP Mahila Commission and also to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Referring to the objections raised by some religious organisations against their appointment initially, they said that the TTD authorities finally relented because of their prolonged agitation and after the display of their skills in front of several temples and other places.

Ms Radhadevi said that they were upset that only 18 women were appointed after conducting interviews to more than 100 women. She alleged that appointment was given only to those related to the barbers already working at the Kalyana Katta. They said that they would continue their fast till their demands were met.




Students skip free coaching


Nellore, Sept. 27: An ambitious programme introduced by the government to provide free long- term coaching in Eamcet to Intermediate students in government colleges, right from the first year, evoked poor response from students.

Only 50 per cent of the selected students were found attending classes, even when they were provided with free study material. On the other hand, parents spend anywhere between Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in corporate colleges for long-term Eamcet coaching in corporate colleges.

In a bid to help those parents who cannot send their children to corporate colleges, the State government has selected one college each in every district for Eamcet coaching and also selected faculty through interviews. KAC College in Nellore was selected to provide coaching for 100 students, and there is provision to increase the number, if the demand went up.

Students of any government college in the district are eligible to join the coaching classes which is conducted between 7 am to 9 am everyday, irrespective of holidays. Examination is held every Sunday to evaluate the understanding levels of students.

Selection was made based on marks, and preference was given to SC, ST and BC candidates. Though the College administration selected 100 students, only 40 to 50 from KAC College and DK Women’s College located in Nellore are attending the classes.

Most of the outstation students have not turned up though the authorities assured seats in KAC College if they bring transfer certificate from the college where they are studying, according to Jeevan Krishna, district vocational education officer.

He said that they had released two lists so far to fill the vacant seats based on the list sent by the principals of the colleges situated outside Nellore but there was no response from the outstation candidates. “Most of the students are from poor families and are shifting residence to Nellore for studies. Eamcet coaching is certainly not an easy task for them,” he said.

Mr Jeevan Krishna said that 34 students who joined the coaching from local DK Women’s College were not attending the classes for the last few days because of the closure of hostel for Dasara holidays. Meanwhile, KAC College principal P. Sarala said that they had decided to drop students who were absent for more than five days and allot the seat to others who were interested.




Legal drive against ragging


Ongole, Sept. 27: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) will conduct legal literacy camps in more than 250 educational institutions, including all professional educational institutions, in the district to bring awareness among students on the AP Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1997 after the Dasara vacation.

The decision was taken in the backdrop of recent ragging incidents taking place in the State. The State Legal Services Authority directed the district unit to conduct camps in this regard. DLSA chairman Justice H. Chandrasekhar, judicial officers and advocates will visit colleges as part of the drive. The DLSA is also asking colleges to form anti-ragging committees with teachers and students to prevent ragging .

Justice Chandrasekhar said that the main focus of the campaign would be on professional colleges like engineering, B.Ed and management. He said the punishment for convicts would be based on the severity of the offence and agony undergone by the victim.






229 schools to be developed


Eluru, Sept. 27: Basic amenities will be provided in 229 schools at a cost of Rs 1.10 crores in West Godavari district in the current fiscal in view of the bad condition of several school buildings. Inaugurating a school building constructed at a cost of Rs 6 lakhs at Tim-mapuram village under Dwarakatirumala mandal on Wednesday, Zilla Pari-shad (ZP) chairman Karumuri Nageswara Rao deplored the pathetic condition of several schools where not even drinking water and toilet facilities were available for the students.

In order to provide potable water supply at schools, the ZP will spend Rs 60 lakhs and toilets would be constructed in all the 229 schools. The ZP chairman said that students would also be taught on the importance of keeping the environs clean and added that if every school has toilet facility, it would solve a major problem.

He felt the need to bring about awareness among students on raising plants on the school grounds. The government was making all efforts to teach computer education for students at schools to ensure that once they go for higher education, they would not face any difficulty in accessing information on the web.

Mr Nageswara Rao said that the ZP was planning to construct permanent buildings in place of dilapidated buildings while others will be renovated. The ZP chairman called upon teachers to make sincere efforts to provide knowledge to children.

Later, taking part at a meeting held in Ramannagudem under Dwara-katirumala mandal, the ZP chairman said that in the coming two years, two lakh houses will be constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crores in rural areas under the Indiramma programme in the district. He said that this year, about 89,000 houses will be constructed.




Maoist gives up to police


Kakinada, Sept. 27: A Maoist, Kunjam Venkat-eswarulu alias Sampat, 20, associated with the Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) platoon, surrendered before the district police on Wednesday.
He carries a reward of Rs 50,000.

Disclosing the details to mediapersons, superintendent of police (SP) B. Srinivasulu said that Sampat joined the dalam in 2004 under the influence of Konalova guerrilla squad commander Anil. After completing the training, he worked as a member of the Konalova dalam.

Sampat was an accused in the rocket launcher attack on Sileru and Koyyuru police stations as also in the blasting of the hydro-electrical project at Sileru. The SP said that Sampat was also involved in the killing of two CRPF jawans at Sileru. The SP said that the reward amount would be given to Sampat. Speaking to presspersons, Sampat said that he decided to quit the dalam as his parents wanted him to return home.






Row over aid to oustees


Warangal, Sept. 27: Leaders of the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) were involved in a verbal duel over the payment of compensation to the farmers who lost their lands under the Devadula project related works.

TRS MLA from Cherial Kommuri Pratap Reddy is now leading an agitation against major irrigation minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah for his “wilful” delay in the payment of compensation to the farmers. “Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah is wilfully delaying the payment of compensation to the affected farmers of Cherial constituency,” Mr Pratapa Reddy alleged on Wednesday.

But the Congress leaders refuted the allegations and said that the delay in the payment of compensation to those who lost the lands under the Bommakur reservoir works taken up under the Devadula phase-II was due to the TRS MLA’s indifferent attitude.

“Earlier it was planned to distribute the compensation cheques to the affected farmers on September 16. But the MLA postponed it saying that he had some personal work,” said District Congress Committee (DCC) president Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy stated that though the government had announced that the compensation will be paid on September 30, the MLA was levelling baseless allegations against the minister with a personal grudge.

“Fearing protests from the farmers, Mr Pratap Reddy is blaming the minister in order to save his own skin and to get some cheap publicity,” Mr Ramana Reddy alleged. He said that the compensation cheques were ready and the amount was already deposited in the banks for the payment on September 30, but the TRS MLA was trying to make an issue out of it.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member Dr Banda Prakash said that Mr Pratap Reddy should desist from making false and baseless allegations against Mr Lakshmaiah who was responsible for speedy payment of compensation.




Price panel visits Indur


Nizamabad, Sept. 27: A committee set up to regulate the prices of essential commodities in the State arrived in Nizamabad district on Wednesday. The State government appointed the committee to scrutinise and approve consumer price index numbers in Andhra Pradesh.

The committee has selected Nizamabad, Bodhan, Vizianagaram, Chittivalasa, Kakinada, Jaggaiahpet, Miryalaguda, Tirupati, Renigunta, Kothagudem and Paloncha in the State to monitor the prices.

As part of the committee’s tour, Dr Saroja Rama Rao, committee convenor and director of economics and statistics, AP Chamber of Commerce representative Ravi Chandra, TNTUC representative Uma Maheswara Rao, State Statistical joint director Ramakrishna and Nizamabad chief planning officer Guru Murthy visited Nizamabad and Bodhan and reviewed CPI numbers.

Dr Saroja Rama Rao said that the purpose of CPI was to measure the average percentage in prices paid by consumers, belonging to the targeted population covered by them over a period of time. The index is based on data derived by surveys conducted on the living conditions of the families, she said.






VMC decision draws flak


Vijayawada, Sept. 27: The CPI(M) on Wednesday took strong exception to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) proposed move on public-private partnership calling it an attempt by the State and Central governments to privatise.

The VMC has decided to launch several programmes in the city under the public-private partnership and proposed commercial complexes, hotels, food courts, theatres and entertainment centres to generate additional revenue for the civic body.

While private companies will invest on these projects, the VMC will provide the required land for them at acceptable rentals. CPI(M) floor leader Ch. Babu Rao, who was the former chairman of the VMC standing committee during the Left regime, blamed municipal commissioner Natarajan Gulzar and mayor Tadi Sakuntala for deciding to part with the prime assets of the civic body to private companies in the name of development.

Mr Babu Rao said that the VMC proposed to start over 16 projects in the city by 2011 and it was mentioned in the VMC’s agreement with the Central government for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Ren-ewal Mission (JNNURM). He said that the CPI(M) opposed the conditions laid in the JNNURM scheme highlighting the privatisation programmes.

Besides giving the valuable assets of the civic body to private parties, the CPI(M) leader also exp-ressed fear that various wi-ngs of the VMC may be privatised. Mr Babu Rao quoted the VMC’s move to privatise streetlighting, drinking water supply and vehicle depot maintenance and said that these moves have substantiated his charge against the ruling front in the civic body.




Farmers opt for subabul plants


Guntur, Sept. 26: Farmers of villages in Palnadu region, particularly in Atchempet and Krosur mandals, are evincing keen interest to grow subabul trees, scientifically called Leucaena leucocephala, as they are yielding good returns.

The continuous drought conditions in the region have forced many farmers, who used to grow chilli, maize and cotton crops, to turn to subabul cultivation. For the past four years farmers are facing problems due to deficit rainfall. They had to mortgage their lands to dealers of fertilisers and pesticides, as the bankers were reluctant to lend loans.

It was a period when the farmers who accumulated huge debts due to successive crop losses were forced to end their lives. But, some enterprising farmers, opted for subabul cultivation. Irrespective of the rainfall and the water supplied, subabul grows in a sturdy manner and can even withstand the vagaries of the weather in two to three years. Be-sides the easy cultivation practices, low risk and less usage of pesticides, subabul can yield good profits.

The harvest begins from the second year and the yield continues for at least 15 years. Subabul is a popular farm forestry tree in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. Now, the trees are being grown in over one lakh acres in Prakasam district and in 50,000 acres in Guntur district.

Vast subabul tracts could be seen in areas like Atchempet, Kollapalli, Velpuram, Talla Ch-eruvu and Chamarru of Atc-hempet mandal and in some villages in Krosur mandal. Subabul is best suited for warm regions and grows well between 22 and 30ºC in regions of 500 to 2000 mm annual rainfall. Subabul pulp is used in paper industry and is transported to AP Paper Mills, Sirpur Kagaz Nagar and other mills.

After using the pulp for paper making, the left over material and leaves could be used as firewood and fodder for cattle. Following Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s suggestion to the farmers to go for alternative crops, the district agriculture officials are encouraging farmers to opt for subabul.






Water cut to more flats


Visakhapatnam, Sept. 27: The Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Wednesday disconnected supply of water to five more apartment complexes. With this, the total number of apartments which were hit by the GVMC move rose to 45. This was disclosed by Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association general secretary A. Suresh.

Vexed with the attitude of the GVMC, the association has decided to approach the court. “We are going to move the court on Thursday to seek a redressal of our grievances. We cannot go without water during this Dasara season,” Mr Suresh told this correspondent.

He said it was becoming a financial burden for many as they were forced to purchase water tankers from private agencies. The association had represented the issue to the corporation to seek more time to pay the bills in instalments as Dasara was approaching. Instead, the corporation responded by disconnecting water supply to apartments, he added.




Vuda to sell flats in Oct.


Visakhapatnam, Sept. 27: The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) has announced sale of LIG flats which are under construction and likely to be completed by August 2007. This was announced by the Vuda chairman P.S.N. Raju on Wednesday.

The chairman said 136 double bedroom flats were being built in Kapulauppada on the Bhimli Beach Road. Each flat, of 785 square feet, would be sold at Rs 6.5 lakh.The second project is located at Kurmannapalem, close to the Steel Plant. Sale of applications will begin from October 3, the chairman said.