Date:10/01/2011 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2011/01/10/stories/2011011059770200.htm

Telangana stir: IT sector worried
Yogendra Kalavalapalli
Workforce apprehensive about turn of events post-Sankranti break
Activists threatened to stop Seemandhra people from returning to capital after Pongal, last year
Festival sees several IT, ITeS sectors' workforce heading home in various parts of the State

HYDERABAD: A relative calm pervades the Information Technology (IT) corridor. Few days after the Srikrishna Committee's report on Telangana was made public, people go about their work as usual. At least, for the time being.

Fears allayed: With the electronic media toning down their broadcasts, most IT employees are under the impression that the protests are more passive this time round. This, to a great extent, has allayed their fears on any repercussions post-Srikrishna report. However, not all their apprehensions are put to rest. Whispers have been doing the rounds on the turn of events post Sankranti break and this is leaving a majority of the IT workforce worried. The festival sees several IT and ITeS sectors' workforce heading home in various parts of the State. And, last year's threats are still fresh in their minds. At the peak of the agitation last January, pro-Telangana activists threatened to obstruct Andhra and Rayalaseema people from returning to the capital, but desisted in the last minute. Nonetheless, some are not taking any chances.

“I did not want to take any chances. I booked my flight tickets (for the return journey) well in advance,” said one IT professional M. Sruti. That said, with the city being more or less peaceful, even taking in stride a bandh call, IT companies in Madhapur, Gachbowli, Banjara Hills, Somajiguda and Begumpet are heaving a sigh of relief.
Part of this new-found confidence comes from everyone – government, political leaders and policy makers – acknowledging the key role of the IT sector in shaping city's economy. Over the last few months industry leaders aggressively lobbied with influential leaders cutting across party lines explaining them the importance of peaceful atmosphere in the region for the sustenance of their business.

Disruption: Any disruption in the functioning of the IT sector would affect investment in the State, which in turn would have multiple repercussions, and everyone is wary about hurting the ‘golden goose'.

Lifeline: “People have realised that no matter what, no one will attack the IT industry. This has become the lifeline to the city and everyone from politicians to students is aware of that,” said M. Sudhakar, working with a leading IT services provider. “This has greatly reassured many of us.” Also, unlike last time, companies are not chancing a risk. Anticipating trouble the industry is better geared for any contingency. “Most of our member companies have a Plan B which would be invoked in case of any disturbance. The key focus is to ensure that we meet our SLAs (service level agreements) to all our clients,” said CII chairman Shakti Sagar.

Working from home: Companies like Mahindra Satyam and Tata Consultancy Services have even informed their associates that they were either free to leave early or even given the option of working from home.

Some companies have even arranged for alternative accommodation facilities in their campuses or nearby hotels.

Tarnaka rentals sink in T-strike
Jan 09 2011

Jan. 8: There are no takers for houses on rent in Tarnaka and Habsiguda near the Osmania University because of continuous violence and unrest over the Telangana agitation. Residents of the area have approached the city police complaining that property value, rents and business have been hit badly because of the violence.

“Property owners say many houses are lying vacant as tenants are backing off, fearing untoward incidents,” said the city police commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan. Shop keepers are also vacating buildings and are collecting advances paid to their owners since agitators have damaged private vehicles and properties.

Mr Khan also said police had not imposed any ban on media coverage. “The ban was imposed according to Section 6 of Cable Operators Network Act, 1995, which states that proper programming code is necessary,” he said. “According to the rules, telecast of violence, and hate speeches that instigate further violence should not be aired.”

Police had served a notice to a news channel in this connection. Two other channels may also come under the police scanner. Mr Khan said police had also identified two persons who were sending SMSes that may trigger violence. “We have registered cases against them,” he said.
Source URL:
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/tarnaka-rentals-sink-t-strike-353 ...

Source (http://orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=24045)Chief Minister Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy will take up with the Union Railway Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee and others, the requirements of Andhra Pradesh to be included in this year's Railway Budget during his visit to Delhi. The Chief Minister today held a review meeting on the Railway requirements with Minister for Transport and Railway and State Government officials. The Chief Minister also will discuss the issues of Kazipet Wagon Workshop, Transforming Tirupati into a World Class Railway Station etc., with the Railway Ministry. Railway officials informed the Chief Minister that out of 21 trains announced in 2010-11 budget, 16 have already been introduced and 4 trains are to be introduced soon.

Tirupati-Secunderabad bi-weekly express, Secunderabad-Manuguru tri-weekly express, Tirupati-Nellore and Hyderabad-Kolhapur bi-weekly express. The State Government in coordination with the Railways has proposed as many as 35 new trains for the Railway Budget 2011-12. Of this, 17 are Mail & Express trains, 8 Commuter trains and 10 MMTS. New Mail & Express trains proposed are Kacheguda - Tirupati (via Dharmavaram, Pakala) (Daily)--(Express); Secunderabad-Howrah, (Duronto), Secunderabad - Kakinada, Hyderabad - Visakhapatnam, Tirupati - Guntur (via Tenali) and Karimnagar - Tirupati - all Superfast; Tirupati - Kadapa, Kurnool Town - Secunderabad-Vikarabad, Akola--Tirupati--all Express; Kacheguda- Thiruvananthapuram, Secunderabad-Vasco (via Guntakal, Bellari, Hubli), Hyderabad-Darbhanga, Secunderabad-Mangalore(via Guntakal, Bangalore), Kakinada-Mumbai (via Guntur, Secunderabad, Wadi) and Hyderabad- Jammutavi/ Amritsar/Chandigarh - all Superfast; Secunderabad--Narsapur and Narsapur--Nagarsol - all Express; Tirupati--Guntakal (via Pakala) - Fast Passenger; Tirupati-Cuddapah, Secunderabad-Manchiryal, Sirpurkagaznagar-Kazipet--all MEMU; Secunderabad-Bidar, Guntakal- Dharmavaram, Kacheguda--Miryalguda and Kacheguda--Nizamabad--all DEMU and MMTS-10 more Services.

Despite large commuter demand in the suburban and intercity areas, South Central Railway has not been getting adequate MEMU/DEMU/MMTS rakes, which facilitate high speed commuting. Intercity trains badly needed between Rayalaseema and Telangana towns viz Kurnool to Secunderabad and Nizamabad to Secunderabad etc. At least 4-5 MEMU/DEMU to be sanctioned especially in Rayalaseema and Telangana areas.

MMTS Phase-II cleared by Planning Commission and Railway Board is to be sanctioned in 2011-12 budget since it is a popular capacity building project with a high ROR (12%). Moreover 2/3rd cost to be borne by AP state Meanwhile Projects mentioned in the Budget 2010-11 but yet to be sanctioned (Cost Sharing basis) are: New lines: Nadikudi – Srikalahasti (309 km), Bhadrachalam – Kovvur (151 km), Manuguru – Ramagundam (200 km) and Akkannapet – Medak (15 km).

Doubling & Electrification:
Vijayawada – Gudivada-Machilipatnam/ Bhimavaram-Narsapur-Nidadavolu (221 km) and Guntur – Tenali – Repalle (59 km). Projects mentioned in Budget 2010-11 but yet to be sanctioned (Public Private Partnership) are: Kondapalli – Kothagudem (127 km), Cumbum – Proddatur (142 km) and Gadwal – Macherla (233 km). Projects mentioned in Budget 2010-11 but yet to be sanctioned (Socially Desirable Projects) are: Krishna – Vikarabad (148 km), Patancheru – Adilabad (316 km), Bhadrachalam Road – Visakhapatnam (277 km), Secunderabad – Zaheerabad (64 km), Jaggayyapeta Town – Miryalaguda (66 km), Kacheguda – Chityal (87 km), Mantralayam Road – Kurnool Town (111 km) and Pandurangapuram – Bhadrachalam Town (13km). Projects already surveyed but pending with Railway Board are: New lines: Kondapalli – Kothagudem (126 km), Gadwal – Macherla (233 km), Koyagudam Mines – Tadikalpudi (19 km), Bitragunta – Donakonda (199 km), Adilabad – Armoor (136.27 km), Markapur Road – Srisailam (65 km), Gudur – Durgarajapatnam (45 km), Piduguralla – Narsaraopet (32 km) and Cumbum – Prodattur (142 km). Projects already surveyed pending with Railway Board are: Doubling: Bibinagar – Nallapadu (252 km), Secunderabad – Mahbubnagar (113 km), Guntur – Tenali (29 km).

Tripling:
Balharshah – Kazipet (210 km), Kazipet – Vijayawada (219 km), Vijayawada – Gudur (292 km) and Moula Ali – Bhongir (38 km).

There are also popular demand for Surveys of Tenali – Repalle (Doubling), Macherla – Nadikude (Doubling), Hyderabad – Srisailam (New Line) and Secunderabad – Peddapalli via Siddipet (New Line). The Chief Minister will prioritise these projects along with other demands when he takes up the issue with the Railway Minister Minister for Transport Mr.Botsa Satyanarayana, General Manager, South Central Railway, M.S.Jayanth, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Mr.S.K.Sharma, Chief Passenger Traffic Manager, Mr.Bharath Bhushan, Special Chief Secretary to CM, Mr.J. Satyanarayana, Secretary to CM, Jawahar Reddy, Engineer-in-C, R&B, Siva Reddy and other officials attended the meeting.

Divisional Railway Manager P.N. Ram will flag off two new trains from Coimbatore on Tuesday.

The new services will include the tri-weekly inter-city Express on the Coimbatore – Tirupati – Coimbatore sector on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The train will leave Coimbatore at 6 a.m. and reach Tirupati around 1.30 p.m. and in the return direction it will leave Tirupati around 2.30 p.m. and reach Coimbatore at night.

The second train service to be launched is the Coimbatore – Erode train with Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU coaches). It will be a shuttle service between Coimbatore and Erode, thus, easing the pressure on road traffic.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/24/stor...2458790500.htm

I always wondered why Vijayawada and Guntur can't be considered as one city. I mean if Thane and Navi Mumbai can be a part of MMR, and Noida and Gurgaon can be a part of NCR, why can't Guntur and Vijayawada follow a similar pattern, being just about 20 km away from each other? I mean together they would be the 10th or 11th biggest city of India with a population of around 3 million - leapfrogging Visakhapatnam as the second largest city of AP.

I always wondered why Vijayawada and Guntur can't be considered as one city. I mean if Thane and Navi Mumbai can be a part of MMR, and Noida and Gurgaon can be a part of NCR, why can't Guntur and Vijayawada follow a similar pattern, being just about 20 km away from each other? I mean together they would be the 10th or 11th biggest city of India with a population of around 3 million - leapfrogging Visakhapatnam as the second largest city of AP.

You sure the distance between vja n Guntur is 20 kms? Even tenali is more than 20 kms away !

You sure the distance between vja n Guntur is 20 kms? Even tenali is more than 20 kms away !

I think the distance is b/w 35-40 KM

I always wondered why Vijayawada and Guntur can't be considered as one city. I mean if Thane and Navi Mumbai can be a part of MMR, and Noida and Gurgaon can be a part of NCR, why can't Guntur and Vijayawada follow a similar pattern, being just about 20 km away from each other? I mean together they would be the 10th or 11th biggest city of India with a population of around 3 million - leapfrogging Visakhapatnam as the second largest city of AP.


VIJAYAWADA, GUNTUR and TENALI are in triangle

v'wada to guntur is around 30 km and same from to tenali

and even from tenali to guntur its 30 km

recently local Inter city train is started between these cities

Development along the streach of 20 or 30 km is takes very long time


and for ur info there so many cities together similar to vijayawada and guntur

so do u thing we can combine them and make a big cities

then we will definately cross 100 cities with 10 to 15 lachs population


note: -- vijayawad total population is around 9 lacs
guntur total population is 5.5 lacs
tenali ----i don't know the figure but i think will be around 2 lacs

even if we combine l the 3 cities total population doesn't cross 20 lacs

I always wondered why Vijayawada and Guntur can't be considered as one city. I mean if Thane and Navi Mumbai can be a part of MMR, and Noida and Gurgaon can be a part of NCR, why can't Guntur and Vijayawada follow a similar pattern, being just about 20 km away from each other? I mean together they would be the 10th or 11th biggest city of India with a population of around 3 million - leapfrogging Visakhapatnam as the second largest city of AP.

Think. If we add vijayanagarm, Anakapalli to Vizag , It will surpass even Hyderabad in Size and population(I think).

Think. If we add vijayanagarm, Anakapalli to Vizag , It will surpass even Hyderabad in Size and population(I think).

ITS better that guntur be not merged with vijayawada.BUT the jurisdriction of vijayawada city should be extended from gannavaram to mangalagiri and vuyyuru should be part of vijayawada city.

http://www.dc-epaper.com/PUBLICATIONS/DC/DCH/2011/06/06/Article//003/06_06_2011_003_014.jpg

Aadhaar cards in all districts by March 2012

Andhra Pradesh is leading in Aadhaar card enrolment with 1.3 crore enrolments and a record number of 28 lakh Aadhaar numbers were generated as on June 4. While the work taken up in seven districts in phase-I of the Unique Identification (UID) project will be completed at the earliest, the departments concerned were instructed to complete the work on Aadhaar cards in all the 23 districts by March 31 next year.

The civil supplies department acts as the registrar for seven districts and has taken up the enrolment in the districts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Chittoor, Anantapur, East Godavari, Adilabad and Srikakulam under phase-I.

All residents of Maheswaram in Ranga Reddy got Aadhar numbers while 25 out of 63 mandals in Anantapur, 17 out of 58 in East Godavari, seven out of 38 in Srikakulam, nine out of 52 in Adilabad and 13 out of 66 in Chittoor secured the numbers.

The UID Authority of India (UIDAI) has adopted the multi-registrar model for issuing Aadhaar numbers to all the residents. The multi-registrar model provides the residents a choice to enrol at points operated by different registrars based on their convenience. The food and civil supplies and the rural development departments were nominated as registrars.

Reviewing the progress of Aadhar cards on Monday, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said Aadhaar cards will be made mandatory for getting ration, pensions, and Indiramma housing.

Civil supplies minister D Sreedhar Babu, chief secretary SV Prasad among others attended the meeting.

IBNLIVE (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/aadhaar-cards-in-all-districts-by-march-2012/157372-60-114.html)

http://www.dc-epaper.com/PUBLICATIONS/DC/DCH/2011/06/29/Article//002/29_06_2011_002_034.jpg

©Deccan Chronicle

http://www.deccanheraldepaper.com/pdf/2011/07/05/20110705aA001100005.jpg

Why ONLY Temples...??? :bash::bash:

p_Lt40z4zaE

Friends, Chennai banner is up on SSC on the occasion of our Independence Day. Please rate the banner at http://xl.skyscrapercity.com/?page=banner

Please join in with other Indians in making our Indian banner successful. I have also posted a few comments in the banner comments section which you can read for more details on these buildings. As many would know, these buildings are owned by TCS and represent on of the biggest office spaces in the world and they have used more steel than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. :cheers:

The irony is, this pic was photographed by a Chennai guy (vicvin) and edited by a Bangalore guy Nandan...both our fellow forumers have made it an Indian effort instead of being isolated to a city effort. Thanks to both of them. :cheers:

Happy Independence Day! :cheers:

Source: MSN

Visakhapatnam, Sep 25 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said his government would provide transparent and corrupt-free administration by introducing a new scheme.

Reddy said the state government would introduce a new scheme from November 1 in which 25 certificates including caste, family, income and others would be issued within 15 minutes after paying the requisite fee.

He said this on the sidelines of a function here celebrating the merger of Praja Rajyam Party with Congress.

Reddy said the scheme would be initially launched in Krishna, Chittoor and Khammam districts as a pilot project with a view to eradicate corruption and would be later expanded to cover the entire state.

Refuting allegations that his government was withdrawing the welfare schemes launched by late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister said his government is in fact continuing them.

Reiterating that the Congress government would provide rice at Rs one per kg from November 1, Reddy said the state government would also introduce a new scheme ''Milk Mission'' with Rs 6,000 crore for the benefit of the women dairy groups under ''Indira Kranth Patham'' from the same day.

The chief minister informed that one lakh appointment letters to the unemployed youths in private sector would be issued by December.

"I have already urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide a date to distribute the appointment letters to the individuals in a particular day in December," Reddy said. PTI Corr NSK SKT

Micro-lenders may have to write off Rs 7,000 crore in AP
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article2215930.ece

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) may have to write-off most of the Rs 7,000 crore outstanding loans in Andhra Pradesh due to poor repayment during the last nine months.

“The loan recoveries are only about 10 per cent in some places. If this is not addressed, they may have to be written off,” Ms Padmaja Reddy, Managing Director, Spandana Spoorthy MFI, told Business Line here. Banks should help MFIs in reducing the burden of non-performing assets (NPAs) by converting their loans into equity, she added.

Andhra Pradesh accounted for 30 per cent of the total MFI portfolio (Rs 33,000 crore) in the country as of October 2010 when the State Government brought in a regulation for MFIs.

“Most of the MFIs had a huge portion of their total portfolio in the State. They cannot continue in business if at least 50 per cent of dues are not recovered,” Mr P. Kishore Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Trident Microfin, said.

The head of a Hyderabad-based MFI said there was lot of “pressure” from institutional investors to work on a recovery mechanism. “But we are helpless as the atmosphere in many villages is still unfriendly to our staff,” he said.

Things are not “good” for the country's only listed MFI, SKS Microfinance, either. Though it is tight-lipped on the exact nature of recoveries, the company had indicated that the AP situation could affect it for some more quarters. It now has about Rs 1,000 core outstanding loans from the State.

Many are pinning hopes on the proposed MFI Regulation and Development Bill, 2011 of the Central Government.

“If this translates into law at the earliest, things may improve with normalisation of disbursals,” Mr Kishore Kumar said.

According to Mr Alok Prasad, CEO, Microfinance Intuitions Network (MFIN), the AP Government should create a conducive atmosphere for recovery of old loans.

But the Government sees no role for itself. “It is primarily a matter between the MFIs and their borrowers. We only chip in if there is unlawful coercion,” Mr Reddy Subrahmanyam, Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Andhra Pradesh Government, said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article2503353.ece

Linguistic and computer experts grappled with the various challenges of making Telugu language Internet-friendly at the three-day International Telugu Internet Conference under progress here.
The task of encoding all the symbols of Telugu under the Unicode system is far from over, they felt.
Unicode Consortium president, vice-president, and chairperson of Unicode Technical Committee Lisa Moore said the consortium was encoding several Indic scripts. There were still some Telugu symbols that needed to be encoded.
Prof. Peri Bhaskara Rao of the Research Institute for the Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, an Institution of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and chairman of the first Telugu Internet Conference outlined several problems in making Telugu a more Internet-friendly language. He said the need to drop a few symbols of the Telugu language that were “spoofable” ( used to imitate other characters) was under examination.
He said there were several problems in developing language editors, spell checker, and text-to-speech (TTS) systems for Telugu.
Prof. G. Uma Maheswara Rao of the Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies, University of Hyderabad, said developing a spell checker for Telugu was challenging because it was an “agglutinating language with a very complex morphology coupled with prolific sandhi (also known in linguistic terms as morphophonemics).
“Designing a spell checker for Indian languages such as Telugu poses many new challenges not found in English. In Telugu, inflectional elements (which include different kinds of auxiliary verbs, postpositions, particles, and case-makers) are always bound to the stem resulting in highly synthetic word forms.
The number of possible verb forms for a verb stem in Telugu, therefore, is very high running into millions, aggravating the task of the morph analyzer (of the spell checker),” he said.
A team of experts at the Hyderabad University were trying to address all these problems, he said.
Vasudeva Verma from the Search and Information Extraction Lab, IIIT-Hyderabad, outlined the efforts being made to develop a Cross Language Information Access (CLIA) in Telugu. He said that CLIA could be considered as an extension to Cross Language Information Retrival (CLIR) systems. This would help in making accessible the huge amount of information available in different languages, mostly English, to people who know only Telugu.
Rich phonetics

He said a team in IIIT was working on developing CLIRs in the domains of health and tourism with funds from the Government of India. CISCO systems architect Kolichala Suresh said it was good time to think about reforms in Telugu script.
He suggested inclusion of some new symbols to preserve the rich phonetics of the language. He said living languages constantly evolved and particularly at the time when technology used to write or print them changes. It is known to all that script of Telugu is rounded because palmyra leaf was used as writing material.
A few symbols were dropped and changed when typing technology came up because it did not allow horizontal staking, he said.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/aptdc-relaunches-river-cruise-to-srisailam/194711-60-121.html

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has relaunched its road-cum-river cruise trip from Hyderabad to Srisailam after a gap of almost seven months. The tour package, which gives tourists an opportunity to experience the best of� nature, was relaunched on Sept 29 but the response for the same has not been encouraging due to the ongoing Telangana agitation.
But now that the stir seems to be losing steam, the APTDC officials hope that citizens will love to take a break from their busy schedules to bask in nature for two days and a night. The scheme, launched on November 8 last year, was suspended in February this year considering the decline in water level at the Nagarjunasagar dam.
“The river cruise is on only when the water level in the dam is between 560-590 ft. When the water level was low, we had to stop the project,” explained B Manohar, Deputy General Manager, APTDC. The 32 trips APTDC took last year yielded them an income of Rs 70 lakh from a total number of over 4,000 tourists.
One can reserve tickets from the APTDC central reservation office at Basheerbagh or Tank bund road or Yatri Nivas for the trip which is on every Monday and Thursday. Tourists have also the option of making it to Nagarjunasagar on their own and thus further reduce the expenditure. Such a discounted package tour costs Rs 2000 for an adult and Rs 1600 for a child compared to Rs 3000 and Rs 2400 in case the tourists prefer to board from Hyderabad itself.
The bus departs at 6.30 am from the Yatri Nivas at Secunderabad and reaches Nagarjunasagar by 10 am. Tourists get a feel of the world’s largest masonry dam and also get to visit the Nagarjunakonda museum, known for its ancient Buddhist artifacts.� Motor launch Agatsya, APTDC’s twin-engined, low-risk double-decker boat would take the tourists to Srisailam on the river Krishna in six hours. The river cruise covers a total of 110 km.
The boat has both AC and Non-AC sections and can carry a maximum of 80 members. This journey itself would be a unique experience. By 5 pm, the boat reaches Lingalagutta, from where a bus takes tourists to Srisailam by ghat road. Boarding and lodging would be provided by the APTDC.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/35000-temples-to-be-restored/articleshow/10486797.cms

HYDERABAD: The collapse of Bapatla Bhavannarayana Swami temple (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bapatla-Bhavannarayana-Swami-temple) 'gopuram' has prompted the government to launch a new drive to conserve temples across the state. A project started by the endowments department in 2010 for conservation of various temples in the state will now be revived in November. As many as 35,000 temples have been identified as having historical value with the help of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state archeology department (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/state-archeology-department).
Conservation architects said that teams commissioned by the department will visit these temples to suggest specific restoration plans. According to a study, several temples including 300-year-old Bhadrakali temple in Warangal, Jwala Narasimha temple, Ahobhilam, and Sri Venkanna Swami temple, Nellore, which is 900 years old, are not maintained well. Sitaramachandra temple located at Shamshabad is also in a dilapidated condition and needs urgent repairs.
While many 'gopurams' of these temples need reinforcement by erecting columns, there are others whose roofs and foundations need to be strengthened. Most of the temples are built with brick and stones and plastered with different materials including lime and special varieties of clay. The project is expected to kick-start next month and will be completed in three months time, endowment officials said. The actual restoration work will, however, take about two years to complete, they said.
"We have about 50,000 temples in the state and about 70 per cent of them are of historic importance. The endowments department will take up conservation activities so that we do not lose any heritage structures," said A Ramanamurthy, a conservationist with the department. The first restoration work will start with Srikalahasti temple, Chittoor, the gopuram of which collapsed in May 2010. "The initial survey of this temple has already been done and restoration measures have also begun," officials said.
Architects, however, pointed out that several such conservation projects had failed in the past.
"In the past most of the conservation work initiated by conservation architects were not implemented by those who manage temples. In several cases engineers who do not have any idea of conservation guidelines are entrusted with such important work and instead of strengthening the structures, they end up weakening them," said Shobha Turaga, conservation activist from the city. She said that several temples have a delicate structures and using modern day materials like cement and mortar in their restoration would spell their doom. "This just weakens them further. We need to be careful with these structures while restoring them," she added.
In some cases, restoration is carried out on the whims and fancies of donors, according to activists. "Some donors are known to insist on painting historic structures that could rob them of their grandeur and others even want using of concrete or granite slabs that do not gel with the rest of the architecture of a temple," a conservationist said. Any sort of conservation activity will have to be monitored by officials who are well-versed in Unesco conservation guidelines, architects said.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/andhra-cm-promises-116-lakh-govt-jobs/198657-62-127.html

Rajahmundry: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that 1.16 lakh jobs will be provided by the state government by the year end.
Speaking at a public meeting at Rajahmundry, he said, "We are making all efforts to provide some 1.16 lakh government jobs to the eligible candidates by the end of this December."
In addition, one lakh jobs will be provided under Rajiv Yuvakiran scheme.

Source: http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=10921

Source: The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article2606049.ece)

Minister for Secondary Education Kolusu Parthasarathi said that steps will be taken to ensure that Telugu is taught in all schools (including Urdu) from classes one to 10 in both Government and private.

Addressing a meeting held by the Krishna District Writers Association to felicitate computational linguists who participated in the First International Telugu Internet Conference held in Silicon Valley recently the Minister said that according to G.O.Ms. No.86 Education (SE-C&TBP) Department, dated July 2, 2003 Telugu should be taught as a subject in every school in the State, but this was not being followed.

But, now instructions would be given to all schools to implement the Government Order. Leading computational linguist in the world Peri Bhaskara Rao, G. Uma Maheswar Rao, A.P. Hindi Academy Chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, former Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad, MLC Ilapuram Venkaiah, Silicon Andhra founder president Kuchibotla Anand, current president Kondubotla Deenababu and general secretary J. Chennaiah were felicitated by the writers' association president Guttikonda Subba Rao and general secretary G.V. Purnachand.

The speakers said that it was very unfortunate that Telugu was not being taught in all schools in the State. Mr Lakshmi Prasad said the situation was so bad that the Government had to change the medium of instruction from Telugu to English in 6,400 Government Schools at one shot. Mr Buddha Prasad said due weightage should be given to marks in the Intermediate (junior College) course. Minister for Information Technology and Communications Ponnala Lakshmaiah said that all out efforts were being made to make Telugu language computer and internet friendly. He said that a number of jobs had to be created for computerising the language. Information Technology would continue to be the sector to generate the highest number of jobs and Telugu would not be a barrier for them, he said.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/69988

In a bid to contain the vertical proliferation of HIV/AIDS, the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) has initiated steps to conduct mass HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) test for all antenatal cases in the state.

In a bid to contain the vertical proliferation of HIV/AIDS, the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) has initiated steps to conduct mass HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) test for all antenatal cases in the state.
Accordingly, the entire health staff, including auxiliary nursing midwives and other health personnel, is being trained on how to conduct the first HIV test, soon after an infant is born at a health centre.
The training programme is scheduled to be held throughout November, for the health staff.
Soon after completion of training, the health staff will conduct the first test for HIV on the newborn infant, at the health sub-centre. The trained staff at the centre, will conduct three more tests to find out the HIV status of the infant.
In case the infant is tested positive at this level also, the health staff will recommend that the infant be registered for anti-retroviral therapy. On an average, each ANM will take care of the health needs of nearly 5,000 people per month.
The health authorities maintain that for the first time the APSACS has taken the initiative to conduct the first screening test for HIV on the newborn infant, at the health sub-centre level, unlike the earlier practice of carrying out such tests only at select primary health centres, having the requisite testing equipment and trained personnel. A health sub-centre is the primary health unit in a village, and making it a testing centre will avoid chances of evading or avoiding screening for HIV for the newborn infants.
They say that once the infant is tested positive for HIV, they will take care of such infants, by registering their names to provide ART, and closely monitor their health as they grow up.
The additional district medical and health officer (AIDS and Leprosy), Dr M. Pavan Kumar said, “We will start mass screening of all ante-natal cases for HIV soon, as the training for the health staff will be completed by the end of November. The exercise is of immense importance to know about the health status of the newborn baby, and start medication in case tested positive for HIV.”

Source: http://www.wopg.org/en/news/humanitarian-aid-tprf-news/1540-tprf-funds-well-drilling-program-in-andhra-pradesh

The construction of bore wells in remote villages in southeastern India will help villagers lift themselves out of a persistent cycle of poverty and disease.
TPRF (http://tprf.org/) has given $16,756 to the Sri K. Pitchi Reddy Educational and Welfare Society (SPREAWS) (http://spreaws.blogspot.com/) to drill and maintain bore wells in 15 of the most water-challenged villages of Andhra Pradesh State. The project will benefit an estimated 7,500 families. SPREAWS, established in 1994, is a grassroots nonprofit that works towards the empowerment of low-caste, tribal and other indigenous, marginalized people in Andhra Pradesh through the provision of basic necessities and education.
Many of the challenges facing these villagers — hunger, poverty, lack of education, poor health — spring from a common cause: a dearth of clean drinking water. Andhra Pradesh is drought-prone, and remote villages frequently have no convenient source of drinking water. The task of fetching water has traditionally fallen to women and girls, who must often travel miles to fill plastic pots and pails with water for all their households needs.
“Besides bringing domestic water, we have to work to earn family wages, and we have to do the hard, often tedious domestic chores of cooking, sweeping, cleaning, washing, rearing the children, collecting fire-wood, baby-sitting, buying the household needs in the markets, etc.” said Mrs. Rajeswari, a resident of Idupalapayi village.
The women trek across open fields and up thorn-covered, rocky slopes to reach the nearest water source, which may be a polluted lake or an unprotected open well meant for agricultural use. This daily task keeps the girls out of school and robs their mothers and aunts of hours of gainful employment. Chronic poverty and disease inevitably follow.
SPREAWS' solution is simple: drill bore wells to create a reliable local source of safe drinking water and train villagers in maintaining them. Well installation is accomplished in four phases: identifying water sources with the help of geologists as well as traditional water diviners; drilling the bore wells; well lining; and head works.
Next come maintenance and education. “The installation stage of a rural water-supply program is very easily achieved compared with accomplishing sustained maintenance,” says SPREAWS President C.J. Sajid Hussain. “The long-term success of any water program depends almost entirely on effective maintenance, and yet it is an aspect which is very often neglected.”
SPREAWS selects one “service-minded individual” from each village for training in maintenance and minor repairs of the bore well. For more complicated repairs, the nonprofit will help village leaders secure the services of an expert.
Using simple teaching aids such as flip charts, drawings, and photographs, SPREAWS volunteers educate villagers in hygienic methods to prevent diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, jaundice, and malaria as well as early detection of water contamination. This basic information helps villagers to regain health and gives them a practical hope of improving their lot.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Plant-project-takes-rural-girls-to-US-science-fair/articleshow/11087134.cms

BANGALORE: It's been a journey of hope for Jyotsana Thirupati and Bhargavi Savarala Lokeshwari. The two 13-year-old girls from an under-privileged background and studying in a rural school have made it to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) at Pennsylvania, USA next May. Their work was chosen from among 1,000 independent research done in the junior category by students all over the country at the Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science (IRIS) fair. The girls from Poduru village in Kuppam district, Andhra Pradesh, will now get to live their dreams.

"I'm excited and happy I won the competition and will go to the US," said Jyotsana.

At the fair organized by Intel in association with the department of science and technology, government of India and Confederation of Indian Industry, their work, mentored and supported by the Agastya Foundation, about the Vavalli plant got them top honours.

Get ready for more power cuts (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Get-ready-for-more-power-cuts/articleshow/11175919.cms)

HYDERABAD: Worsening the ongoing power crisis especially for the domestic consumers, the Centre on Monday withdrew the 185 MW daily power that it has been allocating for Andhra Pradesh since October. Already reeling under a shortfall of 1,300 MW of power daily, the setback is likely to hit the domestic consumers the hardest. Transco officials said the daily power cuts ranging from two to three hours in the Greater Hyderabad limits are likely to be increased in the coming days.

Of the 185 MW of power that was withdrawn from AP, the Centre on Monday diverted 135 MW to Kerala and 50 MW to Tamil Nadu. Taken aback by the development, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy spoke to Union energy minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and requested him to restore the same. However, since the two neighbouring states too are experiencing a major power crisis, the Centre is unlikely to restore the 185 MW to the state.

In another development, NTPC's Simhadri unit with a generating capacity of 500 MW was shut down on Monday due to a technical problem. Ironically, the two Simhadri units had been inoperational for some time and were restored only on Sunday, December 18. In less than 24 hours, they developed a technical snag. As a result, the 1,000 MW Simhadri unit is now generating only 447 MW daily.

Meanwhile, Reliance Industries Limited ( RIL) further reduced its gas production at the KG basin. According to sources, the total gas production has come down to less than 40 mmscd. Already private gas-based GMR, GVK, Gauthami, Spectrum, Konaseema and Vemagiri plants are running below their capacity and producing only 1,8290 MW daily as against the total 3,300 MW capacity.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/ap-credit-potential-for-farm-and-nonfarm-sector-at-rs-85kcr/943313.html

Hyderabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh State Focus Paper (SFP) 2012-13, prepared by the NABARD, has projected a credit potential of Rs 85,326 crore for the farm and non-farm sectoral activities under Priority Sector for ensuing financial year. The SFP released today by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy projected a growth rate of 20.43 per cent during FY 12. SFP is the document outlining the road map for preparation of Annual Credit Plan by the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) for the ensuing financial year. This document is prepared by presenting a comprehensive picture of the potential available in the state for development of agriculture and allied sectors and also critical gaps in infrastructure and support services, after factoring in the policy initiatives of Government of India, State Government, Reserve bank of India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (Nabard). The SFP projected credit potential under crop loans at Rs 40330.46 crore, an increase of 20.2 per cent over the last year at Rs 33528.17 crore. Similarly, loans for SHGs will be at Rs 10316.32 crore, an increase of 15.6 per cent over the last year. After releasing the SFP, Reddy pointed out some of the problems being faced by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. "Farmers are not able to get enough compensation despite paying the premiums on time," Reddy said. He requested Nabard to ensure that the credit given to state farmers to be on par with that of other states. "Farmers in the state are given Rs 22,000 as farm credit whereas I was told in the other States it is Rs 45,000. Please see that the credit is increased in the state," Reddy told Nabard officials. He appealed to to the Centre to take a relook into the guidelines for implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and suggested that the scheme should be synchronised with needs of farmers and labour. PTI GDK NSK

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/after-30-yrs-annual-naxal-hits-down-to-a-single-digit-in-andhra/892496/

As 2011 draws to a close, Andhra Pradesh has a special reason to cheer. After more than three decades of fighting Maoists, this year saw the least deaths as a result of left-wing extremism in the state, staying in single digits. In all, Andhra saw seven civilian deaths, with no police casualities.

Even the number of cases registered involving Maoist violence — 41, including six of murder — were the lowest since 1980 when Naxal attacks started to rise in the state.

A total of 2,065 civilians, including many government officials, have been killed while 575 policemen have died in 31 years of Naxal violence in Andhra.

In 1980, when the People’s War Group (PWG) was formed, 38 offences were registered, including six murder cases. The violence reached its peak in 1991, when 178 civilians and 49 policemen were killed and police registered 953 cases against Left-wing extremists.

With 21 of the 23 districts in the state affected by Naxalite violence, 1990 (145 deaths), 1991 (227 deaths), 1992 (212 deaths) and 1993 (143 deaths) were particularly bad years for Andhra.

The figures have been compiled by the anti-Maoist Special Intelligence Branch (SIB). Its report shows that whenever governments have tried to engage the Maoists in talks, the violence has gone down drastically, only to return with a vengeance when talks failed.

It was only 10 years after the special anti-Naxal Greyhounds force was formed and the government overhauled and equipped the police force with modern weapons that the state police started getting an upper hand in the fight against left-wing extremists by 1999. The Naxals were pushed to the state’s borders with Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

More than 800 Naxalites and 50 top leaders have been killed in encounters by the police since 2003. In a single year in 2005, more than 300 cadres including four top leaders were killed while many others were arrested or surrendered.

Advising against complacency, deputy inspector general of SIB Shivadhar Reddy said: “A single incident can upset a year’s hard work like the Balimella reservoir incident of 2008 in which 36 policemen, including 33 Greyhounds commandos, were shot.”

Source: http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/3_ports_shortlisted_for_Andhra_Pradesh_LNG_terminal/243235.html

The state government has short listed Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada ports for setting up the first-ever Liquefied Natural Gas terminal on the east coast. The terminal will be set up in collaboration with the Gas Authority of India Limited, the Central government-owned gas distribution company.

Official sources told this newspaper that the joint venture of the state and GAIL engaged a consultant to make a detailed study of the project and pick one of the three locations.

A senior official said that “In the first stage, a Floating, Storage, Regas and Unloading facility will be set up and in three years the permanent off-shore facility will come up.”

Though the state government initially considered asking Petronet, a joint venture of the central oil companies, to create the facility, chief minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy CM of Andhra Pradesh preferred the state’s participation as well as control over the imported gas and distribution project.

Accordingly, the Chief Minister wrote to Union petroleum minister Mr S Jaipal Reddy to expedite the project. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to be convinced that the project will address the growing need for gas for power generation, ceramic and glass industries, besides the proposed Petro-Chemical, Petroleum Investment Region.

Sources said Kakinada would be the ideal location, because of its proximity to the originating point of the central gas distribution network criss-crossing the country, presently carrying Reliance gas.

Bobbili veena gets special GI tag (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Bobbili-veena-gets-special-GI-tag/articleshow/11311650.cms) :)
BOBBILI (VIZIANAGARAM): Former US President Bill Clinton is a proud owner. Now, the famed Bobbili veena has earned a Geographical Indication (GI) certification from the central government. Sources said the certificate would be delivered in a couple of weeks to craftsmen in this small town.

Experts said the GI tag validates the veena's unique qualities. The Bobbili veena is known for its unique design and high-quality craftsmanship. "Foreigners come here to purchase the veena and its miniature models as well. It is made of a single log and has no joints," Crafts Development Centre in-charge Atchyuta Narayana said.

The veena gained prominence after the rajas of Bobbili, who were great patrons of music, made a present of the instruments to British officers visiting their kingdom.

Although the golden era of the Bobbili veena ended with the abolition of princely states, a few families belonging to the Sarvasiddi community in Gollapalli near Bobbili are continuing the tradition, having carried on making the veenas for the past one-and-a-half centuries. About 150-200 veenas are manufactured here every year.

Earlier, craftsmen used to depend on elephant tusks and stag horns to make the veenas but now, those materials have been replaced by plastics. "The veena and its craftsmanship so impressed Clinton that he sent an invitation to the artisans to visit America," Lepakshi emporium manager Jagan Mohana Rao said. Clinton was presented with a veena when he visited the state in 2000. He said there is a great demand for miniature veenas, but added that scant availability of special wood for the veena was a cause of worry. Sources said that once caught in a struggle to make ends meet, the craftsmen are now relieved with the rising demand. Artistes like Eemani Sankara Satry and the Vasa brothers are exponents of the Bobbili veena.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/flamingo-festival-to-be-andhra-pradesh-festival/218890-60-114.html

NELLORE:� Flamingo arrivals may be dwindling in this district famous for the Flaming Festival but from next year tourists may at least get to see many MLAs. Inaugurating this year’s Flamingo Festival at Sullurpet Saturday, tourism minister Vatti Vasant Kumar said from next year, the Flamingo Fest will be a state-funded event rather than a district-level affair.
Speaking at the inaugural of the two-day festival to promote eco-tourism in and around the Pulicat lake, the minister said he would petition the speaker to urge all MLAs in the state to attend the festival.
The festival got going Saturday with an exhibition of 27 stalls. Several of them showcased the migratory birds which visit the Pulicat, the second largest brackish water lake in the country next to the Chilika. Some of the other stalls featured the achievements of departments like the animal husbandry department which featured a presentation on the Ongole breed of bulls.
Ecologists in this district have been expressing concern over the dwindling of bird arrivals at the Pulicat. This year, some 50 different type of birds have been sighted in and around the late. The number may go up much higher as the migration season progresses.
Officials will begin their bird count operations from Sunday but the consensus around the table has been that the numbers are dwindling. Vasant Kumar said at the fest inaugural that the Pulicat lake is a vital element of the local ecological balance and also an important source of income for hundreds of fishing villages that lie around its rim.
Finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy too stressed the environmental importance of the Pulicat and said proposals for its development have been sent to central government.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2799182.ece

This Sankranti festival, if you are planning to visit your hometown, then it could be taxing as the seats on modes of transport are booked and your pockets too are likely to be burned. Tickets in majority of trains and buses are already sold out and few are available in flights.

Since Wednesday night, passenger rush has picked up considerably at railway stations and bus stations in twin cities with people heading to different areas, particularly the coastal districts.

In addition to regular trains, South Central Railway is operating 22 special trains between Hyderabad and coastal districts. Such was the rush on Thursday that railway authorities claimed to have added 38 extra coaches in different trains.

Depending on ticket waiting list, authorities decide on adding more coaches. There is heavy demand for tickets on Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad-Vijayawada sectors, if need be extra coaches would be added on Friday and Saturday too, says SCR spokesperson.

Similar is the case with buses. Till Friday night, APSRTC operated 2,500 special buses to different areas, charging 50 per cent extra fare. Yet, unmindful of fare, people have purchased tickets in these buses well in advance. Regular fare for a ticket to Vijayawada from Hyderabad in a RTC super luxury bus is about Rs.225 and Rs.380 in an air-conditioned bus. But passengers, who booked tickets in special buses, had to pay about Rs.320 and Rs.570 respectively. And if you thought hiring a cab could be a best option, then you may have to shell out double the regular fare. People have booked about 800 cabs for travelling towards different coastal districts, says Prakash Reddy, secretary of Twin Cities Cab Operators Association.

Usually flight tickets are booked in advance and all tickets for flights heading towards Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry are sold out. A few tickets are available for Saturday and people would not mind paying exorbitant fares to purchase them, says Travel Agents Association (Hyderabad Chapter) secretary Ajay Kumar Ramidi. Cashing in on the occasion, private bus operators are fleecing passengers with disdain. Generally, ticket fare in a private bus for Vijayawada is Rs.300 (non-AC) and Rs.550 (AC) but this season, operators are demanding Rs.500 and Rs.1, 000 respectively.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article2803915.ece

The Meteorological Department on Sunday warned of continuation of cold wave to severe cold wave conditions across the state for next two days.

Some places in Adilabad district recorded 4 degree Celsius temperature-the lowest during this winter.

“Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions would continue to prevail over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions during next two nights,” forecast by the Met Department said.

As per the observations recorded at 8.30 am, the minimum temperature significantly fell at one or two places over Telangana and Rayalaseema and fell at many places over coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/colourful-sankranti-celebrations-in-andhra_752744.html

Hyderabad: Sankranti, the Telugu harvest festival, was on Sunday celebrated with gaiety and traditional fervour across Andhra Pradesh with rangoli, kite-flying, decoration of bulls, cock fight, bull fight and other rural sports.

Towns and villages wore a festive atmosphere with colourful kites dotting the skies and people participating in various competitions organised to mark one of the major festivals of the Telugus.

The day began with womenfolk putting colourful 'muggu' or 'rangoli' in front of their houses with cow dung and flowers. The houses were decorated with marigold flowers and mango leaves.



Sunday was the second day of three-day celebrations, which began with Bhogi on Saturday. People lit bonfires on the streets with agricultural and household waste to mark Bhogi.

'Haridasus' and 'Basvannas', the uniquely attired alm-seekers with ornately decorated oxen, made rounds of villages to seek alms.

The farmers also decorated bullocks and worshipped them for their contribution to the harvest.

People of Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are celebrating the festival in line with their unique cultural traditions.

Popular Hindi and Telugu chartbusters blared from the speakers as people in Hyderabad joined the festivities. In almost every neighbourhood, youngsters, irrespective of their religion and caste, were flying kites on rooftops amid the playing of songs.

Thousands of colourful kites decorated the blue skies as kids and youths competed with each other in kite-flying. The lanes were abuzz with commotion as children ran to loot the kites cut by the competitors.

Kite traders made a fast buck as flyers thronged the shops to buy the kites and 'manja' (a thread of crushed glass), ignoring the appeals by bird lovers not to use 'manja' which injures a large number of birds every year.

Electricity authorities issued an advisory to kite-flyers to prevent electrocution.

A few vehicles plied on the otherwise busy streets of Hyderabad as thousands of families left for their home towns in coastal Andhra and Raylaseema for the celebrations.

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is operating over 3,000 special buses and railways running 22 special trains between Hyderabad and other destinations in the state to clear the huge holiday rush.

There was a different kind of excitement in the countryside with traditional cock fights in parts of coastal Andhra. There were also sheep and bull fights watched by thousands of people.

The womenfolk prepared 'chakkara pongal' or rice kheer, a special dish made of rice from fresh crop, jaggery and milk. The boiling of rice symbolises the abundance.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/hyderabad-temperature-falls-10%C2%BAc-214

The state is experiencing severe cold wave conditions. Within a week, the minimum temperature has fallen by 10ºC in the city. The season’s lowest temperature, 8.3ºC, was recorded on January 14. Ramagundam, in Karimnagar district, recorded the lowest temperature in 50 years on Sunday at 7ºC.

“The normal temperature is 15 to 16ºC. In the last week, it has dropped by five to nine degrees below normal. Severe cold wave conditions are prevailing in Adilabad, Anantapur, Karimnagar, Kadapa, Medak and Srikakulam, while cold air is blowing over other parts,” said assistant Met official Mr R.V. Subba Rao.

Cold wave claims 8 lives across the state
Eight people succumbed to the severe cold wave in the state on Monday in separate incidents.
Unable to bear the chilly weather, Kunche Chinapalla Rao, 43, died in Dudalacheruvu village in Rajahmundry district. The cold wave also claimed the lives of Syyed Babu, 65, K. Venkaiah, 70, and K. Koteswara Rao, 60, in Gudipudi village of Guntur district. Meanwhile, Suryakantham, 70, Komuru Musili-yya, 90, E. Chanti Babu, 50, and O. Rajulu, 47, succumbed to the cold in Visakhapatnam.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/andhra-pradesh/15-die-in-andhra-pradeshs-worst-winter-167865

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2809259.ece

Less than a third of class III students in rural Indian schools can solve simple two-digit subtraction problems, the prestigious Annual Status of Education Report produced by a coalition of non-governmental organisations has found.

The 2011 ASER has also shown an alarming decline in mathematics skills, with the number of class III students able to solve such subtraction problems falling from 36.6 per cent in 2010 to 29.9 per cent in 2011. Among class V children, it said the ability to do a similar subtraction problem has dropped from 70.9 per cent in 2010 to 61 per cent in 2011.

Only Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and north-eastern States have shown improvement from last year, the report says.

Basic reading levels also showed a decline in many States across north India, with the number of children in class V able to read class II level dropped from 53.7 per cent in 2010 to 48.2 per cent in 2011. “Such decline was, however, not visible in southern States,” it said.

Even though primary school enrolment in rural areas stood at 96.7 per cent, attendance has shown a worrying decline from 73.4 per cent in 2007 to 70.9 per cent in 2011.

In Bihar, for example, attendance of children dropped by nine percentage points during the past four years. In Madhya Pradesh, it dropped from 67 per cent to 54.5 per cent in four years. In Uttar Pradesh, the decline in attendance was about seven per cent.

ASER 2011 surveyed 633,465 children in 16,000 schools in 558 districts.

Private schools growing

Even though there has been a marginal improvement in the proportion of schools complying with pupil-teacher ratio, from 38.9 per cent in 2010 to 40.7 per cent, parents still prefer to send their children to private schools, the report has found.

The report has said that a majority of the 97 per cent of rural children going to school were enrolled in a privately-owned institution.

Nationally, private school enrolment has risen over the years for 6-14 years age group from 18.7 per cent in 2006 to 25.6 in 2011, except in Bihar which has the unique distinction of actually decreasing the proportion enrolled in private schools because of opening of a large number of government schools and recruitment of teachers.

But, children's attendance in Bihar is the lowest in the country and nearly 60 per cent elementary school children in the State go to private tutors.

In Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur and Meghalaya, there has been an increase of over 10 percentage points in private school enrolment in the past five years. Between 30 to 50 per cent of children in the rural areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are enrolled in private schools.

Tamil Nadu emerged as one State where determined government policies, including the mid-day meal and children-centric learning methodology, had been put in place to attract children to government schools. Yet there was an overall increase of about 8 to 12 percentage points in private enrolment between standard 1 and 8 over the past five years, indicating that the government schools in Tamil Nadu were unable to convince the parents that they were better.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/youth-is-focus-of-andhra-pradesh-government-say-governor/956148.html

Hyderabad, Jan 26 (PTI) Observing that youth is the focus of the State Government, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan today said massive efforts are being made to generate employment for the young, in addition to the number of welfare schemes being implemented currently. "The mission (Rajiv Education and Employment Mission) is mandated to provide placements to 15 lakh youth by 2014, as an inclusive programme to reach the needy sections particularly SC, ST, BC, youth and women," he said in his Republic Day speech here. The Industrial Investment Policy-2010-15 envisages creation of five lakh jobs per year with an overall investment of Rs 15,000 crore annually for achieving a 17 per cent growth in manufacturing sector, the Governor said. During the recently-held Partnership Summit 2012, the state issued sanction letters and signed MoUs valued at Rs 6.48 crore with employment potential of 6.78 lakh jobs, Narasimhan said. He highlighted the welfare and development programmes like interest-free loans and 'Rythu Sadassulu' (farmers' meets) for the benefit of farming community, one kilo rice for one rupee, Indira Jala Prabha' irrigation programme for SC/ST farmers and 'Jalayagnam' (irrigation mission) social security pensions, strengthening of health care sector, students tuition fees reimbursement. Earlier, the Governor unfurled the national flag and reviewed the ceremonial parade held at the Parade Grounds. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, his deputy C Damodar Rajanarasimha, Assembly Speaker N Manohar, several Ministers and other dignitaries attended the event. The Republic Day was celebrated at the offices of Congress, Telugu Desam, BJP and other parties. PTI SJR RSY

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/article2883665.ece

It took all of 57 minutes for Saketh Myneni of Andhra Pradesh to become the new men's National champion, while Rushmi Chakravarthi of Tamil Nadu required a record three hours to regain the women's title after a gap of four years.

The singles finals of the Indian Jute National grass-court tennis at the famed South Club centre-court witnessed contrasting scenes where two generations of tennis talents clashed for supremacy.

While top-seeded Saketh dominated reigning champion and Statemate A.S. Suresh Krishna in the men's final, third-seeded Rushmi prevailed over fourth-seeded Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy of Andhra Pradesh in the women's final.

Rushmi's singles triumph also meant that she annexed a double crown. She had won the women's doubles title on Friday partnering Ankita Raina of Gujarat.

Looking for her sixth National title 34-year-old Rushmi scripted a rare essay of tact and endurance to better the 16-year-old Sri Vaishnavi and realise her dream.

WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE

Rushmi, who apparently is more into coaching in her newly opened academy in Chennai, dug deep into the wealth of her experience and clambered back from a set deficit to wrest the match from her young and energetic opponent.

Sri Vaishnavi began on a breezy note and opened up a 4-1 lead breaking Rushmi thrice in the first set. Just as Vaishnavi seemed to relax on the advantage, Rushmi stung back.

The seasoned campaigner teased her young opponent with a mix of low slices and deep cross-court returns while inducing the latter to commit errors.

Rushmi levelled the score 5-5 with a late comeback before forcing the tie-breaker. Sri Vaishnavi brought her strong forehand returns to good effect to win the first set tiebreak (7-3) and again ran up a 4-0 lead in the second set breaking Rushmi twice.

Rushmi, showing the temperament of a champion, gradually worked her way back once again just as Sri Vaishnavi seemed to be in a hurry to wrap up the match.

Rushmi salvaged one break in the fifth game and then levelled the breaks in the ninth game when Sri Vaishnavi was serving for the match at 5-3. Rushmi returned with uncanny calm and perfection making her young opponent choke and miss the easiest of returns.

MENTAL LEVERAGE

The second set also went to the tiebreaker, but Rushmi, having gained the mental leverage, levelled the set score winning the tie-break 7-2.

The final set, that lasted 65 minutes, saw a battle of attrition as Sri Vaishnavi played hard to survive while Rushmi went in search of winners.

Rushmi broke Sri Vaishnavi in the fourth game to forge a 3-1 advantage before Sri Vaishnavi broke back in the fifth to level the issue.

Rushmi broke Sri Vaishnavi, who led 40-30, in the 12th game to decide the set 7-5 and complete one of the longest National women's finals in recent times.

“Grass is my favourite surface and I just went out and gave my best today,” said Rushmi after winning her sixth title in nine final appearances.

SMOOTH ASCENSION

Saketh's ascension to the top was the smoothest among recent champions. The Hyderabad-based player, who returned to the country late last year after playing five years of inter-collegiate tennis in the United States, was just brilliant today.

Never allowing his opponent to break serve, Saketh totally outclassed Suresh Krishna breaking serve once in each of the two sets for a quick victory.

“I wish to compete for a spot in the Indian Davis Cup team and I hope to continue with my form this season,” said 24-year-old Saketh, whose last major title in the country was winning the junior Nationals in Chennai in 2005.

The results (finals):

Women's singles: Rushmi Chakravarthi (TN) bt Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy (AP) 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 7-5.

Men's singles: Saketh Myneni (AP) bt A.S. Suresh Krishna (AP) 6-3, 6-4. Doubles: Mohit Mayur Jayaprakash & Mohamed Fariz (TN) bt Rupesh Roy (Ben) & Christopher Marquis (Mah) 6-3, 6-4.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/sc-judge-calls-for-change-in-education-policies_758060.html

Hyderabad: Referring to the recent incident, in which, a 15-year-old student stabbed his teacher to death in Chennai, Supreme Court Judge Altamas Kabir on Sunday called for changes in the existing education policies.



"What caused him (student) to resort to this act? There is tremendous amount of pressure on children and time has come to make changes in existing education policies," Justice Kabir, who is also Chairman of National Legal Services Authority said.

He was speaking at a workshop on 'Roles and Responsibilities of Multi-Disciplinary Stakeholders in Protecting Children', where he further said that though there were several schemes and laws to protect the children, a sense of caring towards them is required.

"About 42 percent of citizens of the country are children and out of this, 75 percent children are deprived of basic facilities and normal childhood. Problems of children should be addressed through combined efforts by various stakeholders, who should also show sensitivity while dealing with matters related to children," he said.

Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Madan B Lokur said, juveniles must be rehabilitated properly and society should change its attitude towards such children, when they are re-integrated into society, adding coordination and collective efforts amongst administration officials, police and NGOs was important for addressing juvenile welfare in a better way.

AP Minister for Women and Child Development V Sunitha Laxma Reddy said, it was the fundamental responsibility of all to ensure that every child is protected, nurtured, bereft of any threat and is brought up to be a responsible citizen.

Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi said, children were vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and violence besides trafficking. "The AP government has taken pro-active steps for child welfare and to protect children from trafficking," he said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Setback-to-IT-as-investments-show-a-decline-in-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/11894226.cms

HYDERABAD: Contrary to the popular image of Andhra Pradesh being a major software destination, the IT sector is lagging behind electricity and manufacturing sectors in terms of attracting investment in the state, according to a recent study undertaken by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

As per the study, Andhra Pradesh could attract investment proposals worth Rs 12.09 lakh crore till 2011 end. The power sector took the lion's share of 32.5%, the manufacturing sector stood second with 21.7% of the share, while the services sector that includes IT could get only 19.8% of the share and stood at third position. The other sectors in the list include irrigation and real estate sectors with 11.6% each and mining with 2.8 %.

Gujarat and Maharashtra are in the first two positions among 20 industrial states and Andhra Pradesh stood third in the most-preferred investment destinations among 20 states in the country, according to the study. The state was however, ahead of Karnataka and Orissa. Together, the top five states attracted 53.56% of the total investments worth Rs 120.34 lakh crore.

While Gujarat attracted investment proposals worth Rs 16.28 lakh crore, Maharashtra Rs 14.14 lakh crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 12.09 lakh crore, Orissa Rs 12.09 lakh crore, Karnataka Rs 9.85 lakh crore, the remaining 15 states received Rs 55.89 lakh crore worth of proposals. Tamil Nadu was at sixth position by attracting investment proposals worth Rs 9.13 lakh crore and Jharkhand was at seventh position with Rs 7.16 lakh crore investment proposals, said the report.

As a general tendency across the country, the highest amount of investment has gone into electricity (35.9%) , manufacturing (25.3%), services (21.8%), real estate (11.8%), irrigation (3.1%) and mining (2.1%).

While the dwindling share of IT investment in the state is a cause of concern, the Assocham had warned that IT and IT Enabled Services (ITeS) might shift to Philippines from Hyderabad and Bangalore, in its report released last month.

The trade body, which has brought out many reports, to promote the investment climate in the state, said that some of the IT companies are planning to move out of the city. In its last month's report, it stated that current developments in the southern part of the country indicate that India's prominence as an IT/ITeS hub is fast 'fading away'.

Another report titled "Sustaining India's IT/ITeS Leadership', states that many of the ITeS/BPO firms especially, medium enterprises from Hyderabad and Bangalore are shifting or expanding their bases in Philippines owing to concerns pertaining to infrastructure, rising business expenditure and non-availability of skilled labour.

Ringing an alarm, an official in the Assocham said, "It is imperative for governments at the Centre and states to quickly initiate remedial measures on a war-footing to stem the loss as the capital flight will not only severely affect the growth and employment but threaten India's leadership in the knowledge industry."

However, the IT minister Ponnala Lakshmiah sought to debunk the apprehensions. He said, "Certainly, countries like Philippines have started posing tough competition to us, but the arguments that the IT investments are going away from Hyderabad are baseless."

He said among 189 business process outsourcing companies in the world, 49 were in India and Hyderabad stood second after Bangalore with nine companies in the city. Bangalore has 11, while remaining 20 are spread across the cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata.

Source: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/other/20120216112198.htm

New Delhi, Delhi, February 16, 2012 /India PRwire/ -- Over a couple of months following the Indian Health Ministry's notification of stronger pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages, the notified warnings continue to be missing from the packages across the country, in gross violation of the Indian tobacco control law. A rapid assessment undertaken by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in 12 districts of India's top two tobacco producing states viz. Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat demonstrated the tobacco industry's lack of compliance with the Indian tobacco control law - Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003. The new pictorial health warnings were due for implementation from December 1, 2011.

Evidence from the observational study conducted in the two states (Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat) showed that 79% of the samples from 49 cigarette brands, 89 % of the samples from 77 bidi brands, 53% of samples from 51 gutkha brands and 81% of the samples from 40 khaini/zarda brands are being sold with the old pictorial health warnings. Overall, 46 cigarette brands, 74 bidi brands, 44 ghutkha brands and 39 khaini/zarda brands have been found selling tobacco products with the old pictorial health warnings.

It was also found that most warnings were printed in English and were black and white in colour instead of the notified coloured graphics. Overall, 73% of the warnings were in black and white colours.

Data was collected from East Godavari, Karimnagar, Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Prakasam and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Anand, Banaskantha, Kheda, Rajkot, Surat and Tapi districts of Gujarat, where PHFI is implementing Project STEPS (Strengthening of Tobacco Control Efforts through innovative Partnerships and Strategies).

"Results of the study highlight that the tobacco industry continues to violate the law and we need to strengthen enforcement mechanism through inter-departmental partnership at central and also at state level. There is a strong need to advocate with the Department of Home, Revenue and Health to prioritize effective and stringent implementation of pictorial warnings on tobacco products being sold in the states. This tobacco control measure has been effective in educating consumers about ill effects of tobacco use in other developed and developing countries and is a recommended strategy under MPOWER package of WHO" said Dr. Monika Arora, Head: Health Promotion and Tobacco Control, PHFI.

"We wanted to check whether the tobacco industry has complied with the MoHFW guidelines on implementing the pictorial health warnings which were notified on May 27, 2011 indicating enforcement from 1st December, 2011. Even two months later, we are yet to see compliance from the tobacco industry. This rapid assessment exercise, conducted as a part of evidence building activity under project STEPS, proves that either the tobacco industry is taking implementation of the law lightly or they are sure that no action will be taken against them. It is high time that the law enforcers should take action against those violating provisions of the tobacco control law and ensure that all tobacco products carry the notified pictorial health warnings" said Mr. Amit Yadav, Legal Consultant and Coordinator of Project STEPS.

Notes to Editor

Project STEPS (Strengthening of Tobacco Control Efforts through Innovative Partnerships and Strategies; www.ctchp.org) is a three-year tobacco control project being implemented by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI; www.phfi.org) in partnership with the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Project STEPS envisions promotion of health equity in India, by reducing health and economic burdens of tobacco use, through engagement and empowerment of stakeholders in both states to undertake comprehensive and multi-dimensional tobacco control efforts.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Forest-fires-main-cause-of-drop-in-green-cover-in-AP-Survey/articleshow/12011897.cms

HYDERABAD: The main reason for the rapid drop in green cover in Andhra Pradesh seems to be hidden in the Forest Survey of India's (FSI) latest data on forest fires. As per FSI, the state has witnessed 506 forest fires in the last 51 days alone, which is almost five times more than any other state in India. In fact, on February 20 itself, there were as many as 169 fires reported across AP mainly from Khammam, Mahbubnagar and Adilabad.

While the reasons for these alarming number of fires range from 'controlled burning' undertaken by state-appointed foresters to illegal clearing of ground by tribals and poachers to even the lack of proper fire management programmes implemented by the forest department, environmentalists fear that such a trend might soon cast a shadow on the fate of AP's green cover. "Apart from further receding the state's forest area, these fires are also likely to deteriorate the health of trees," said former IFS officer Sarvottam Rao, dismissing the argument of officials about fires boosting the growth of plants. "For instance, they (forest authorities) claim that controlled burning in the Telangana region improves the growth of beedi leaves. This is unscientific. The fires, instead, make the leaves harder and bitter," Rao said. There are also other concerns such as poor regeneration of trees and dropping moisture levels of the soil, that are further heightened due to such fires, experts noted.

Other states with larger forest areas have reported only a miniscule percentage of forest fires in the corresponding period. Madhya Pradesh, for instance, with the largest forest cover of 77,700 sq km has witnessed just about 84 forest fires this year. In Maharashtra (50,650 sq km), it is been restricted to a moderate139 while in Orissa (48,855 sq km) the numbers haven't crossed 25.

Forest officials underplay the issue terming it as a usual phenomenon, but environmentalists stress on the need for a better fire management policy. The 385 fire watchers and 100-odd fire towers (to spot any fire), which the state department claim to have in place, are clearly not enough to protect the state's forest spread, they say. "There is a huge scope for improving fire management in AP," said Farida Tampal, state director, World Wildlife Foundation (WWF-AP), expressing serious concern over the raging number of fires reported from the state lately. She added, "While we have on several occasions offered to help the forest department to tackle fires, our pleas have not been honoured so far." The WWF has in the past conducted a thorough study on forest fires across Indian states.

"We do this to lay fire lines (a gap in vegetation so that the flames do not spread), to maintain the ones we have created in the past and to provide better sighting of animals for tourists. These fires are hardly dangerous," said P K Sharma, additional principal chief conservator of forests, IT. However, he quickly added how the state department, with its limited budget, was in no position to do anything more.

"We, on an average, get just about Rs 10 crore for fire management. It is not enough to address the issue," the APCCF claimed.

Cross posting from Kochi Film-Entertainment-Media Industry thread

Finally, Tollywood comes to Kochi (http://http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Finally-Tollywood-comes-to-Kochi/articleshow/12129621.cms)

KOCHI: A city multiplex will soon see Ram Charan Teja, Chaitanya, Mahesh Babu and Rami Reddy in their super hit avtars. Rewriting Kochi's theatre definitions, the Telugu community in the city has launched a movie club and joined hands with Cinemax to screen Telugu movies for the 250-odd families here.

Members of the Andhra Cultural Association (ACA) who set up the movie club said the first screening is expected on March 25, though they are yet to decide on the film.

"We have no theatres in the city which screen Telugu movies and members of the community have to depend on DVD's to watch their favourite stars in action. The demand increased when IT professionals from Andhra started working in Kochi. For many years we have been raising this issue with theatre owners. Now Cinemax at Oberon mall has agreed to screen these movies," said S Sanjay, manager of Bharat Petroleum and member of ACA.

During the initial stages there will be only one show per month. "As per demand we will increase the number of screenings," said Sanjay.

ACA is spreading the word by email and sms. The response has been immense and if everything goes well, the first movie will be screened on March 25 after Ugadi, the New Year festival for Andhrites. T Vikram, managing director, Kerala state cooperative marketing federation, said the initiative would also bring community members closer.

"Members are able to meet only once in two months at the ACA community centre at Panampilly Nagar. The movie show will give them an opportunity to meet often, interact and bond, and thus strengthen relationship," Vikram said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Andhra-Pradesh-to-get-its-third-childrens-village/articleshow/12235680.cms

NEW DELHI: NGO Save Our Souls' (SOS) 33rd children's village in India and the third in Andhra Pradesh will open on Wednesday, it was announced here on Monday.

"The purpose of this village is to provide family-based care with love, respect and security to children, enabling them to grow into good human beings and productive individuals," said Helmut Kutin, president of SOS Children's Villages International.

Kutin will do the inauguration.

SOS children's village is an international body which provides family-based care to children without parents all over world.

In India, it has 32 children's villages, which provides shelter and family care to 6,500 children without parents.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/the-minimum-temperature-rose-appreciably-to-markedly-at-many/974152.html

places over North Interior Karnataka, rose appreciably at a few places over Rayalaseema,South Coastal Andhra Pradesh,,at one or two places over North Tamil Nadu,Telangana, rose at one or two places over rest Coastal Andhra Pradesh, rest Rayalaseema, rest North Tamil Nadu,South Interior Karnataka, fell at one or two places over rest South Interior Karnataka, rest Telangana and changed little elsewhere over the region. They were appreciably above normal at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, at one or two places over Tamil Nadu, Telangana, above normal at one or two places over rest Andhra Pradesh, rest Tamil Nadu, below normal at many places over Coastal Karnataka and remained normal over the rest of the region. Davangere recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 17 degree Celsius in the plains of the region. WEATHER FORECAST VALID UNTIL THE MORNING OF 15th March 2012: Rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala .Isolated rain or thundershowers may occur over Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka and Lakshadweep.Mainly dry weather will prevail over Telangana, North Interior and Coastal Karnataka. FORECAST FOR CHENNAI CITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD: For next 24 hours: The sky conditions would be partly cloudy.Rain or thundershower would occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around 33 and 25 degree Celsius respectively. For next 48 hours: The sky conditions would be partly cloudy.Rain or thundershower would occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around 33 and 25 degree Celsius respectively. FARMERS WEATHER BULLETIN FORECAST VALID UNTIL THE MORNING OF 15th March 2012: Light to moderate rain would occur at a few places over all the districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2993625.ece

The Andhra Pradesh State Domestic Workers' Union on Tuesday demanded constitution of an unorganised workers welfare board in the State under the Social Security Act-2008, for welfare of domestic workers and protection of their rights.

Wielding placards and household utensils symbolic of their profession, members of the union held a demonstration near the Indira Park and placed a few demands before the government towards better living and working conditions for domestic workers.

The demands included, apart from constitution of the board, budgetary allocations for welfare of the unorganised workers, social security measures for domestic workers, and ratification of the 100th International Labour Organisation's Convention on domestic workers.

The convention seeks member countries to take measures towards effective promotion and protection of the human rights of all domestic workers. It includes elimination of forced labour, abolition of child labour, and protection of right for collective bargaining among others.

Noting that the work of domestic workers was often undervalued and underpaid, Lissy Joseph, National Coordinator of the National Domestic Workers' Movement, said the government's stipulation of minimum wages was not of much help as many workers continued to be underpaid.

Due to lack of specific laws for their protection, the workers are often subjected to abuse and sexual harassment.

K. Sajaya, Coordinator of the Caring Citizens' Collective, pledged her support for the union and encouraged the members to get organised under one banner towards claiming professional dignity, and achievement of their demands.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/funding-delay-costs-500-extra-medical-seats/239416-60-114.html

HYDERABAD: The state government’s delay in releasing funds for developing infrastructure in medical colleges in accordance with additional 50 seats in 10 government colleges from this academic year, cost 500 additional seats to the state. According to officials in the medical education department, the Medical Council of India (MCI) officials inspected seven medical colleges so far out of the 10 for� which the state government sought 50 additional medical seats. However, the MCI� rejected the state’s proposal to enhance seats in all these seven colleges on various grounds like inadequate infrastructure facilties and staff.
The MCI team is yet to inspect three of the 10 colleges which includes Rangaraya� Medical College in Kaikinada, Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad and Kurnool Medical College.
Last year, the medical education department had sought additional 50 seats in each of the 10 government medical colleges by paying the required fee and the MCI had� approved the state’s request.
In turn the state government was asked to improve the infrastructure in these colleges like constructing libraries, seminar halls, laboratories and increasing the bed strength. As the state government failed to release Rs 79 crore to medical education department despite giving the administrative sanction, the state lost the additional number of 500 seats. It is learnt that some colleges have no adequate staff required for the increased seats. Though the medical education deppartment was ready to give promotions to fill up all the posts, many of the teachers were locked in legal tangles about the seniority.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/andhra-set-to-slip-into-deep-power-crisis/239658-60-114.html

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh is set to slip into a deep power crisis with the Union Ministry of Power and Natural Gas making it clear to the state that it should expect a drastic cut in the supply of gas from April this year.
The power ministry communicated to the AP Transco that as against the availability of 42.67 million metric standard cubic meter per day (mmscmd), there would be a reduction of 15.03 mmscmd in 2012-13 which will put the total availability of gas in the country at 27.64 mmscmd. This would mean here will be a significant proportionate cut in supply to Andhra Pradesh too. The projection for 2013-14 is even more bleak--there will be a further reduction by 3.42 mmscmd.
“We have received orders just now. We have to calculate how much it works out for our state. But one thing is clear: we will have to face difficulty. There will be less supply of gas than now,” AP Transco chairman and managing director Ajai Jain told Express.
As it is, the gas that the state is getting is very little. As against the total requirement, only 75 percent was allotted, of which only 42 percent is being supplied (about 6 mmscmd). This will further go down from next financial year, stretching the supply system to the limits in the state. As summer advances, there is tremendous pressure on power supply across the state. This apart, the agricultural sector is drawing 30 percent of power available, leaving power utilities high and dry.
The agricultural load would continue to be a drag on the system till the the third week of April when Rabi season ends, providing some relief. Till then, it will be difficult days for people.
According to officials, the APTransco has received a communication from Delhi that there was a fall in gas output and therefore they should expect further reduction in supply. The communication said there would be a further decrease by 3.42 mmscmd. Of the total installed gas-based power generation capacity of 2,700 mw, only 1,500 mw is being utilised for want of gas. When the further blow is delivered and supply goes down, there would be a further shortfall of about 500 mw units.
As of now, the state is depending only on thermal power since all the hydel units have been shut down with water level in reservoirs going down. Even purchasing power form other states is becoming difficult not only because of financial constraints but also due to technical problems. The present network can allow transmission of only 1,000 mw power from North to South and not more.
As if this is not enough, power utilities cannot resort to overdraw without paying heavy fine. Earlier, there used to be no fine and some states which were perennially starved of power used to draw heavily from the grid, though AP never did it. As overdraw was leading to grid becoming weak, it has now been decided to charge the drawing state more to discourage overdraw. So, the state cannot overdraw either. “The demand is 200 million units per day and there is a deficit of about 45 m units.”

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/health/policy-and-issues/article3001928.ece

Dr. Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies on curbing tobacco abuse and reducing road traffic deaths in India
The figures don't read too well for India with the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2010 stating that of the estimated 275 million tobacco users in India, about 120 million of them are smokers (accounting for 10 per cent of the world's smoking population) and 163 million use smokeless tobacco. It is estimated that 2,500 Indians die every day and one million Indians die every year from tobacco-related diseases. If current trends continue tobacco will account for 13 per cent of all deaths in India by 2020.

And warning that unless these figures are controlled it would register a sharp ascend in the coming years, Dr. Kelly Henning head of global health programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies who was in India recently said: ``In India too many lives are lost to tobacco abuse. We, however, know that hard hitting, evidence based mass media campaigns work to warn people about the ill effects of tobacco. That is why Bloomberg Philanthropies is partnering with the Indian Government to help strengthen the tobacco control policies. Through our global initiatives we continues to advocate for the use of these types of campaigns along with other evidences based strategies such as ensuring a 100 per cent smoke free workplace and higher price on all tobacco products. Stopping this epidemic requires nothing less.''

“Stringent monitoring, higher taxes, advertising ban on tobacco products are the way forward to ensuring that India has an edge over the war that it should wage against tobacco abuse in the country. The Government needs to get members from all sections of society to contribute towards preventing the spread of tobacco abuse especially among the youth of the country. There is an urgent need to tell the youth that tobacco kills and that can be reinforced in several ways. The tobacco abuse among the under 15 age group is alarming. Besides this, the abuse of chewable tobacco is a massive problem in the country and needs to be taken up on a war footing,'' she added.

Dr. Kelly underlined the four major objectives of the $375 million six year Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco – a global project aimed at curbing the tobacco epidemic in low and middle income countries.

This includes working towards developing a rigorous system to monitor the status of global tobacco use, to support advocates' efforts to educate communities about the harms of tobacco and to enhance tobacco control activities that work towards a tobacco free world.

“We are also working towards supporting public sector efforts to pass and enforce key laws and implement effective policies, including taxing cigarettes, preventing smuggling, altering the image of tobacco and protecting workers from exposure to second hand smoking. Work is also on to refine and optimize tobacco control programs to help smokers stop using tobacco and to prevent children from starting,” she said.

Besides its work with preventing tobacco abuse, the group is also now working on reducing road traffic deaths in low and middle income countries.

“Bloomberg Global Road Safety Program – is a five year, $ 125 million global program to reduce road traffic deaths in low and middle income countries. This is a ten country project and in India we have started with Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. The project deals with various aspects of educating and sensitizing the traffic police, promoting responsible driving, reducing drunken driving etc all aimed at bringing down the death rate due to rash and negligent driving,” said Dr. Kelly.

Source: http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-articles/Himachal-Andhra-chief-ministers-praise-Sachin-Tendulkar/12425 :banana:

Hyderabad: Mar 16, 2012

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal congratulated Sachin Tendulkar for scoring his 100th century in international cricket.

"Significant, marvellous and a stupendous achievement, the whole nation is proud of you," the chief minister said.

Reddy, who was a cricket player in his college days, said Sachin achieved this milestone through sheer dedication, hard work and concentration.

In a message, Dhumal said India was proud of his achievement. "This will inspire cricketers to perform better. (IANS)

Andhra CM, TDP Chief Hail Sachin for Hundredth Century

Source: http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=755888

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu have congratulated master blaster Sachin Tendulkar for smashing the hundredth ton in international cricket.

"It's a stupendous achievement and the entire nation is proud of you," the chief minister said in a special message to the master blaster.

By scoring his 100th Century, against Bangladesh in the ongoing Asia Cup tournament, Sachin fulfilled the dreams of one billion Indians, Chandrababu said in his message.

"By achieving this unique feat, Sachin has enhanced the glory of India," he added.

Sachin achieved this rare milestone through sheer dedication and hardwork. Young players have to learn a lot from Sachin," the chief minister said.

Heaping praise on Tendulkar, Lok Satta President and MLA N Jayaprakash Narayan said the iconic batsman offers a lesson to youth.

"In the country starved of excellence and world-class accomplishments, Sachin Tendulkar's extraordinary feat is a much needed confidence booster," the bureaucrat-turned- politician said.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/235366/polling-seven-andhra-assembly-seats.html

Braving the scorching sun and despite the India-Pakistan cricket match and numerous marriages, 71 percent of 13.82 lakh voters Sunday cast their vote in seven assembly constituencies of Andhra Pradesh, including six in the Telangana region.

Barring a minor incident, polling passed off peacefully, said state chief electoral officer Bhanwar Lal.
The seven constituencies are Adilabad (Adilabad district), Kamareddy (Nizamabad), Station Ghanpur (Warangal), Mahabubnagar, Kollapur, Nagarkurnool (Mahabubnagar) and Kovur (Nellore).

Kovur assembly seat in Nellore district registered 84 percent turnout while Adilabad recorded the lowest polling percentage of 61. The poll percentage in Kamareddy was 68, Mahabubnagar 70, Nagarkurnool 70, Kollapur 75 and Station Ghanpur 64.

Enthusiasm among voters marked the polling which began amid tight security at 8 a.m. in five districts.

The results will decide the fate of 67 candidates belonging to various political parties. The counting of votes will be taken up March 21.

To escape the intense heat, voters formed long queues since early morning outside several polling stations in the constituencies.

People also preferred to exercise their franchise in the early hours to catch live action of the Indo-Pak cricket match on their television sets or to attend the marriages.

The chief electoral officer made a special appeal to all the voters to cast their vote in view of the reports that the cricket match and the marriages could affect the polling.

As the match began in the afternoon, the political parties made all out efforts to bring voters to polling centres in the morning.

Hundreds of marriages were also scheduled for Sunday, the last day for weddings before "Moodami" - the traditional inauspicious time - starts.

Police in Station Ghanpur constituency in Warangal district booked Congress leader and MP S.Rajaiah for alleged violation of the poll code. He was booked under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for camping in the constituency despite orders from the election authorities to all non-locals to leave.

In Nagarkurnool constituency in Mahabubnagar district, supporters of former minister and independent candidate N. Janardahana Reddy clashed with activists of the ruling Congress party.

About 20 people were arrested.

Voters in Purandapuram village in Kovur constituency of Nellore district boycotted the polling as the authorities failed to solve their civic problems.

The bypolls are a result of vacancies that arose due to the resignations of two legislators of the Congress party, one of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), three rebels of the TDP and the death of one independent legislator.

Unlike the previous byelections, lack of Telangana sentiment this time has made the going tough for Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the six constituencies that fall in the region.

About 10,000 policemen and polling personnel were deployed for smooth and peaceful conduct of the polling at 1,660 polling centres.

Bhanwar Lal and other senior poll officers were monitoring the polling process at all centres through webcasting.

Majority of the assembly constituencies are witnessing triangular contests among the ruling Congress, the TDP and TRS.

At Kovur assembly constituency in Nellore district, the contest is between the Congress, YSR Congress and the TDP. The YSR Party is staying away from the polls in Telangana.

Two legislators each of the Congress and the TDP had resigned to join the TRS. Senior TDP leader N. Janardhan Reddy resigned over the demand for a separate Telangana state and is seeking re-election as an independent from Nagarkurnool in Mahabubnagar district. Both TRS and BJP are extending support to him.

Another TDP rebel Prasanna Kumar Reddy quit from Kovur to join YSR Congress party. The fledgling outfit is going all out to win this seat, as it will be a major test for the party ahead of another round of by-polls.

The assembly speaker earlier this month disqualified 16 Congress rebels, who switched loyalties to the YSR Party. He also accepted the resignation of a legislator of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), who had also joined the YSR Party floated by Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Urdu-medium-enrolment-witnesses-a-sharp-fall-in-Anhdra-Pradesh/articleshow/12321791.cms

The enrolment of students in Urdu medium schools in Andhra Pradesh is falling down sharply. For the ninth year in a row since 2002-03, the number of students in Urdu medium schools in the state has shown a decline. In 2010-11 alone, the enrolment has fallen by 51,000, indicating that there is something seriously wrong with the way these schools are run by the government. What's worse, much of the decline has occurred at the secondary stage.

The data on Urdu medium enrolment in the note on school education for 2012-13, tabled in the Assembly recently, must serve as an eye-opener for those making tall claims about promoting Urdu medium education. In the academic year 2002-03, the total enrolment in the Urdu medium schools was 3,66,057, including 2,25,240 in primary classes, 76,230 in upper primary sections and 64,581 in high schools. But the numbers have come down to 2,28,684 in 2010-11, including 1,48,182 in primary classes, 44,108 in upper primary sections, and 36,394 in the high schools.

Initially, the scheme for Urdu education was being implemented in only nine mandals identified by the Union government as educationally backward minorities concentrated areas in Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Nizamabad and Medak districts. Now, this scheme covers all the districts of the state. The objective of this scheme is to provide financial support to the state for appointing new Urdu teachers and paying honorarium to existing Urdu teachers for teaching the students. Financial assistance is provided for appointment of Urdu teachers in any locality where more than 25 per cent of the population is Urdu-speaking. Honorarium is paid to part-time teachers for teaching Urdu to the students at the rate of Rs 1,000 per month. The scheme covers about 1,400 Urdu teachers with a budgetary allocation of Rs 5.84 crore each during 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Similarly, the Union government launched the area intensive programme for infrastructure development for minority institutions in 2007-08 with an outlay of Rs 38.78 crore in five phases in the state with 100 per cent central assistance.

Incidentally, the data provided by the School Education Department is in sharp contrast to the statistics provided by the District Information System on Education (DISE). The State Report Cards 2010-11 on elementary education in India gives a somewhat better picture of Urdu medium enrolment in AP. The report cites a figure of 3,21,492 children enrolled in Urdu medium schools during the year. The enrolment included 2,05,370 in primary sections, 58,246 in upper primary classes and 57,876 in high schools.

While it is for these two state and central agencies to clarify who has the right figures, it is apparent that all is not well with the Urdu medium schools.

For years, the vacancies of Urdu teachers have not been filled up in many of these schools, with the result that in the absence of teachers for different subjects, the students found it an easy option to drop out. This may explain why the drop-out rate is on the rise in Urdu medium schools, right from primary and upper primary levels to high schools. The poor quality of education imparted in these schools is also reflected in the low percentage of passes among Urdu medium students in SSC year after year. The authorities must check this drift or else Urdu will suffer a body blow in the state.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/j-satyanarayana-is-new-it-secretary-at-ministry-of-communications-it/articleshow/12335128.cms

NEW DELHI: J Satyanarayana, a 1977 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new IT secretary at ministry of communications and IT.

Satyanarayana, who was serving as additional chief secretary, government of Andhra Pradesh, replaces R Chandrashekhar, who was handling the additional role of IT secretary. Chandrashekhar continues to be the secretary, department of telecom.

Satyanarayana is not new to IT projects. In his earlier role, he founded the National Institute of Smart Governance as its CEO. He was frontrunner for the IT secretary's post, along with B K Gairola, director general, National Informatics Center for over six months.

Popularly known as "J Sat' in the Indian bureaucrats circle, he was serving as the chief commissioner of land administration (CCLA) in Andhra Pradesh till last year.

Between 2000-2003, he was part of the e-governance team of former Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu. He also computerised the registration department of Andhra Pradesh, better known as the CARD Project.

His role will be extremely important as India looks to automate its government services delivery and integrate Aadhaar number in subsidy systems to plug corruption. The finance minister has allocated about Rs 5,300 crore to department of IT in the Union budget 2012-13 for various IT projects.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Animals-desert-sanctuaries-in-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/12335892.cms

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh could be sitting on an expansive forest area with four national parks and 23 wildlife sanctuaries but more than half of these jungle belts currently have little or no wild animals to boast of. Apart from a few species of birds and butterflies, a poor population of deer and a stray tiger, these state sanctuaries are no longer home to any other wild beasts, especially large mammals, which were once found in abundance in these forests.

On this list of near-deserted sanctuaries are the Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary (Khammam), Rollapadu Bustard Sanctuary (Kurnool), Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Adilabad), Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary (Warangal), Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary (Adilabad) and Eturangaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Warangal), among others in and around Tirupati and the Araku Valley. Throbbing with animals right from tigers to cheetahs, wolves, crocodiles, elephants, sambars, gaurs and even deer about a decade ago, these sanctuaries now stand without much wild habitation. If Kinnerasani, which at one point of time was among the most popular tiger-sighting zones of AP, now has just a few drab-looking deer enclosures, the Bustard Sanctuary is today left with only a couple of terrestrial birds. Sivaram synonymous with its crocodile population has close to none now while the entire herd of tigers from Pakhal has been wiped out.

Both are currently surviving on a poor collection of bird species.

"In fact this is true of most sanctuaries and national parks in the state, barring the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), which has seen a stead improvement in its tiger count over the years," said wildlife expert Farida Tampal. NSTR at present has approximately 60 tigers. "But in the rest of the state, the count of the animal is an appalling 10 or less. This shows that the wildlife wing of the state has been concentrating only on one area, while the rest of the equally potential sanctuaries continue to remain neglected," Tampal added. That there is sadly no proper count of AP's wildlife wealth, despite the Wildlife Protection Act making it mandatory for states to maintain such records, only makes matters worse, she said.

Further, adding to the misery of these wildlife zones is the heavy deforestation and poaching activities that have shot through the roof with time, say environmentalists. Be it alienation of forest land under the Forest Rights Act (land given to tribals who could prove ownership) or unbridled growth of timber mafias or even the unchecked access of shooters in these sanctuaries, all have together spelt doom for AP's wild animal wealth, they say.

"It is time that the government and bureaucracy looked into the issue of wildlife more seriously. If neighbouring states such as Orissa and Maharashtra can maintain their thick forests, despite implementing the Forest Rights Act (AP gave away a whopping 14 lakh hectares under the policy) why can't the state," questioned Anil Kumar Epur, advisory board chairman, World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-AP Chapter) reminiscing how in the past areas such as Pakhal had anywhere between 30-40 tigers, among other animals, at any time of the year. This, however, is history now.

"But such situations in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka have been dealt with strongly and a proper management programme has ensured that the number of animals like tigers or even elephants is restored. This has also led to a surge in revenue collection from the states' sanctuaries. There is something AP can learn from them," stressed wildlife biologist Imran Siddiqui.

But forest officials aren't convinced. Quoting the cliched 'man-animal conflict' crisis, they say such drop in wildlife wealth is inevitable. "As a policy of the central government we have had to give away huge tracts of forest land to tribals. That has automatically cut down the space for wild animals," said K S Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), AP adding, "But then sanctuaries like NSTR are thriving. It is among the most prominent breeding grounds for tigers in the country."

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/tech/45-tablet-made-in-singapore-snapped-up-in-india/506008

New Delhi. Thousands of young school children in southern Andhra Pradesh state will get to use a low-cost electronic educational tablet developed in Singapore when school reopens in June.

Called the I-slate, the tablet took the Rice-NTU Institute for Sustainable and Applied Infodynamics (Isaid) in Singapore about two years to develop. The institute is jointly set up by Singapore's Nanyang Technological University and Houston's Rice University.

Some 50,000 of these devices, each costing about US$ 45, will be used by 10- to 13-year-old pupils over the next three years in Mahabubnagar District in Andhra Pradesh, according to a joint statement by Indian officials in Hyderabad, the state capital, the two universities, and the non-profit Villages for Development and Learning Foundation (ViDAL) on Monday.

The I-slate is a stripped-down version of a tablet and is seen as a replacement for the chalkboard, which is widely used in rural classrooms.

"It looks and has the feel of a tablet but it is highly optimized to do one thing very well: an interactive vehicle for education. There are lessons, animated exercises where a wrong answer gets a frowny face, and a right answer, a smiley. It is a tablet you can write into," said Professor Krishna Palem, Isaid's director who is the creator of the I-slate. "The performance of a student is captured subject by subject, topic by topic."

Designers took elements from video games and social networking sites to attract students and hold their interest.

The next version is expected to have Wi-fi and a social networking site for the schoolchildren.

Palem told The Straits Times that the research team has 20 members, some of whom are based in India. At any one time, six to seven researchers are based in Singapore.

He said the work in Singapore is focused on the hardware and engineering, such as CPU efficiency and battery life.

The software and user-experience aspects are handled by a voluntary Los Angeles-based creative content creation consortium working under the Isaid umbrella, he added.

With the number of people getting Internet access expected to double in the next three years, low-cost devices like the I-slate and the US$35 Aakash, the world's cheapest tablet, are poised to bring about changes in college campuses and school classrooms.

They will be especially useful in rural India where infrastructure is often poor and there is one teacher for every 40 students, or more.

In the case of the Aakash tablets, some 100,000 of them will be distributed by the government to college students in the coming months.

Akhilesh Prasad, the new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, has announced that close to 2.5 million iPads and laptops will be distributed to school-leavers. This is expected to cost the state government 30 billion rupees (US$ 598 million) annually.

Those behind the I-slate said their idea is to take technology to where it is needed most.

"We are committed to (providing) learning opportunities backed by the latest in modern communication technology for the benefit of rural communities," said Rajeswari Pingali, ViDAL's founding chairman.

"We will continue to upgrade but this (tie-up with the government) is one of the milestones," she added.

A solar-powered version of the I-slate has been tested for the past 18 months by 25 pupils aged from 10 to 13 years at the Mohamed Hussainpalli Village School in Mahabubnagar District.

Designers evaluated the feedback from the children and spent thousands of hours scrutinizing the placement and flow of features and the way children interacted with the I-slate both visually and by touch, according to a joint press statement yesterday.

"The 25 students were motivated and they would ask to take the I-slate home. It is a good supplement and reduces the burden on teachers," said G. Shyamala, the school's principal. Mahabubnagar is primarily a rural district with a population of about four million people.

"Based on two years of lab-to-school testing rounds, today we have a fully functional I-slate which will be adapted by the district education department," Pingali said in the press statement.
This month, 30 new and updated I-slates were delivered to a class of 10- to 13-year-olds in the same school.

After India, the device is set to make an appearance in Africa, where there is strong interest in South Africa and Rwanda, according to Palem.

On the India rollout, he said, "It has been a long journey and I am very satisfied. It is a socially uplifting activity taking the right turn."

Source: http://twocircles.net/2012mar21/mim_completes_50_years_andhra_pradesh_assembly.html

Hyderabad: It was in 1962 when Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) had made debut entry in the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh with 26-year-old Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi winning the Pathergatti constituency by defeating a state cabinet minister. MIM celebrated the 50 years of its presence in the state assembly on Tuesday.

Brief history of MIM
In the aftermath of the police action the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen of Nizam’s period was banned and its entire cadre was arrested or killed by the Indian army. It was the painstaking efforts of Wahiduddin Owaisi that the party was reorganized. Even after the reorganization, Muslims used to fear even speaking the name of the party. But sooner under the leadership of Salahuddin Owaisi the party emerged with new strategy and ideology to gain the lost ground.

Salahuddin Owaisi
The party shrugged off the fear of the Muslims and contested municipal elections in 1959, and won 25 municipal seats, but it was the 1962 state assembly elections which gave new way to the Muslim politics in Hyderabad.

In 1962 the party’s stalwart late Salahuddin Owaisi was elected from the Pathergatti constituency by defeating Masoma Begum who was a minister in the cabinet of chief minister Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy with a margin of 5141 votes. And on 20th march 1962 for the first time MIM entered in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. On 22nd March, 26-year-old Salahuddin Owaisi gave his first speech on the floor of the house on the motion of thanks for Governor, Bhimsen Sachar’s address.

Since 1962 it was no looking back for the party. For continuous 50 years the party made its strong presence felt in the house even with the handful of members. In 1967 elections MIM won 3 assembly seats -- Pathergatti, Yakutpura, and Sitarampur. In that election the party made a point by defeating the then home minister Mir Ahmed Ali with 7,500 votes. The major victory of the party was in 1984 when it won Hyderabad parliamentary seat which it is holding still now. Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was the floor leader of the party in the state assembly from 1962 to 1984.



Asaduddin Owaisi (4th from left) with MIM MLAs of Andhra assembly
Asaduddin Owaisi
The party received a major setback in the year 1994 when it got split by rebel faction, it even lost two assembly seats, but sooner the rebel factor died out and his son Asaduddin Owaisi became the party’s floor leader in the assembly and he held that position from 1994 to 2004. After the passing away of Salahuddin Owaisi, Asaduddin Owaisi became Member of Parliament in 2004.

Akbaruddin Owaisi
When Asaduddin Owaisi became MP, his younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi took the charge of MIM floor leader in the state assembly in 2004 and he has since been holding the position.

The party of one MLA in 1962 has risen to seven MLAs and two MLCs and playing a crucial role in the politics of Deccan region. Besides, at present MIM rules the Greater Hyderabad municipal corporation by wining the Mayor’s post.



Akbaruddin Owaisi, MIM Floor Leader of Andhra assembly, interacting with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy
Marking the celebration of its golden jubilee, the party hosted luncheon in the Assembly lobby which was attended by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Leader of Opposition in the Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, Lok Satta leader Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, senior TDP leader T Devender Goud, TRS MLA KT Rama Rao, members of Congress, Telugu Desam, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, CPI and CPI-M, Legislature Secretary Raja Sadaram and other Legislature officials. Owisi brothers – Asaduddin and Akbaruddin – along with MIM MLAs, MLCs and other leaders were the host.

Source: http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=32754

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy today greeted the Telugu people all over the world on the occasion of Ugadi, the Telugu New Year's day. The Chief Minister hoped that the new year will herald peace, prosperity, health and happiness to all Telugu brethren wherever they are. In a New Year message the Chief Minister said "the Telugu New Year, Ugadi, the 'Nandana Nama' is a special occasion of celebration for all Telugu speaking people.

They celebrate the occasion with joy and happiness and a sense of pride, togetherness and unity all over the world. I take this opportunity to wish the people a happy and prosperous new year". The Chief Minister said his government is rededicating itself to the welfare and happiness of the people. He said the State Government will implement all the welfare programmes initiated so far in right earnest.

The Chief Minister said the government will strive every nerve to develop Andhra Pradesh in all spheres and make it the Number one State in the country. He reiterated that development and welfare will be his government's mantra. The Chief Minister said there are several ongoing programmes for the welfare of the farmers, students, women, downtrodden, disabled, BCs, SCs, STs, Minorities and EBCs.

He said all these programmes will be implemented transparently and with utmost accountability. He also said all new initiatives like the Re.1 kg rice scheme, interest at 0% for SHG women and farmers, Rajiv Yuva Kiranaalu, Stree Nidhi, construction of Stree Shakti Bhavans, Mee Seva, filling up of 1.16 lakh Government jobs etc. are being implemented to help the students, farmers, women, unemployed youth and other sections of the society. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy recalled the successful conduct of Partnership Summit-2012 and hoped that many new industrial initiatives will be started in the State.

The Chief Minister hoped to make the forthcoming Global Biodiversity conference a grand success since it will be an epoch making event in the history of Andhra Pradesh. He hoped that Andhra Pradesh will march forward in all spheres and transform as the Number One State in the country and a role model for others.

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Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20120324120272

JEDDAH — A business delegation from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh visited the Kingdom last week to explore joint ventures, outsourcing and trade alliances in diverse sectors. These included infrastructure, construction, architecture and engineering design, interior design, high-end jewelry, oil-based products, solar water heaters and street lamps, among others.
The business meet was sponsored and organized by the Andhra Pradesh Youth Welfare Association (APYWA) and Telugu Academy – Jeddah as part of efforts to promote Indian business, companies and traders, especially from the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Siraj Hassan, a renowned Andhra Pradesh-based architect and interior designer, said that there is a lot of opportunities for architectural and engineering consultants with the booming construction industry in the Kingdom. Hassan has designed wide-ranging prestigious projects across the metropolitans of India through Siraj & Renu Architects and Interior Designers. He said his firm was looking to acquire an outsourcing business related to architectural, engineering and interior design, and received a warm response from various consulting firms in Jeddah and Riyadh.
The S.S group of companies, which has diverse business interests with a focus on infrastructure projects, was represented by Suresh Bajaj, a well-known businessman from Andhra Pradesh.
He said that with billion-dollar infrastructure projects throughout the Kingdom, a lot of companies have shown interest in teaming up with their firm.
Bajaj, whose group also owns Krsala Jewellery which is well-known for its unique antique designs studded with precious stones, said that Saudi jewelers have also shown a keen interest in their products and expressed a willingness to synergize.
Mir Hyder Ali, managing director at Yakon Trading Company, said his company was already involved in trading various oil-based products such as oil derivatives, filter clay and filter cloth with the Kingdom. The company is now planning to venture into trading food grains and industrial-grade finished products apart from solar water heaters, solar street lamps and solar panels.
Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki, APYWA general secretary, said the association was planning to organize an exhibition for handicrafts and artifacts in order to provide market exposure to the fine arts of Andhra Pradesh.
Zubair Mohammed, president of the association, thanked the Saudi business community for giving a warm reception to the business delegation from Andhra Pradesh.
He also said such initiatives would go a long way in promoting business and trade relations between the two countries.
Aijaz Ahmed Khan, vice president of Indian Youth Welfare Association and Jeddah Cricket Association – Jeddah, Syed Baqer Ali, media coordinator at the APYWA and Telugu Academy – Jeddah, Mohammed Irfan, Gulf correspondent Andhra Jyothi and Hans India played vital roles in organizing the business meets. — SG __

Cross posting from Kochi thread


For the first time a straight telugu movie is released in Kochi at Q cinemas 1 show at 8.10 P.M Naa Ishtam starring Genelia.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/States-museums-may-be-history-soon/articleshow/12407932.cms

HYDERABAD: Apart from playing custodian to the 550 protected monuments of Andhra Pradesh, the state archaeology department, when formed, was entrusted with yet another job -- that of conserving the state's 25 magnificent museums. Over time, this role has been given a silent burial by the department. Little wonder that the official website of the department has only a fleeting mention of the museums. Barring the AP State Museum in Public Gardens that finds its fair share of display on the site, the remaining 24 are lost in the clutter of the few lines jotted under the head 'district museums'.

That AP has the second highest collection of coins in the world, only next to the British Museum, dating between 2nd century BC and 20th century AD; is sitting on one of the richest piles of ancient manuscripts or flaunts an expansive collection of miniature paintings, statues, arms and ammunition are facts that are neither highlighted nor ever promoted by the department. Preservation, research or even verification of the collection at museums are a rarity, as is the regular appointment of much-needed senior officials. In fact, at least 13 of these museums are currently run by clerks as against qualified staffers from the archaeology department.

The Nizamabad district museum, for instance, which has artifacts spanning three periods, the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Kakatiyas (between 7 AD and 14 AD), is run by a Group 'D' employee (peon). This, coupled with the fact that the structure has not been renovated in years, has led to a steep drop in footfall of visitors. "We have been asking the department to rope in schools to send students to the museums but so far the officials have not showed any interest in the proposal," said an archaeologist from the district stressing how such measures can uplift the morale of the dying sites.

Similar is the case with the Andhra Sahitya Parishat (Kakinada), the Rallabandi Subbarao Government Museum (Rajahmundry), the Nellore District Archaeological Museum and the Kolanpak Museum (Nalgonda). If the one in Nalgonda has haphazardly stacked statues with little information about their historical significance, those in Kakinada and Rajahmundry have nothing more than heaps of ancient palm leaf manuscripts (dating back to the 400 BC) and old reference books buried under layers of dust. That restoration activities by official `caretakers' are seldom taken up here is not difficult to decipher for those setting foot in these once iconic buildings.

"The state government had released Rs 2 crore towards construction of a new building for Kakinada museum a year ago. In spite of several requests made to the department of archaeology, these funds have not been used so far. The museum still functions from a dilapidated building donated to the department decades ago," said L Sheshakumari, convener of Intach for East Godavari district.

Excavated zones in the state too are in an appalling state. The Phanigiri museum in Nalgonda is awaiting a sanction to open its door for visitors. The Buddhist site recently discovered at Annavaram is crying for attention as its valuable findings remain scattered across places. Also in cold storage are four major projects sanctioned about five years ago. Though close to Rs 7 crore had been released for the `reorganisation' of the Kurnool museum, archaeological museum (Abids), state museum (Public Gardens) and Khazana building (Golconda fort), little has still been done to put the money in use.

The physical structures apart, even the directory of museums, its fourth edition release slated this April contains bare details. "I had written to the department and heads of museums in AP to provide information about their museums. They showed no interest and hence I gathered information from the state's heritage activists," said Usha Agarwal, a Lucknow-based heritage conservationist who compiled the directory.

The consistent neglect has not just kept visitors away __ the Nellore museum, sources claim, was even closed down temporarily for the same __ but has even paved the way for thefts and other unscrupulous businesses. "At the state museum in the city, instances of artifacts going missing has become a routine," said a Hyderabad-based heritage expert.

Little perturbed by such concerns, P Chenna Reddy, director of the archaeology department, insists that the state's museums are in best of health. "We are taking good care of our museums. The four (abovementioned) projects are already on track and will be completed in the next three months," he said.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/andhra-pradesh/nellore-man-conquers-the-andes-in-latin-america-190483

Indo-Asian News Service in a post by Andhra Pradesh on March 27 thirty-seven-year old Malli Mastan Babu Is the only Indian to have scaled the highest peaks of the Andies mountain range In Argentina. Babu is credited in the Guiness book of wporlf records for scaling seven summits of the world in 172 days. When it comes to climbibf Babu is a inspiration to everyone.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/ivrcl-rallying-support-from-andhra-infra-companies-to-avert-takeover-by-essel/articleshow/12447980.cms

HYDERABAD: The founder of infrastructure company IVRCL is rallying support from fellow businessmen in Andhra Pradesh to avert a takeover by the Essel group of media baron Subhash Chandra, people close to the Hyderabad-based company said.

At least half a dozen infrastructure companies from the southern state have shown solidarity with IVRCL founder Sudhir Reddy and are willing to lend the money he could need to fend off the Essel group, which announced on Tuesday that it has acquired a 10.2% stake in the firm and is willing to buy more.

These companies, which have jointly bid with IVRCL for many projects, are willing to lend 100-200 crore each to help Reddy increase his holding from the present 11.2%. Dozens of sub-contractors, too, are ready to bankroll Reddy if he wants to prevent a hostile takeover.

The acquisition of a controlling stake in IVRCL will also help Essel take control of two more listed entities - IVRCL Assets and Hindustan Dorr Oliver - as well as closely-held UK-based company Devi Markham.

With sales of more than 5,600 crore in 2010-11 and net profit of 158 crore, some of IVRCL's marquee projects include the seawater desalination plant in Chennai, ONGC's petrochemical complex at Dahej in Gujarat and elevated stations for the Bangalore Metro. The company's stock closed flat on the BSE on Wednesday, valuing it at 1,600 crore.

Even though Essel is yet to announce plans to acquire management control in the infrastructure firm, IVRCL suspects that the Mumbai company may be already on the job.

But Himanshu Modi, the head of group finance and strategy at the Essel Group said the holding remains at 10.2%. "We have acquired stake and have clearly stated that we want to increase our stake. But it is too early to judge this as a hostile takeover," he wrote in reply to questions.

Reddy spoke to ET from Australia and appeared unfazed at the prospect of losing control of a company he founded more than two decades ago. "It is an open market and anybody can buy our stock. Let the Essel group benefit as an IVRCL shareholder," he said, declining to divulge details of his plans.

One of the businessmen who has offered financial backing to Reddy said he and others were contacted by Essel's Chandra for mediating with Reddy to ensure a friendly acquisition. Chandra's moves also seem to have touched parochial nerves of Andhra's businessmen in the infrastructure sector. The chairman of one such company complained that while north Indian infrastructure firms have a strong bond, there is no such unity in the south despite companies from the region implementing nearly two-thirds of projects nationally.

"The hostile bid by the Essel group is an opportunity for Andhra companies to unite," he said. Another wanted the state government to intervene because an acquisition will result in the registered office shifting outside the state, causing revenue loss.

On the other hand, analysts and fund managers were in favour of Essel taking over IVRCL. "The current management is not doing any great job to warrant our support. IVRCL is just an opportunity play for us; we'll exit at next level of gains," said the chief investment officer of a foreign fund house which has a stake in IVRCL. Institutional investors own nearly 43% of IVRCL.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3263315.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

HYDERABAD, MARCH 30:
About 42 per cent of total households in Andhra Pradesh have just one room, according to the house-listing and housing census.

Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts top the list in this category, Ms Y.V. Anuradha, Director, Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, told newspersons here on Friday.

Out of a total 2.1 lakh houses, 34.8 per cent had two rooms while 13.4 per cent have three or four rooms, she said while releasing the data highlights for 2011.

The State capital and Rangareddy districts have the highest number of houses in this category.

The increasing tendency of nuclear families has also come to the fore in the census. About 76 per cent of the households come under one-married-couple category.

Rangareddy and Hyderabad topped this list with 79 per cent and 78.6 per cent families under this segment.

In terms of size of households, most were four-membered with Krishna and Khammam toping the list.

ASSETS

Contrary to the tall claims of banks about financial inclusion, only 53 per cent of the households are availing themselves of baking services in the State.

About 78 per cent of households are living in their own houses in the State. Mahbugnagar has the highest number of own houses (91 per cent), followed by Srikakulum and Nalgonda.

In telephone or mobile phone facility, Nizamabad stood first while in computers or laptops, Viskhapatnam was number one.

With regard to households which owned two- or four-wheelers, Krishna district was leading, Ms Anuradha said.

AMENITIES

The State fared well in amenities like drinking water (including tap-water supply), lighting, latrine and LPG fuel.

Tap-water supply was highest in Hyderabad, followed by Rangareddy and Anantapur.

LPG as fuel was mostly used in Krishna and Guntur after Hyderabad and Rangareddy, according to the data.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/shortfall-in-natural-gas-to-put-rs-870-crore-burdenandhra-pradesh/469767/

Andhra Pradesh would incur an additional financial burden of Rs 870 crore due to decline in generation from gas-based power plants during the new financial year.

This is because the power utilities have to offset the domestic shortfall with additional purchases from outside the state at a higher cost, according to APTransco.

The power utilities have provided a revised availability projections of 9,189 million units (mu) for 2012-13, a shortfall of 6,514 mu on the gas power front with natural gas production in the K-G gas expected to further come down by 15 mmscmd (million metric standard cubic metre per day) as per the communication received from the petroleum ministry.
As against 12.97 mmscmd required to run the installed capacities of over 2,700 Mw in the state, gas power stations are receiving only 6.9 mmscmd. As a result, they are forced to operate at little less than 50 per cent plant load factor (PLF). In 2012-13, the availability of gas to these power stations is expected to be only 5.5 mmscmd, according to Ajai Jain, chairman and managing director of APTransco.

Moreover, new units with a total capacity of 2,000 Mw are kept idle for want of natural gas while projects with another 2,000 Mw will be added in another three months in the state. "In the absence of natural gas, these projects are going to remain as giant monuments," said Jain. The 2,600-Mw Samalkot gas power project being set up by Reliance Power of the Anil Ambani group is also one of them.

The state power utilities have proposed to buy 12,500 mu, as against the total estimated requirement of 79,462 mu for the full year through short-term contracts from outside at an average rate of Rs 4.20 paise per unit with an upper ceiling of Rs 5.50. Under the existing PPAs, the state procures at little less than Rs 2.50 per unit from gas power stations.

Revised tariff to bring in Rs 4400 cr
The power utilities currently supply with a cost to serve expenditure of Rs 4.42 per unit as against the net revenue realisation of Rs 2.99 per unit. This gap has now been taken care of by the tariff hike that comes into effect from today (April 1).

The utilities are expected to mop up an additional Rs 4,400 crore through raised tariff. The power sector subsidy by the state government has been increased to Rs 5,358 crore from Rs 4,300 crore last year. Of this, Rs 2,780 crore goes to the free power scheme in the agriculture sector while domestic households get Rs 1,759 crore, according to Jain.

Meanwhile, the additional generation of 220-250 Mw by utilising 1.1 mmscmd of natural gas was made available to projects by Reliance Industries through the swapping of RLNG starting today, Jain said.

This power will be utilised to meet the requirements of small industries, which will see reduction in power cuts to one day from two in a week, according to him.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3293471.ece

Acharya Nagarjuna University Vice-Chancellor K. Viyanna Rao on Saturday urged people to make cycling a part of their lifestyle.

Speaking after flagging off a 10-day Vijayawada-Hyderabad cycle yatra, organised by the youth wing of Active Bicyclers Association, as part of World Heath Day, Mr. Rao said health was of paramount importance and development of a nation was directly dependent on the health and education of the people of that land.

Sharing a piece of information that the University, on its part, had conducted a cycle yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to promote cycling among people, he said 30 students of Hindu College in Guntur would take part in the Vijayawada-Hyderabad cycle yatra.

Film director C. Uma Maheswara Rao said the Government at the Centre and in the State must initiate steps to encourage cycling activity.

Active Bicyclers' Association general secretary C. Satyanarayana demanded constitution of cycling committees in educational institutions on the lines of NCC and NSS wings.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com//articleshow/12611188.cms

HYDERABAD: Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) today sought RBI's intervention to enable micro lenders to collect their Rs 7,000 crore dues, which is stagnated since November 2010 in Andhra Pradesh.

"We requested the Reserve Bank to take more direct role in the dialogue with the Andhra Pradesh government. Sidbi ( Small Industries Development Bank of India) has also been doing the dialogue," MFIN President Vijay Mahajan told PTI.

MFIN is the industry association of micro lenders. As per RBI guidelines, microfinance institutions have to make provisioning for the overdue by March 31 next year.

"So we will have to find solution. If the MFI sector has to be alive then RBI, the AP government and the central government have to find a solution for this Rs 7,000 crore outstanding in AP," he added.

Mahajan said the outstanding loans, if not restructured, may continue to keep 92 lakh borrowers in the state in the defaulters list which may be deterrent for them to have postpaid services such as bank loans, water connectivity and electricity in future.

"Think about the 92 lakh borrowers which are all today in the defaulters list. They are not going to get single bank loan by any NBFC or any MFI. The day might come when they don't get even gas connection, electricity and water anything which is postpaid," he said.

The AP Microfinance Ordinance was implemented on October 15, 2010, and subsequently made that into an Act in the wake of a spate of suicides by borrowers allegedly due to the coercive recovery practices by the MFI agents in the state.

The legislation clipped the wings of all MFIs, including curtailing their activities, and subsequently the outstanding from the state has mounted to Rs 7,000 crore, he said.

Mahajan said they have already given a proposal to the AP government to restructure microfinance loans in a convenient way for the borrowers.

He said the normalcy in the state can be restored by permitting the MFIs to give fresh loans while collecting old dues.

According to him, MFIN has also requested the RBI to lift cap on the interest rate being charged to borrowers as banks lending rate are increased.

As per RBI rules MFIs interest rates should not exceed 26 per cent.

Mahajan said as banks are now charging 16 per cent interest rates and MFIs operations become difficult within 26 per cent bracket.

"So we requested the RBI to retain the margin cap. Don't retain the pricing cap. If tomorrow interest rate goes up to 18 per cent then it become a problem for us. Or you (RBI) put interest cap on banks also," Mahajan said while expressing apprehensions on margins.

MFIN also requested the central bank to consider using MFIs infrastructure for banking correspondent model.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sonia-wants-Rahul-to-play-key-role-in-Andhra-Pradesh-affairs/articleshow/12617203.cms

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: Finally, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi is waking up to the developments in Andhra Pradesh. Concerned over the manner in which the popularity of the Congress has been plummeting in the state since the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and the revival of the Telangana agitation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has turned to her son Rahul to informally take charge of the party's affairs in AP and ensure that things look up by the time the elections take place in 2014.

AICC sources told TOI that towards that end, Rahul has initiated the process of getting himself briefed about the state of affairs in AP. "Last week, Rahul met former PCC chief D Srinivas and on Tuesday, newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP R Ananda Bhaskar was summoned by the young Gandhi's office for an exclusive meeting with the AICC general secretary. Rahul is slated to meet a few more young leaders from the state before deciding what steps to take to revive the Congress fortunes in AP," the sources said. There are also indications that Rahul might visit Hyderabad in the next few days.

According to the sources, it was the Congress chief who first began worrying about the way events were unfolding in AP over the last few months. "The emergence of the Jaganmohan Reddy factor, the Telangana issue, the poor performance of the Congress in the bypolls and the infighting in the state Congress and the state government made Sonia realize that drastic steps needed to be taken," said the sources.

It was in this backdrop that Sonia first met D Srinivas and Ananda Bhaskar last week, this at a time when she refused appointments for senior leaders from the state including chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, deputy chief minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha and several others who have been camping in the national capital for an audience with madam.

The sources said the two leaders briefed Sonia about the latest situation in the state. "D Srinivas briefed her about the situation in Telangana and the infighting among the top leaders and the Congress prospects in the bypolls to 18 assembly seats. Ananda Bhaskar briefed her about the overall situation in the state," they said.

Bhaskar has been submitting reports to the Congress high command from Gandhi Bhavan on behalf of the state Congress for the past six years and 'madam apparently has a lot of faith in his understanding and analysis,' the sources said.

It was after these meetings that Sonia had with the two state leaders that Rahul was brought into the picture. In his 15-minute meeting which Ananda Bhaskar had with the Amethi MP on Tuesday, the two reportedly discussed matters such as party organization, party programmes, government functioning and the steps to be taken to strengthen the party ahead of the 2014 elections.

Ananda Bhaskar, who is yet to take oath as Rajya Sabha MP, however, declined to reveal the details of the meeting with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. "The AICC general secretary was keen to know about the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state," is all he told TOI.

Incidentally, Rahul has been till now inaccessible to state leaders. But things seem to be changing now. Newly-elected Rajya Sabha MP Palvai Govardhan Reddy is currently camping in Delhi and waiting for an audience with Sonia and Rahul. All this is likely to culminate in a visit to Hyderabad by the AICC general secretary very soon, the sources claimed.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/746-freedom-struggle-martyrs-identified/248099-60-121.html

HYDERABAD: As many as 746 martyrs, who laid down their lives during the freedom struggle, from 1857 (sepoy mutiny) to 1948, were identified in the state by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). The details will be included in the directory of Indian martyrs, which will be compiled and published by� the ICHR.
Andhra Pradesh will be the� fifth state to submit its list of martyrs, after Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. In 2009, ICHR launched the National Register of Martyrs (NRM)� project to identify martyrs in every state across the country. The study began in the state at the AP State Archives and Research Institute, Hyderabad, in� August 2011, with three research scholars and one coordinator, said� Prof Vakulabharanam Ramakrishna, project coordinator in AP.
So for, the study has identified 746 martyrs in the state. Of these, 658 were from Telangana region and 75 percent of them died during the movement to join the Indian Union (1947-48). There were 83 martyrs from coastal Andhra and five from Rayalaseema. The number of martyrs will go up further as scholars are going through the records of the Indian Nation Army (Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauz) and Hyderabad State’s Urdu records to find more martyrs, Prof Ramakrishna said.
“We are going to send the first report of martyrs from AP towards the end of this month. The study will be completed in July,” he said.
The information gathered is from secondary sources like government publications, newspaper reports, pamphlets and books published between 1857 to 1948, and other material published by the government. The ICHR has undertaken the project at the request of the Union ministry of culture.� ‘’This work should have been taken up soon after independence. But it took more than 60 years to launch a study to compile a directory of martyrs,’’ he said.
The Central information commission approached the home ministry to draw up the martyrs’ list for future reference.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Duration-of-medicos-strike-to-be-taken-as-casual-leave/articleshow/12657233.cms

HYDERABAD: In a major relief to the junior doctors, the state government has agreed to consider their two-month strike period between December 25 and February 14 as casual leave. GO 567 regularising the strike period as casual leave came on Thursday evening, three days ahead of PG medical counselling.

The government in its order regularised the strike period as casual leave if the doctors have casual leave to their credit. In case they have exhausted the casual leave, the period for which casual leave is not available shall be treated as special casual leave without stipend, the order said. Around 500 striking doctors had failed to get internship certificates as they were on strike. The certificate is a must to attend PG counselling and the deadline to submit the certificates had expired long back. After the government order was issued on April 12, instructions were given to all the principals and superintendents to issue the internship completion certificates by the director medical education on Friday. The PG counselling is slated to be held on April 16.

The medicos had gone on strike demanding a hike in their stipend, among other things. The agitation that started at Vizag's Andhra Medical College subsequently spread to other medical colleges and teaching hospitals in the state.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Income-Tax-department-registers-growth-in-collections/articleshow/12657096.cms

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Income Tax (I-T) department has registered a 13% growth in tax collections in the financial year 2011-12. This is close to 3% higher than the national collections that hovered around 10.7% last fiscal.

Announcing this on Friday, G Rajeshwar Rao, chief commissioner-3 (CC-3) of AP, who is currently holding additional charge as CC-1, said that the gross collections in this fiscal (2011-12) shot to Rs 29,497 crore from Rs 25,391 crore registered last year. Refunds too saw a 46% growth, with the total amount increasing from Rs 2,509 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 3,600 crore in 2011-12.

"Due to the substantial increase in refunds, the department's net collection (Rs 25,837 crore) has grown by only 13% despite gross collections seeing a 16% rise," said Rao, adding that the department collected 35% of the taxes in the last quarter alone. But while other sectors contributed significantly towards the I-T coffers, the microfinance institutions (MFI) in AP saw no activity. This segment, that paid a total advance tax of Rs 130 crore in 2010-11, did not add a single rupee to the collections this year, the I-T chief said.

The 72 search and seizure operations conducted by I-T sleuths throughout the year also saw rise in collections. While the total amount seized from the state in 2011-12 touched Rs 52.74 crore (as against Rs 41.84 crore last year), disclosure of unaccounted income by organisations and individuals, totalled up to Rs 818.85 crore. Searches were conducted across several sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, steel, power, oil, bulk drugs and education. Among other achievements, the department auctioned nine attached properties in the state and detained two defaulters.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories was the highest tax payer in the private sector while National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) topped the list among public sector units for 2011-12. Followed by Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Andhra Bank and State Bank of Hyderabad.

Among individual taxpayers, the highest contributions were made by two persons who paid a whopping Rs 3.75 crore each as tax on their income but officials refused to reveal their names for security reasons.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/engineering-seats-outnumber-candidates/248547-60-121.html

HYDERABAD: The engineering colleges in the state have got nearly 40,000 additional engineering and pharmacy (MPC stream) seats this year, taking the total number to 3.5 lakh seats. That means 2.92 lakh students, who have applied for Eamcet-2012 in the MPC stream till now, are going to compete for as many as 3.5 lakh seats.
According to a senior member of Professional Colleges Association of Andhra Pradesh, the All India Council for Technical Education has already sent its approval to 500 colleges which have applied for additional intake. The AICTE will communicate the same to the state government by April 15.
Last year, there were about 3.21 lakh seats for engineering and pharma courses for MPC students, and more than one lakh seats remained vacant after the final phase of counselling. About, 2.78 lakh students had applied under the MPC stream.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3314237.ece

Society is of the view that there is no voluntary element in the process of exchange

The Indian Red Cross Society AP State Branch has taken a policy decision not to accept replacement blood donation and collect blood exclusively from voluntary donors.

It is of the view that there is no voluntary element in the process of exchange. In replacement donation, there is also an element of duress and sometimes even professional donors are involved.

“Moreover, the blood has to be processed before transfusion,” State secretary of the Red Cross C. Umamaheshwar Rao explained. In 70 countries, across the world, blood donation is only voluntary. “There is a need to encourage people to walk in and donate blood. Only when the donor is known, can we be sure that the blood is disease-free,” Mr. Umamaheshwar Rao added. With 44 blood banks and 81 blood collection centres in the State, the Red Cross contributes between 25 and 30 per cent of the blood collected in the State every year.

“We would like to encourage blood donation with honesty,” Project Director, Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS), C. Parthasarathi said. It is the responsibility of the donor to be honest and declare if they have contracted any disease or are suffering from some infection, he added.

There is a need for more number of individuals donating blood voluntarily and not necessarily an increase in the number of blood banks, he said. There are 241 registered blood banks in the State collecting 7.5 lakh units of blood per year, which have a shelf life of 30 days. The registered blood banks have to supply 30 per cent of their collection to government hospitals, the APSACS Project Director said.

LEAN MONTHS

Since voluntary blood donation by and large depends upon college students, the summer months become lean months for the blood banks, to overcome this. APSACS, Red Cross and other blood banks are focusing on non-student donors like employees of IT companies, among others, during summer months, Mr. Umamaheshwar Rao said.

Further, most hospitals do not take up elective surgery during May, which also reduces the demand for blood during peak summer, Mr. Parthasarathi explained and added that the APSACS was going to start a campaign to encourage voluntary blood donation, across the State.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3319709.ece

Eligibility relaxation for them in merchant navy courses on the cards

The National Shipping Board, a statutory advisor to the Union government on shipping related matters, is likely to provide relaxation in the eligibility to youth hailing from fishermen community aspiring to join merchant navy.

NSB member Sandeep Chandra mooted the proposal during the recent meeting of the Board in Visakhapatnam suggesting that norms pertaining to examinations be relaxed to enable fishermen youth to take to the courses. People of the community have experience as fishermen but without any certification and this called for some weightage in the form of relaxation in examination pattern.

Can steer better

“They know how to steer the vessel much better than the trained ones. “Some via media solution has to be found as these youth should not be denied opportunity in taking to the courses. They can be trained in handling bigger vessels during the course,” he told The Hindu here on Saturday.

Mr. Sandeep Chandra said a proposal for setting up a principle maritime office and a maritime university at Visakhapatnam was under consideration of the Ministry. “Setting up of the maritime office will reduce financial burden on students seeking certification and it will address language barrier and other issues faced by the aspirants from Andhra Pradesh who are compelled to go to Chennai,” he said.

The Union Ministry encouraged private players in a big way to invest in ports and shipping infrastructure and efforts were underway to streamline operations in ports, public sector as well as those developed under PPP mode. Investors were facing problems on account of the delay in commissioning of these ports as it was a capital intensive industry. “Some penal clauses should be incorporated in the agreements to avoid delays,” he said.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/state-tops-south-hazardous-waste-094

Andhra Pradesh tops the list among the southern states in generating incinerable hazardous waste, around 31,659 metric tonnes annually. The dubious distinction is accorded by the latest report of ministry of Forest and Environment, with Tamil Nadu coming second.

With about 40 contaminated dumpsites identified in the state, environmentalists say the report highlights the grave situation of hazardous waste management here. The report states: “Indiscriminate disposal of hazardous waste may generate contaminated sites, which pose health and environmental risk to surface and groundwater. The list prepared by the Supreme Court monitoring committee was updated by the Central Pollution Control Board.”

As part of pilot project, the Centre is implementing a World Bank-aided project to set right 10 highly polluted sites: two in Andhra Pradesh and eight in West Bengal. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 339.26 crore for five years. Work, though, is yet to start in full swing at contaminated sites in the state.

Environmentalist Devi-das Manghnani says, “Civic bodies have to wake up and deal with hazardous waste water will be contaminated in more areas with new dumping sites.” Another environmentalist, Mr M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, said: “Industrial units in Medak and Ranga Reddy districts dump huge quantities of hazardous waste. There is no proper check by the Pollution Board authorities. Those industries have to be held liable.”

‘Food prices pushing inflation'

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3321190.ece

Rangarajan says non-food, manufacturing prices have shown signs of decline

C. Rangarajan, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister, has said though non-food, manufacturing inflation had shown definite signs of decline, spiralling prices of food items was impacting overall inflation.

On the sidelines of an ITsAP annual industry awards function here on Monday, he said vegetable prices appeared to be on the rise again, including commodities like milk and vegetables, apart from cereals.

DIESEL PRICES

As if this was not enough cause for concern, he said changes were needed to be made as regards diesel prices when asked about its de-regulation.

The point was that since prices of high speed diesel were not adjusted in a long time, the impact of such a move to bring it on a par with international prices could be high if effected at one go. Hence, it would have to be done in phases, he added.

Depending on the monsoon and international markets, a 7.5 per cent growth could surely be expected, he said in reply to a question. Earlier, he said imaginative and innovative use of IT could be the means to take quality education across the country. India's techies needed to focus on education and find solutions. With technology as the driving force for economic growth, he said the world was witnessing a revolution which could be as far-reaching as the first industrial revolution.

POSITIVE IMPACT

IT had a positive impact on payment and settlement systems, he said, adding with path-breaking initiatives, the ‘electronification' of payment system had become the hallmark of the last decade. With a whopping 700 million mobile telephones in place, it would be worthwhile for banks to ride piggyback on the mobile telephony platform to achieve financial inclusion, allowing authentication of identity and transactions through a secured gateway, he said.

The awards were given away in different categories. Verity Knowledge Solutions bagged the Best Start-up Indian company, while Microsemi India, Hyundai Motor India Engineering and Xilinx India Technology Services got the awards for the Best State-Up Off-Shore Development Centre (ODC), Best Indian SME in software development and the Best Established ODC, respectively.

The Tier-2 City Awards were bagged by Mahindra Satyam, PB Systems India, Trewport Techno Consulting and Gajalakshmi Software Systems, named as Best IT Company from Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Tirupati, respectively. The ITsAP Green IT Awards went to Infosys, Wells Fargo India solutions and Tata Consultancy Services. In a new category introduced this year, Infosys, Wipro and Mahindra were recognised as top exporters from Andhra Pradesh.

AP to bank on FSRU project to tackle gas crisis

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/243086/ap-bank-fsru-project-tackle.html

Andhra Pradesh government has taken the lead in resolving the gas crisis by planning to set up a floating liquefied natural gas import terminal project on the east coast.

The state government has signed a MoU with the Europe’s largest LNG importer GDF Suex UK to set up a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU).

Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corp (APGDC), a company jointly promoted by GAIL Gas Ltd (GGL) and Andhra Pradesh Gas Infrastructure Corp Pvt Ltd (APGIC) in collaboration with the GDF Suez LNG UK Ltd will set up a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) offshore Andhra Pradesh.

According to Suthirtha Bhattacharya , Infrastructure and investment secretary of AP, the FSRU will have a capacity to produce 15 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of natural gas and likely to commence production operations by end of 2013.

About the pricing, the state official said, it may vary from 9 to 10 dollars per Million Metric British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) but the state government is ready to go ahead with the project at any rate. The target sectors were ceramics, fertilizers, power and refineries.

Solar fencing to deter crop-raiding elephants (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/solar-fencing-to-deter-cropraiding-elephants/250400-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: Taking a serious note of the continuous raids by elephants on crops surrounding forest areas in Chittoor and Srikakulam districts, the forest department has come up with a slew of measures to prevent the intrusion of elephants into human habitations.
Special measures have been taken up by the department including construction of check-dams, development of water bodies and� erection of solar power fencing at all vulnerable locations inside the forest to restrict the movements of elephants to the forest areas, said A Shankaran, deputy conservator of forests.
It is the acute shortage of fodder and water in the forests, especially in summer season, that eventually provokes the pachyderms to stray into the� nearby villages. As a curative measure, fodder patches and salt licks are being developed in the forest areas itself so that the animals can get enough feed in their habitat, Shankaran said.
The forest department is going to implement the special measures in the elephant habitations of Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chittoor district,� Barnakonda and Antikonda forest areas in Srikakulam district.
“All these measures have been in place before, but did not translate into action effectively. Now, care is being taken for their effective implementation as the numbers of elephant raids on crop fields have been increased in the recent past,” Shankaran said.
Officials blamed the fast depleting forest areas for the increasing cases of elephant intrusions into the human habitations. “ Putting a curb on the deforestation activities is the answer to elephant menace. The animals would not venture out side if they get a proper habitat,” said V Tirumala Rao, forest range officer.
The elephant menace is not new to Chittoor and Srikakulam districts which has been creating trouble for farmers since the past two decades, ever since herds of the animal had infiltrated the state forests from neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and Odisha, he said adding the villagers should not harm the elephants in any form as it is a non-bailable offence.

Anti-corrosive cement developed (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3335337.ece)

Sree Jayajothi Cements Ltd., of Chennai has developed ‘Corrosino', an anti-corrosive cement, which it would shortly introduce into the market, particularly in coastal areas Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and other states.

Informing this to reporters here on Thursday, General Manager (Marketing) of the company G. Ganesh Kumar said the company was producing 3.2 million tonnes of cement a year and the plant was located at Yanakandla village in Banaganapalle mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.

It was producing slag cement as well as blended cements.

The company has on-line analysers on the production line with auto-correction facility at different stages to produce quality cement, he said. The structures in coastal areas were affected by corrosion reducing their life drastically.

"Corrosion-resistant steel is being produced in some steel plants. But we felt the need for developing anti-corrosive cement as well to enhance the life and quality of structures. We have employed monomolecular layer technology in producing the special cement. It forms a nano passive layer over the steel surface very quickly before the other elements that come into contact with steel could reach the surface. It will deflect chlorides and water molecules causing corrosion," he said.

Mr. Ganesh Kumar said all facilities were ready at the plant for production of the special blended cement. He said some samples had been produced and sent to users. They would first inform the users of the product and release it into the market, he said. Vice-President (commercial) of the company R. Balakrishnan said a technical seminar and demonstration of the eco-friendly product would be held at Grand Bay hotel on Friday at 6 p.m. in which former director of Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station ‘Padmasri' Myneni Hariprasada Rao, experts Kamat and P.S. Rao, besides the managing director of the company T.R. Kannan would speak.

Bulgaria woos Indian firms, tourists (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article3342805.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

Banks on free trade pact to boost bilateral ties

HYDERABAD, APRIL 22:
Bulgaria has invited Indian companies to make it a home base to tap the European Union and take advantage of its multi-lingual workforce and tax incentives.

Assuring a hassle-free investment opportunity in Bulgaria, its Ambassador to India, Mr Borislav Kostov, said there is immense scope to increase trade ties between India and Bulgaria in the area of IT, hi-tech, pharmaceuticals, food processing and other areas.

Addressing a meeting hosted at the Fapcci, the Ambassador said Bulgaria is keenly looking at the prospect of free trade agreement between India and European Union which will have a positive impact on bilateral trade.

Citing the examples of Elder Pharma's acquisition in Bulgaria and their efforts to increase presence in the region, he felt other companies in drugs and pharma sector could look at tapping the local market.

He said Bulgaria's membership to the EU and potential that India holds for trade could help accelerate the business ties.

TOURISM

Mr. Kostov said that for Bulgaria with a country of 7.3 million already has more than 6 million tourist visitors.

It is one of the most attractive destinations. “We expect the number of tourists to cross the figure of our population this year. As a part of tourist promotion, we are conducting a special programme for Indian travel and tour operations and taking them to Bulgaria,” he said.

WINES & ROSES

“Bulgaria produces some of the finest wines. We are keen that the FTA talks cover this aspect so that Indians could savour them. The Rose Oil, which is priced as much as gold in volume and used in perfumery, is one of the most sought after products from this East European nation,” he said.

AP houses one of world’s largest uranium reserves! (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120423/main6.htm)

Hyderabad, April 22
The arid and backward Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh may well be sitting over one of the world’s largest uranium reserves.

The uranium reserves in and around Tummalapalle village in Kadapa district were initially estimated at 15,000 tonne, but continuous exploration has shown promise of further reserves. Last year, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), in its fresh estimate, said the uranium reserves in the district can go up to 1.5 lakh tonne, a 10-fold increase from the original estimate.

“Tummalapalle could become one of the world’s largest uranium deposits and the new facility would provide a major fillip to the country’s nuclear programmes,” Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr Srikumar Banerjee said.

He was speaking to reporters after commissioning UCIL’s biggest uranium ore mine and processing plant at Tummalapalle, marking a major milestone in the country’s quest for nuclear energy. Banerjee said the mine was of a much bigger magnitude and it required the construction of a second processing plant that would be taken up shortly.

The Rs 1,106-crore Tummalapalle plant is expected to meet the fuel needs of 25 per cent of the country’s nuclear plants. The Department of Atomic Energy secretary said India now had the capability to develop own uranium ore mines instead of depending on imports. The nuclear power generation in the country would reach 60,000 MW by 2050.

The newly commissioned plant has a capacity of mining and processing 3,000-tonne Uranium a day. The second phase of the plant will produce another 1,500 tonne per day.

Local villagers, opposition parties and environmentalists are opposing the plant on the ground that it would play havoc with public health and environment.

However, Banerjee sought to allay such fears by saying that all necessary safety measures had been put in place and that the local people would get employment opportunities in the plant. At present, the UCIL operates six underground mines, one open cast mine and two processing plants, all in Jharkhand.

“This has the potential of making it one of the
most significant uranium reserves in the world,” the official said.

The Thummalapalle mine is by far the most modern underground mine in the country with high level of automation. A processing plant has been constructed next to the mine that will use alkali pressure leaching process to produce sodium di-uranate from the ore.

The Fuel-rich district

n The uranium reserves in and around Tummalapalle village in Kadapa district were initially estimated at 15,000 tonne

n The Uranium Corporation of India Limited , in its fresh estimate, said the reserves can go up to 1.5 lakh tonne, a 10-fold increase from the original estimate

Intermediate second year results 2012: Government college students prove their mettle (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Government-college-students-prove-their-mettle/articleshow/12859187.cms)

HYDERABAD: Government colleges in the state have fared well in Intermediate examinations recording a pass percentage of 62, a few notches higher than the state's average of 58.43%. In most districts, more students from government colleges had cleared the public examination than students from private colleges. The performance of government colleges has improved as the previous year's pass percentage was 56%.

In some districts, the pass percentage of government colleges is higher than that of the overall pass percentage in private colleges. For instance, in Adilabad, while 78% of the students in government colleges cleared the examination, the pass percentage of the district was stuck at 66, 10% lower than its previous year's performance. While government colleges in Medak district scored a pass percentage of 69, the district's overall pass percentage was 51. Government colleges in several other districts, including Chittoor (70%), Visakhapatnam (68%), Srikakulam (63%) and Karimnagar (63%) have fared well in Intermediate examinations this year.

Some of the students who passed out with flying colours from government colleges this year said that they have got good scores as they concentrated more on their syllabus than competitive examinations. "My teachers asked me to concentrate on languages as well as subjects to get good marks. I want to be an engineer and will appear for Eamcet in May," said S N Harsh, a student who scored 953 marks. Some of the students from government junior colleges who did well in the examinations, include Sudha Rani from Srikakulam district who scored 967 marks in MPC and U Srekanya from Nalgonda district who scored 941 marks in BPC.

Government college lecturers said that students have performed well even after facing several odds, including poor infrastructure and a few permanent teachers. Out of the 820 government junior colleges in the state, about 265 do not have permanent buildings. Only around 4,000 permanent lectures are appointed as permanent faculty members in these colleges which require 12,000 faculty members.

"Government colleges in the state cater to the poorest of the poor who cannot afford even the lowest private college fee. The government should take better care in helping such students get good scores in Intermediate examinations. More infrastructure and permanent faculty members should be provided to government colleges," said P Madhusudan Reddy, general secretary, government junior college lecturers' association.

BIE officials blamed private colleges for ignoring students who did not have the potential to become rank holders. "Most private colleges in the state concentrate on students who can bag top ranks for them. Ignoring those who required special care and guidance is not a good education system," said a BIE official.

Taking into consideration the performance of students from government junior colleges, the state government has decided to divert more funds to these colleges. "We had diverted Rs 20 crore for the renovation of some of the government colleges last year. The government has decided to sanction more funds for these colleges," said K Parthasarathy, minister for secondary education.

Government needs to harness IT for innovative agriculture (http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/article3353288.ece)

The model disseminates site specific knowledge at no cost to farmers

There appears to be a general consensus that the country's agriculture sector can do better with some encouragement, motivation to youngsters who are driven with a passion, and a dream to do something for the rural poor.

“Ironically the government which keeps talking about encouraging youth to take up agriculture, does nothing to help us chip in,” says Mr. R.M. Thiruchelvam an IT professional from Alampattu, Sivaganga district Tamil Nadu.

SEVERAL PROBLEMS

Mr. Thiruchelvam left a lucrative job as well as business plans nine years ago to take up the cause of rural development.

With the support of like-minded friends he and his team did four years of intensive study of the social, economic, and administrative problems that are wrecking rural India.

The team designed a comprehensive web system, it-rural.com to provide information and communication to increase the “per capita earning” of villagers.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE

“The model disseminates site specific knowledge at the village level at no cost to farmers. It is an employer-employee model. So a local person is not going to own the knowledge centre.

“It is designed to overcome typical constraints such as social, geographical, and commercial barriers that are prevalent across the world in taking technology to the grassroots,” explains Mr. Thiruchelvam

It comprehensively addresses the key components of agricultural sector such as good quality and yield, better price realization to farmers, balanced production and strengthening institutional credit systems.

LACK OF INPUT

“There is no effective input validation available at the grassroots in the present system for rural activities, particularly farming. Information on demand forecast, cultivation procedures, input supply management, disease control, marketing, glut in production, desperate selling, impact of drought and flood are absent,” he says.

The team wanted to showcase the model on a large scale to prove its efficiency. Their hard work yielded results. The Andhra Pradesh

Government provided an opportunity for them to carry out a pilot project in Pulivendala, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh. About 30 villages, 12 Panchayats, 40,000 people and 20,000 acres of agricultural land benefited.

But the success lasted only for a short while. Sudden developments in the state political scene saw these youngsters grounded due to lack of financial support.

In fact, for the past two years Mr. Thiruchelvan is running from one state to another to meet different officials and experts to explain and showcase his findings.

He believes that this concept can definitely provide a key to unlock different problems in the rural sector. But sadly, he has been ignored or refused an appointment.

IDEAL TOOL

“IT is an ideal tool today for addressing several glitches a farmer faces. We are very eager to get the Government interested in this.

“But sadly we are not able to get any opening in the government circles. Recently I had to keep calling for an appointment with a Secretary to Government and literally begged his secretary to get me an appointment,” he says in a voice chocked with emotion.

The secretary initially granted him 20 minutes but shortened it to 10 minutes and rushed through his concept.

“He asked me to contact the officials in his department but till date they have not responded,” he says with frustration and sadness.

Cant he try to take this concept further with private funding agencies rather than depend on the Government?

SEEMS DAUNTING

“In India, a major part of agriculture activities is still under Government control. To reach out to hundreds of farmers we need the Government's support and funding. Even at the state level we require the local University and the state agriculture departments' support. But getting it seems daunting.

“If any Government is prepared to encourage us we are ready to join hands on a PPP model (public private partnership) as we are sure that this concept will benefit small farmers,” says Mr. Thiruchelvam hopefully.

Despite several attempts by The Hindu, the Agriculture Secretary was not available for his comments on this proposal.

For more details contact Mr. R.M.Thiruchelvam, Originator and Project Director, website: www.it-rural.com, email: thirurm@gmail.com, mobile:9840374266.

Lok Satta chief writes to PM over Govt's farm policies (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/lok-satta-chief-writes-to-pm-over-govts-farm-policies/991154.html)

Hyderabad, Apr 26 (PTI) Lok Satta Party President N Jayaprakash Narayan today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to abandon alleged ad hoc and antediluvian policies in respect of foodgrains, cotton and edible oils, which have let down the farmers and posed long-term dangers to the economy. In a letter to Singh, he said trade in agricultural commodities should be fully and irrevocably liberalised so that farmers get the best prices that markets can offer. Narayan wrote the letter in the context of PM convening a meeting of Agriculture and Food Ministers on April 30 to sort out differences over export of farm produces. He pointed out that although rest of the economy has largely been liberated from the clutches of license-permit -control-quota raj, "thanks largely due to your stewardship of the economy during 1991-96," agriculture is still subject to arbitrary and unjustified controls. The farm sector has been going through a severe crisis with input and labour costs going up significantly and prices of agricultural commodities falling, the bureaucrat-turned- politician said. Narayan maintained that although foodgrain production has been registering growth and per capita consumption falling on account of shift to fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk and meat, the Centre only pursued ad hoc policies on exports. Narayan, who is also an MLA, suggested that trade in farm commodities be fully liberalised. Simultaneously, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism should be continued to act as a safety net to farmers until economic freedom yields satisfactory results, said the former member of Administrative Reforms Commission.

Forest Act blamed for shrinking green cover in Andhra Pradesh (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Forest-Act-blamed-for-shrinking-green-cover-in-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/12887248.cms)

HYDERABAD: Not raging fires or lack of protection, it is tribals' staking claim on forest land that has resulted in the drastic drop in Andhra Pradesh's forest cover. Hitesh Malhotra, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force, AP, said here on Thursday that as much as 1,65,633 claims by tribals (adding up to 4.69 lakh acres of land) had been settled over the last few years under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act (RoFR) of 2006. That apart, a whopping 10,000 hectares of forest area has fallen prey to encroachment.

"The RoFR has spelt doom for AP's forests," Malhotra said. He stressed on how - between 2009 and 2011 - the state had lost 84sq.km of forest cover to this Act. The Act allows tribals who have occupied forest land on or before December 13, 2005 to stake a claim over the plot.

The forest chief also added unregulated grazing and steep rise in the demand for wood pulp among the state's four paper mills to the list of factors responsible for loss of 281sq.km of forest land (as per the State of Forests Report 2011).

These mills, he revealed, consume as much as 22.5 lakh tonnes of pulp annually. He was speaking at an interactive session organized to discuss current developments in forest and wildlife management in the state.

However, forest officials said all possible measures were being taken to safeguard the state's green cover. There are 201 base camps spread across the state along with 86 strike force teams to combat poaching. Also, procurement of vehicles for better mobility and raising of dog squads for Red Sanders areas has been taken up to aid in the effort.

For fires, the department said it had erected close to 30 watchtowers to monitor the forests for signs of crisis. "There are more such watchtowers under construction. Also, fires only deter new growth, they do not result in loss of forest cover," Malhotra explained.

Most of what Malhotra maintains is the case has, however, been vehemently rejected by city environmentalists who complain that the department is using the RoFR Act to "cover up" its shortcomings. They alleged sheer negligence in protection of forest areas by authorities.

Questions on the tiger population in the state had officials struggling to come up with an accurate figure. While chief wildlife warden SV Kumar said that the numbers in 2011 had dropped to 72 from 105 in 2010, Malhotra put the present count in the region of 100.

"The figure, 72, is excluding tiger cubs," Malhotra quickly added. The annual tiger census in the state is likely to begin on May 1.

Further, officials raised serious concern over the widespread poaching of Red Sanders and said that every effort was being made to curb the illegal trade. At present, Kumar revealed, the state government has 8,000 tonnes of Red Sanders in its possession.

Motion picture dist. Association (India) celebrates World IP Day With Indian Film And Creative Communities (http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in/showEE.asp?newsid=12992)

Hyderabad: In commemoration of World IP day, the Motion Picture Dist. Association (MPDA- India) joined the FICCI- IPR division, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce and the American Center, New Delhi to raise awareness about intellectual property and increase understanding of how protecting IP rights helps promote creativity and innovation across the country.

To mark the day, FICCI’s IPR division in association with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Intellectual Property Office in New Delhi, held a ‘National IP Policy’ conference.
Speaking on the topic of ‘National IP Policy – Intellectual Property Protection and Rights Enforcement’, Mr. Uday Singh, Managing Director MPDA (India) said “In order to promote creativity and innovation, it is of utmost importance for all countries to protect IP through robust legislation and law enforcement tools. Violation of IP affects all industries including the motion picture industry, wherein India ranks in the top ten markets in the world for internet piracy and illegal downloads. We thank the team at FICCI –IPR for creating a platform such as this to bring industry experts on a common platform to protect IP, on World IP day.”
In Mumbai, MPDA-India partnered with the U.S. Consulate General to distribute comic books and other educational material on the on the importance of protecting IP through the U.S. Consulate General English Access Microscholarship Program and the American Library. “The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai is glad to partner with MPDA (India) to celebrate World IP Day. Whether it is Hollywood or Bollywood, protecting intellectual property is important. We are teaming up with MPDA (India) to increase awareness to protect artists, scientists, and other innovators in India, the United States and around the world.” said Consul General Peter Haas.

In Hyderabad, the Content Protection Alliance (between the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce and MPDA- India) announced a short film competition for students themed “Stop Piracy”, on the occasion of World IP day. Over 50 schools in Andhra Pradesh will participate in the contest. The state’s top film schools, the Ramanaidu Film School and the Annapurna International School of Film and Media will conduct seminars on topics such as the law on copyright, and the importance of intellectual property. The contest will feature eminent jury members comprising film and media personalities and exciting prizes.

Mr. D. Suresh Babu, President of the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) said “Young audiences will be more decisively influencing the future of movie industries across the board. So it is only right that we try and capture their thoughts and hear their voices from time to time on one of the most critical issues for the entertainment industry. This short film contest for young film makers, on the occasion of World IP Day 2012, allows us this opportunity.”

“It is essential that the concerns of the movie industry about content theft, strike a chord with the youth of the society. This short film contest for young film makers by the Content Protection Alliance in association with the Ramanaidu Film School and the Annapurna International School of Film and Media is an effort to understand the youth and be understood by them on the most important issue of movie theft.” said Mr. Rajkumar, Chairman – Governing Council, Anti Video Piracy Cell- APFCC.

The World IP day celebrations by MPDA (India) will also extend into the weekend (28, 29 April 2012) through movie screenings at the American Center, New Delhi. MPDA ( India) along with the American Center, New Delhi will host screenings of four movies “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”, “Money Ball”, “This Means War” and “Safe House” The event will be attended by over 200 guests comprising Government of India officials, the U.S. embassy and students from Delhi University.

On the occasion, Michael Pelletier, the U.S. Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, noted that “Innovation and creativity are the real victims when intellectual property is not protected. I can think of no better way to demonstrate our shared value of protecting intellectual property than partnering with the MPDA (India) to show four of Hollywood’s latest releases at the American Center in New Delhi.”

On launching multiple activities across India on World IP day, Uday Singh, Managing Director, MPDA (India) concluded “The only way to combat content theft is highlighting the issue through strong partnerships and outreach activities that reach audiences across India. There can be no better platform than the World IP day to communicate and contribute to our ongoing efforts to educate and raise awareness on content protection.”

GMR to launch India's first long-term infra bonds in May (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/bonds/gmr-to-launch-indias-first-long-term-infra-bonds-in-may/articleshow/12899226.cms)

HYDERABAD: Indian infrastructure conglomerate GMR group will launch the country's first long-term infrastructure bonds issue next month to raise Rs 360 crore for its highway project through credit enhancement scheme of the state-owned lender India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL).

Towards this, IIFCL would guarantee the bonds issue to the tune of 30% that helps GMR improve credit rating of its highway special purpose vehicle (SPV) enabling it attract long-term funds from insurance companies and pension funds, said IIFCL chairman and managing director SK Goel.

Talking to reporters in Hyderabad on Friday, Goel said GMR was the first among the four credit enhancement schemes that IIFCL is taking up on a pilot basis to channelize the long-term funds towards a robust long-term bonds market in the country.

The other three infrastructure projects that IIFCL will help raise long-term funds include an airport, a seaport and a power project, which in all will raise some Rs 2,000 crore through the bonds issues. The guarantees extended by IIFCL, varying from 30%-50% of the bonds issues, will assist the infrastructure developers improve their credits ratings to reach AA and above to meet the investment requirements of insurance firms and pension funds, he said.

GMR Highways managing director O. Bangaru Raju told ET that their road SPV - GMR Jadcherla Expressways - that became operational in February 2009, will now retire high cost debt of banks with low-cost and fixed rate long-term infrastructure bonds. "The bonds issue also helps us reduce the interest burden as the long-term infrastructure bonds carry fixed rate of around 100 basis points below the bank lending," he said.

GMR had arranged funds for its Farukhnagar-Jadcherala road project on national highway-7 during August 2006. Of the total cost of Rs 471 crore, ICICI Bank led bankers consortium extended Rs 353 crore of debt, while the balance Rs 118 crore was pumped in as equity by the developer.

Assigning a conditional rating of AA (SO) to the proposed issue of debt instruments by GMR, the ICRA managing director Naresh Takkar said the credit enhanced ratings of infra projects not only pave way for insurance companies and pension funds to participate but also help "free up funds for commercial banks, which in turn could be used to finance newer infrastructure projects."

IIFCL's Goel said they would come up with regular long-term infrastructure bonds issue sometime in September after completing all the four pilot projects by June-end or so. "We expect to help infrastructure companies raise at least Rs 5,000 crore in the first year through credit enhancement route."

Further, he said IIFCL is targeting to lend around Rs 18,000 crore afresh to infrastructure projects during the current fiscal, taking the cumulative lending to around Rs 40,000 crore by the fiscal-end.

Boy from Mahimalore navigates his way to success (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Boy-from-Mahimalore-navigates-his-way-to-success/articleshow/12916292.cms)

HYDERABAD: The ICBM test-fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Orissa on April 19 was on target 5,000-km into the Indian Ocean. The missile's accuracy, which hit within double-digit metres of the target, pleased the defence scientists.

"Advanced countries with a superior technology have reportedly achieved accuracy within three-digit metres but Agni-V has achieved what no other country could do before," a senior DRDO scientist said.

The villagers of Mahimalore in Atmakur mandal of Nellore district have joined the country-wide celebrations of the success, because their boy has made India proud by developing a navigation system that helped Agni-V reach its target.

Soon after the Agni-V test-firing, flexis and posters of Gundra Satheesh Reddy, associate director and outstanding scientist, Research Centre Imarat, appeared in his hometown hailing his achievement. Such honours are generally reserved for filmstars but what Satheesh Reddy and his team achieved was not of the filmi variety but real and rare.

As technology director (Navigation) for Agni-V, Satheesh Reddy provided a navigation system which had very high level reliability. The Ring Laser Gyro-based Navigation System (RINS) and the Micro Navigation System ensured that the missile could simply not fail.

"Em Debba kottinaranna (What a shot that was, brother)," callers from Mahimalore and Atmakur said appreciating Satheesh Reddy after the ICBM's successful launch. They may not know much about the missile but they knew one thing: Gundra Sitarami Reddy and Rangamma's son had done the country proud. The agricultural family had dreamt of Satheesh Reddy becoming an engineer and he realised not just that but a dream of the country to get into the ICBM club.

"Perhaps because of my village background, I developed a fascination for aeroplanes and during the course of time got into missile technology," Satheesh Reddy told STOI. When the DRDO job came his way, he lapped it up. "It was not like any other job right from the beginning. I wanted to do something for the country," Satheesh Reddy said. That was the reason why he stayed on in DRDO while most of his friends left the country for greener pastures. Quite of few of those who joined DRDO along with him may have left the job and gone for what they felt were better opportunities, he decided to stay and be faithful to his calling.

Satheesh Reddy has been involved in the navigation system of all the missiles developed by DRDO and the 'Outstanding Scientist' that he is now, has set his sights on achieving something much higher in the missile technology - all for the country's sake.

Andhra Pradesh: State Co-Op bank on upswing (http://www.thenews.coop/node/8011)

The Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Bank has embarked on an expansion program. It has moved into new areas to develop its business further.

The bank has established its three branches. The president of the bank opened these branches in an official ceremony.

The bank has netted over hundred crore as profits in 2011-12. Its annual turnover surpassed 10 thousand crore and deposits worked out to more than 3 thousand crore.

A flyer distributed by the bank claims the bank has extended crop loans worth 7 thousand crore and investment credit to the tune of Rs. 5 hundred crore.

Big-ticket investments yet to see light in AP (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/big-ticket-investments-yet-to-see-light-in-ap/473011/)

The government’s euphoria over striking investment proposals worth Rs 6.48 lakh crore at the Partnership Summit held in January this year proved short-lived with no big-ticket investment seen going forward even four months after signing the MoUs.

“The companies that have proposed big-ticket investments appear to have taken a wait-and-watch approach to see some clarity on how the future politics would shape up in the state before initiating further steps,” a senior government official, requesting not to be named, told Business Standard.

For instance, Kuwait-based Al Qebla Al Watya Inc singed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government in December last year to set up an oil refinery project in Visakhapatnam with an initial capacity of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) with an investment of $2 billion, with an add-on plan to double the capacity in the next phase. Though the government has allocated 1,200 acre for the project, the company is yet to take possession of the same.
“The company officials had informed the government that they would make only some initial payment towards the land cost and the rest after receiving all the approvals,” a source in the industry department said. Interestingly, the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), headed by the chief minister, had already cleared the project with all the incentives sought by the company in January itself.

Referring to the fact that the company needs to shell out over Rs 450 crore just for the land, sources observed that either the company considered it is too risky to commit that much amount up front or it felt too early to get huge sum stuck in a dead asset.

While the Kuwait project is one of the 20-odd investment proposals worth over Rs 70,000 crore that had been cleared by the state government ahead of the Partnership Summit, about 25 industrial investment proposals, or half of those received during the summit, have now been lined up for clearance by the State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC).

Interestingly, none of these 25 proposals fall into the big-ticket category, according to the officials. As no active persuasion of their proposals is coming from the big-ticket investors, the industry department officials now feel that it would be better to focus on medium-size projects to get some results on the ground for the time being.

The same is the case with Indian companies such as the GMR Group that had proposed an over Rs 33,000-crore refinery project at the 10,000-acre Kakinada SEZ which it owns. Though they signed a fresh MoU with the state government for the project at the summit, the company, however, maintained that it was yet to find a strategic partner to move ahead with the project.

Now, the farmers are not allowing the developers to lay even approach roads to the SEZ lands, making matters further difficult for GMR, said an official.

“It is curious to see as to why the company is taking so long even after acquiring the SEZ project in 2008 itself for this purpose. We know that they have an overseas partnership with Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas. There is no reason why they should not rope it in for their domestic venture,” a senior industry department official said.

In a recent twist, opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu chose Kakinada SEZ lands to protest against acquisition of farm lands, turning it into a controversial venture. Officials are clueless over Naidu's choice as the promoters of the Kakinada Seaports Limited, which was given the government-funded Kakinada seaport when he was the chief minister, also hold a minority equity in the SEZ project.

And, the GMR Group shot to national fame only after it had emerged as the successful bidder for the Hyderabad international airport project under Naidu's government and executed it.

Of the Rs 6.78 lakh-crore investment proposals, Rs 2.23 lakh crore was received in the industrial sector, while the energy sector accounted for about Rs 3 lakh crore. Barring a few, many of these power projects are also expected to take a much longer time in the wake of the ongoing uncertainty over natural gas and coal supplies.

On the mid-size investments front, most of the cement projects that figured in the summit are also going nowhere as the state government is yet to grant lime stone mining leases to the project developers. However, the industry department is hopeful of seeing progress in other industrial investments in the manufacturing sector, citing Proctor and Gamble (P&G)’s recent announcement about its Hyderabad plans.

P&G is proposing to invest Rs 450 crore to set up its largest manufacturing plant in India at Hyderabad and make it a hub for the entire south Indian market, according to the officials. When contacted, a P&G official remained noncommittal over the size of the investment, though the officials maintained that the company had much bigger plans beyond the initial investments here.

Meanwhile, a delegation of senior government officials is planning to make an overseas visit to meet the Sultan of Abu Dhabi next week, following a meeting by the representatives of that country with the chief minister during the Partnership Summit. They, too, expressed keenness on investing in a refinery among other projects in the state.

Will RTE Act fall flat for half of Andhra Pradesh children? (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Will-RTE-Act-fall-flat-for-half-of-Andhra-Pradesh-children/articleshow/12942895.cms)

HYDERABAD: The implementation of Right to Education Act may have got a shot in the arm with the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the 25% reservation in unaided private schools for children from lower income group families but in Andhra Pradesh (and possibly other states in the country), the Act might soon figure among the many well-intentioned government schemes that do not impact, leave alone benefit, its target group. At best, the Act might give a humble building watchman's child admission in a private school, but its impact could just be limited to that -- the urban poor -- that too with a modest success rate.

And here's why. As per government records, there are 1.07 crore children in the 6-14 age category in Andhra Pradesh. As per the government's own estimate, over 67% of the state's 8.7 crore population lives in rural areas and the remaining 33% in urban. So, of the 1.07 crore children, at least over 60 lakh live in rural parts, where government schools are famously poorly equipped and there are no private schools. Despite the introduction of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, it has been indicated in many studies and surveys conducted by non-government bodies that precious little has changed in the condition of schools.

While a freshly published, voluminous tome on the implementation of RTE sits on the desk of the school education department and focuses largely on schools in rural areas, including steps to beef up infrastructure, adding transportation facilities etc, the worrisome part is that the entire planning is based on what activists point out are questionable figures. As per government statistics, just about 3 lakh children in AP are out of school. The NGO statistics are at the other end of the spectrum pegging this figure at a disturbing 18 lakh. The truth possibly lies somewhere in between. As per the state's Human Development Report 2007, about 12 lakh children in the 6-14 age group in AP were out of school, which shows the government estimate of 3 lakh out of school children rather too miraculous.

And over-reporting of enrolled schoolchildren is the first roadblock that RTE's implementation will face. "All the implementation exercises are for the 3 lakh children," says M Venkat Reddy, national convener, MV Foundation.

Clearly, children numbering between 9 and 15 lakh are not on the government radar, leave alone that of RTE. Funds from the Centre for initiatives to enrol out of school children are calculated based on the 3 lakh figure. Add to that the number of children in government schools in rural areas, where it's not only the infrastructure but also the quality of education that is poor. If RTE makes them legally entitled to better quality education not only in government but in the best quality private schools, they have no access to either. Take for instance the schools in Kowdipally mandal in Hyderabad's neighbouring Medak district. The mandal has about 100 schools but caste-wise enrolment figures here indicate poor OC (other castes) numbers and high SC/ST numbers. "There are private schools about 20 kms from here and those who can afford it, send their children there," says M Subhash Chandra, Centre for Action Research and People's Development.

But P M Bhargawa, former vice-chairman of the Knowledge Commission and staunch critic of RTE says one needn't go even that far. "In the heart of Hyderabad are government schools where students from Class I to X have just two teachers," he says. "All government schools should be high quality but that will never be done. Where is the impetus to do that," Bhargawa says, adding that what the Act envisages works for cities.

The Act's limited scope is a big dampener particularly for the state's SC/ST population. B Dhenuka Naik, who has been working on tribal rights issues, wonders how the act would help the state's 13 lakh ST population in the 6-14 age group and believes not even 1% would benefit. Officials overseeing education in the state's tribal parts note that there are many habitations that are 4-5 km away from schools. "Transportation is not possible in all the cases because the regions are hilly and there are no roads," says Ashish Chandra, state coordinator for tribal education and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya.

Officials, however, maintain that all efforts are being made to implement RTE effectively. "We want to implement the Act in right earnest. Basic amenities remain a source of concern and we are trying to address it. We will require involvement of all stakeholders," says V Madhusudan, state coordinator for RTE implementation. The funds too, he says, are in place as the Rs 4,800 crore allocated for SSA will be used for RTE implementation.

RINL VSP aims 20 million tonne capacity - Mr AP Chowdhary (http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/RINL_VSP_aims_20_million_tonne_capacity_Mr_AP_Chowdhary/261399.html)

BL reported that Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is aiming at a capacity of 20 million tonnes to become the biggest steel plant at a single location in the country.

Mr AP Chowdhary CMD at the inaugural of a one day seminar conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry showcase the potential of Visakhapatnam to the ASEAN countries. He said the steel plant was presently expanding its capacity from 3 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes and it had achieved an important milestone this week by commissioning the third blast furnace in the expansion project.

Mr Chowdhary said that “The growth of the steel plant will play an important role in stimulating growth of Visakhapatnam in the next decade or so. We do not have captive iron ore mines at present, and we are seeking to acquire captive iron ore mines in the country and also to have stake in coking coal mines abroad. We also need funds for future expansion. Therefore, I invite the ASEAN countries to invest and participate in the future growth of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant as well as the city and the district. Visakhapatnam is the most promising area for investment in all respects.”

He said the entire region from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada was poised for a quantum jump in industrial growth and the steel plant would play its part in the development of the region. He said that the plant would require INR 22,000 crore to expand its capacity from 6.3 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes in the next four to five years. To raise the amount, the plant may go in for loans and the debt equity ratio will be 1:1. The plant had met the cost of the current phase of expansion from 3 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes out of its internal accruals.
Mr Lav Agarwal district collector of Visakhapatnam, said the region between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada may attract investment of USD 20 to USD 30 billion in the next decade or so.

More showers likely in Andhra Pradesh (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/More-showers-likely-in-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/12943517.cms)

HYDERABAD: After heavy rains and lightning that struck various parts of the state, killing 16 people on Sunday, Met officials have predicted more showers over the next two days.

Weathermen said the prevailing weather conditions are unusual this time of the year.

"Normally, the temperatures are high during day time, followed by thunder showers in the evenings," said R V Subba Rao, assistant meteorologist, Met department.

He said the western disturbance over north India coupled with an induced trough over Telangana have led to abundant moisture feed to the coastal Andhra districts leading to rainfall.

In the state capital, from a maximum of 40.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the temperature dropped by a degree to 39.5 degrees Celsius on Monday. The second half of the day remained overcast bringing down the temperature considerably.

Met forecast shows that parts of coastal AP and Rayalaseema are most likely to get moderate showers while some places in Telangana will get light showers. However, the rainfall is likely to decrease after 48 hours.

Chittoor, Kadapa, Khammam, Guntur and Prakasam districts recorded a rainfall ranging from 2 to 6 cm on Sunday night.

Andhra Pradesh third in IT collection (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3371267.ece)

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh stands third this year in income tax collection with Rs 25,000 crore against Rs 22,882 crore last year. Maharastra stands first and Tamilnadu second in tax collection for 2011-2012.
Chief commissioner of income tax (CCA) G Rajeswara Rao told reporters after inaugurating Aayakar Seva Kendras (ASK) at the Income Tax Towers at AC Guards here on Monday, that Andhra Pradesh, at 24.8 pc, surpassed the national growth rate of 23 pc in tax collection in 2011-2012. Though there was 25 percent staff shortage and the disturbances caused by the Sakala Janula Samme and other agitations in the state,� the existing staff worked extra hours and achieved 18 pc growth in tax collections this year.
SEVA KENDRAS: About Aayakar Seva Kendra Centres, Rajeswara Rao said ASK is a single-window contact for tax-payers for centralised receipt and registration of certain specified categories of documents� including returns of income.
Two Aayakar Seva Kendra Centres were launched in Hyderabad, and one in Visakapatnam and one in Vijayawada will be started very soon. There is a plan to launch Aayakar Seva Kendras (income tax service centres)�� at every IT office in the state. At present, 60 Aayakar Seva Kendras were functioning in the country, he said.
Rao said said ATM centres would be set up at every Seva Kendra, and credit and debit cards would be accepted to pay tax at the IT offices.
UNICNUMBER: Information on tax payment, returns, complaints and grievances will be available at the Aayakar Seva Kendras. When a person files an application for some work at an Aayakar Seve Kendra, the staff will give him a Unicnumber with which he can verify the status of his application or complaint. This system had not been in vogue till now.
Rajeswara Rao said every information relating to income tax would be available at the Aayakar Seva Kendras and tax-paid charter would be displayed at the ASKs.

Dwindling students spell doom for AP technical colleges (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2137982/Dwindling-students-spell-doom-AP-technical-colleges.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)
By A. SRINIVASA RAO


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2137982/Dwindling-students-spell-doom-AP-technical-colleges.html#ixzz1teCdsbSB


Several engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh are up for closure this academic year, thanks to the drastic fall in admissions to their courses.
According to a report of the All India Institute of Technical Education (AICTE), as many as 143 technical institutes from 14 states have applied for permission to close down. Of them, 56 institutes are from Andhra Pradesh alone, two are from Tamil Nadu and five from Karnataka - all the states are considered to be the most sought-after destinations for technical courses.

Many Indian Institutes are going to close down (The AIIMS in New Delhi pictured is not one of them)
'While the majority of them are engineering colleges, a few of them are also running masters of computer applications (MCA) courses,' AICTE's southern region chairman D.N. Reddy said.
Reddy said the prime reason for closure of these colleges was the lack of viability in running the engineering courses owing to dwindling demand from students.
'There are virtually no takers for seats in these colleges, largely due to poor infrastructure facilities and lack of quality staff. Moreover, there are no job opportunities for students who pass out from these colleges,' he added.
Most of the engineering colleges which have applied for closure are minority colleges and from rural areas where the intake of students is very low.
'The fault lies with the policies of the successive state governments which have given permission to these colleges to come up in every revenue division and block. While the colleges nearer to the cities are able to record good number of admissions, those in the interior areas have failed to attract students. There is a dearth of quality staff in these colleges because of logistic problems,' Reddy said.
There are more than 700 engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh with nearly three lakh seats in various streams of engineering, but in the academic year 2011-12, more than one lakh seats remained vacant because of poor response.
Nearly 256 colleges reported less than 100 admissions, indicating a sharp decline in demand among the students for engineering courses in these colleges.
According to sources in the AP state higher education council, the number of students taking admission was a meagre 0-10 in as many as 44 engineering colleges, it was less than 50 in 96 colleges and less than 100 in 116 other colleges.
In another 50-odd colleges, there were below 120-130 admissions when the counselling process came to an end. Later, these institutes managed to get a few more admissions under the management quota.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2137982/Dwindling-students-spell-doom-AP-technical-colleges.html#ixzz1teCJjV5l

State set to rank top in 20-point programme: Tulasi Reddy (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3374238.ece)

Andhra Pradesh scores the highest total of 54 marks for its above 90 per cent performance in all parameters

Andhra Pradesh is set to bag the first rank again in the implementation of 20-point programme (TPP) during 2011-12.

The Union government awards ranks to states and union territories at the end of financial year based on their performance in 18 parameters in the sectors related to rural development, agriculture, education, housing, women and child development, welfare schemes, environment etc, Chairman of the 20-point programme N. Thulasi Reddy said here on Tuesday.

The Centre is yet to officially announce the rankings but the State has scored the highest total of 54 marks for its above 90 per cent performance in all the parameters.

Last year too, Andhra Pradesh along with Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh bagged No.1 rank for scoring 100 per cent marks in all the parameters, said Dr. Thulasi Reddy.

The ranking system across the country is an indication for implementation of TPP in different States. It also helps in monitoring Centrally-funded schemes as monthly progress reports are sent to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

REVIEW PROGRAMME

For instance, three years ago, he realised during a review programme that about 14,000 anganwadi centres were not functioning due to lack of staff. The appointment of anganwadi workers and helpers did not take place due to political reasons. The review helped in pointing out the lapse to district Collectors concerned and the posts were filled soon after and the centres started functioning.

While the State was ranked 23rd in 2001-02, 21st in 2002-03 and 13th in 2003-04 when N. Chandrababu Naidu was the Chief Minister, it topped the list under the tenure of N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for two successive years, he added.

AP requests Centre to set up CESTAT tribunal in state (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/ap-requests-centre-to-set-up-cestat-tribunal-in-state/993869.html)

Hyderabad, May 3 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh government today requested the Government of India to create and set up a south-central zonal bench of the Tax Appellate Tribunal under Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax (CESTAT) laws in Hyderabad. In a letter to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, state Information Technology and Communications Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the Tribunal covering Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala was now located in Bengaluru. About 45 per cent of the litigation pending before the Tribunal was from AP. "Most of the Information Technology companies are registered as Software Technology Park units or Special Economic Zones in AP, which are eligible for Customs and Central Excise exemption. The indirect tax litigation has touched new heights in AP causing more hardship to the industry, mainly IT and ITeS sectors as personal representation has to be made before the zonal bench in Bengaluru," the IT Minister pointed out in the letter. Hence, he requested the Union Ministry of Finance to create and set up a south-central zonal bench of the Tribunal in Hyderabad to aid in "effective and speedy delivery of justice" and time and efforts of the industry were saved and put to more productive use.

Survey for diamonds (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/dc50/survey-diamonds-289)

Secunderabad, May 3: The Geological Survey of India has taken up reconnaissance study of the various localities of old workings for diamonds, spread in the districts of Anantapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Mahboobnagar.

As soon as the reconnaissance study is over, the Geological Survey will select areas for detailed study. During the current year, the GSI will also take up detailed mapping towards Gooty-Guntakal side and also the diamond bearing horizons of Banganapalle sandstone.

Drilling will be taken up by the GSI in selected areas after collection and study of rock samples from the Banganapalle sandstones and from the rocks along the Western and the South-Western margin of Kurnool basin. If it meets with initial success in its operations in the Wajra Karur and Banganapalle areas, the GSI is likely to depute some of its officers to the Panna Diamond mines to study the working there and take up similar operations in Andhra Pradesh.

For centuries, these tracks have been famous for their yield of good diamonds, but the Geological Survey of India has not so far been able to trace the exact source of these diamonds. Meanwhile, it has been officially learnt that the presence of Uranium, the rare radio-active mineral, in certain tracts of the mica belt of Nellore district has been noted by a party of the Geological Survey of India, a couple of weeks back.

RIL’s KG basin project is affecting irrigation, rice cultivation (http://moneylife.in/article/rils-kg-basin-project-is-affecting-irrigation-rice-cultivation/25403.html)

The natural gas development by RIL is adversely impacting agricultural activity in the fertile “rice bowl” area of the Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, former Union secretary EAS Sarma said in a letter

EAS Sarma, former secretary of the Government of India, has again raised the issue of land subsidence in the Krishna Godavari (KG) basin due to the gas development work being carried out by Reliance Industries (RIL). The natural gas development by RIL is adversely impacting agricultural activity in the fertile “rice bowl” area of the Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, Mr Sarma said in a letter sent to chief secretary-AP, secretary-ministry of environment & forests (MOEF) and secretary-ministry of petroleum.

Earlier, the AP High Court had directed the MOEF to re-open the environment impact appraisal of the project to assess the impact of RIL’s gas development project in KG basin. An expert group constituted by the MOEF has since submitted its report to the ministry and at present the matter is pending before the court.

The Krishna-Godavari basin is spread across over 50,000 sq km in the Krishna River and Godavari River basins in Andhra Pradesh. The site is known for the D-6 block where RIL discovered the biggest natural gas reserves in India in 2002. It was also the world's largest gas discovery of 2002.

Recently, Prof G Krishna Rao, a retired Professor of geology, who is also a petitioner in the case pending before the high court, collected extensive evidence on the land subsidence that has taken place in the KG basin. Accordingly, there is increasing ground level evidence of land subsidence taking place in the KG basin as a result of gas development by RIL, Mr Sarma said.



He said, “Such land subsidence has already started affecting the irrigation drainage channels in the basin and agricultural activity, quite significantly, as corroborated by the “crop holiday” announced by the farmers of the Godavari districts during 2011. The farmers have already started feeling the increased cost burden that could be indirectly attributed to land subsidence. The land subsidence has also affected the quality of the ground water aquifers in the area by increasing their salinity.”

Instead of addressing the root cause of the deterioration of agricultural activity, Mr Sarma said, the state government is in a hurry to incur huge expenditure on ‘modernisation’ of the irrigation system that will benefit only the contractors. Even the MOEF and the ministry of petroleum have collectively failed to address this problem and its overall impact on the economy of AP, the former secretary said.

Due to the lethargy shown by the AP government as well as the central ministries, RIL has not cared to identify the magnitude of the problem as it is primarily interested in quickly recovering its investment and earn windfall profits without addressing the larger destruction that is wrought on the environment of the region and the economy of the state, Mr Sarma alleged.

A study done by a team of experts from Andhra University, and Marine and Earth Sciences Group of the Space Application Centre, which include K Nageswara Rao, P Subraelu, KChV Naga Kumar, G Demudu, B Hema Malini, R Ratheesh, S Bhattacharya, AS Rajawat and Ajai, also revealed that the impending sea-level rise would seriously impair agricultural activities in the lower parts of the AP coastal zone, especially in the low-lying Krishna-Godavari twin delta region, which is considered as the rice-bowl of the state.



“If the sea level rises by 0.6 metres as predicted by IPCC (2007), an area of about 532 km including 150 km in the Krishna-Godavari deltas presently lying between the shoreline and the 0.6 metres elevation would be permanently submerged under the future low-tide level. Further an area of about 1,233 km including 894 km area within the Krishna-Godavari deltas lying between the present high tide line (1.5 metres) and the future high-tide line (2.1 metres) would go under the future inter-tidal zone, affecting the cropland over 319 km, aquaculture over 499 km and plantations over 279 km, besides threatening the survival of 1.29 million people living in 282 coastal villages along the entire AP coast,” the study revealed.

Petronet LNG may offer equity stakes to Gangavaram Port, AP govt (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/oil-gas/petronet-lng-may-offer-equity-stakes-to-gangavaram-port-ap-govt/articleshow/13008755.cms)

HYDERABAD: Petronet LNG, India's largest gas importer, is likely to offer equity stakes to a port owner and the Andhra Pradesh government in a liquefied natural gas terminal project it is building near Visakhapatnam.

For Petronet LNG, which owns two other LNG terminals, the Andhra Pradesh project would be the first one in which it could cede a stake to investors.

The proposed terminal at Gangavaram Port will be the first one on India's east coast. Petronet LNG operates an LNG terminal at Dahej in Gujarat with a capacity of 10 million tonne and another one with half that at Kochi in Kerala.

DVS Raju, chairman and managing director of Gangavaram Port, said Petronet LNG has responded "positively" to their request for buying an 8-10% stake in the special purpose entity setting up the terminal.

"Petronet LNG said the matter is being referred to its board for approval," he told ET.

AK Chopra, the spokesman for the gas importer, said a final decision is awaited. State-owned oil companies BPCL, GAIL, IOC and ONGC own 12.5% each in Petronet LNG.

Gangavaram Port, the country's deepest seaport, is backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus with a 30% stake, while the DVS Raju-led promoter group owns 59.5% and the Andhra Pradesh government 10.5%.

The LNG terminal project will have a capacity of 5 million tonne and is due to start operations in 2016. Involving an investment of Rs 4,500 crore, Petronet LNG expects to achieve financial closure for the special purpose entity implementing the project in six months.

The state government has also sought a minority stake in the project to enable it to have a say in gas pricing and making fuel available for industry, said Sutirtha Bhattacharya, principal secretary for energy. "Even if Petronet LNG offers a stake only to Gangavaram Port, being a 10.5% owner in the port, the AP government will gain minority stake in the project vehicle indirectly," he said.

Petronet LNG has agreed in principle to offer a stake to Gangavaram Port at par, said Raju. To own 10% in the project, Gangavaram Port may have to invest up to Rs 135 crore at a debt-equity ratio of 70:30.

Andhra CM Endorses NCTC Proposal (http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=761659)

Endorsing the proposal to set up NCTC, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said the proposed body is a well-planned initiative to evolve a zero tolerance frame work against terrorist violence.

Reddy said the NCTC would lead the nation's effort to combat terrorism by analysing the threat, sharing that information with all partner states and agencies and integrating all instruments of counter terrorism to ensure unity of effort and purpose.

"NCTC will act as a repository of all information relating to terrorism including the data pertaining to the incidents of terrorist violence. It is expected to provide a common platform for integrating, analysing and sharing all intelligence pertaining to counter terrorism," he said.

He was speaking at the Chief Ministers' conference chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

Noting that objections have been raised over empowering of the NCTC with search, seizure and arrest, he said these powers already exist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as amended from time to time including the latest amendments made during the year 2008.

The NCTC, which is expected to deal with counter terrorism effectively, must have necessary operational capability especially in situations where the terrorists are about to strike, escape, flee from the country, he said.

Given the structure and functions of NCTC, Reddy said, it will act as an effective agency for control and co-ordination of all counter terrorism measures.

He also said the apprehension that the Centre is encroaching upon the powers of the States is not based on sound reasoning in the present context.

Coast sand rich in minerals: Experts (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/coast-sand-rich-minerals-experts-946)

The coastal sands between Nizampatnam and Lankavanidibba near the estuary of the river Krishna contain as many as 20 heavy minerals of high commercial value. They include titanium, zirconium and rare earths. Researchers from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, have found heavy minerals spread over an area of 1,825 square km along the estuary of the river Krishna. As many as 60 transects (locations) have been identified along the 24-km stretch between Nizampatnam and Lankavanidibba in Guntur. The research team comprised Dr K.S.N. Reddy, D. Deva Varma, E.N. Dhanamjaya Rao and B. Veeranarayana of Andhra University, and T. Lakshmi Prasad of Yogi Vemana University.

“The beach sands, deposited by the river Krishna, contain ilmenite and magnetite (47.67 per cent), pyriboles (20.35 per cent), garnets (3.66 per cent), epidote (3.23 per cent) and sillimanite, zircon, staurolite, kyanite, apatite, spinel, monazite, biotite, topaz, leucoxene and chlorite in less than three per cent concentration,” Dr K.S.N. Reddy said. Ilmenite is a titanium-iron oxide mineral, useful in the production of titanium oxide. Researchers divided the area into seven sectors for purpose of the study and found different concentration of heavy minerals in them. The sectors nearer to the river mouth showed higher concentration of high specific gravity minerals like ilmenite and magnetite than those away from the river mouth.

Sector I had the highest concentration of heavy mineral, which ranged from 12.47 to 31.42 per cent. The dominant heavy minerals were ilmenite (34.88 per cent), followed by sector II with heavy mineral concentration ranging from 12.73 to 29.75 per cent. It contained ilmenite, magnetite, pyriboles, besides gemstones like garnet. “Ilmenite, magnetite, pyroxenes, amphiboles, garnet, epidote and sillimanite are heavy mineral assemblage in the Nizampatnam- Lankavanidibba area. The wave processes are responsible for heavy mineral concentration and the redistribution of heavy minerals along the coast is due to alongshore currents and creek dynamics,” said Dr Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh is very rich in its Buddhist heritage (http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=33650)

Hyderabad: The state is very rich in its Buddhist heritage in the entire country. The Buddhist settlements in Andhra Pradesh range between the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. and nearly 150 Buddhist sites have been identified among which Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are world famous Buddhist centers.

Holy relics of Lord Buddha were recovered from places like Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Bhattiprolu and Bavikonda. The state also has a proud privilege to produce famous Buddhist Philosophers like Acharya Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Bhavaviveka, Dinnaga, Dharmakirthi and Buddharakshita. Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh was responsible for the creation of a large number of stupas, Chaityas, Caves and Sculptures representing Buddhist spirit. A.P. Tourism has identified the enormous potential of Buddhist heritage and taken initiatives to develop Buddhist sites and monuments as tourist attractions.

The A.P. Tourism has taken up developmental activities at the three Buddhist Circuits i.e. Visakhapatnam, Amaravathi & Nagarjunakonda at a cost of Rs.571.93, Rs.400.00 and Rs.175.00 Lakhs respectively. A.P. Tourism has also identified Buddhist Tourism as an important segment of the special interest Tourism because of its tremendous appeal to both domestic and foreign tourists from East and South East Asia, Particularly Japan, China, Thailand, Srilanka and Singapore. Steps are on the anvil for developing Buddhist centers clustered into Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam Buddhist circuits. The Buddhist sites and monuments located at Nagarjunakonda, Amaravati, Chandavaram, Guntupalli, Sankaram, Salihundam, Ramathirtham, Dantapuram, Jaggayyapeta, Vaddamanu, Bhattiprolu, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Gantasala and Phanigiri are conserved and preserved and they are attracting huge number of tourists.

A.P. Tourism is bringing up a unique world class Buddhist theme park called Buddhavanam at Nagarjunakonda enroute to Amaravati at a cost of Rs.16.36 crores to create facilities like Entrance arch, information centers, ticketing counter, Museum, tourist amenities, open air theatres, stupas, interpretation centers, landscaping, amphi theatres, bronze statues, restaurant, signages and site development. The Department has taken up projects worth Rs.25.99 crores exclusively for the promotion of Buddhist Tourism by creation of special Buddhist circuits and preservation of Buddhist monuments. A.P Tourism is treading forward in promotion of Buddhist tourism. -02- In our policy we propose to consider areas which have a strong Buddhist heritage as notified tourism areas to encourage investment in these areas. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has a vision of making Andhra Pradesh a destination State of India, given its attractive diversity, natural environments and friendly population.

Andhra Pradesh also has the rare distribution of having hosted the Kalachakara in 2006 which was conducted by his Holiness “The Dalailama”. Hyderabad is also the privileged city to have the biggest monolithic Buddha statue in the World which has been carved out of a single rock. A.P. Tourism is celebrating 2556th Buddha Jayanthi Celebrations on 6th May, 2012 coinciding with Buddha Purnima with the following activities. • Display of Holy relics of Lord Buddha at Buddhist Gallery, State Museum, Public Gardens, Nampally at 10.30 A.M. followed by chanting of Buddhist hymns by monks. • Prayers by Buddhist Monks at Buddha Statue in the evening at 5.30 P.M on Hussain Sagar lake. • Lighting of floating lamps on Hussian Sagar Lake at Buddha Statue. The celebrations will give a fillip to Buddhist tourism and also bring our Buddhist heritage into focus. You are invited and requested to cover the event.

Andhra Pradesh revitalized and strengthened the 104 FDHS programme in rural areas (http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=33651)

Hyderabad: Government of Andhra Pradesh revitalized and strengthened the 104 FDHS programme in rural areas of all 22 districts .In the revised FDHS programme Medical officers along with public health and paramedical staff conducts the clinics in the villages previously these clinics were conducted by only paramedics.

The new services like Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, Immunization, Prevention of Communicable and Non communicable diseases, water quality analysis are added at Fixed Day Health Clinic at villages. Now the pregnant women are being examined at their villages by the medical officers, lab investigations for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes will be conducted at villages and treatment to patients starts immediately under supervision of medical officers. For instance, the clinics at Jagriyala village of Regode Mandal of Medak district being conducted earlier without medical officers before revitalization.

After revitalization, the medical officer Dr Sandhya attends the clinics in the village and 41 ante natal cases are examined. The villages are being regularly monitored by Dr. Sandhya every month. Dr. Sandhya identified two high risk anti natal cases and referred them to District hospital well in advance resulting in reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality. The number of beneficiaries increased two fold. The number of types of medicines utilized at clinics increased from 24 to 42 .The average cost of medicines utilized by MHU per month is increased from Rs 17,000/- to Rs 40,000/-.

Foolproof arrangements in place for Eamcet-2012 (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/foolproof-arrangements-in-place-for-eamcet2012/255190-60-121.html)

HYDERABAD: Arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the Eamcet- 2012 in 744 exam centres across the state on May 12.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Eamcet -2012 convener NV Ramana Rao said surveillance and security measures were put in place to prevent malpractices.
“Manual frisking, deployment of police personnel in mufti, closure of xerox and other shops near the exam centres and strict vigilance were some of the measures,” he said.
All precautionary measures like installation of jammers at sensitive centers and all centers will be thoroughly checked with bomb squad teams and armed police personnel will be deployed at few centers, he said.
“As many as 800 applications have been rejected this time owing to candidates’ ineligibility and wrong entry of information ,” he said.
Students appearing for Eamcet will have to carry the filled-in online application form downloaded from the website along with the hallticket to the exam hall, failing which the results of the candidate would be withheld though they would be allowed to write the test.
And in case of SC/ST students, if they fail to present the copy of caste certificate at the time of exam, they would be considered in general category only, the convener said.
Hall-tickets can be downloaded from the website ‘www.apeamcet.org’.
“More than 3 lakh applications have been downloaded,” Ramana Rao said and added that the candidates have to put their thumb impression on the downloaded application form while getting it attested by a gazetted officer and carry it along with the hall-ticket for the exam.
This year 3,88,463 applications have been received of which 95,490 were for medical stream and 2.92 lakh for engineering.
Out of the total 744 examination centres, 559 are for engineering and 185 for medical stream.
The results would be announced on May 24.

ASI discovers Buddhist stupa, vihara (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3388118.ece)

Three-month archaeological exploration at Uppugundur in Prakasam district

Archaeological Survey of India Hyderabad Circle, during a three-month archaeological exploration and scientific digging, has discovered a 1st century A.D. damaged stone statue of Buddha in the midst of a votive stupa, encircled by a prakara.

Superintending Archaeologist R. Krishnaiah told that it took up the work in January to expose the civilisation of early centuries and chanced upon the discovery of a votive stupa, encircled by a prakara, made out of locally available tiles and dressed stone planks and viharas – that is dwelling places of Buddhist monks and broken images of torso and face of lord Buddha.

A systematic and thorough exploration and excavation also resulted in the discovery of semi-precious stone beads, a few Ikshavaku coins, earthen ware, a good number of pottery that includes black, red slipped ware and red ware etc. along with fragmented shell bangles, said Mr. Krishnaiah.

Prominent discovery of these diggings is the robust torso figure of Lord Buddha and it proves that Uppugundur enjoyed a high reputation by the way of residence of several Buddhist monks during 1st and 3rd century A.D. It adds a new vista into the Buddhist ideology research, he opined. Deputy Superintending Archaeologist D. Kannababu supervising the excavation said the structural activity is quite different from the normal procedure that was adopted in construction of Buddhist structures in Lower Krishna Valley. These structural activities belonged to two different cultural chronological periods – the earlier one is Satavahana 1st century A.D. and the later is of Ikshvaku period 3rd century A.D. Currently only part of the mound has been excavated. The site is located between Uppugundur and Chinna Ganjam in Prakasam district on the banks of a rivulet of Gundlakamma stream.

IIT-Madras’s geo-tubes to check coastal erosion in Andhra Pradesh (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/the-good-earth/iit-madrass-geo-tubes-to-check-coastal-erosion-in-andhra-pradesh/articleshow/13027974.cms)

CHENNAI: They are the new coastal protectors and appear like giant tubes along the sea-shore. The department of Ocean Engineering, IIT-Madras, will soon switch to geo-tubes and geo-bags, geo-synthetic products made of fibre used to protect the coast from sea-erosion.

The IIT-M, which successfully laid out these tubes and bags for about a kilometre along the Uppada coast in Andhra Pradesh in 2010, will now extend it for another 3 km. The site was badly eroded due to severe wave activities. However, Tamil Nadu government is yet to look at the potential of these materials for its own coast.

Geo-synthetic tubes and bags are made from synthetic or natural polymer in the form of a sheet, a strip or a three dimensional structure, to use in contact with soil and water in civil and coastal engineering applications. They come in bags, tubes and containers, with at least 2% to 5% filled with fine soil to withstand the high tides.

Though the geotubes are commonly used for construction of sea walls, dykes, revetments and offshore breakwaters in western countries, the coastal states in India prefer to use the groynes which are cheaper. Groynes are carved out of big rocks, protruding into the sea for about a km or so to protect the coast and beach, bed and bank of water bodies for land reclamation. "The geo-synthetic products are more efficient and success rate is far higher," said Prof V Sundar, department of ocean engineering, IIT Madras, who heads the consultancy team.

The IIT-M team helped build a one-km long geo-tube wall in Digha beach in West Bengal in 2008. "Geo-tubes are common in western countries, especially in the US, Australia and European countries. It can play a major role, but extensive care is required in selection of geo-synthetic material and skilled labour to make it work," said Prof Sundar.

In Uppada, the IIT-M used geo-tubes, filled with geo-bags to act like a cushion, and covered by stones tied with ropes. The state PWD sources said the water resources wing would take up geo-tubes especially in north Chennai, after IIT-M completes its study. The 1,076 km long coastline of Tamil Nadu is significantly eroded due to climatic change, man-made projections like thermal power stations, desalination plants and harbours.

Rs 38,500-cr project to benefit Telangana region, Congress (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/247478/rs-38500-cr-project-benefit.html)

Pranahita, means dear to life. The Rs 38,500-crore Pranahita-Chevella project for which the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra signed a memorandum of understanding (M0U) is expected to bring not only life to the parched lands of Telangana region but also relief to the beleaguered Congress party in the region.

Once completed, the project will irrigate 16.70 lakh acres land in semi-arid Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts ; provide 30 TMC of drinking water for greater Hyderabad, 10 TMC of drinking water for 117 villages and 16 TMC for Industries.

The project would cost Rs. 38,500 crores and is expected to be completed by 2018-19.
Congress seniors also believe that the project would help rebuild the sagging image of the party and party leaders who were unable to face the people because of the statehood issue and the central leadership’s apathy.

The party would now be able to claim that they stood for development of the region.
This historic agreement was signed on Saturday between the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in the presence of Union Water Resources minister P K Bhansal in the national Capital.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has hailed the agreement and said this should serve as a role model to other inter-state projects.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and Maharashtra Chief Minister Pruthviraj Chauhan have assured that they would continue the same attitude of amicability and resolve all future problems.

Alternative to demand

Many believe that the Central government has brokered this agreement, as part of its unannounced package to the Telangana region, as an alternative to the demand for a separate state.

The Centre also might announce some more sops to Telangana so as to placate the people.

Ministers close to the chief minister say that credit for getting the agreement signed goes to Kiran Kumar Reddy who has been silently working out for the agreement.
He has also kept his efforts under wraps, so that there would not be any opposition from any quarters before agreement was signed.

However, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) says the credit of Pranahita-Chevella goes to the ever vigilant Telangana forces.

“It is because of ten years of agitation that the union government has agreed to implement the project. TRS will be behind the state government for the speedy completion of project.

“TRS also believes that statehood to Telangana is the only solution,” Etela Rajendra , the TRSLP leader in state Assembly said.

SKS Microfinance posts Rs. 330 cr net loss in March quarter (http://www.livemint.com/2012/05/07192245/SKSMicrofinancepostsRs-330.html)

Hyderabad: SKS Microfinance Ltd, India’s only listed micro-lender, on Monday reported a net loss of Rs. 330 crore for the quarter ended 31 March on account of a Rs. 272 crore write-off on its Andhra Pradesh loan portfolio.

With the latest write-off, the exposure of the lender in its home state declined from a high of Rs. 1,491 crore in October 2010 to Rs. 236 crore.

SKS’s non-Andhra Pradesh portfolio grew by 11% to Rs. 1,320 crore compared with the year-ago quarter.


The micro-lender said it obtained incremental credit of Rs. 1,360 crore in the January-March quarter, enabling it to end the financial year 2012 with a healthy cash and bank balance of Rs. 669 crore, net worth of Rs. 435 crore and capital adequacy of 35.4%
“Post the draw-down of Rs. 1,000 crore in Q4-FY12, which is 2.4 times larger than the sum of Rs. 417 crore obtained during nine months ended March 2011, the funding concerns are behind us,” chief financial officer S. Dilli Raj said.

“With cash and cash equivalent of Rs. 669 crore and capital adequacy of 35.4%, our non-AP portfolio will grow on quarter-on-quarter from now on,” Dilli Raj said.

Also See | Negative Terrain (PDF)

The company reduced its headcount to 16,194 from 22,733 in the year-ago period. Loan disbursement was Rs. 793 crore. Loan recovery rates are at 95% in 17 states it operates in, other than Andhra Pradesh, the firm said.

SKS was the worst hit by a law passed by Andhra Pradesh in October 2010 that tightened lending norms for MFIs. The recovery rates in Andhra Pradesh fell to 10% from 95%.

The law, passed after complaints that coercive loan recovery practices and usurious interest rates were responsible for a spate of suicides in the state, forbade micro-lenders from giving a second loan to the same borrower without government approval, barred weekly loan collection and prevented MFI officials from visiting customers at their homes.

Shares of SKS declined by 1.35% to Rs. 94.70 on BSE, while the benchmark Sensex rose 0.48% to 16,912.71 points.

Rains in Mulbagal benefit Andhra (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/247748/rains-mulbagal-benefit-andhra.html)

The rainfall in more than 10 villages of the taluk has been benefiting a tank in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The water collected in Bissanahalli forests and villages in a radius of about 10 km flows into Gokunte Hosakere, a low-lying area in the taluk.

Soon it flows to Punganur tank in Andhra Pradesh after passing through Kanagani, Seetharagangapalli, Chokkandlapalli, Bikkamanapalli, Gundlapalli and other villages.

In other words, the rain in the bordering villages of Karnataka is contributing to recharge of ground water in Andhra Pradesh.

Neighbour’s help

This is second such instance of Andhra Pradesh benefitting from the rain in the bordering taluk of Karnataka. The Kaundinya River which originates in Kurudumale of the taluk, flows to Andhra Pradesh during the rainy season.

“Water table in the taluk has depleted to alarming depths. One cannot strike water even at a depth of 1,000 feet. The authorities concerned should take up some measures to ensure that the rain water is retained in the villages,” said Gangulappa, a resident of Gokunti.

No benefit

“The rainfall in our village should benefit the local people. It is a pity that the benefit of occasional rains is being reaped by the neighbouring state,” lamented Venkatachalapathi, another resident.

The local residents had been witnesses to the water in their villages draining into the water bodies in Andhra Pradesh.

They ardently feel that water, if conserved, would benefit them a lot. Even desilting the Hosakere tank would tackle several of their problems, they feel.

Telangana irrigation plan gathers steam (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/telangana-irrigation-plan-gathers-steam/946568/)

When completed, it will be India’s largest lift-irrigation project, boasting of the longest gravity canals, aqua-ducts and tunnel systems, spanning some 1,055 km. More than that, the Rs 40,000 crore Pranahita-Chevella project is being touted as the solution to all the problems of perennially parched Telangana: It is expected to irrigate nearly 17 lakh acres of cultivable land, which is currently at the mercy of monsoon, and provide drinking water to over a dozen towns and cities, including Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The project, which has seen little construction so far, is likely to pick up pace now that Maharashtra has agreed to build it jointly with Andhra Pradesh. They signed an MoU on Saturday to build the most critical part of the project, the barrage on Pranahita river, and on Monday, engineers surveyed the site. Maharashtra had been stonewalling the project because the barrage would submerge nearly 5,000 hectares of its land, but has given in after being promised 41 thousand million cubic feet of water from the project. Half of the barrage will be built in Kautala Mandal in Adilabad in Telangana and the other half in Maharashtra.

The project, scheduled to be completed in 2018, will be be one of the costliest, not least because it will require about Rs 1,000 crore worth of power a year — 3,466 MW — to pump water. Lifting nearly 160 thousand million cubic feet of water — from Pranahita reservoir to channel it to Sripada Yellampalli reservoir in Karimnagar and then from there to link reservoirs and canals some 74 km downstream — will require 16 massive water-lifts.

Once water is lifted into seven main canals, gravity will channel it into 28 networks of smaller canals and tunnels slithering into the seven districts of Telangana.

The agreement, meanwhile, is seen by some as an attempt to contain the Telangana statehood movement. The TRS, which is leading the movement, welcomed it cautiously. “We welcome the development. However, we feel this project is not the answer to all Telangana problems. A separate state is still the only option,” said TRS MLA K T Rama Rao.

Celebrating Buddhism Culture in Andhra Pradesh, India (http://www.chakranews.com/celebrate-buddhist-heritage-in-andhra-pradesh-india/2714)

Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are two world famous Buddhist centers and both are located within the borders of Andhra Pradesh, which is known for its deep roots in the rich Buddhist culture. These are only two sites of 150, which have been identified and located in the state. Out of all the states in India, Andhra Pradesh is deeply enthralling in its homage to Buddhist settlements, which range from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D.
The Buddhist culture that ignites the spiritual walls of the state has not only given birth to some of the most prominent Buddhist philosophers but it has also brought the attention of tourists. In addition, a large number of holy relics of Lord Buddha have been discovered throughout the landscape. Acharya Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Bhavaviveka, Dinnaga, Dharmakirthi and Buddharakshita are a few of the many Buddhist philosophers that are proud to claim A.P. as their home state. A number of caves, stupas, Chaityas and sculptures representing Buddhist spirit just add to the Buddhist influenced lifestyle in A.P. Many monuments and tourists sites depicting the Buddhist heritage have emerged as a result of the foreign interest in the religion.
The A.P. tourism department has injected funds into the Buddhist sites in the 3 prominent locations of Amaravathi, Visakhapatnam and Nagarjunakonda. A total of Rs.1146.00 Lakh has been invested into tourism into Buddhist areas especially due to the tremendous appeal to both domestic and foreign tourists from East and South East Asia.


A recent idea that is being taken up is a unique world class Buddhist theme park, which will be called Buddhavanam. It will be located in between Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati. A total of Rs. 16.36 crores will be used to create the facilities and attractions that will be built at the park. Not only is the rich Buddhist heritage a popular hot spot for tourists but Andhra Pradesh’s attractive diversity, friendly people, and natural environments also add to the perfect blend that calls for visitors.
His Holiness, The Dalai Lama was also a part of the Kalachakara that was hosted by A.P. in 2006. The biggest monolithic statue of the Lord Buddha carved out of a single large rock is in the state as well. All in all, this place of good spirit, good people, rich history and rich heritage invites everyone to make a visit a once in a life time experience.

'The poor prefer private schools in India' (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-poor-prefer-private-schools-in-india/946886/)

A study examining children's schooling in Andhra Pradesh has revealed a dramatic rise in the number of parents opting for fee-paying private schools over state-funded government schools.

Even low-income families are 'voting with their feet', according to new research led by the University of Oxford, a university statement today said.

Researchers tracked 3,000 children who were randomly selected from different social and economic backgrounds in Andhra Pradesh.

They found that in 2002 about one quarter (24 per cent) of seven and eight year olds attended private schools, but by 2009 the rate had almost doubled to 44 per cent.

The study suggests that the trend is fuelled by the availability of low fee-paying private schools, and the perception among parents that children will make better educational progress in private schools.

Parents said they valued English-medium teaching offered by private schools, whereas government schools mostly teach in the regional language, Telugu, the statement added.

The research is part of the Young Lives project, which is tracking the development of children in four countries, including India.

The research team compared two cohorts of children of different ages ¿ an older cohort born in 1994-5 and a younger cohort in 2001-2002.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Educational Development, finds that children in urban areas were more likely to be educated in private schools than government schools, and this was true even for the poorest groups.

This is partly due to availability of choice in urban centres, with children having less distance to travel than those in rural areas.

A child in the older cohort was 16 times more likely to have attended a private school between the age of five and eight years if they lived in an urban rather than a rural area.

However, the researchers found that this urban-rural gap is beginning to shrink: while 10 per cent of seven to eight year olds from rural areas were privately educated in 2002, by 2009 this had gone up to 31 per cent, the statement added.

Although access to private schools is increasing for relatively poorer families, the study points out that even 'low' fees are out of reach for the very poor.

It also highlights an emerging gender gap whereby sons are being given preferential treatment over daughters.

Lead author Martin Woodhead, Associate Research Director at Young Lives at Oxford University and Professor of Childhood Studies at the Open University, said: "The schooling of India's children has developed to become far more market-driven than in the past. Many more parents are opting out of free government schools to pay for a private education for their children, even if it means making sacrifices.

Those on a very limited budget are finding they have to grant privileges to one child over another. While private schooling may provide a short-term solution to the educational needs of children in India today, it is unlikely to be the best means of providing education for all children in the longer term as its benefits are not equally shared, but according to gender, location and income."

He added: "Our study suggests that there needs to be a reform programme for government schools to make sure they deliver quality education. Regulation of private schools is also essential, including increasing access to the most underprivileged, as well as those who can afford to pay.

India's Right to Education Act is a step in the right direction, and we wait to see how effective it will be."

The Young Lives project is tracking the development of 12,000 children in India, Ethiopia, Peru and Vietnam over a 15-year period to better understand the causes and consequences of childhood poverty.

Young Lives is core-funded from 2002 to 2017 by UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID), and co-funded from 2010 to 2014 by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Andhra Pradesh CM says state has best industrial policy in the country (http://orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=33714)

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said that Andhra Pradesh has the best industrial policy in the country. However he said that long term planning is required. The Chief Minister said that the Partnership Summit held in January, 2012 in Hyderabad was very successful. He said MoU was signed for Rs.6.50 lakh crore worth investments in the State by various investors and the total employment likely to be created would be about 6,78,597. He said even before the summit, the SIPB chaired by him has cleared projects worth Rs.75,000 crs on a single day.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the session “Advantage Andhra Pradesh” of the National Executive Committee meeting of the FICCI being held here. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy also released a Special Report that assesses the 12 key factors that influence the business environment and makes recommendations for improving business climate in the State. The Chief Minister said that the State Government is constantly pursuing these MoUs. He said skill upgradation and training have been taken up in a big way by the State Government through its various departments.

We would like to provide placements for all of them. He said that in the last few months, 1.60 lakh youth were trained and provided placements in different sectors. The Chief Minister said industry plays a key role in the successful implementation of the employment generation programme the ‘Rajiv Yuva Kiranaalu’. He underscored the need to recruit local people for the industries. He said Andhra Pradesh is not a power shortage State and power projects are lying idle because of non-supply of gas. Before last year, we were the least shortage State. It is also a fact that power grid is not connected from North to South, which is also one of the problems. By 2013, Power Grid Corporation promised to solve this problem. The Chief Minister told the industrialists “Don’t worry about power problem in future.

Though there are lots of apprehensions, we are supplying about free power to 30 lakh agricultural pumpsets and the power subsidy today is Rs.5,500 crs which includes farmers and low income households. The Chief Minister said the State Government, to increase the reliability of Gas supply, has entered in to an MoU for setting up an RLNG FSRU Terminal with GDF Suez LNG UK Ltd., a wholly owned company of GDF Suez, the world's leading LNG player has been selected.

The Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be first of its kind in India and will be established in the Kakinada Sea Port. The Chief Minister said that our focus is now on industries to come in and around rural areas, agricultural based industries, horticulture, dairy, poultry, fisheries, We have an income about Rs.11,000 crs from fisheries and budget outlay for it has been increased from Rs.20 crs to Rs.230 crs. He said dairy development is another sector to be developed and bulk milk cooling centres are being set up and we would like to provide value additions to the dairy products and most remunerative price to the farmer. He said we are also strong in horticulture and cold storage chains.

The Chief Minister added that about 1.35 crs SHG women have been provided Rs.11,500 crs as bank linkage at zero percent interest. The Chief Minister said we will have discussions and deliberations by senior State officials and industry representatives on the progress of Andhra Pradesh on two major parameters affecting industry, namely, Land Acquisition and Development of Industrial Clusters and single window mechanism. He said on the Land Acquisition front, the support to industry is provided by Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation which is the body that acquires and develops land for industrial use in the State.

There will be uniformity in allotments. The Chief Minister said Petroleum Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in about 603.58 Sq.Km between Visakhapatnam to Kakinada is being developed in the State, which is now a leading destination for the investors on the east coast of the State. The State Government is requesting Government of India to reduce interest from 14% to 7% for women on par with farmers. It will generate employment to rural population. He said we are trying to encourage agricultural sector and godown capacity is being increased. We are also trying to create one crore additional ayacut in the next to 7 to 8 years. Major Industries Minister Geetha Reddy said that A.P. is one of the best power utility States in the South. She said lots of pro-active steps are being taken up to make A.P. a surplus power State. She also spoke about the successful Partnership summit held in Hyderabad. -

Andhra Pradesh CM reviews sand issue (http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=33713)

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister Sri N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed the Chief Secretary Sri Pankaj Dwivedi and other senior officials to expedite the process for obtaining the permissions from the competent authority of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India for sand mining and supply on priority basis to the State Government departments like irrigation, Roads and Buildings etc. as per orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court orders.

The Chief Minister reviewed various issues related to sand in the state, in view of the Hon'ble Supreme Court orders, at a high-level meeting held this evening at Camp Office. Minister for Finance Sri Anam Ram Narayana Reddy, Minister for Roads and Buildings Sri Dharmana Prasada Rao, Chief Secretary Sri Pankaj Dwivedi, Principal Secretaries of Mines and Geology, Irrigation, Panchayat Raj and senior officials of concerned departments attended the meeting. The Officials explained about the orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister instructed to initiate immediate process for mining and supply of sand as 70 to 80 lakh construction workers are suffering without any work due to non-supply of sand in the state. The modernisation of delta works may also be delayed, which may cause delay of supply of water to canals.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation team showers praise on VMC (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3404064.ece)

A team from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) showered praises on Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) for its innovative concepts like play schools and e-learning centres.

“Nowhere in the country are there playschools for children of sanitary workers. The VMC's move is indeed laudable,” said NMMC Additional Commissioner S.V. Pattiwar. These initiatives would be guiding points for other municipal corporations, he said.

Dr. Pattiwar and his colleague Amrish Patingar visited play schools and e-learning centres in the city on Wednesday. On the occasion, they distributed milk and fruit to the children at the play schools in Rajiv Nagar and Ajithsingh Nagar. The NMMC has plans to replicate and adopt the concept in Navi Mumbai. It was also praiseworthy that e-learning centres were providing technical education to the school children.

The teaching methods at the e-learning centres were also good imitative, they said. The VMC officials told them the objective of the play schools was to provide nutritious food and day care. The Corporation was running the playschools with a view to provide kindergarten education, and baby care to the kids of public health workers. Many of the PH workers were found to be neglecting the education of their children. It was affecting the children's future.

The PH workers also find it difficult to leave their children back home while they were on duty. The children were deprived of education as none of them were available at home to take care of them when their parents were away at work. As a solution to it, the VMC is running playschools, they explained.

The team inquired about housing schemes implemented by the VMC under Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme. The Corporation officials said that Jakkampudi housing was first of its kind in the country. The farmers parted with their lands for the housing scheme. The Corporation developed their lands and shared it on 60:40 ratio.

Reacting to it, the NMMC officials said they would explore the possibility of implementing the model in Mumbai. Chief Medical Officer of Health M. Satyanarayana Raju, Additional Commissioner Venkata Ramana, Project Manager (Housing) K. Vijay Kumar, senior medical officer Dr. Lakshmi Kumari, Deputy Educational Officer K. Durga Prasad, Environmental Engineer T. Smitha Bhanu and others were present.

Three former bureaucrats named Information Commissioners in Andhra Pradesh (http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/three-former-bureaucrats-named-information-commissioners-in-andhra-pradesh-209129)

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Government has appointed three retired bureaucrats and a journalist as Information Commissioners (ICs) under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Retired Indian Police Services officers M Ratan, S Prabhakar Reddy, ex- Indian Forest Service officer C Madhukar Raj and journalist P Vijaya Babu have been appointed to the posts. Governor E S L Narasimhan approved just these four names out of the eight recommended by the Government.

The State Information Commission has been functioning with only the Chief Information Commissioner for over 18 months, despite a sanction of 10 ICs.

Also Read
Central Information Commissioner writes to PM, says don't dilute RTI act
PM's address at the 6th Annual Convention of Information Commissioners
Also See
20:49
Walk The Talk with Satyananda Mishra
In its meeting on January 31, the selection committee, comprising Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, chose eight candidates for appointment as ICs.

Out of these, the Governor rejected the names of Lam Tantiya Kumar, S Imtiyaz Ahmed, M Vijaya Nirmala and V Venkateswarlu as they had political affiliations and approved the names of the retired bureaucrats and the lone journalist.

As the issue kicked up a political controversy, the Government chose not to send the entire file to the Governor for re-consideration and decided to appoint only those candidates approved by the Governor.

Since the model code of conduct is in force in view of the next month's by-elections, the state government had sought the permission of the Election Commission (EC) three days ago to go ahead with the appointments.

A formal order, appointing the ICs, was issued on Thursday after the EC gave its green signal on Wednesday.

Number plates tender process jinxed (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/number-plates-tender-process-jinxed/256789-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: The State Road Transport Corporation has once again stopped the process of tenders for manufacture of high-security number plates for motor vehicles. According to officials sources, the process has been kept in abeyance for the third time under instructions of from the top.
As per the schedule, the financial bids were to be been opened on May 7 but the officials did not take up the work. The file on tenders sent to the chief minister was returned without his approval to transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana. It is cited as one of the reasons for stopping the tenders. It is learnt that transport ministry officials had issued the tender notification in haste without chief minister’s consent.
According to officials, the principal secretary (transport) had sent the file to the minister for permission to issue tender notification before April 25. After examining the file, the minister forwarded it to the chief minister for his approval but it was returned to the minister on May 2 without approval. Botcha instructed officials to send the file again to the chief minister and get his approval. The officials, without following the file movement, issued the tender notification on April 25.
There is also a rumour doing the rounds that the tender process was stopped to award someone close to a top leader with the contract.
When contacted, Botcha Satyanarayana admitted that the file was returned to him from the chief minister’s office and said he instructed his officials to send it again to the CMO but said he was not aware of the tender process being kept in abeyance.

EC asks I-T to check cash flow through airports (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-asks-it-to-check-cash-flow-through-airports/256790-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of India has decided to initiate stringent action against parties or candidates offering inducements to voters.
Speaking to reporters in his chambers at the Secretariat here on Thursday, chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal said the Election Commission asked the income tax department to keep vigil at the airports at Tirupati, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam to check transport of illegal money and costly valuables to districts� going to polls.
Directions have also been issued to the district election officers of 12 districts to keep vigil on bribe-givers and bribe-takers, and to register cases against them. Under Section 171 B of IPC, paying money or giving any article� or accepting either for himself or for any other person as reward for exercising electoral right is an offence of bribery and the person caught is punishable under Section 171 E of IPC.
The CEO appealed to people as well as political parties not to carry huge cash in districts where byelections will take place on June 12. If any person is carrying huge amount of cash for any emergency purpose, he should carry supporting documents to show the source and end-use of such cash in order to avoid seizure at check-posts or by flying squads.
Political parties should inform their candidates in advance to open separate bank accounts for election expenditure and communicate the account number in writing at the time of filing nominations. The DEOs should ask the bank managers to list out the electronic (RTGS) transfer of money to any bank account and any suspicious withdrawal of `1 lakh and above and such transactions should be submitted to the nodal officersDEOs who will have them fully verified.
An amount of `7 crore and a quantity of 87,000 litres of liquor had been seized in the Nellore Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly constituencies so far, the CEO said.
Marine and civil police personnel will be deployed in the coastal areas of the poll-going districts to curb illicit flow of liquor, money and articles.
The vigil will be made tighter during the 48-hour period before polling, and the forces deployed at check-posts, mobile squads and MCC teams will not be withdrawn even on the polling day.
A meeting with the representatives of national and state political parties would be held at 3 pm on May 16, Bhanwarlal said.

Andhra Pradesh CM assured to sort out the sand issues within a week (http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=33798)

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy assured to sort out the sand issues within a week. He said he understood the seriousness of the problem and assured the builders that the sand problem will be sorted out totally.

Speaking as the Chief Guest at the All India MC & GC meeting of the Builders Association of India at the National Academy of Construction (NAC) Campus at Madhapur, Hyderabad he said the State Government is evolving a new system wherein the sand problem will be sorted out totally. The Chief Minister said “Sand is a problem. Court has given an order. Lakhs of people are affected and many of them are without work. We are trying to sort it out. In the next week or so, we are getting in a new system where the sand problem will be sorted out totally. We have already sorted all the basic issues”.

To the request for setting up a cement plant by an entrepreneur, the Chief Minister said that the State Government should get a stake in it. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Hyderabad has become the destination of all world conferences and most of the global conferences when think of India, their destination is Hyderabad. He said the Global Biodiversity Conference (CoP-11), the biggest ever international conference in independent India will be held in Hyderabad in October this year. About 8,000 delegates from 194 countries will participate in the meet. In December this year, International Conference on allergy will be held here wherein doctors from all over the world will congregate. Then there is the World Agricultural Congress-2013 to be held here. “All these are the indication of the progress of Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister said just a few days ago Andhra Pradesh has been chosen for the ‘Investment Driven Economies Award' in the India's Most Competitive States Awards 2012 initiative. The award has been constituted by the Institute for Competitiveness (India), the Indian wing of the global network of Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. This is the finding of the most reputed Harvard Business School. The Chief Minister Andhra Pradesh was honoured to host the Global Partnership Summit 2012 in Hyderabad in January 2012, after a gap of 8 years.

The summit was attended by 1200 Delegates including 200 Overseas Delegates and 15 Overseas Ministers, Speakers from 42 Countries, and 37 Foreign Diplomats. During the Partnership Summit 2012, Andhra Pradesh received investment proposals worth of Rs.6.50 lakh crores which is a record of investment proposals received in any Summit of this nature. The total employment likely to be created would be about 6,78,597. The Chief Minister said this is the type of progress we are aiming at. He said when he became the CM, there were many problems like the Telangana movement etc. Besides there was also a financial crisis in the State. “But within 3 to 4 months, I could turn it around. We have paid over Rs.4,000 crs towards the pending bills of contractors. We have also paid Rs.5,250 crs towards pending scholarships and fee re-imbursements to students and colleges. Financial discipline is what I am trying to get into the system”.

He said there are of course resentment when taxes are hiked. But at the same time people want all facilities, they want all programmes to go on. Our Welfare programmes reach about 8.5 lakh families and costs about Rs.26,000 crs. No State in the country has these many welfare programmes. There are at least 3 to 4 welfare programmes for every household in the State”. The Chief Minister said “as far as building and construction activities are concerned, you are an important partner and we cannot neglect you. However there are lots of problems in the system itself. Work which is allotted are not properly destinated, not properly valued and in many cases there are losses to the State and in few cases there are losses to the contractors.

This is because correct estimates are not prepared for each work. We are now giving only clearance in principle for any project and only after details are furnished to the finance department, we sanction the project. Hence there would be no justification for any cost escalation in the work”. The Chief Minister said we are now experimenting a time-bound payment system wherein if the payment is delayed, we will pay interest. So also for all permissions and estimates third party evaluations will be done. We want the programmes to be completed on time. As far as Jalayagnam is concerned, the Chief Minister said his government has now prioritised the programme. He said 20 lakh acres are now brought under irrigation and in the next 3 years, another 30 lakh acres will also be brought under irrigation. The Chief Minister said he is releasing Rs.1,000 crs every month to the irrigation department but they are not bale to spend them.

The Chief Minister said that the Finance Department is now working in the right direction and financial discipline has been achieved. The Chief Minister said “when I am clear in what I want to do, I am not frightened of allegations by the Opposition or the Media”. “Let us work for the progress of the State, welfare of our people”, he said.

The Chief Minister appreciated the good gesture of the Builders Association of India towards skill upgradation and training. He said the State Government has allocated Rs.777 crs in this year’s budget for skill upgradation and training and assured to allot some amount for NAC towards training and skill upgradation. Minister for Panchayat Raj, K Jana Reddy, Minister for Housing Capt.N.Uttam Kumar Reddy, National President, Builders Association of India, B.Seenaiah, and State Chairman of BAI, P Mohan Reddy and others attended the meeting.

Delay in NH works irks locals (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/karimnagar/delay-nh-works-irks-locals-043)

Four-laning of Armoor-Kamareddy stretch of National Highway 44 (earlier NH-7) is delayed due to various reasons. Estimated to cost Rs.400 crore, the work had begun two years ago and was scheduled for completion by January 31, 2012.

Lack of coordination between government depa-rtments, land acquisition, railway clearances and other problems adversely affected the works on the 60.25 km stretch.

Except this stretch, remaining four laning works between Andhra Pradesh border of Penganga near Adilabad to Hyderabad, are complete.

The Navayuga Constru-ction Company has taken up the work of lane expansion, but failed to complete it as per schedule.

Reportedly, the railway department did not given clearances for construction of rail over bridges (ROB) at Nagpur gate in Dichpally and Armoor.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had also got into dispute with the rural water supply (RWS) department on laying of pipes on the land in the jurisdiction of national highway. But finally district collector K. Sunita settled the issue.

Internal administrative changes in the construction company affected the works. The farmers also halted the highway expansion works, to protest land acquisition by the authorities.

Dismantling of houses in Jakranaplly mandal, and failure to provided suitable compensation to the victims, also resulted in project delay. NH-44 is connector of north and south India with high density of vehicular movement.

Delay in work is also causing frequent accidents on this road.

People of Nizamabad, Adilabad and parts of Karimnagar district expressed their displeasure as they have been paying toll taxes at different places between Adilabad to Hyderabad, but facing difficulties on the way.

Speaking to this newspaper, NHAI Nirmal division project director Srinivas said that four laning of NH-44 will be completed by June 30 this year, and added that they got the required clearances from railway department.

Micro-finance bill is anti-poor, says Andhra Pradesh government official (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/micro-finance-bill-is-anti-poor-says-andhra-pradesh-government-official-210247)

Hyderabad: The micro finance bill, approved by the Union Cabinet last week, is anti-poor and will help microfinance institutions (MFIs) and not small borrowers, a senior official of the Andhra Pradesh Government said.

According to R Subrahmanyam, Principal Secretary, Rural Development, the Cabinet has passed the bill without considering the objections the state had raised.

"Whatever objections we raised earlier, we stick to that. The Bill is anti-poor and will help the micro finance institutions (MFIs) and is not in favour of small borrowers," he told PTI.

Mr Subrahmanyam was the main architect of The Andhra Pradesh Microfinance Institutions (Regulation of Moneylending) Act, 2010 that crippled the functioning of micro finance institutions in the state, hitherto considered a hot spot for the MFI industry.

The Union Cabinet on last Thursday had approved the Micro Financial Sector Development and Regulation Bill, 2011, to regulate the micro finance industry and bring the micro lenders under the purview of the Reserve Bank of India.

The Bill, which was drafted in the backdrop of problems faced by borrowers of MFIs in Andhra Pradesh and other states, would now be introduced in Parliament for consideration.

The State Government has raised several objections earlier on the MFI Bill, saying that MFI activity is purely money lending and comes under purview of the state government.

"Considering that MFIs are primarily involved in lending and recovering of money, and respective state government machinery has ground-level information on lending and recovery practices of the MFIs, the draft should have mandated MFIs to operate within the ambit of the money lending regulations," the State Government has said in its letters to the Centre.

On the other hand microfinance institutions welcomed the Bill saying that it would help them recover their outstanding that are due for the past one-and-a-half years in Andhra Pradesh.

The MFIs are not able to collect their dues as the AP MFI Act mandates every company to take government approval before extending fresh loans to borrowers besides making payment collection cycle to monthly instead of weekly.

According to Vijay Mahajan, president of industry body Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), if the AP government helps, the MFIs would be able to collect more than 35 per cent of their outstanding which is estimated to be around Rs. 6,500 crore in the state.

"Once passed and notified the Bill supersedes AP Microfinance Act. If the State Government cooperates we will be able to collect at least 35 per cent of our outstanding," Mr Mahajan said.

According to SKS Microfinance, the company suffered Rs. 1,360 crore loss in FY 2012 due to non-collections which forced the micro lender to write of as much as Rs. 1,120 crore.

Bird farm near Elagandal Fort draws visitors (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bird-farm-near-elagandal-fort-draws-visitors/257683-60-114.html)

KARIMNAGAR: The bird farm of a 32-year-old guy at Elagandal village, near here, is attracting visitors young and old.
Tourists visiting the historical Elagandal fort also make it a point to visit the house of Mohammed Nahed Ali, an SSC drop out, for the varieties of birds being reared by him. Ali’s house is nearby the fort. School students also visit Ali’s bird farm.� A bird lover, Ali began rearing doves, seven years ago, as a pastime but now it has turned out to be a livelihood. He is earning nearly Rs 15,000 per month by selling the birds to customers, who come from various parts of the district and neighbouring Nizamabad.
Currently, there are about 20 varieties of birds -- doves, hens, ducks, etc., and some animals like dogs, goats, buffaloes, cows and rabbits in his farm. Ali also raises fighting cocks, all in the backyard of his house.
“There is a good demand for wild doves,” Ali says, adding that he had gone to Bangalore, Hyderabad for purchasing different varieties of birds.
Doves are priced between Rs 250 and Rs 7,500 per pair basing on the variety. The major attraction in the farm is American ducks.� Nikhil Reddy, who is awaiting his SSC results, came to Ali’s farm, along with his father from Karimnagar on Sunday and played with the birds for sometime. “I am planning to develop my farm into a modern one by taking loan under Rajiv Yuvasakthi scheme,” Ali revealed.

Students come up with e-voting systems (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Students-make-e-voting-systems-to-bolster-democracy/Article1-855640.aspx)

A bunch of engineering students have devised an electronic system that allows voting from mobile phones and laptops, thereby boosting polling in urban centres notoriously abstaining from voting booths.
The Wireless Multimode Electronic Voting – an engineering project of six final year


B Tech., students from Avanthi's Research and Technological Academy in remote Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh is generating interest among public.
The technology would allow people to register, through their mobile number, with the election commission and vote from the mobile on the day of poll in response to a message they receive from the authorities. On Internet platform, voters are required to obtain a unique id and password and on the voting day cast their vote from their desk, laptops.

“The thought of such system came after reading about the low poll percentages and observation it is the educated urban class that abstain. Our system is intended to provide flexibility to such people to vote, contributing to a matured mandate,” Kari Soma Sekhar (21), project leader said.

Though the concept itself is not new, the team – Sekhar, Abhishek TS, M Mounika, KV Bhuvan, N Arun Teja and A Trimurty - has themselves devised and also exhibited the device at college events like the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers event at Andhra University.

Prof V Ranga Rao, former Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University who guided the project said, “The kids have proved it is a fool proof system and they are eager to demonstrate it before the authorities.”

An attempt to allow e voting in Gujarat local body polls 2011, short of required awareness generation, did not meet big success. Though the election commission officials stated there is no plan or proposal to introduce mobile or e voting in the country, several parties with urban educated vote base are advocating the system.

“The effort of the kids is appreciative. With urban India growing and more people coming under the techno savvy class, the concept of electronic voting makes great sense. And there is no dearth of technology to provide safeguards. In Scandinavian countries the mode is already popular,” Jayaprakash Narayan, president, Lok Satta party, told HT.

Ambanis to donate rare jumbo to Tirumala temple (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/249566/ambanis-donate-rare-jumbo-tirumala.html)

Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani is all set to donate a “rare white elephant,” to be imported from either Myanmar or Thailand, to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

Sources said that chief priest of Tirumala Tirupati Desvasthanam (TTD) A V Ramana Dikshitulu has agreed to give a private blessing to Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani.
Anant, who visited the Tirumala temple thrice since May 6, decided to add another pachyderm to the existing six elephants in temple’s stable.

“When we were explaining about the elephants, he immediately decided to donate one,” said K S Srinivasa Raju, a temple official.
“Anant has already donated several milch cows, buffaloes, parrots and other animals,” he added.

Ramana Dikshitulu said Ambanis, annual pilgrims to Tirumala, were generous donors.

The 17-year-old Anant, according to sources, contributed lakhs of rupees for the Nitya Annadanam scheme, besides funding various schemes, including the programme to protect wild life in the Seven Hills.

Experts, however, pointed out that there is no such thing as white elephant. “A white elephant or albino is only a metaphor. Though records show that it is a rare type of elephant, technically, it is not completely white. The colour of the body is pale to brownish which turns light pink when the skin gets wet. Compared to a black elephant, albinos have fair eyelashes and toenails,” said Wahid, curator of Nehru Zoological Park.

Elephants in Tirumala are a common sight as they have to be taken to the temple seven times a day as part of the rituals. The elephants also participate in the regular fairs of the temple. The King of Nepal, President of Sri Lanka and President of Myanmar have shown similar gestures in the past and donated elephants, cows and horses.

While the wild species, except elephant, are let off in the forests of the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife sanctuary, the domestic animals are kept in the goshala and the animal stables on Tirumala hill.

APTDCs economy south package (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/aptdcs-economy-south-package/258002-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has decided to introduce a South India tour by non-Air Conditioned coach to lure the not-so-affluent sections of society.
At present, the corporation is offering a package of journey by a Volvo climatizer coach and AC accommodation at destinations across south India.
The 14-day tour, organised twice a month on demand from Hyderabad, on 1st and 16th of every month, covers Bengaluru, Srirangapatanam, Mysore, Sravanabelagola, Halebidu, Belur, Guruvayoor, Kochi, Thiruvanantapuram, Suchindram, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Rameswaram, Tiruchi Srirangam, Tanjavur, Kumbakonam, Puducherry, Mahabalipuram, Kanchi, Star temple, Tiruttani and Tirupati. �
“This is a very successful package and we have been receiving requests for opening an economy package in the same tour. So we have plans to start the same tour in non-AC segment too,” said a� spokesman.
And when quizzed about the rising temperatures and the inconvenience that might be caused to the travellers, he said, “the summer is almost over and rains are expected by the first week of June. This should not be a concern.” �

Brazil offers housing technology (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3424518.ece)

India and Brazil will collaborate technically in taking up housing projects for slum-free urban development. The offer of technical collaboration was made by Chief of Staff and Planning Director, CDHU, Brazil, Eduardo Trani, at the two-day international conference on “Slum-free India – Policy and Practice and Lessons from International Experiences,” held here.

Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development Secretary Vijay Kumar on the concluding day on Tuesday accepted the proposal, said an official release.

Thanking Mr. Trani and Project Director, Emplasa Metropolitan Planning Agency, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, Diana Motta, for sharing their policy details, practices and experiences, Mr. Vijay Kumar expressed the hope that the conference would be highly useful to municipal commissioners taking up the project implementation under Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY).

Describing slum development as a continuous process of social change, he said commissioners should guide the community participants leading to their active involvement. Mr. Trani gave details of various partnerships involved in the housing projects of Brazil to promote sustainability, building technologies that included solar water heating, energy efficiency, individual water supply systems, emergency laser energy lights in two and three-room units. Visiting Research Fellow, South Asia, Institute of Advance Studies, Kathmandu, Neelam Pradananga explained the participatory planning process in housing projects. Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu spoke on the complex challenges of slum- free urban development and relocations of slums.

ASI mulls proposal on Tirupati as a protected monument (http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article3399934.ece)

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is considering a proposal to recommend recognition of the famous Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati as a monument of national importance in view of its archaeological, epigraphical and historical background and cultural significance.

The proposal is being considered by the ASI and it is likely to make the recommendation to the Union Ministry of Culture, K.K. Sharma, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, told PTI.

He, however, said a timeframe cannot be put on when the proposal is likely to be made formally to the government as the process takes time.

Declaring the ancient temple, located atop the Tirumala hills, as a protected monument by the ASI would go a long way in conserving its archaeological value and heritage, Sharma said.

The matter could be expedited if the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the governing body for the temple, agrees to the proposal for making the temple as a protected monument, he observed.

The ASI feels that dismantling of the historical thousand pillar mantapam at Tirumala and the gold-plating of the outer walls of the ‘garbha griha’, where inscriptions exist, as per the ‘Ananta Swarnamayam’ scheme are against archaeological norms.

Separately, the ASI, in an RTI reply to B.K.S.R. Ayyangar, a social activist based at Eluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, has favoured several steps to ensure the temple’s protection.

The petitioner had sought information over action initiated by the ASI regarding recognition of Lord Venkateswara Temple as a monument under ASI.

In the reply, the ASI said the temple may be considered for protection by ASI as a monument of national importance and also talked about dismantling of the thousand pillared mantapam as a violation.

Further, it favoured that any activity at the temple which is related to the archaeological aspect be informed to the Archaeological Survey of India and Department of Archaeology and Museums, Andhra Pradesh to review the pros and cons as well the archaeological norms thoroughly and recommend the necessary inputs for execution.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) may provide a space for archaeology by nominating the Director General or representative of ASI and Department of Archaeology and Museums as a member in the Trust Board which takes policy decisions for the benefit of devotees and the temple to prevent any action violating archaeological/heritage norms at the policy level itself, the ASI said.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam may provide the fund for protecting cultural heritage and monuments which are in need of attention, it said.

Observing that the temple is visited by about 50,000 devotees per day on an average and about four lakhs during festivities, the ASI commended the way TTD is dealing with all aspects of the temple administration.

It is necessary to have an archaeological wing to review and recommend suitable procedure in view of archaeological norms wherever necessary, ASI said.

“The archaeological wing is to be adequately equipped with technical team headed by a Director. The decision for betterment of the facilities for the devotees are to be reviewed there only to avoid delay. Since, a museum also exists behind the main temple all branches are to be brought under the archaeological wing. This may solve the problem of violating the laws to some extent,” it said.

RGUKT to admit 3,000 in B.Tech (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rgukt-to-admit-3000-in-btech/258753-60-121.html)

HYDERABAD: The Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technologies (RGUKT) has announced the admission schedule for all its three campuses. Vice-chancellor RV Raja Kumar said here on Wednesday that the RGUKT will admit 1,000 students in each of its three campuses at Basara, Nuzvid and RK Valley (Kadapa) this academic year for six-year integrated B.Tech course.
Similar to last year, the merit list will be generated based on the ‘deprivation score’ model, instead of the mandal-specific model followed by the university earlier.
For this academic year, the deprivation score weightage will add 4 per cent to the SSC marks obtained by the applicants from non-residential government schools including zilla parishad and municipal schools.
Despite the first batch of integrated B.Tech students has moved to fifth year of the course, RGUKT still awaits the approval for awarding degrees.
To accommodate the additional 1,000 on each campus, RGUKT is going in for an infrastructure overhaul at a cost of Rs 600 crore granted by the state government.
“The hostels, scheduled to be completed by the end of May, may get delayed by a few weeks at most,” said Raja Kumar.

Engineering graduates make a beeline for post-graduate courses in Andhra Pradesh (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-18/news/31764507_1_engineering-colleges-college-fee-aicte)

HYDERABAD: There is a spurt in the number of students applying for post-graduate engineering courses in the state. A total of 71,045 students have applied for the PG Engineering Common Entrance Examination (PGECET) this year as against just about 36,000 students last year. Officials cited numerous existing vacancies in various engineering colleges in the state as the reason behind the sudden demand for ME/ M Tech courses.

As per a new All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) directive, the teaching posts in over 727 engineering colleges in the state will have to be filled with faculty members and the minimum qualification for these posts is M Tech/ME. Till last year, most of these teaching posts were filled with B Tech graduates. But to increase fee for various courses, it is mandatory for these engineering colleges to follow AICTE norms. Following a recent Supreme Court order on this issue, over 300 colleges have already pledged to recruit faculty members with M Tech qualification from the coming academic year.

However, college managements say there is a serious shortage for candidates who can fulfill the AICTE norms. "Since the past two decades, there has been an almost a 50% drop in the number of candidates opting for post-graduate studies. And this resulted in acute shortage of engineering faculty in the state," said K V K Rao, general secretary, Consortium of Private Engineering and Professional College Managements' Association. From next year, teaching positions even in private engineering colleges will be lucrative as the implementation of sixth pay commission recommendations has been made mandatory for any increase in college fee for students. This ensures a minimum salary of Rs 36,000 for an entry level faculty in the engineering colleges. "A total of 70,000 posts will be up for grabs in about 700 colleges in the coming academic year," said Rao, pointing out the demand for M Tech grads in the state.

According to A Venugopal Reddy, convener, PGECET, increase in the number of engineering colleges in the state is also a cause for the rising demand for PG engineering. "Over a two lakh engineering graduates pass out of various colleges in the state every year. However, only 50% of them get jobs as there are not many opportunities available in the market. Now these students are looking for alternate career options," said Reddy, adding he expects a 100% increase in the number of applicants for PGECET next year. Osmania University will conduct the examination from June 8 to 11 this year in examination centres located in Hyderabad, Warangal, Anantapur, Tirupati, Guntur and Vizag.

Tiger pug mark grows in Andhra Pradesh (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-pug-mark-grows-in-andhra-pradesh/258985-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: No tiger death took place in Andhra Pradesh in the last 14 months, while as many as 32 tigers died across the country in the last over four months. Moreover, the number of tigers is increasing in the state.
However, six panthers died either naturally or in accidents since 2010.
According to the interim report of the ongoing State Tiger Census-2012 conducted by AP Forest Department (APFD) with the help of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), the number of tigers in the state at present is 100. The census began on May 1.
There is no tiger mortality in 2011 in the state. One tiger died in Kagaznagar range forest area in 2010 and another at GBM sanctuary in Nalgonda in 2009. Both were killed by poachers. Deputy conservator of forests A Shankaran said, “It is an interim report of the census. The final report will be presented on May 25. According to the 2010- 11 tiger census, the number of tigers in Andhra Pradesh is between 65 and 70, he added.

National Challengers begins; Krishna Teja stuns Karthikeyan (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/chess/National-Challengers-begins-Krishna-Teja-stuns-Karthikeyan/articleshow/13274328.cms)

TIRUPATHI: The 50th edition of National Challengers Chess Championship commenced on Friday.

Secunderabad based N Krishna Teja stunned fourth seed International Master P Karthikeyan of Tamil Nadu while Goa lad Ritviz Parab outwitted seasoned campaigner International Master P Konguvel of PSPB.

Playing white side of English opening, Karthikeyan overlooked his opponent's Knight move and blundered his queen on 22nd move to hand over full point to his rival from Andhra Pradesh rival, while Parab used his Queen and Knight to good effect to outwit his fancied rival in 31 moves.

Apart from Karthikeyan and Konguvel, as expected almost all the top seeded players posted easy victories to advance to the second round with full points in their kitty.

Top seed and defending champion International Master Vikramaditya Kulkarni of Railways defeated Jalpan Bhatt of Gujarat while second seed International Master S Satyapragyan of Air India had an easy outing against Ankit Gajwa of Madhya Pradesh.

Third seeded International Master Debashis Das made short work of Kotepalli Sai Nirupama of Andhra Pradesh.

In other surprises of the day, highly rated Bitan Banerjee of West Bengal was held by Yogit S of Tamil Nadu, while IM PDS Girinath was forced to sign peace by young Rohan Ahuja of Goa.

A total number of 236 players, which include 24 International Masters, 1 Women Grandmaster and 213 International rated chess players from across the country are participating in the championship.

Three from Andhra Pradesh among top 10 IIT rankers (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/entrance-exams/Three-from-Andhra-Pradesh-among-top-10-IIT-rankers/articleshow/13280615.cms)

HYDERABAD: The state bagged three of the top 10 ranks in IIT-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), results of which were released here on Friday. Rumandla Nishant, a city based student scored 373 marks out of 401, the highest in the state and bagged the fourth rank at the all India level. His classmates, Sai Suman Jagadeesh from Nellore and P Bharath Kumar another student from the city scored fifth and ninth ranks respectively.

While some of the students scored well, the state's performance in JEE has in fact dipped when compared to last year where five students had bagged ranks in the top ten list including the first rank. The total number of ranks secured by the state in top 100 has also gone down from 63 in 2011 to 41 in 2012. However, in reserved categories, the state secured top ranks with R Nishant, the all India fourth rank holder securing all India first rank in OBC category.

SC, ST students do state proud

HYDERABAD: Over 75,000 students had appeared for the examination from the Madras zone. Interestingly, the state has bagged the chunk of ranks in categories including SC (23), ST (40) and OBC (54). In these categories it is the highest tally so far.

IIT experts from the city claimed that the errors that had crept into the JEE examination could have brought down the rank count of AP. "The IITs deleted two questions and they admitted that there were errors in at least four more questions (question paper key was changed thrice). Students who attempted these questions would have lost time on them. The erroneous questions in total carried 27 to 30 marks and in an examination where each mark is important this would have made a huge difference," said IIT coordinator of a coaching institute in the city. This year, the examination was conducted by IIT-Delhi. In spite of a dip in the number of ranks, the state has retained the status of being the only region from where the maximum number of candidates have got selected to IITs. For almost a decade, AP students bagged 21% of the IIT seats.

Students who secured top ranks in IIT this year said that it is their hard work that paid off. Each of them had put in eight to 14 hours every day for JEE studies alone. "I started my coaching for IIT right from class IX and this prior preparation actually helped a lot. By the time I finished class X, the IIT portions were complete. All that I did during the two years of my intermediate studies was to practice JEE questions over and over," said Nishant, a student of Narayana Junior College. He said his father, R Sreedhar, a superintending engineer with Warangal Municipal Corporation was always an inspiration to him. Interestingly, his elder sister, Sravya is already doing a dual degree course in IIT-Bombay, the institution he too wants to join. The other two rank holders who secured fifth and ninth rank in JEE said that all three of them used to do combined study sessions in classroom. "One should focus completely to get a score," said Suman Jagadeesh, who secured the fifth rank. All the three ranks holders are expected to take admission in IIT-Bombay in various streams. "I will make an informed choice after I get details of all the courses in IIT-Bombay," said the ninth rank holder, Bharath Kumar.

While gloating over their good JEE ranks, students admitted that they had never paid attention to their intermediate and class X textbooks as much as they should have.

Temperature soars to 42 deg. C, keeps people indoors (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3435752.ece)

All most all main roads and streets are seen deserted from 11 a.m. in Vijayawada and neighbouring towns

With day's temperature crossing 42 degrees Centigrade for the last two days in Vijayawada, Machilipatnam and other towns in Krishna and Guntur districts, people were seen remaining indoors in all areas. Rentachintala in Guntur district recorded 48.6 Degree C.

Heat wave that began at 9 a.m. continued till midnight on Thursday and Friday. Rainfall or drizzling twice or thrice in the last few days did not provide any real relief to the people from heat.

In several residential colonies, people sprinkled water around the houses to beat the heat.

ROADS DESERTED

Almost all the main roads and streets were seen deserted from 11 a.m. on Friday in Vijayawada and the neighbouring towns as the mercury was soaring. The worst sufferers were the I-CET candidates.

Public were seen searching for tree shades, bus shelters and tents on the roads to protect themselves from the scorching sun.People staying on hillocks and on elevated areas are facing worst heat due to increase in the temperature.

Residents preferred to sit indoors using air-conditioners and coolers, but unscheduled power cuts throughout the day on Friday bothered them. There was heavy demand for the tender coconut water, watermelon and fruit juices from those who travelled on roads. The Women Development and Child Welfare Department officials are taking extra care at ‘Sishu Gruhas' to maintain cool atmosphere for the infants and children staying in the homes in the district, in view of the sudden rise in temperature.

“We have two ‘Sishu Gruhas' at Buddavaram and Machilipatnam in Krishna district and infants right from day old babies are there in the homes. The staff is instructed to arrange coolers and maintain wet gunny bags and nets to prevent sunstroke for the inmates”, said Women Development and Child Welfare Department Project Director V. Swaroopa Rani.

In Machilipatnam, people suffered as there are no shelters or trees on the road sides to protect themselves from the sun at Koneru Centre, Revathi and Rajavari Centres in the town. The APSRTC Bus Station Complex was packed with passengers and public were seen waiting in groups in front of the shops at the junctions.

Timely detection of explosives prevents disaster (http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/ap-timely-detection-of-explosives-prevents-disast_776392.html)

Sangareddy: Timely detection and seizure of explosives underneath a railway bridge in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh has prevented a major disaster, police said.

Acting on information given by a passerby, railway police recovered five detonators, five gelatin sticks and fuse wire planted under a railway bridge at Tellapur village, police said.

According to police, a person noticed fuse wire and detonators under the bridge on Hyderabad - Lingampally- Tellapur railway line while he was crossing it and informed local railwaymen, who alerted the railway police.

The Railway police along with bomb and dog squad rushed to the spot and seized explosives which was defused, police said.

Railway Superintendent of Police Kantha Rao and Medak SP Avinash Mohanty also visited the site.



The police have begun investigations and looking into the possible involvement of Maoists in the incident.

CID chiefs agree on setting up 9 branch secretariats (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cid-chiefs-agree-on-setting-up-9-branch-secretariats/1000825.html)

Hyderabad, May 19 (PTI) CID chiefs of southern and neighbouring states today agreed to set up branch secretariat at nine places in order to exchange all criminal intelligence and to have real time coordination and cooperation in various operations pertaining to breaking organised crime networks. A decision to this effect was taken at the two-day CID chiefs' conference here and it was agreed to set up branch secretariat at Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Pune, Cuttack, Puducherry, Goa, Raipur and at Hyderabad, Additional DG (AP-CID) S V Ramana Murthy said. The proposed branch secretariat will help in operations pertaining to breaking organised crime networks, fake Indian currency note gangs, cyber offenders, narcotic offenders, video pirates, human traffickers, immigration offenders, white collar offenders and those involved in other grave criminal cases, which have interstate ramifications, the top CID official said. One of the important concerns expressed by the member states was the 'Victim Compensation Scheme'. The member states have pledged to adopt a victim-centric approach and ensure institutionalisation of Victim Compensation Fund with the help of legal services authorities in the member states supported by the government, he said. It was also decided to launch massive rescue operations in Human Trafficking matters across the states and the CID chiefs have expressed their unstinted support to the rescue teams and also decided to help the member states in the legal matters that arise out of such operations. In order to bring the criminal gangs to justice, the finger prints bureaus will be connected with the states, he said.

With industrialists under CBI scanner, will investments come in? (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3441322.ece)

Trade bodies brush aside as exaggerated the view in some quarters that the exposure of some major industrialists under probe by the CBI may affect the industrial climate and investor confidence in the State.

What is of real concern is the overall decline in the industry's performance in the country and Andhra Pradesh is no exception. It is a decline caused by the influence of the negative global economic factors, say FAPCCI representatives. Last year itself, the cost of capital was high. With the rupee depreciating further and imports becoming expensive, there is no capital available in the market. If the coming monsoon is unfavourable, the GDP may end up at the sub 6 level.

In the current scenario when many noted industrialists are under the CBI scanner, the investment climate will suffer a further setback. Yet, none can find fault with the investigation into these transactions involving quid pro quo. If rules have been flouted and some wrong done to larger public interest, the law must be allowed to take its course, industry sources say.

What one should really worry about is how many of the Rs.6.5 lakh crore investment proposals the State attracted in the Partnership Summit in January this year will materialise. From where will the capital come in the current depressing market scenario? they ask. The flight of capital is already happening with financial institutions pulling back investments across the country and added to this are the State's own political problems. “Does it have a robust system as in Gujarat to infuse investor confidence?” said an industrialist. Though it is ideal to keep industry and business away from politics, greater focus should be paid to see that no resource lies idle. There are several such non-starter projects with vast land allocations like the Hindujas power plant in Visakhapatnam and Ambuja Cement plant in Guntur.

Many power projects are struggling as coal imports are becoming expensive. About 3,000 MW of installed capacity is not being utilised for lack of gas. It is time indiscriminate land allocations were done away in the name of industrial corridors or Special Economic Zones, says a senior memberof CII.

Information Technology Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah also disagrees that questioning Ministers and bureaucrats over the alleged quid pro quo transactions would mar the State's inherent advantages or reputation as an investment destination.

“Investments come on the basis of demand, opportunities, viability of the enterprise and incentives the State offered. There is no change in the State policy and the system will take care of any aberrations that occurred in the past,” he said.

‘AP BEST'

T. S. Appa Rao, Principal Secretary, Industry and Commerce, claimed that the State remained one of the best industrial environments in the country. What is lacking is the absence of iconic industries in the auto sector and food processing to kick-start these sectors. If the State flourished in IT and pharma sectors, it was due to the presence of iconic companies.

The one drawback in the State was lack of strong entrepreneurial culture as in Gujarat. Here the tendency of the entrepreneurs was to look for quick returns, turning part of projects into real estate ventures.

Striking a note optimism, Mr. Rao said the State emerged as No.1 in terms of live investment proposals worth Rs.19 lakh crore in the last five years. Even if 30 per cent of them were grounded as per industry norms, the investments would be huge. Industry sources hope the present churning in the system and in the land allotment policy both at the Centre and State would bring in transparency and boost equitable growth.

Centre to AP: Halt work on Polavaram (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/centre-ap-halt-work-polavaram-684)

The Centre has directed the Andhra Pradesh government not to proceed with the construction work of the multi-crore, multi-purpose Polavaram Project till environmental matters are decided upon. This was stated by environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Monday in the Lok Sabha. Ms Natarajan said that a letter was issued on November 1, 2010, by the ministry of environment to the AP government, asking for reasons for not complying with the additional conditions of environmental clearance.

The state government responded to this by requesting the ministry to review the change in the scope of the project. Ms Natarajan said that till a favourable response comes from the state government, the orders issued on February 8, 2011, directing the AP government not to take up work on the dam, continue to be valid.

Replying to a question, the minister informed the Lok Sabha that after environmental clearance was given to the project on October 25, 2005, the state government proposed construction of embankments on the rivers Sileru and Sabari in Chhattisgarh and Odisha to avoid submergence in these states. A public hearing in Odisha and Chhattisgarh was recommended regarding the embankments. This is yet to be complied with by the state government, the minister stated.

IT body needs IAS officer (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/it-body-needs-ias-officer/260234-60-114.html)

HYDERABAD: Trade body IT & ITeS Industry Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITsAP) urged the state government to appoint a full-time IAS officer, who can exclusively focus on the development of tier II and III cities in the state.
At present, of the `35,000 crore software exports from Andhra Pradesh, a mere `1,000 crore comes from smaller towns and cities. The remaining is from the companies located within Hyderabad. As part of its recommendation, ITsAP suggested the government should run this as a pilot project and later extend to other smaller cities including Vijaywada, Warangal, Kakinada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam.
“There is an urgent need to appoint a specially designated IAS officer, as the IT secretary to drive the IT/ITeS sector in the state,� to push the IT sector in tier-II cities in the state. It could either be an IAS officer to look after the tier-II cities or one for each city,” said V Rajanna, who recently took charge as ITs AP president. He underscored the need to bring more companies into the state to create jobs.

Counting tigers, one, two... (http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article3441443.ece)

The 2011 tiger census report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, has the total tiger population at 1,706.
Remember, Ruskin Bond's story “The Tiger in the Tunnel” or William Blake's poem, “Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright?” India has more than half of the world's tigers. As per the 2011 tiger census report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the total tiger population was estimated at approximately 1,706.

According to the 2010 tiger census by the Wildlife Institute there were 72 tigers in the State. The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, which is the largest in India spreads across 3,568 sq. km in five districts, namely Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Kurnool, Prakasam and Guntur, offers a haven for tigers. Last year, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary near Jannaram in Adilabad district was declared as a tiger reserve, the second in the State. Kawal is spread across 892 sq.km and has at least six tigers, a number of leopards and a large prey base. So how are tigers counted? Traditionally, the pugmark census was used. The jungles would be scanned and each and every tiger's pugmarks found and sizes taken. However, it was found to be unscientific, as it needed an exceptionally trained eye to identify individual tigers. Not all animals could be counted given the limited resources and time.

Methods

Therefore now, only samples of animals are counted and then projected for the entire park. For this process, basic ecology of tigers needs to be understood and non-invasive methods have to be used. The latest methods include camera trapping.

Also known as the Mark Recapture Technique, here a capture history of every individual tiger is created, which would help in identifying the number of tigers. “In this process, two cameras are tied to trees. These cameras take a photo when anything passes by. The individual figures are identified later and the tigers are counted,” explains Imran Siddiqui of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society.

These days efforts have gone hi-tech to count the big cat to save them. DNA is an important tool in this direction. Excreta samples are collected of animals in the forests. “The DNA is used to identify the species and gender. Individual genetic profiles of tigers are then created, which vary from animal to animal.

This would help identify and count the tigers,” explains Dr S. Shivaji, Scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology . CCMB is playing a significant role in conservation of endangered species.

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh record highest fish production growth rate: ASSOCHAM (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-22/news/31815920_1_fish-production-lakh-tonnes-assocham)

KOLKATA: Clocking a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 11.48 per cent during 2004-05 and 2010-11, Karnataka has emerged as the leading coastal state with highest growth of fish production according to an independent research and analysis of an apex industry body Assocham. With about five lakh tonnes of annual fish production, Karnataka accounts for almost six per cent of overall fish production in India which is currently estimated at about 91 lakh tonnes according to Assocham.
Besides, in value terms the fisheries sector in Karnataka is worth about Rs 4,000 crore. With over 300 km of coastline and almost six lakh hectares of inland waters, Karnataka has huge scope for further growth and investments in fisheries sector. Incidentally, about eight lakh fishermen are involved in fishing business across Karnataka.

Amid leading coastal states in India, Andhra Pradesh ranks second in terms of growth in fish production with a CAGR of about eight per cent and with over 13.5 lakh tonnes of fish production annually, the state accounts for over 16 per cent of country's total fish production. West Bengal (4.85 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.47 per cent), Gujarat (3.37 per cent) and Odisha (3.25 per cent) are certain other leading fish producing states in India which recorded fish production growth rate between three and four per cent during 2004-05 and 2009-10.

Kerala recorded least growth rate of fish production between the aforesaid period as the fish production has come down from about 8.66 lakh tonnes in 2008-09 to the current level of about 6.82 lakh tonnes, said Assocham. Besides, growth of fish production in Maharashtra (0.86%) was also below one per cent as the fish production has fallen from about 5.96 lakh tonnes in 2006-07 to an estimated 5.82 lakh tonnes.

Goa has registered a negative growth rate of fish production of about -33 per cent as the fish production has slipped from a whopping 9.9 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 to the current level of just about 94,000 tonnes mostly due to over-exploitation of fishery resources, highlights the Assocham analysis. Fish production in India is rising at a CAGR of about five per cent and is likely to cross 104 lakh tonnes by 2015, according to Assocham.

In terms of value, exports of fish from India are likely to reach Rs 16,000 crore by 2015 from the current level of about Rs 13,500 crore. Captured fish accounts for about 70 per cent of India's total fish production annually, while aquaculture accounts for about 30 per cent. India is the second largest fish producer in the world after China and accounts for nearly six per cent of global fish production of about 180 million tonnes, said Assocham.

Besides, India has over 8,100 kilometers of marine coastline, four million hectares of reservoirs, two million hectares of brackish water and nearly 51,000 square kilometers of continental shelf area and thus there is a huge scope for developing technology for value addition and infrastructure for fish production through public private partnership, asserts the chamber.

The units in the fish processing sector are largely small scale proprietary, partnership firms and fishermen co-operatives. There has been spectacular growth in the marine fisheries sector due to well developed harvest and post harvest infrastructure and increased demand for seafood both in the domestic and export markets, said Assocham. Of the non-coastal states, Haryana has recorded a staggering 14.7 per cent growth rate.

Andhra to wait for passage of MFI bill before review of law (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/economy/andhra-wait-passage-mfi-bill-review-law-384)

Even as finance minister Pranab Mukherjee tabled the microfinance bill in the Parliament on Wednesday, which allows the apex bank RBI to keep a firm grip on micro lending companies, the Andhra Pradesh government has not lost hope of continuing to reign these players.

“There are fundamental differences between the bill and the AP Act. While at this juncture there cannot be much done, we will wait for sometime, and if the bill is passed, we look at various ways to protect the poor borrower. It is not known now on what exactly could be done, ” said Reddy Subramanyam, principal secretary- rural development, Andhra Pradesh government.

The MFI bill, if passed, would clearly nullify the state government Act that had crushed the industry in the matter of a year after being implemented in October 2009. The Reserve Bank is then expected to dictate the regulatory norms like a cap on interest rate and other loan specifics like tenure and amount.

The Rs 30,000 crore Indian microfinance industry has found relief with the bill being tabled in the Parliament, as the AP act had put a halt on all their operations in the state. This meant zero recoveries by the companies as fallout of which most of them posted burdening losses. All the top players in the country, like SKS, Spandana, Share Asmitha, Basix are based out of Andhra Pradesh.

“The Bill mainly looks at protecting the lending companies and we evaluate later if the bill is passed on how borrower interests could be protected too,” he said.

Increase Haj quota for state: Haj committee (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Increase-Haj-quota-for-state-Haj-committee/articleshow/13401319.cms)

HYDERABAD: State Haj Committee officials demanded an increase in the state's Haj quota at the all India Haj Conference 2012 that was held in New Delhi to review the arrangements for Haj 2012 on Tuesday.

Syed Khaleeluddin Ahmed, chairman, AP State Haj Committee stressed the need for enhancement of Haj quota for Andhra Pradesh and said that this year the quota allotted is not sufficient.

The Haj Committee of India has allotted a quota of 5,764 for the state as against 6,137 last year.

Mohsina Kidwai, chairperson, Haj Committee of India, assured the state authorities that their demand would be considered. Further, Ahmed suggested that people who are have performed Haj earlier and are reapplying should be identified in the earlier stages so that others are given a chance to perform the holy pilgrimage.

Tree Huggers: The Next Generation (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/125170)

The Andhra Pradesh National Green Corps organised an interesting event to commemorate International Biological Diversity Day. School children from 12 districts including Chittoor, Kadapa, East Godavari and Srikakulam gathered at Sanjeevaiah Park on Wednesday morning for a fun-filled learning session on environment.

Borrowing from the famous Chipko Move-ment, the students hugged the trees in a symbolic gesture against illegal felling. “I felt as though I was hugging my friend. I’ve developed an attachment to the tree now. I wish I could adopt the tree,” said B. Navya, a Class IX student from Tirupati.

Some children were dressed as animals. The young eco-lovers also spent time learning about soil fertility, plantation techniques among other things. “There is a need for people to appreciate biodiversity. We believe that action is required to spread awareness. It’s our responsibility to start conservation, so we came up with these activities,” said G. Padma, NGC Project Officer.

South-west monsoon to reach Andhra Pradesh soon (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/South-west-monsoon-to-reach-Andhra-Pradesh-soon/articleshow/13419220.cms)

VISAKHAPATNAM: Even as several parts of the state sizzled as temperatures rose above 43 degree Celsius on Wednesday, there is good news with the south-west monsoon advancing into some parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Met officials said the conditions were favorable for further advancement of the monsoon into more parts of the Bay in the next 2-3 days.

While the met officials predicted that monsoon would hit the coastal areas in the state between June 6 and 8, they said pre-monsoon showers in several parts of Rayalaseema are likely on June 5. Monsoon arrives in two spells -- one from the Arabian sea and the other from the Bay of Bengal.

According to the met officials' forecast, the advancement of the monsoon at the Andaman sea is a good indication for the onset of the Arabian branch in Kerala coast. "The first spell of the rain could occur in the Rayalaseema region on June 5 or 6," meteorology and oceanography professor of Andhra University ORS Bhanu Kumar told TOI. The north costal districts are likely to witness the first spell of rain on June 8.

However, a trough on surface level chart now runs from Chhattisgarh to south Tamil Nadu across Telangana and south costal Andhra Pradesh and neighborhood.

Under its influence rain or thundershowers may occur in the state during the next 24 hours, the met officials said.

The maximum temperature of 47.5 degrees was recorded at Adilabad, followed by Ramagundam (47) while Nizamabad registered 45 degrees. Bapatla, Ongole, Kavali and Tirupati sizzled at 44, Kurnool and Nellore 43, Hyderabad recorded 42 degrees, while Anantapur and Guntur recorded 40 while Visakhapatnam also witnessed a hot day at 39 degrees.

NMDC-RINL to float JV for slurry pipeline project (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3451876.ece)

NEW DELHI, MAY 24:
NMDC and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd will float an equal joint venture to set up a 450 km slurry pipeline to transport iron ore fines and a pellet plant at Vishakapatnam.

The two companies plan to invest a total of Rs 2200 crore in the joint venture project. The pipeline between NMDC’s Bailadila mines in Chattisgarh and Visakhapatnam will have a capacity to transport 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and will entail a cost of Rs 1200 crore including the filtration plant. Another Rs 1,000 crore is being planned to invest in the 4 mtpa pellet plant.

Both entities signed a MoU to this effect on Thursday in presence of Steel Minister, Mr Beni Prasad Verma. The proposed pipeline will pass through states like Chattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

“We have applied for the right of way in these states to set up the pipeline,” said Mr N.K.Nanda, acting chairman, NMDC.

The pellet plant will utilise 4 million tonne iron ore and the rest will be sold to third party customers including RINL. The pipeline project is likely to be commissioned in about 36 months.

The Steel Minister reviewed the performance of NMDC for 2011-12 in which the company has seen a 1 per cent decline in revenues at Rs 11269 crore, despite an increase in sales at 27.3 million tonnes. The company is likely to have reported a net profit of Rs 7265 crore for the year. NMDC will be announcing its fourth quarter and fiscal 2012 results on May 28.

Hostel inmates to go on heritage trip (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hostel-inmates-to-go-on-heritage-trip/261205-60-114.html)

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has come up with an initiative to educate children on the rich culture and heritage of our state. As part of it, the APTDC will organise a one-day educational trip for the inmates of social welfare hostels free of cost.
Responding to the proposal made by special chief secretary for primary education Chandana Khan, the government has asked the APTDC to organise the tour programme. APTDC Vijayawada divisional manager J Raghupati Rao said: “We have come up with the tour programme to make the children understand our rich heritage better. We will take 100 hostel inmates of 7th class to SSC in APTDC or RTC buses to the places of historical significance and cultural importance. Initially, we are planning to organise the educational trip for students once a year.”

CBI arrests Jaganmohan Reddy in disproportionate assets case (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBI-arrests-Jaganmohan-Reddy-in-disproportionate-assets-case/articleshow/13570778.cms)

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBI-arrests-Jaganmohan-Reddy-in-disproportionate-assets-case/articleshow/13570778.cms



HYDERABAD: YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the disproportionate assets case on at 7:20pm on Sunday. The arrest was made on the third day of his questioning by the CBI.

The Andhra Pradesh high court had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail application, following which, speculation about his arrest was growing.

Earlier on Sunday, Jagan reached Dilkusha Guest House, the CBI camp office, at 10.30am. He was accompanied by Congress MP Sabbam Hari and Congress legislators Alla Nani and S Krishna Rao.

The CBI had questioned him for seven hours each on Friday and Saturday.

The CBI had been grilling Jagan as to how his wealth increased dramatically after his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy became chief minister in 2004. Jagan had officially declared that he owned assets of Rs 356 crore.

The investigating agency believes that Jagan conspired with his father to dole out favours to certain companies in return for the investments they made into his firms.

^^ What do you guys think about this?

Understanding Jagan: A story of dynasty and megabucks (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Understanding-Jagan-A-story-of-dynasty-and-megabucks/articleshow/13570843.cms)

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Understanding-Jagan-A-story-of-dynasty-and-megabucks/articleshow/13570843.cms


HYDERABAD: There is an anecdote well known in Andhra Pradesh's political circles. In the run-up to the 2004 general election, Jaganmohan Reddy, then a callow youth, laid claim to the Congress Lok Sabha ticket from Kadapa. His demand was not met. The ticket went to his father's younger brother, Vivekananda Reddy. The uncle won the seat, but Jagan tried to put "pressure" on him to resign. In the end, Vivekananda could save his seat only by running to Sonia Gandhi. Jagan, angered that he had not been obliged, took himself off to Bangalore, saying he would have nothing to do with Andhra Pradesh and its politics. He turned up only in 2008, a few months before the 2009 general election.

With the benefit of hindsight, the move to Bangalore seems to have been a ploy. CBI's investigations show that it was precisely during 2004-08 that Jagan emerged a larger-than-life operator. According to the investigating agency, the modus operandi of Jagan - fully backed by his now deceased father, chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy - was simple: allocate huge tracts of valuable land (taking advantage of the liberal policies of the government of India, which was promoting SEZs as a panacea for rapid industrial growth) to companies of all sizes and pedigrees, and in return get them to invest in his ventures. The quid pro quo was not direct; sometimes it was through numerous channels. For instance, CBI has discovered that Ramalinga Raju of Satyam scam fame had invested in a company called Vanpic whose promoter channelized the money to Jagan's ventures. Raju parted with hard cash because his infrastructure company, Maytas Infra, had been given profitable contracts.

The whole exercise required the co-option of bureaucrats and ministers. Handpicked pliant officers were detailed for the job. The officers, some of whom also extracted their cuts, did the actual paperwork and signed on the files allowing a clutch of patently unfair deals. A few of these officers are already in jail and others may follow suit. Ministers also cooperated. Mopidevi Venkataramana, until a few days ago Andhra Pradesh's excise minister and now in jail for allegedly permitting shady deals that led to allocation of a staggering 24,000 acres of land to a company in 2008 when he was the minister in charge of investments, has said that he knew nothing about the deal and that he was called to the chief minister's office and told by an all-powerful officer to affix his signature, because YSR had wanted it. He says that he could not say no because YSR had pulled him out of oblivion and made him what he was today.

The ministers and the secretaries also made their own deals on the side. For instance, CBI has told the court that KV Brahmananda Reddy, then special secretary in the investment department, had written to the collectors of two districts asking them to make available twice as much land as required for the Vanpic project (which entailed setting up of two ports) and as had been approved by the state cabinet. Once made available, half of this land was handed over to the Vanpic project and the other half to the promoter of the project in the name of another company. In another case, the deletion of three crucial words from a government order led to benefits amounting to crores of rupees to the project promoter. Gali Janardan Reddy had been allotted mines in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district for extracting iron ore to be used in his proposed steel plant as per cabinet approval. But in the government order, mining secretary Y Srilakshmi deleted three crucial words - "for captive use". As a result, Gali was able to export the iron ore to China and earn a windfall. The steel plant never came up. Srilakshmi is now in jail and has said she got the draft GO cleared by minister Sabitha Indra Reddy. The minister says she knew nothing and that Srilakshmi dealt directly with the chief minister (YSR) or his office.

The point to note is that in all these dealings, Jagan was nowhere in sight. Neither did he talk to any officer nor did he directly give any instructions. The CBI case against Jagan - three chargesheets have been filed and three more are expected - is that he was the beneficiary of all these moves. This was because when he set up media companies to bring out a newspaper - all pages colour, published from 23 centres from Day 1 and having its own presses at all the centres - and a TV station, the people who invested in equity were none other than those who had benefited from these patently unfair deals with the state government.

There are also investments from companies in Mauritius whose ownership has not been properly established. But CBI officials say that these companies were probably laundering money that had gone from India, back to the country. CBI has also stumbled upon dozens of paper companies with headquarters in places as far afield as Howrah and Rajkot that invested in Jagan's companies.

Jagan began to be seen in Andhra Pradesh from late 2008 onwards. This was around the time the newspaper began to be published. Regardless of the public claims, the media companies were floated to articulate the politics of YSR, drum up support for him and counter the news stories carried by other media outlets. The TV channel and the paper did well with liberal dollops of government advertisements.

In the 2009 general election, Jagan was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa - forcing uncle Vivekananda out, as YSR led the Congress to a second consective victory in the state, albeit with a reduced majority. YSR had been given a free hand in the selection of candidates, so most of the Congress candidates were his own men. Many of them had won the elections with funds given by YSR and they knew nobody else in politics. A few months later, when YSR suddenly died, these MLAs were left orphaned. They rallied around Jagan.

As for Jagan, he did the unthinkable. Even as his father's body lay in state he demanded the chief minister's "gaddi" from Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, who had come to offer condolences; a signature campaign was organized among MLAs (many months later Jagan told this writer that he was not behind the move). The last two and half years have seen a jostling for power with Jagan ultimately resigning from the Congress to start his own outfit - YSR Congress. His party has gone from strength to strength, helped by the confusion in the central leadership of the Congress about how to deal with him - the opinion swinging alternately between "let's appease him" and "let's punish him". With wheels of fortune spinning quickly in Andhra Pradesh, the party bosses have launched a full-fledged assault on Jagan's citadel. Whether they will succeed or not remains to seen.

They are up against a man who represents two characters: on the one hand, he is the quintessential post-liberalization politician for whom there is little to separate his politics from his business; on the other, he is cast in a feudal mode, demanding total loyalty of his men, many of whom are connected to him through ties of family, caste and business.

^^ Here we go. The real drama begins now.

Nicely timed arrest.

I don't think its been timed nicely.. There will be quite a lot of sympathy votes for that crook.. YSR congress will win most of those seats because of that and plus anti-Jagan votes will split between TDP and Congress

But I hope this guy never comes out of Jail again..

I don't think its been timed nicely.. There will be quite a lot of sympathy votes for that crook.. YSR congress will win most of those seats because of that and plus anti-Jagan votes will split between TDP and Congress

But I hope this guy never comes out of Jail again..

Vijayamma already started playing her sympathetic role.

How much support does Jagan have anyway? Surely not enough to become the CM of AP?

2 weeks to bypolls. That's a long time. This hype won't last for 2 weeks.

Heard Jagan say that this is a plan by Congress & TDP to stop his publicity programme. What's up dude? You're getting 24/7 publicity on all news channels :lol:

CBI should target KCR next.

Also, don't take anything I say personally if you're sentimental towards a particular party or region. :)

How much support does Jagan have anyway? Surely not enough to become the CM of AP?

2 weeks to bypolls. That's a long time. This hype won't last for 2 weeks.

CBI should target KCR next.

Also, don't take anything I say personally if you're sentimental towards a particular party or region. :)

No way he's going to be CM of AP but he might get away with all his ill-gotten wealth.. Its time we flog people like that in public to set an example.

People from Coastal districts say that his following is pretty high particularly among Christian population in those districts (Not offense to anyone reading this. I'm 100% secular).They estimate that this population is around 15%(Dont know how they came to this conclusion but the reason they give is that people dont change their religion officially because they lose reservations). If the other votes split up then this segment will play a role.

KCR is still a small fry.. What can CBI do to him now because he's not been in power to indulge in corruption(of that level). Maybe IT dept can do something. But surely he wont be in jail for long. Plus there will be unnecessary violence. I think KCR is a very narrow-minded politician,not because he's demanding Telangana but because he could have done so much when he was in power in UPA-1 and yet he did nothing.

Jagan will be the chiranjeevi of 2014...He will get 18-20% of the vote and play havoc for either the TDP or congress...Reddy's and Mala sun caste SC's (many who are SC Christians) will back him...

Congress just needs to focus on governance and stem the tide, with him in jail it will get 6-8 months to get back on track...Congress is planning on an Kapu consolidation in the coastal districts (even in telengana)..remains to be seen if this happens...develop urban centres and continue welfare policies for poor should be their agenda...

TDP is totally losing focus, they dont know who their enemy is!! they dont take or keep shifting stand on telegana..their base in coastal andhra is breaking bcos ppl are saying its Cong vs YSR cong now!! CBN really really needs to change things to have any say in govt formation...

^^ Ya.. CBN is totally losing it.. TDP just cant maintain status quo because they are being attacked by both TRS and YSR Congress.. I see no way out of this for them unless they fully support a separate state for Telangana..

I dont think you can count the Reddy vote in favour of YSR Congress. Can you?? Traditionally they support the Congress. And i dont see any reason why all of them would switch sides. Unless of course YSR clean sweep the elections. I say this because YSR and family members are big factionalists and they have a lot of internal rivalries as well(eg. JC Diwakar Reddy from Anantapur)

Sad thing is that the Congress has been unable to govern the state properly beacuse of various reasons.. During the first term a year before the 2009 elections YSR gave away freebies like fee reimbursements etc without any fiscal responsibility. He used to get away with such doles before by selling land in and around Hyderabad to raise money for development.. Unfortunately that is what the Congress cant do now because of the Telangana factor.

Even though Congress is governing ok (Not great but just Ok) given the circumstances, people just do not want them back.

Kapus are not a single consolidated caste.. Kapus from coastal Andhra(specially Krishna, WG and Prakasam dists) are land owning forward castes.. While most Kapus are BC's in Telangana and Rayalseema.. With many divisions between them. I dont see any way they will consolidate themselves into a single vote bank

^^ Ya.. CBN is totally losing it.. TDP just cant maintain status quo because they are being attacked by both TRS and YSR Congress.. I see no way out of this for them unless they fully support a separate state for Telangana..

I dont think you can count the Reddy vote in favour of YSR Congress. Can you?? Traditionally they support the Congress. And i dont see any reason why all of them would switch sides. Unless of course YSR clean sweep the elections. I say this because YSR and family members are big factionalists and they have a lot of internal rivalries as well(eg. JC Diwakar Reddy from Anantapur)

Sad thing is that the Congress has been unable to govern the state properly beacuse of various reasons.. During the first term a year before the 2009 elections YSR gave away freebies like fee reimbursements etc without any fiscal responsibility. He used to get away with such doles before by selling land in and around Hyderabad to raise money for development.. Unfortunately that is what the Congress cant do now because of the Telangana factor.

Even though Congress is governing ok (Not great but just Ok) given the circumstances, people just do not want them back.

Kapus are not a single consolidated caste.. Kapus from coastal Andhra(specially Krishna, WG and Prakasam dists) are land owning forward castes.. While most Kapus are BC's in Telangana and Rayalseema.. With many divisions between them. I dont see any way they will consolidate themselves into a single vote bank
Yes you are right. CBN has to take a call/bet and move forward, else the TDP will be decimated..

Reddy's as you say dont have any real reason to jump ship unless ofcourse it becomes clear that Jagan will win the elections..one of the reasons cong went for Jagans arrest is to neutralize him for the long term..

The Kapu bet is a plan which bcos of the reasons you sighted is difficult (also the reason why it has never happened even though they are numerically much higher than the reddy's or the Kamma's) ..but sources say that if Reddy's desert cong then Kapu's are the only ones who will save them..chiranjeevi can be a emotional rallying point along with botsa..

Kiran reddy is doing rather well only given the havoc circumstances..but nowhere close to win the election...If jagan stays in for sometime, this will give him time to perform..if not then cong will perish..

AP2014 will be the most interesting of all elections!! i feel it will be big time hung elections and AP will have another elections come 2015-16

That is if it goes to 2014 at all :).. But hung it will be for sure divided on regional lines
And I dont think anyone can form a government so it will be presidents rule and another election after 6 months.

That is if it goes to 2014 at all :).. But hung it will be for sure divided on regional lines
And I dont think anyone can form a government so it will be presidents rule and another election after 6 months.
It will go i think bro..TDP does not want elections now, so if No confidence motion is moved by anyone else they will stage a walkout/abstain...

It will go i think bro..TDP does not want elections now, so if No confidence motion is moved by anyone else they will stage a walkout/abstain...

Now I think the government is safe but if YSR Congress clean sweeps the by-polls it will be different because there will be a lot of attrition from Congress as well.

I hope the governance will improve from now on and hope the state starts getting some serious investment. If you see in the last 8 years the government has really not done any real development and planning. Really sad that YSR not only indulged in corruption but also made businessman indulge in it and sullied AP's and Hyderabad's name totally.

I actually agree with you two on the point that Kiran Kumar Reddy is not doing so bad given the current circumstances. Doubt any other party would have done better if they were in his shoes. Ever since he became a CM, either TRS or Jagan were haunting him. Even his own party members launched attacks on him but he hung in there.

A key event which is to come in the next few months is the World Biological Diversity Conference. He is placing a lot of emphasis on this and hoping it to be a success as it's very prestigious to Hyderabad & AP in general.

Out of 18 by-election seats.

Parakala - will be won by BJP.
out of remaining 17 seats - Congress - 5/6, TDP - 7/8 and YSR Congress - 4/5.

After these elections , The Main film Telangana statehood will resume....

Out of 18 by-election seats.

Parakala - will be won by BJP.
out of remaining 17 seats - Congress - 5/6, TDP - 7/8 and YSR Congress - 4/5.

After these elections , The Main film Telangana statehood will resume....

You are being quite optimistic by saying that the BJP will win the Parkala seat. Although I hope it does.

The Main film's shooting is yet to be completed.. It is expected to be released 3 months before the next general elections. Till then even the TRS has nothing to gain by prematurely restarting the movement.

Out of 18 by-election seats.

Parakala - will be won by BJP.
out of remaining 17 seats - Congress - 5/6, TDP - 7/8 and YSR Congress - 4/5.

After these elections , The Main film Telangana statehood will resume....
ha-ha main film shooting with KCR as the hero eh..i wonder how this man even has any credibility left for the telangana cause!!

Interesting dude that you say TDP will win 7/8..i feel it will be either a YSR sweep or equal stakes btw Cong n YSRCong...Parkala i am not too sure, TRS may win...

It will be interesting nevertheless..lets keep this thread alive on political news as well :-)

Interesting dude that you say TDP will win 7/8..i feel it will be either a YSR sweep or equal stakes btw Cong n YSRCong...Parkala i am not too sure, TRS may win...


Even I was surprised by the prediction of 7 for TDP... Any strong local candidates contesting there on a TDP ticket?

These elections are going to be intense.

IIT-JEE 2012 to implement Andhra Pradesh High Court's decision (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-31/news/31921784_1_iit-jee-obc-quota-reservation)

The Andhra Pradesh High Court's decision to strike down the 4.5% sub-quota for minorities within OBC reservation for IIT-JEE will be implemented, unless any further legal development or information from ministry of HRD comes by June 13, the IIT-JEE 2012 organising chairman Prof G B Reddy said on Thursday.

"In the absence of any further legal development or information from Ministry of HRD before June 13, the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court will be implemented by ignoring the provision for reservation of 4.5% seats,' Prof Reddy said.

He also said the seats meant for OBC (NCL)-Minority will be converted into OBC (NCL) category. "Therefore, all the short-listed candidates are advised to note that availability of 4.5% reservation for OBC(NCL)-Minority shall depend on the legal developments till June 13 and hence they may register the choice of courses accordingly," Prof Reddy added.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court' decision was to strike down the 4.5% sub-quota for minorities within OBC reservation. According to news reports, this year's IIT-JEE students who are in the middle of the counselling process, were expected to be allotted seats by June 14.

With more than 400 seats kept for the minority sub-quota, students who were hoping to get a college and course of their choice may now lose their chances of getting these seats. Instead, as per the court's decision, they will now have to compete in the overall OBC quota, which is at 27%.

Dairy business in Andhra Pradesh hits jackpot (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Dairy-business-in-Andhra-Pradesh-hits-jackpot/articleshow/13750916.cms)

HYDERABAD: The dairy industry in Andhra Pradesh has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years to be currently worth Rs 5,000 crore. With around 200 small and large dairy farms coming up in the city in the past four years, the agro-based dairy business seems more lucrative than ever.

The rise in the demand for milk and milk products has catapulted the state to the third position in the country in terms of milk production with 1.12 crore tonnes produced in 2010-11. With dairy farms and processing plants of different sizes scattered across city suburbs such as Shadnagar, Patencheru, Madhapur and along the Nagarjuna Sagar and Siddipet Roads, industry experts peg the mushrooming of these farms and of those across the state to the burgeoning population and the retail revolution in the city.

Significantly, in a bid to protect their lands, many farm owners set up dairy farms on the city outskirts. Dairy farming consultant Dr Padmakar Rao says, "The availability of good quality fodder and access to water helped these farmers on the outskirts of the city to get a foothold in the business."

Experts pointed out that though the government had liberalised its policies on private entities making a foray into the dairy business in late 1991, it is only now that the private players have made substantial progress.

K Durga Prasad, chief operating officer, Heritage Foods India Ltd, says, "Earlier the market was monopolized by APDDCF and Visakha Dairy. Now, there are many private players such as Heritage, Tirumala and Creamline apart from others such as Masqati and Bilal.

Waking up to the big money in milk, Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation ( APDDFC) will start mapping every drop of milk procured and sold. The cooperative had a turnover of Rs 450 crore in the last fiscal and milk sales have registered a growth of 9.82% with 1,395 lakh litres sold in 2011-12, according to vice-chairman and managing director, Mohd Ali Rafath.

Experts estimate that the consumption of milk will increase manifold over the next decade. Bhaskar Reddy, managing director, Creamline Dairy Corporation says, "According to national statistics, milk consumption will increase from 112 million tonnes this year to a staggering 200 million tonnes by 2020."

Smart card project helps the unbanked poor, reduces fraud (http://www.livemint.com/2012/06/03205034/Smart-card-project-helps-the-u.html)

About 12.7 million people are getting timely and full wages under About 12.7 million people are getting timely and full wages under MGNREGS through this scheme through this scheme

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government conceived the smart card project as a means to extend mainstream banking and financial services to the poor by using technology-based solutions to ensure efficient and timely transfer of government benefits and minimize leakages.

When the government started piloting the project six years ago, few believed it would go beyond that stage. The concept was new to banks, finding the right technology service provider was a challenge, and there were doubts about the execution and the viability of the project.


But today, the smart card project is helping nearly 12.7 million poor people across the state get timely and full payment of their social security pensions and wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which promises 100 days of work a year to at least one member of every poor rural household.
The project has five key stakeholders—the state government, banks, technology service providers, business correspondents and beneficiaries.

The state government releases the funds meant for the payment of wages under MGNREGS and pensions to the banks, and provides details of the eligible beneficiaries.

In turn, the banks open no-frills savings accounts and issue smart cards within three weeks to the beneficiaries.

RRE-III flagged off to create HIV/AIDS awareness in AP (http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=69389&sid=2)

The Red Ribbon Express-III (RRE-III) was flagged off in Secundrabad initiating the AIDS awareness programme in Andhra Pradesh. The train which was flagged off by Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi is scheduled to tour eight districts and educate the rural masses about prevention of HIV/AIDS in the state.

Nearly 11,000 people visited the Red Ribbon express which arrived at Secunderabad station on Monday. The ten-coach train is moving with a motto of “Embarking on the journey of life.” The main objective of this RRE-III is to create awareness among the masses in the rural parts of the country. The campaign is being initiated by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Earlier, Ratna Kishore, principal secretary, Health, Medical & Family welfare held a meeting with Additional Joint collectors of all halting districts, Symala Rao, Project Director (FAC), APSACS and HoDs (Head of Departments) of all line departments and reviewed the preparedness and arrangements for the awareness programme.

Flagging off the train, the Chief Secretary explained about the background of the launching of RRE and the scenario of HIV in Andhra Pradesh. He stressed that the virus is very fragile in the state and with the efforts of NACO and APSACS, the prevalence of HIV is decreased significantly.

Emphasizing on the successful RRE campaign, “RRE has been very much successful in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS among the rural and vulnerable masses in the country. Therefore I request all the government and non-government agencies to make this endeavour a grand success,” said Pankaj Dwivedi, CS, Government of AP.

Earlier the train was flagged off by Union Minister of Heath & Family Welfare, on 12.1.2012 from Delhi. The third phase of Red Ribbon Express (RRE) is mainly to reach out to a larger portion of the rural poor. Today, as India is having third largest population suffering with HIV/AIDS, this programme seeks to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, promote safe sex and reduce discrimination against AIDS victims in the country. With doctors and volunteers on board, the train will not only provide counselling but also help people in testing and anti-retro viral treatment. The train will travel across the country for one year and stop at 163 stations en route.

Syndicate Bank launches ‘mega gold loan' campaign in AP (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3493924.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

HYDERABAD, JUNE 5:
Syndicate Bank has launched a ‘Mega Gold Loan' campaign across all its branches in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts.

“The campaign, coinciding with crop loan season, is expected to serve the farming community and supplement the need of crop finance,'' Syndicate Bank said in a release.

Under the scheme, Rs 1,900 per gram of gold of 75 per cent of net value of told would be given as loan if the tenure of is less than 12 months.

For loans with a tenure of 12-24 months, Rs 800 per gram or 75 per cent of net value will be offered at 11.75 per cent interest.

The main aim of the campaign is to mobilise an incremental business of Rs 100 crore under the jewel loan portfolio by September 30, 2012, the release added.

Any predictions??

Don't know about other seats but I strongly believe that BJP is going to win the Parkala seat.

Any predictions??

Don't know about other seats but I strongly believe that BJP is going to win the Parkala seat.


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=695544&page=21
thread #415

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=695544&page=21
thread #415

Ya I remember what I had said at that time but i thought T-JAC's support for TRS would ruin BJP's chances.. Anyway its just 34 more hours before we know the reults and there's already a talk of President's rule in the media :lol:

Ya I remember what I had said at that time but i thought T-JAC's support for TRS would ruin BJP's chances.. Anyway its just 34 more hours before we know the reults and there's already a talk of President's rule in the media :lol:

why to go to president rule.

It would be better to go for fresh elections with/without division along with Karnataka which is in it's last year rule.

where Sadanada Gowda was saying, their may not be early elections by December provided if any other Big state is going to elections, Then Congress Govt at central can propose for Elections in Karnataka as well.

It's is a clean Sweep by YSR CP Party (15 Seats) , Congress ( 2 seats ) and Parkal Seat (TRS).

will this equation put Kiran Kumar Govt into Trouble and what impact does it have on Telangana issue.

Kiran reddy govt wont fall bcos TDP will walk out in a no-confidence vote...

YSR cong has become the opposition now!! CBN must be going mad and will see a huge section join the YSR cong now..

Huge win for jagan, will teach cong some lessons in hypocrisy..but bad overall for AP...

^^ Its bad for everyone. It might be congress hypocrisy but that does not mean Jagan should not be tried in Disappropriate assets case..

I'm being curious here but even if Jagan or A.Raja is found guilty of all charges what will be the maximum Jail term that they will get?

I dont know whats happening in this country but I heard two people talking on the street. One guy said that Jagan is being targeted unnecessarily and that he should be left alone :ohno:. The other guy couldn't say anything he just looked at him condescendingly.

The sooner elections happen here the better for everyone in the state..

^^ Its bad for everyone. It might be congress hypocrisy but that does not mean Jagan should not be tried in Disappropriate assets case..

I'm being curious here but even if Jagan or A.Raja is found guilty of all charges what will be the maximum Jail term that they will get?

I dont know whats happening in this country but I heard two people talking on the street. One guy said that Jagan is being targeted unnecessarily and that he should be left alone :ohno:. The other guy couldn't say anything he just looked at him condescendingly.

The sooner elections happen here the better for everyone in the state..
Maximum jail term cant be predicted now for Jagan..Raja i think its 8 years under PCAct....

we indian ppl are ourselves corrupt and hence are not too agitated when we the likes of Jagan etc..

POWER & POLITICS

Congress Must Realise that Jagan's Rise is not just an Andhra Coup

If the Congress fails to accept dynastic succession in the states, its local leaders would either float their own parties or join a regional outfit to ensure their progeny's political future

Last week, a Big South Story was lost in the cacophony of the Presidential race. It wasn’t just another story on the rise of a son. In the massive victory of the YSR Congress is hidden a secret: the rise of the South as an indomitable challenge to the established national leadership. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s victory wasn’t in doubt. It was the margin and message of his triumph that signalled the likely fall of yet another Congress bastion. Andhra Pradesh is the only southern state that the Congress has been holding uninterrupted for the past 10 years. While the rest of the south betrayed the Congress, Andhra Pradesh in 2012 enabled it to reach the 200-mark figure in the Lok Sabha after almost a decade.
But 2012 is not 2009 for the Congress. In the past few months, it has lost almost every Assembly and Lok Sabha by-election. The YSR Congress has 17 MLAs and two Lok Sabha members now. Fifty-year-old Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, Andhra’s suave chief minister, remains in office but hasn’t been able to impose his authority. He is the youngest of the 13 Congress chief ministers to have ruled the state, yet he hasn’t been able to stop Jagan’s juggernaut from trampling the party. It is a measure of Jagan’s fighting strategy that his party could win 15 of the 18 Assembly seats even though he is in jail, facing a corruption witch-hunt. The Congress couldn’t even take advantage of the three-way
split between its rivals. Voters trusted a tainted Jagan than a holier-than-thou Kiran. If the current swing in Jagan’s favour continues unabated, the YSR Congress will soon replace the official Congress. Then the Grand Old Party would have given yet another big state on a platter to one of its own siblings. It lost Tamil Nadu to regional parties three decades ago. In Karnataka, it vacated its space first to the Janata Dal, and later to the BJP because it failed to recognise the new leaders. Even in a tiny state like Puducherry, the leadership couldn’t read the writing on the wall when it denied power to a regional leader; when the elections finally happened, N Rangasamy won after leaving the Congress and floating his own All India NR Congress.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYaMyhlUTrw/T-BZG3EfOkI/AAAAAAAACM4/8Z8sGmbtYpU/s400/Jagan-M.jpg

The fault lies with the Congress central leadership, which hasn’t learnt its lessons from the many electoral debacles of the past. As long as YSR was alive, no Central leader was able to dictate terms. He was a master of means and methods. He not only demolished Chandrababu Naidu’s halo but also made regional parties look like pigmies. He ruled through the might of the state and the mesmerism of money power. Barring Telangana, his writ ran large over almost every corner of Andhra. If there can’t be a Congress without a Gandhi at the Centre, it was almost a sin to think of an Andhra Congress without YSR. As he ruthlessly ran the state, he also trained his son Jagan Mohan in the same methods that sustained him in power. The Central leadership was totally oblivious of the generational transition taking place right under its nose. For others, Jagan was just an MP who was asked by his father to build a business empire and take care of the financial needs of the family and the state Congress. But he was secretly building his mass base and sharing his assets with trusted colleagues. According to local Congress sources, it was YSR who contributed over 30 per cent of the Central political collections for contesting the general elections. Jagan quietly adopted his father’s techniques and secrets of political commerce to his advantage.

His phenomenal rise as a political leader in his own right appears to be part of a spreading trend visible in many other states. If the Congress fails to accept dynastic succession in the states, its local leaders would either float their own parties or join a regional outfit to ensure their progeny’s political future. The Congress was replaced by NTR because it didn’t give recognition to any local leader. The Gowdas could stage a comeback because the local Congress was being run from New Delhi. In Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi has already carved out a succession plan for the DMK. Andhra Pradesh has joined the elite familial club of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya where democratic means are being used to impose dynastic succession.

The message from Andhra is loud and clear. The Congress and the BJP must stop ignoring genuine mass leaders from the states. The voters are willing to suffer a local leader—dirty or clean—who can do the job. The Andhra verdict also means that the country is gladly accepting the rule of family-owned smaller political parties and giving a thumbs down to national leaders lacking a popular base.

prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com

Follow me on Twitter @PrabhuChawla

source:http://prabhuchawla.blogspot.in/2012/06/congress-must-realise-power-politics.html

Megalithic burial site found in Kadapa (http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article3565463.ece)

A megalithic burial site dating back to 500 BC was detected near Devandlapalli village in Rayavaram panchayat of Tsundupalle mandal in Kadapa district.

A study of megalithic culture in Kadapa district was initiated by Robert Bruce Foote and he reported the first megalithic habitation site in 1914 at Yellanur village, which was published in The Foote Collection of Indian Pre-Historic and Proto-historic antiquities catalogue raisonne by Madras Government Press.

TREASURE HUNTING

In archaeological explorations conducted by Associate Professor G. Sambasiva Reddy, Assistant Professor of History and Archaeology and Assistant Profesor of Geology K. Raghu Babu of Yogi Vemana University, a complex of 20 megalithic monuments were noticed and some of them were dolmens and remaining were dolmen encircles with slabs the left over monuments, dolmenoids-cists encircles with slabs.

All the monuments were disturbed by treasure hunters, every burial encountered with pottery pieces normally black and red ware, red ware etc. were noticed. Significantly, two of the dolmens on north-western orthostat bearing on the inner surface depicting tortoise, leaf-like structures, human with weapon and sun like diagrams with red ochre and white pigments were noticed. Another dolmen depicted two elephants alongside each other and elephant human figures drawn in white pigment. Chronologically the megalithic assigned in Rayalaseema region to 500 BC based on C14 (Carbon) dating method.

The exploration team appealed to District Collector V. Anil Kumar, officials of the State Archaeology and Hyderabad circle of Archaeological Survey of India to protect the megalithic monumental complex in Kadapa district for future generations.

Scholarship distributed to students (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3565680.ece)

“It does not matter where you study, if you have the will power to work hard, you will succeed in life,” State Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy told students at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here on Saturday.

Scholarships were distributed to 430 meritorious students and school kits to over 4,000 kids studying in Municipal Schools in Vijayawada by the Lanco Foundation. Each student was given an amount of Rs.5,000 for the purpose of education and a school kit which consisted of a school bag, geometry box and a 100-page notebook.

The Lanco Group Chairman and Vijayawada Member of Parliament Lagadapati Rajagopal said that though municipal schools are criticised for not having proper infrastructure these kids were working hard and coming out in flying colours in academics. He asked the students to “Not just take the school kits and leave but also work hard to get the highest mark this academic year”.

Engineering department lifts DRM Cup (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3568399.ece)

Divisional Railway Manager Anurag, who attended the valedictory as chief guest, gave away the trophies, prizes and mementoes.

Engineering department emerged as the overall champion to lift the second DRM Cup for the inter-department shuttle badminton tournament that concluded at the Railway Institute here on Sunday. The four-day tourney witnessed 14 teams comprising 70 shutters from various departments and railway institutes vying for honour in four segments - singles and doubles in both men and veteran categories.

Railway Protection Force Ch. Veeranjenayulu bagged the men’s single’s title defeating K Bhanu Prasad of Engineering 21-17, 18-21, 21-18. The doubles honours went to K. Bhanu Prasad, who partnered Dhanunjaya Rao to beat G. Srinivasa Rao and P. Venkateswara Rao 21-17, 10-21, 21-14.

In the veteran segment saw P. Srinivasa Rao bagging a grand doubles by winning both the singles and doubles. Mr. Rao took the better of P. Nagamalleswara Rao 21-16, 19-21, 21-17 and in the doubles he partnered Nagamalleswara O to beat K. Reddaiah and G. Sriniavsa Rao 21-19, 19-21, 21-18.

Divisional Railway Manager Anurag, who attended the valedictory as chief guest, gave away the trophies, prizes and mementoes.

The organisers felicitated Mr. Md. Basha, a mail guard, who is a senior-most badminton player. “Mr. Basha who is retiring this month-end had played many inter-railway tournaments,” said Arjuna Rao, Welfare Officer (Sports). District Sports Development Officer P. Ramakrishna, Senior Divisional Engineer (co-ordination) A.K. Sinha, Divisional Sports Officer and Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Ramesh Chandra, Railway Institute chairman and Divisional Engineer (East) G. Srinivasa Rao, SCR Mazdoor Union Divisional Secretary Swamy Charan, SC & ST Association Divisional Secretary Y. Kondala Rao and Employees Singh Divisional Secretary Venkata Subbaiah took part in the function.

Selection

A Vijayawada division badminton team will be picked from this tournament to take part in the South Central Railway inter-divisional shuttle tournament to be held in July at Secunderabad.

Andhra Pradesh APTET May 2012 result (http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/6/25/38-Andhra-Pradesh-APTET-May-2012-result-2012.html)

Andhra Pradesh APTET May 2012 result is highly awaited among the students who had written the test essential to become eligible for recruitment as a teacher in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Previously the School Education Department of Andhra Pradesh had invited application for APTET from the candidates who aspire to be teachers for class I to VIII in the several government schools across the state.
Recently, the National Council of Teacher Education has laid down the various rules. One of these rules says that in order to be teachers, the candidate should qualify for the teacher eligibility exam conducted by the respective states. Andhra Pradesh APTET exam was held keeping in view these guidelines.
The declaration of APTET results 2012 will bring smile on many faces.

SKS Microfinance finds jobs for 248 retrenched staffers (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3568442.ece)

HYDERABAD, JUNE 25:
SKS Microfinance Ltd has secured jobs for 248 retrenched employees in collaboration with corporate and consulting agencies.

SKS had organised job fairs in Hyderabad, Vijayawada for all displaced employees after providing them with training, reorientation. “An additional 255 candidates have been shortlisted for various positions,’’ SKS said in a release on Monday.

Many organisations including Coromandel International, Genius Consultants, Reliance Life Insurance Company, Smaat Aqua Technologies Pvt Ltd, Tikona Digital Networks, TeamLease Services and TMI Networks had participated in the job fairs.

The Hyderabad-based company had earlier retrenched employees in view of mounting losses it has been facing due to crisis in the sector triggered by AP Microfinance (Regulation of Moneylending) Act 2010.

SKS’s scrip gained 4.19 per cent to end at Rs 68.15 on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh to get its fill of rain: Met officials (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-to-get-its-fill-of-rain-Met-officials/articleshow/14395743.cms)

VISAKHAPATNAM: Those who have been worried over the extended dry spell in the state despite the onset of monsoon can breathe easy as Met officials are confident that Andhra Pradesh would start getting its normal quota of rainfall in a day or two.

Weather experts on Monday quashed the rumours of a break in monsoonal activity and asserted that the rainfall in the state would be widespread with normal rainfall expected in July. They said that the third spell of the monsoon would cover the entire state and the country as conditions are conducive to good rains.

By the first week of the July, the monsoon trough or axis would be formed, paving the way for rains. "The rainfall activity would come down if the monsoon cycle travels towards the foot of the Himalayas, leading to a lull in monsoonal activity. But conditions are favourable for a good monsoon," A Atchyuta Rao, assistant meteorologist at Cyclone Warning Centre, told TOI. Weather officials also ruled out any interference by the El Nino phenomenon and said that the monsoon had only been delayed by three days. They said that Telangana and south coastal Andhra had received heavy rainfall in the first spell.

There was good amount of rainfall too in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, besides in north coastal Andhra and north Telangana in the second spell due to upper air circulation in north-west Bay of Bengal. Rao pointed out that most of the areas in AP were covered in the first two spells of monsoon except Nellore and some parts of Rayalaseema. "The remaining parts would be covered in the third spell, which should start in a couple of days," he explained.

The rains would continue in broken spells in case there is a low pressure or depression over the Bay of Bengal. However, there is presently no proper system over the Bay of Bengal except for a seasonal low pressure trough, which is not stable. "If it has a supporting system of upper air circulation, then there would be good rains," experts said.

According to the long-range forecast made by the India Meteorological Department, some regions may end up getting 96% rainfall as against the 98% predicted in the first forecast in April. In that sense, there would be a 2% depreciation in rainfall in the months of August and September.

"Once the third spell begins, the entire state would witness normal rainfall in July and distribution of rainfall would be equal," Rao added.

http://www.andhraheadlines.com/state/welcome-banner-for-nithyananda-in-guntur-4-102372.html

Vanpic oustees remove fence, plough land (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Vanpic-oustees-remove-fence-plough-land/articleshow/14411272.cms)

HYDERABAD: With more and more farmers pressing for return of their land acquired for the Vanpic project in Prakasam district, the movement to take up cultivation in Vanpic fields has gained momentum. In fact, rural development minister Dokka Manikyavaraprasad set the ball rolling by tilling the land at Allur village in Kothapatnam mandal on June 4.

CPI leader K Narayana led a group of ryots at Gundaipalem on Tuesday and removed the fences put up for the Vadrevu and Nizampatnam Port and Industrial Corridor (Vanpic) project. Last week, a group of dalits entered the lands in Peddaganjam village and threatened to undertake sowing operations. "Our lands have been taken away for the project and our lives have turned upside down. We will not wait any more. Our lands must be returned immediately,"" said farmer Devaiah.

AP Rythu Sangam district secretary Ranga Rao said jobs were promised by the Vanpic promoters. ""The promises of Vanpic promoters to set up industries in the last three years remained hollow. Not a single industrial unit has been launched. The oustees are unable to eke out a livelihood as their lands have been taken over by the promoters at cheaper rates,"" he pointed out. Several farmers complained that their lands were forcibly taken away.

With Vanpic promoter Nimmagadda Prasad cooling his heels in Chanchalguda Prison in connection with the Jagan disproportionate assets case, farmers and dalits are now demanding that their lands be given back to allow them to cultivate since the project is a non-starter. ""We used to cultivate paddy and harvest 30-35 bags of paddy per acre. With no industrial activity, we want the government to hand over the lands to us,"" said farmers sangham leader Srinivas Rao.

Anti-Vanpic struggle committee leader Shankar Rao urged the government to cancel the GOs on allotment of lands on the lines of its recent move to scrap the GOs on Brahmani Steels, promoted by mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy. Meanwhile, the minister has urged the farmers not to take the law into their hands by occupying the Vanpic fields. He said the Congress government is seized of the matter and would try to do justice to the oustees.

Chance for those who clear Eamcet to get doubts cleared (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3575943.ece)

The admission into engineering, medicine and agriculture colleges through the EAMCET-2012 will begin very soon with the results and ranks of entrance examination to be declared on June 30.

Majority of the students wishing to take up an engineering course are in a dilemma as how to choose a particular college or stream of engineering. To address the queries and doubts of the students, The Hindu Education Plus proposes to organise a career counselling programme State wide and as part of that the programme will be conducted in Vijayawada on July 1 (Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Khammam on July 3 (Tuesday) and July 4 (Wednesday) at Guntur.

Students opting for medicine or dental courses need to attend the counselling programme to be organised at Siddhartha Academy Auditorium on July 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with those aspiring for a seat in engineering or bio-technology. Experts will clarify all the doubts about what does a particular stream of engineering or medicine/dental courses entail.

The event will be organised only for Engineering seat aspirants at TTDC (Training and Technology Development Centre), Yellendu Cross Road in Khammam from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., while at Guntur also it will be organised for Engineering aspirants at Sri Venkateswara Vignana Mandiram, Opposite Hindu College.

This will make the choice of stream easier for students as they can come to a conclusion as to what really interests them and for their rank which courses would be on offer. Should one look a good college or a good course is the common question and such tricky ones would be answered threadbare.

Students need to register through e-mail or in person at The Hindu office at Autonagar in Vijayawada or contact 0866-2553033 for further details. A registration fee of Rs.100 will be charged and a career guide book will be given free to all those who register and attend the Career Counselling programme.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology (Autonomous); TV Partner: TV 5; and Radio Partner: BIG FM 92.7.

Tie-up with ANU on promotion of sports: SAAP chief (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3575917.ece)

State Government had allocated Rs.220 crore for sports in the budget with an aim to build mini stadiums at mandal headquarters and at assembly constituencies’ level, said T.R.K.Rao

Speaking at the valedictory function of the six-week Sports Authority of India (SAI) coaching on the Acharya Nagarjuna University campus, Mr. T.R.K Rao, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh said that Government increased the sports budget 11-fold (earlier budget was Rs.20 crores) and was keen on rewarding the successful sportspersons and sited the cash awards to ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and kabaddi players Nagalakshmi, Mamata Poojari for winning the world championship.

After inspecting the sporting infrastructure on the university campus, he said that a broad understanding would be reached with the ANU for the promotion of sports and games in the region. The ANU has carved out a niche for itself by conducting many national events and also all India inter-university fixtures. All the 64 candidates, who completed the course in athletics, kho kho, kabaddi and basketball, were handed over certificates by SAAP chief and ANU Vice Chancellor K. Viyyanna Rao.

The ANU vice-chancellor expressed his thanks to the SAI for allotting the coaching course to the university and felt the successful candidates will transfer the knowledge and skills they had acquired from the course by taking up coaching assignments to produce quality athletes.

The SAI coordinator for Andhra Pradesh Jagmohan, A. Adinarayana, observer from SAI, Bangalore and coaches who conducted the classes took part in the function. Earlier, SAAP chief, as per the suggestion of Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken, visited the Volga Archery Academy at Mahanadu Road and inspected the facilities and interacted with the archers.

He visited the filed, dormitory (for players) and rooms for the coaches. Although he felt that the width of the field was narrow, he was impressed by overall facilities and congratulated the coaches and administrators for their committed efforts in producing international archers, said academy chairman Cherukuri Satyanarayana. Mr. Rao visited the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium at Vijayawada and Brahmananda Reddy Stadium at Guntur and inspected the facilities. “He was keen on introducing the play and pay scheme in majority of the sporting segments and also asked the district sports authority to submit proposals on the on-going projects,” said Krishna District Sports Development Officer P. Ramakrishna

Sowing gathers pace in Andhra Pradesh on good rainfall (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/sowing-gathers-pace-in-andhra-pradesh-on-good-rainfall/articleshow/14443997.cms)

PUNE: Sowing has picked up in Andhra Pradesh following good rains in the last two days. But farmers in Maharashtra are worried with the scarce reservoir water being kept aside for drinking purpose.

"Only 8% sowing has been completed till now. Crops of moong and urad have been affected the most. Standing crops are also getting affected due to water shortage as groundwater has gone down and there is no other source of irrigation," said Maharashtra agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat.

About 18% cotton sowing has been completed till now in Maharashtra, which has highest cotton acreage in the country. "There is no or sporadic rainfall in cotton-growing regions like Buldhana, Vashim and Akola. However, if we get good rains in the next few days, there should not be much worry," said KR Kranthi, director, Central Cotton Research Institute, Nagpur.

The state government recently mandated use of water in reservoirs only for drinking purpose and stopped supply to farms. The pre-monsoon rainfall during April and May was also less than last year's in Maharashtra.

In Andhra Pradesh, sowing has picked up in the last two to three days as about six to seven districts received good rainfall. "Sowing has just begun in Andhra Pradesh. The delay in sowing is of only 10 days. We are watching the situation carefully," said K Madhusudhana Rao, agriculture commissioner, Andhra Pradesh.

According to the Andhra Pradesh agricultural department, cotton sowing has been completed on 6.54 lakh ha till Tuesday as against 4.76 lakh ha during the comparable period during last year.

‘AP third in cases of SC/ST atrocities’ (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3580028.ece?homepage=true)

Conviction rate was 13 p.c. during 2008-2010 as against the national average of 31 p.c.

Andhra Pradesh ranks next only to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the number of atrocities committed against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

As against the 38,449 cases registered under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act throughout the country in 2010, Rajasthan accounted for 6,298 cases, Uttar Pradesh 6,222 and Andhra Pradesh 5,074. Apart from the high incidence of cases, the conviction rate in AP is as low as 13 per cent from 2008-10 compared to the national average of 31 per cent.

PENDENCY OF CASES

Andhra Pradesh is, however, better than other States in terms of pendency of the cases pegged at 70 per cent against the national average of 80 per cent. “Pendency of cases in Andhra Pradesh is high and there is concern about the low conviction rate. The government should explore all possible ways to remedy the situation,” Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik has said.

Mr. Wasnik was briefing the media after an elaborate review of the status of implementation of the POA and Protection of Civil Rights Acts in the State. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials attended the three-hour meeting which discussed the initiatives launched by the government to ensure all-round development of weaker sections.

VIGILANCE PANELS

The Union Minister wanted the State to set up special courts, as and when required, to exclusively deal with atrocities cases for easy trial and better conviction. In addition, a State-level vigilance and monitoring committee headed by the Chief Minister that could review the situation once in two years and similar bodies at the district-level for quarterly review of the situation should be set up.

“The authorities concerned can register cases under the POA in case of manual scavenging in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.

Replying to queries, he said the Centre sought views from the State governments on the SC categorisation issue and a final decision could be taken only after the States submitted their proposals in this direction.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy briefed the Union Minister about the high power panel constituted to recommend measures for effective implementation of the SC/ST Sub-Plan.

The government initiated stringent action against those involved in the recent attack on Dalits in Lakshmipet in Srikakulam district to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

Several of the accused in the incident had already been arrested while 11 were still at large.

COMPENSATION

The government, on its part, had provided compensation to some affected families and efforts were underway to rehabilitate them.

Ten districts staring at dry spell as rain plays truant (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Ten-districts-staring-at-dry-spell-as-rain-plays-truant/articleshow/14480970.cms)

HYDERABAD: The monsoon seems to have failed to bring cheer to many parts of the state. Despite rainfall at several areas in the last two days, the situation remains worrisome with at least 10 districts recording deficit rains. In fact, officials apprehend that all the four Rayalaseema districts and Nellore in Andhra region could be staring at a drought-like situation.

The situation is most dismal in Anantapur district of Rayalaseema. Even ten days after the arrival of south-west monsoon in the state, Anantapur has not seen the benevolence of the rain god. This comes at a time when the farmers in many mandals are still agitating for adequate weather insurance amount for the crop loss last year.

As of June 27, Anantapur and Nellore are the only districts in the state which fall under the 'scanty rainfall' category after recording minus 72% and minus 76% rainfall respectively. As against an average rainfall of 59.3 mm as on June 27, Anantapur has recorded a meagre 16.6 mm. A district is categorized under scanty rainfall if it receives minus 60% to 99%.

TDP former MP Kalva Srinivasulu told TOI that a third successive drought was almost knocking at the doors of the farmers. "Anantapur farmers received a meagre compensation for last year's drought. Now, another drought is all set to hit the district. Sowing is completely absent in the district," Srinivasulu said via telephone from Kadiri where he participated in a dharna on Thursday demanding more compensation for last year's crop loss. Among other districts of Rayalaseema, Kurnool recorded 54% deficit rainfall while it was minus 53% in Chittoor district. The deficit in Kadapa is minus 42% and Rayalaseema recorded a minus 55% deficit rainfall, the highest in the state.

Nellore in south coastal Andhra reported a scanty rainfall during the first month of monsoon, while Krishna and Guntur received excess rainfall while it was normal in Prakasam district.

As in Rayalaseema, the southwest monsoon is yet to pick up momentum in north coastal Andhra. As per the weekly season and crop coverage report for the week ending June 27 released by the agriculture department, four of the five districts here, Srikakulam, Viziangaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari are lagging behind. However, West Godavari district recorded a normal rainfall.

As on June 27, the deficit in Visakhapatnam is the highest at 45% while the deficit rainfall in Vizianagaram is 41%, Srikakulam 20% and East Godavari 21%. Instead of a minimum 114.7 mm, the five districts received only 84 mm for the period from June 1 to June 27.

In Telangana, the northern districts comprising Nizambad, Medak, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad recorded a deficit rainfall of 22%. However, south Telangana is experiencing excess rainfall with Rangareddy recording 138.8 mm and Hyderabad registering 150.2 mm, the two areas which received the highest rainfall this season in the state. As a whole, the Telangana region received 105.9 mm rainfall as against a normal rainfall of 88.2 mm, an excess of 22%.

Andhra Pradesh I-T wing to get new chief (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-I-T-wing-to-get-new-chief/articleshow/14480687.cms)

HYDERABAD: The office of the chief commissioner of Income Tax (CC 1) in Andhra Pradesh is finally set to be filled on Friday after a two-month wait. Taking over as the new boss of the state's I-T wing is Suresh Jandhyala, a 1979 batch IRS officer. The AP man, who will hold additional charge as CC 3, was previously posted as Director General (DG-Investigations) in Chennai. He has also served as I-T commissioner in Surat (Ahmedabad) and Kolhapur (Maharashtra) during his tenure. Jandhyala was preceded by G Rajeshwar Rao who retired from the position in April.

Apart from the top job, even the position of CC 2 was reshuffled by the Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT) through an order (No.113 of 2012) issued earlier this month. Bibhab Dutta, who had been promoted as chief commissioner (he was appointed CC 2) last year, has now been re-designated as DG (investigations), a charge that was held by Mukesh Kumar so far. Dutta's post will now be filled in by Jayant Hota. Mukesh Kumar, a 1977 batch IRS officer, will be the new DG (investigations) of the Lucknow zone.

Jandhyala is a native of Guntur district. He has three more years of service left. Hota, also a 1979 batch IRS officer, was stationed as I-T commissioner in AP in 2005. He served for a few years at the position before being transferred. He is due for retirement in October this year.

"The appointments have been welcomed by the staffers of the I-T department because both the top bosses are familiar with the state. It is always favourable to have a local person in these positions as it helps to address the tax concerns of the state better," said an I-T sleuth.

Minnie Mathew is Andhra Pradesh chief secretary (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/hyderabad/32483384_1_ias-officers-chief-secretary-commissioner-of-land-administration)

HYDERABAD: 1976 batch IAS officer Minnie Mathew was on Saturday named as the chief secretary to succeed Pankaj Dwivedi upon the latter's superannuation. Mathew is currently chief commissioner of land administration, a post by convention considered as the CS-in-waiting, and will be head of the AP bureaucracy till her superannuation in February 2013.

Until Friday, there was much speculation that Dwivedi may be given a three-month extension and that Mathew could become the chief secretary even after that. However, for a change, the state government headed by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy struck to the seniority principle and appointed Mathew.

During Dwivedi's tenure of over a year-and-half as the chief secretary, the AP bureaucracy has seen its worse phase in the state's history. While two officers were jailed on various charges including criminal conspiracy, two others were booked in various cases being probed by the CBI. And at least a dozen other IAS officers were questioned with regard to various land allotments and other decisions of the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government.

And after the Supreme Court issued notices to 8 IAS officers in the Jagan disproportionate assets case along with six ministers of the YSR cabinet, the state bureaucracy saw for the first time a major confrontation between the political leaders and the officers on the issue of who should be held accountable for the decisions of the state government.

Mathew, who will have about 8 months of tenure as the chief secretary, will inherit all the problems being faced by the bureaucracy from Dwivedi. While two of the officers, B P Acharya and Y Srilakshmi, are still in Chanchalguda Jail, the process of questioning several other officers by the CBI in the various cases being probed by the investigative agency will continue.

And there is the spectre of some more IAS officers being booked by the CBI. Governance and ensuring that the revenue-earning departments continue to perform well would be other important tasks ahead of Mathew. "These are testing times for the bureaucrats, especially in Andhra Pradesh, and babudom would require their head to lead from the front. The coming months will unveil whether Mathew is upto the task," said an officer.

Allahabad Bank to step up focus on southern states (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/article3588344.ece)

HYDERABAD, JUNE 30:
Allahabad Bank is planning to increase its focus on southern states, according to its Chairman and Managing Director, Mr J.P. Dua.

Speaking to newspersons after inaugurating Nellore and Anantapur branches from here on Saturday, Mr Dua said in the next couple of years, the number of branches in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala would be increased.

The southern presence of the Kolkata-based bank is low as it has only 148 branches in the South out of a total of 2,536 branches. In Andhra Pradesh alone, 20 new branches would be opened in the next one year, he said.

The southern states have recorded Rs 18,778-crore business during 2011-12.

Several IPS officers promoted in Andhra Pradesh (http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/several-ips-officers-promoted-in-andhra-pradesh-238259)

Hyderabad: After keeping them on a long wait, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday finally promoted several Indian Police Service officers to the ranks of Inspectors General and Deputy Inspectors General of Police and gave them new postings in a reshuffle involving 19 officers.

P V Sushil Kumar (1993 batch), who has been waiting for a posting, has been made the IGP of AP Special Protection Force.

Kumar Vishwajeet (1994 batch) has been promoted to the rank of IGP and posted to the Crime Investigation Department while B Shivdhar Reddy of the same batch too has been promoted to the IGP rank and retained in the Anti-Corruption Bureau as its Director.

The promotions were effected through a Government Order on Saturday evening.

This was the first Government Order issued by the new Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew after assuming charge yesterday.

V C Sajjanar of 1996 batch has been transferred out of the Counter-Intelligence wing and posted as DIG of the Special Intelligence Branch(SIB) that deals with Maoist-related issues. The SIB chief post has been lying vacant for about two months following the transfer of Shivdhar Reddy.

N Suryanarayana (1997) has been shifted to the AP Power Generation Corporation as the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer.

Seven IPS officers of the 1998 batch have been elevated to the rank of DIG while three others of the same batch have been left out in the current round as "there are no vacancies".

Vikram Singh Mann, a direct recruit officer of the 1998 batch, has been posted as DIG of Warangal Range in the vacancy existing for many months now.

The other officers of the batch promoted to DIG rank with their new postings are: B Srinivasulu (Counter-Intelligence), P Umapathi (Joint Managing Director, Vigilance, Power Transmission Corporation of AP), P Bheea Naik (DIG, Karimnagar Range), E Damodar (DIG, CID), B Balakrishna (DIG, Intelligence Security Wing) and B Malla Reddy (DIG, AP Special Police Battalions).

A Sunder Kumar Das, M Shiva Prasad and A Ravichandra have not been promoted but given new postings as Deputy Director of AP Police Academy, DCP Cyberabad Traffic and Assistant Inspector General Law and Order (DGP office) respectively.

M Naganna has been posted as DCP (City Armed Reserve) while D Nagendra Kumar has been posted as Superintendent of Police, Mahbubnagar district.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary also issued another order posting M Girija Shankar of 2001 IAS batch as Collector and District Magistrate of Mahbubnagar in place of M Purushottam Reddy, who retired from service on Saturday.

Is the industrial environment healthy in A.P.? (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3592096.ece)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01130/HY02BUSINESS_BUZZ__1130692f.jpg

Precarious power situation, row over water, murky controversies over land allotments and much more is hardly the stuff that can attract investors

Two recent announcements by the government have puzzled industrialists in Andhra Pradesh and investors looking for new ventures to park their funds.

One was in May declaring that a Abu Dhabi government-owned company would establish a petroleum refinery at a cost of US $ 6 billion in the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Industrial Region (PCPIR) in Visakhapatnam. The second was in June when the government announced clearance by the State Investment Promotion Board of 25 mega industrial projects with a whopping Rs. 40,379 crore investment.

Had the industrial environment, on a downswing after the Telangana agitation and the political uncertainty, suddenly changed for the better? It was only in January this year, memoranda of understanding for investments worth Rs. 6.47 lakh crore were signed during the CII’s Partnership Summit.

Did all this mean Andhra Pradesh had become the most favoured destinations for global and local investors?

A reality check becomes necessary to verify these postulations. Among other parameters, a healthy industrial environment would mean easy availability of power, water and land besides swift government clearances.

For the last three months, a power holiday has been declared due to shortfall in supply.

On June 30, power utilities could supply 216 million units (mu) as against the requirement of 252 mu. Even water-related issues have become thorny with India Cements Managing Director summoned twice by the CBI for questioning over allegations that rules were bent for supplying water to his cement units.

The government has cancelled agreements with Brahmani Steels and Rakshana Steels while Royal Enfield preferred Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh for its expansion plans.

It’s hardly the stuff that can attract investors.

Murky controversies have engulfed allotment of land for industries. A former Minister, Mopidevi Venkataramana, is in jail over the Vanpic issue while five other Ministers have been served notices by the Supreme Court over allegations that their departments tweaked formal decisions taken by the Cabinet. The list of IAS officers and industrialists placed in the dock by the CBI on issues relating to land allotment, mining leases and the government’s equity in joint ventures reads like a who’s who of Andhra Pradesh.

“After all this ruckus, no IAS officer is ready to stick his neck out and make the going easier for investors,” a retired bureaucrat said. In fact, even the Cabinet is treading warily and is trying to put into place a new land allotment policy. At its recent meeting, it could take no decision on the draft policy as Ministers wanted a fool-proof system which prohibited anyone from tampering with a decision once it was approved by the Cabinet.

MANUFACTURING SECTOR

A leading city businessman said the State required investments in the manufacturing sector but not many industrialists would be eager to put their money there, given the present situation. “Investing money in real estate, liquor business and in contracts is an easy way of making money. Setting up a manufacturing plant requires hard work, investment, technology and ability to stand up to competition,” he said.

Former CII president Y. Harishchandra Prasad was asked whether the upcoming investments were a sign of a good industrial climate. He said, “It is not all about mega projects. The small and medium units are suffering due to erratic power supply. They are unable to meet their production targets and resorting to layoffs.”

Mr. Prasad said the State’s GDP can go up only if the manufacturing sector flourishes, which it is not. Andhra Pradesh must get itself on the fast track of development as its GDP has fallen from 8.9 per cent to the sub-six level. It must at least keep pace with the national GDP which is projected in the 5.8-6.5 band by the rating agencies for the 2012-13 fiscal.

Andhra power demand peaks as farming gains pace (http://wrd.mydigitalfc.com/news/andhra-power-demand-peaks-farming-gains-pace-313)

As the farming activities go faster in the kharif season, the power demand in Andhra Pradesh is peaking putting the officialdom in a quandary. In the short term, the state is looking to procure power from other states apart from making efforts to optimise the generation through the state-owned power utility APGenco.

In the long run, it is keen on completing a slew of power projects and giving thrust to renewable energy to reduce demand from fossil fuels.

Andhra Pradesh has also drawn up plans to strengthen the transmission and the distribution network in the state involving an outlay of Rs 14,000 crore in the next four years.

Though there has been demand from the industrial quarters for an assured power supply, Andhra Pra-desh, like many other states in the country, has been seeing constraints in meeting the power demand due to severe shortage of fuel, mainly coal and natural gas.

Continuous dry spell added to the woes, while the non-availability of transmission corridor has forced the power distribution company to impose power restrictions and cuts to maintain the grid stability.

The power utilities on Saturday supplied 216 million units (mu) as against the requirement of 252 mu, a deficit of 36 mu.

During 2011-12, state supplied 85,149 mu as against the requirement of 91,730 mu, a deficit of 7.2 per cent. This is slightly better compared with all India average deficit of 8.5 per cent. For instance, deficit in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have been in the order of 10.5 per cent, 11.2 per cent, 16.7 per cent, 17 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, the per capita consumption of power, an index of economic development and enhanced activities in sectors such as agriculture, industrial and commercial sectors, in Andhra Pradesh has crossed over 1000 kilo watt hour (Kwh), as against the national average of 813 Kwh envisaged by the National Electricity Policy, said Hiralal Samariya, chairman and managing director of power transmission utility APTRANSCO.

Though the availability of power has increased the demand has consistently outstripped supply, he said adding that the consumer base has increased from 1.41 crore in 2002 to 2.44 crore in 2012.

Priyanka continues her winning streak (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3597741.ece)

Grand Master M.R. Lalith Babu, who is in Europe playing tournaments, felt that Priyanka ‘golden’ fete will activate hectic chess activity in Vijayawada.

City chess player Nutakki Priyanka added one more feather in her cap by winning the Asian youth U-10 blitz championship in Sri Lanka on Monday.

The young student of Mustabada Chess Educational Society won seven points from seven rounds to win the coveted gold in the blitz segment of the Asian Youth Chess championship. Later, Priyanka, along with C. Lakshmi and Kaur Palkin garnered 17 points to win a team gold.

Golden fete

“Altogether Priyanka won six gold medals which is a stupendous show. She won two gold medals in rapid, classic and blitz segments,” said Krishna District Chess Association secretary D. Srihari.

Global Chess Academy chief coach Sk. Khasim felt that Priyanka had the wherewithal to dominate women’s chess in days to come.

Grand Master M.R. Lalith Babu, who is in Europe playing tournaments, felt that Priyanka ‘golden’ fete will activate hectic chess activity in Vijayawada.

Morale booster

Priyanka defeated Chua Jia-tien, Albshayra Leen, C. Lakshmi, Kaur Palkin, Le Tran Phuong Uyen, Oyunsuvd Erdene and Zahedifar Anahita.

“It is heartening to see Priyanka defeating players rated more than her. This will help boost her morale,” said V.R. Bobba her coach, who was the former personal coach of Grand Master Pendyla Harikrishna.

Andhra Pradesh Chess Association president A. Narasimha Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chess Association secretary K. Kanna Reddy, Krishna District Chess Association president Nageswara Rao and Mustabada Chess Association President B. Ratna Rao congratulated Priyanka for her fete.

Firstobject Showcased its E-education products on the occasion of A. P. Annual IT Summit 2012 (http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=107310)

Firstobject Technologies Limited has showcased its E-education products on the occasion of A.P.Annual I.T.Summit-2012 held at Novotel, Hyderabad on 21st and 22nd June 2012.

Shri P. Venugopal, I.A.S, Director of STPI, Hyderabad, Shri J.Satyanarayana, I.A.S, Secretary, Government of India was explained about the eeducation products of Firstobject by the CTO & COO of the company.

Dignitaries attended the programme and addressed the I.T. Companies on the occasion of A.P.Annual IT Summit 2012 are, C.M Kiran Kumar Reddy, Information Technology Minister of A.P, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, KV Kamat, Chairman (Infosys&ICICI Bank), Som Mittal NASSCOM President and J Satyanarayana IAS(Secretary Government of India).

Leading companies, key government departments, banks & financial institutions and academic institutions involved in R&D have displayed their latest products and services in different fields during the 2 days of the conference and exhibition.

The Firstobject Technologies Ltd stock closed the day at Rs.18.10, up by Rs.0.20 or 1.12%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.18.50 and low of Rs.17.60.

The total traded quantity was 1108 compared to 2 week average of 3456.

RAK’s legal counsel concerned about Andhra Pradesh seaport project (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/raks-legal-counsel-concerned-about-andhra-pradesh-seaport-project/articleshow/14664317.cms)

HYDERABAD: The general legal counsel of the emirate of Ras al Khaimah (RAK) has expressed serious concerns over the delays in the implementation of the Rs 16,800-crore ($3.02b) seaport project in Andhra Pradesh and urged the government to resolve the issues immediately.

The move assumes significance in the backdrop of the speculation that the AP government is considering cancelling the approvals granted to the seaport project and also because the concerns are now being expressed by the RAK's general legal counsel.

The seaport project, Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Port & Industrial Corridor (Vanpic), is jointly being executed by RAK and businessman Nimmagadda Prasad, who was arrested by the CBI on May 15 in connection with a corruption investigation .

The emirate had, in March 2008, partnered Nimmagadda Prasad's Matrix Enport to set up two seaports, an airport and a port-based industrial corridor, promising to create direct employment to 64,000 people and economy-wide employment opportunities to over 4 lakh people.

The RAK general legal counsel, in a letter to the Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy last Monday, has also pointed out that their recent attempts to seek appointments to meet him weren't successful due to the Legislative Assembly sessions and byelections in the state.

This is the third time in the last year that RAK government representatives have aired concerns over their investments, Rs 845 crore so far, in the Andhra seaport project. The RAK emirate's ruler wrote to the Indian prime minister in August last year and the RAK CEO appealed to the Andhra Pradesh chief minister in April this year to save the project that has got mired in various snags.

"We are very concerned about the delays to the Vanpic project, about the security of our investment to date, and about our ability to generate a return on our investment, going forward," said the RAK general legal counsel Karm Al Sadeq, while seeking response from the Andhra Pradesh government on the concerns being raised by the RAK government.

A person in the know told ET: "The latest appeal from the RAK general legal counsel is an indication on the ground preparations by the RAK government to take it up legally at the highest levels to protect their investment interests."

The RAK legal counsel said the concessionaire has completed all pre-development activities including the field survey and investigations, technical, marketing and environmental studies, and obtained all the statutory clearances including environmental approval from the ministry of environment and forests. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was also awarded for the construction of the port.

Four-lane road may be delayed (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/137842)

The four-lane highway between Vijayawada and Hyderabad is scheduled to be completed by the first week of October.

But it’s opening is likely to be delayed further as the construction of a flyover at Suryapet and finishing works like arranging indication boards in road margins are yet to be completed.

Former union minister of state for road transport and highways Mr R.P.N. Singh set the foundation for widening 182 km-stretch of road at Narket-palli in March 2010. The minister announced that the widening of the road will be taken up at a cost of Rs.1,170 crore and would be completed by October.

Speaking to this newspaper, National Highway Authority of India project director Ms M. Sailaja said that as per schedule the road should be completed by the first week of October.

But the flyover at Suryapet and finishing works are yet to be completed. Of the total 270 km distance between Vijayawada and Hydera-bad nearly 80 per cent of the works were completed.

It may be noted that the four-lane road from Vijay-awada to Nandigama and Hyderabad to Narketpalli was completed earlier and the works are going on at a stretch of 182 km between Nandigama and Malkapuram.

At present, a toll plaza is functioning at Keesara in Krishna district. It is estimated that three more toll plazas will come up after the completion of four-lane national highway. The contractors are setting up a toll plaza at Bhimavaramgattu near Chillakallu in Krishna district within a radius of 30 km.

With this the vehicle users have to pay toll fee twice in the district.

Situation on sand supply has eased, says Minister (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3606630.ece)

Andhra Pradesh Mines Minister Galla Aruna claims that the steps initiated by government responsible for this

Minister for Mines and Geology, Galla Aruna, said here on Thursday that the situation with regard to the availability of sand had eased in Andhra Pradesh to some extent following various steps taken by the government.

The steps listed out by her to reporters following the review here on Thursday, included extraction of a massive quantity of 5.57 lakh cubic metres from 23 of the 35 areas of patta lands in six districts and auctioning of 18 of the 36 sand reaches for which environmental clearances were obtained as per the Supreme Court directive, for knockdown sum of Rs 81.31 crore.

De-silting operations

She said in addition, 16,000 cubic metres of sand had been secured through de-silting of five out of 20 submergence areas lying on the margins of irrigation project reservoirs.

A quantity of 54,000 cubic metres was obtained through de-silting of irrigation projects in 21 areas on the basis of temporary permits.

Over 84,679 cubic metres of sand seized during raids was diverted to East and West Godavari districts to facilitate implementation of Godavari delta modernisation works.

AUCTION POSTPONED

She said 12 reaches had been auctioned in East Godavari district, one in West Godavari, two in Krishna and three in Guntur. The government was forced to postpone the auction of four reaches in Nellore district due to the problem relating to availability of roads for transportation.

Sums paid

Lessees of 34 out of 47 reaches for which the lease period was to be extended into the second year, had paid the stipulated sums and submitted draft mining plans for 25 reaches.

To tribal persons

Ms. Aruna said 11 reaches in Khammam district and one in Warangal would be allotted to tribal persons.

The process was on to get environmental clearances for them.

Yatra to spread awareness about asthma (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3612936.ece)

There is immense fear associated with the words ‘asthma’ and ‘inhaler’ and this fear was resulting in patients avoiding treatment.

Breathe Free Yatra – a clinic on wheels, an initiative by Cipla pharmaceutical company to increase awareness about asthma will touch ten places in Krishna and Guntur district.

The yatra flagged off here on Friday will touch Tiruvuru, Nuzvid, Gudivada, Machilipatnam and Vuyyuru in Krishna district, Tenali, Sattenpalli, Chilakaluripet and Narasaraopet in Guntur district.

Free check-up

Equipped with diagnostic tools, education material and team of counsellors the yatra will cover all the ten places offering free respiratory check-up with the support of the local doctors.

Chest specialist D.Sudeena said the paradox of asthma in India was that despite the availability and affordability of world-class treatment, asthma which was a totally controllable disease was depriving the asthmatics a normal life, subjecting them to traumatic attacks, hospitalisation and sometimes even death.

The scenario in Andhra Pradesh was no better when compared to the rest of the country, he said.

There is immense fear associated with the words ‘asthma’ and ‘inhaler’ and this fear was resulting in patients avoiding treatment.

Oral tablets

“It is indeed questionable why almost 80 per cent of asthmatics in India are on oral tablets whereas the rest of the world treats asthma primarily with inhalers, he said.

RTA makes strict rules for schools (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/nellore/rta-makes-strict-rules-schools-729)

School managements will be in trouble if they fail to maintain their fleet in top order henceforth. Promp-ted by the death of young students in various accidents involving school buses across the state, government has instructed the Road Transport Authori-ties to deal firmly in case of lapses to school fleet.

RTA has been asked to book cases against the management and the driver for violations pertaining to special rules of AP Motor Vehicle Act framed for sch-ool buses. Motor Vehicle Inspectors have seized nearly 70 school buses during a special drive in Pr-akasam and Nellore districts since last week of June for lapses. For releasing the seized buses, authorities have been collecting affidavits from the heads of the educational institute to the extent that they will comply with the rules in letter and spirit.

The department has also taken up a drive to enlighten the educational institutions about the special rules related to school buses by organising awareness camps. In addition to this RTA made it mandatory for every school bus driver to undergo one day refresher course being organised by motor vehicle inspectors in all parts of the state.

A certificate valid for one year is being issued to the drivers and they should carry it in the bus.

The fitness certificate being issued for the buses are made to lapse in May every year irrespective of the date of issue to examine the condition and issue fresh certificate in May/June before the start of academic year.

Mr S.A.V. Prasad Rao, deputy transport commissioner for Nellore and Prakasam districts, said that they have conducted meetings all over the district for representatives of educational institutions on the subject.

According to Mr Rao, the management should maintain health card for each driver with details pertaining to BP, sugar and eye sight. The driver should be examined every month at the cost of the institutions and details should be recorded in the health card.

The vehicle should be inspected by the principal and the parents committee every month to verify the mechanical condition and functioning of wipers, lighting etc. The vehicle should carry complete list of the children travelling and the list should include the name, class, residential address and point of halt for boarding and alighting.

“As a first mistake we are releasing the seized buses by obtaining affidavits. We will book cases if there are any further violations” Mr Rao asserted.

Act against bauxite mining, Deo urges A.P. Governor (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3614106.ece)

Narasimhan passes the buck to State government which had signed MoUs

Three months after Union Tribal Affairs Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo wrote to Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, urging him to exercise his constitutional powers to cancel the permission given for bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam as it was fuelling left- wing extremism there, the latter has finally responded. He has referred the matter to the State government which, had, in the first place, signed MoUs with several companies to permit bauxite mining.

Commenting on Mr. Narasimhan’s letter, Mr. Deo told The Hindu: “The Governor just has to verify the facts and take action. I don’t know why he has referred the matter to the State government.”

In his 14-page letter, dated April 7, Mr. Deo pointed out that ever since the State government signed a series of MoUs (between 2005 and 2010) with several companies “neither owned nor controlled by people belonging to Scheduled Tribes,” and then went on to recommend 13 more applications in favour of the A.P. Mining Development Corporation “for prior approval of mining leases,” Maoists have begun to gain ground in Visakhapatnam district “by gaining the sympathy of the locals only due to the threat of bauxite mining.”

Meets PM, Sonia

Mr. Deo, who is familiar with Visakhapatnam as it is one of the four districts that falls in his Araku parliamentary constituency, had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explain the situation before he called on Mr. Narasimhan to hand over his letter. Copies of his letter were then sent to Dr. Singh, Ms. Gandhi and the Union Ministers for Home, Law and Environment for information.

The MoUs signed with various companies as well as the clearing of the APMDC’s applications by the then government led by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr. Deo writes, “betray our commitment for the cause of people who belong to the Scheduled Tribe community… [and] amount to a flagrant violation and affront of our constitutional provisions.”

In the letter, Mr. Deo says Governors are empowered by the Constitution to make regulations for peace and good governance, including those relating to Land Alienation and Transfer Allotment of Land in Schedule V areas (designated tribal areas in the mainland, just as Schedule VI refers to tribal areas in the northeast). For this purpose, the Governor can repeal or amend any Central or State law or any existing law applicable to such an area. Further, the Governor is not bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in performance of functions under Schedule V.

The impugned orders of the late Chief Minister, Mr. Deo adds, also negate the purpose for which the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act were enacted. If the first promised to give tribals and forest dwellers rights over the land they live on, the PESA gave the people control over their own resources, with the gram sabhas approving plans related to a host of issues connected with land, including recommending prospecting licences and mining leases for minor minerals.

Bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Deo says, will also destroy the sources of the three rivers which originate in this region — the Gosthani, the Champavathi and the Sarada — and which are the main sources of irrigation and drinking water in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.

ICAI to ink MoU with international bodies (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3616228.ece)

Two-day State-level chartered accountants' meet begins

The Andhra Pradesh State-level Conference of Chartered Accountants began in Vijayawada on Saturday. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi, honourable vice-president Subodh Kumar Agrawal inaugurated the two-day meet.

Southern India Regional Council of ICAI, Chennai, Chairman K. Viswanath, Central Council Member M. Devaraja Reddy, ICAI Vijayawada branch chairman Kunda Rama Narayana, vice-chairman B. Shivaji Prasad and others accompanied the national vice-president.

Addressing the chartered accountants (CAs), Mr. Agrawal explained about the changing Acts, and advocated the CAs to maintain ethics in the profession. Later, he released a brochure on the occasion. CAs from all over the state attended the conference. Speaking to the newsmen, the vice-president said that ICAI, which is the second largest accounting body in the world after US, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chartered Institute of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland recently. About 85 universities recognised CA course and ICAI is planning to have tie-up with more international accounting bodies and educational institutions across the globe. ICAI is having two lakh membership and 10 lakh students are pursuing the course in India.

The institute submitted a report to the HRD Ministry over maintaining standards in accounting and appealed to Election Commission of India on following uniform election accounting for all political parties in the country, he said. ICAI which is having 128 branches is planning to set up Centres for Excellence at Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Jaipur cities. Besides, the institute is making efforts to improve infrastructure in all the branches and follow the best international standards in accounting, said Mr. Agrawal.

SHGs in Andhra Pradesh to get educational loans from Sthreenidhi (http://www.rupeetimes.com/news/education_loans/shgs_in_andhra_pradesh_to_get_educational_loans_from_sthreenidhi_6725.html)

Sthreenidhi - a co operative credit society, has planned to disburse Rs. 1000 crore this fiscal as educational loans to Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Andhra Pradesh.

Talking on this matter, Mr. Reddy Subrahmanyam, the Principal Secretary of Department of Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said, "The educational loans will be given for enrolling in courses/programmes with a focus on employability and earning."

He further added that these loans could be used by member families of SHGs to focus on promoting their livelihood. He said, "For instance, loans could also be taken to pursue courses such as training in SAP (in IT)."

The loan amounts could range between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 70,000 which will have to be repaid in 5 years.

With the aim to provide advances to SHGs and to promote livelihood in the poverty stricken population of Andhra Pradesh, Sthreenidhi was established by the Andhra Pradesh state government last year.

Mr. Subrahmanyam further added that, "Even though the SHG movement has been strong in the State, there are some families who have been living in dire poverty. The focus of Sthreenidhi is being expanded to provide livelihood assistance to them."

CM asks for state control on gas firms (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/cm-asks-state-control-gas-firms-269)

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday said that the Centre and states should strictly monitor private sector companies involved in gas production without which “it would not be possible to overcome the power crisis”.

Speaking in the backdrop of a crippling power shortage, Mr Reddy said, “I am ready to give power supply without interruption for a single minute. But we need control over the private gas industry. Though we have a huge quantum of gas, we are just getting 38 per cent of it. I will show what I can do. Let gas be supplied to us as per requirement.”

“If we can get 75 to 85 per cent of the gas, we can give uninterrupted power to industries, farmers and domestic consumers,” he added. He was speaking at the inauguration of a private food processing unit near Chittoor, in the presence of agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.

Will take up suggestion on control on gas: Pawar
Speaking on the need for state control over the private gas-producing industry, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said that of the 9,500 MW of power generated in the state, 2,700 MW came from gas-based power plants. Mr Reddy asked Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who was present at the inauguration of Srini Food Park at Mogili, 50 km from Chittoor, to look into the aspect of enhancing gas supply and for control over the private gas sector.

Expressing concern over the prevailing drought-like situation in the state, the Chief Minister said that a pilot project to conserve rain water was underway in Chittoor district and it would be extended to six more districts in the first leg. “For interest-free crop loans under Kharif, the target has been fixed at Rs 42,000 crore covering 95 lakh farmers in the state,” he said.

Later, Mr Pawar, who inaugurated the food park, assured Mr Reddy that he would take up the issue of governmental control over gas producing private industries, apart from enhancing AP’s gas share, with the new central finance panel that is in place after Mr Pranab Mukherjee resigned. He said that India stood second in the world in the area of food processing. “Our country also bagged second slot in the world in dairy, fruit and vegetable production.” Mr Pawar added that more food parks would be developed in the country as only 7 per cent of the potential was being tapped.

Andhra begins exercise to send thousands to school (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/andhra-begins-exercise-to-send-thousands-to-school/972399/)

The Andhra Pradesh government has begun a massive exercise to enroll thousands of out-of-school children, build thousands of new classrooms and provide free uniforms and textbooks to underprivileged students.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday launched the Special Education Fortnight by dedicating 500 new schools, 9,747 new classrooms, several girls’ hostels and 46 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya buildings to the public. The state also plans to build, as part of the Right to Education programme, 13,280 additional classrooms and 454 girls’ hostels and repair about 25,000 toilets in schools. In all, Rs 2,000 crore will be spent this financial year.

More than 60,000 out-of-school children, including street children, will be enrolled in schools in 2012-13, said Primary Education Minister S Sailajanath.

The government will distribute school uniforms to over 56 lakh students, 4.33 crore textbooks, aids and appliances to children with special needs and bicycles to Muslim girls. Some 12 lakh students will receive scholarships. The government has identified 11,602 children who will receive special benefits this year to encourage them to attend school.

Rain brings cheer to coastal ryots (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/hyderabad/32631812_1_krishna-western-delta-nagarjunasagar-water-supply)

VIJAYAWADA: The rain god seems to have finally smiled on the farmers with the entire coastal region receiving a good rainfall in the last 48 hours. Rain was widespread as most of the mandals in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and West Godavari districts witnessed abundant rainfall in the last two days. With weather looking favourable for more rain, a brisk farming activity was seen.

"We hope the rain would last long so that we could take up sowing operations. We have already lost a precious time," said a farmer, Lakshmi Narasimha Rao of Kanchikacherla. The farmers of the Krishna delta who had to wait till last week when the government released water from Nagarjunasagar dam are relieved with the current spell of rain that would help them take up cultivation in a big way. Following heavy inflows into the Prakasam barrage, water supply from Nagarjunasagar was stopped on Tuesday. The barrage received around 14,000 cusecs, while the officials let out around 5,000 cusecs into the canals of Krishna eastern delta.

Heavy rain was reported in Atchampet, Krosure, Machavaram, Macherla, Dachepalli, Gurazala, Tullur and Mangalagiri mandals where

several streams were overflowing. According to Guntur district collector V N Vishnu, Atchampet mandal received the highest rainfall of 73.6 mm followed by 24 mm in Mangalagiri. All the streams like Paleru, Munneru, Naguleru, Nakkaleru, Kuppaganjivagu and Edduvagu were brimming with water.

Tanuku, Eluru, Bhimadolu, Koderu, Bhimavaram, Tadepalligudem and Koyyalagudem in West Godavari and Kaikalur, Nuzvid, Gudivada, Vuyyur and Avanigadda in Krishna district received abundant rain. However, the coastal region is yet to receive the normal average rainfall for the season. While 159 mm was the normal rainfall for the season till Tuesday, the region received around 131 mm.

"The rainfall has largely helped the farmers as the nursery activity has picked up in the coastal region," said agriculture joint director Srirama Murthy. He said the present rain would be sufficient for taking up nurseries and water would be required only when the farmers go for transplantation.

Raithanga Samakhya president Yerneni Nagendranath demanded the continuance of water supply from Nagarjunasagar dam as several tail-end areas have not received water. He alleged that the irrigation authorities allowed the contractors to continue the modernization works even while water was being released.

He said Ryves canal ayacut which needed around 4,000 cusecs was given around 100-200 cusecs due to the ongoing works.

Meanwhile, water to canals under the Krishna western delta would be released from July 16. The district irrigation advisory board which met here finalized the dates for release of water for various canals in the district on Tuesday. The board urged the government to release water for drinking water tanks under Nagarjunasagar ayacut from July 25 and water for crops from August 26. The Guntur district collector said water would be released for Guntur channel from July 28. Nearly 10 lakh acres would be cultivated under Krishna western delta.

Farm works take off (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/rajahmundry/farm-works-take-579)

Farm works are at a brisk pace following incessant rainfall in the last few days under the influence of the south west monsoon in the Godavari districts.

In East Godavari, paddy is raised over about 2.23 lakh hectares during the kharif season and in order to take up transplantation of paddy over such a large area, farmers raise paddy nurseries over about 11,270 hectares.

However, due to the shortage of rainfall and the prevailing dry spell, farmers managed to take up nurseries only over 4,000 hectares until a few days ago. Now, this had increased to about 6,500 hectares.

Agriculture authorities maintain that with the exception of areas like Tuni, Jaggampeta and Rajahmundry, farmers are raising paddy nurseries at a brisk pace in the last few days.

The district received 180.8 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 194.7 mm from June 1.

In West Godavari, paddy is raised over about 2.44 lakh hectares for the kharif season and so far, only two per cent area was covered as farmers took up paddy nurseries over only about 4,119 hectares. As it takes a minimum of 21 days for paddy nurseries to reach the transplantation stage, farmers are taking up raising of paddy nurseries at a brisk pace, expecting rainfall in the next couple of days.

The district received 191 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 212 mm, showing excess rainfall by about 11 per cent from June 1 onwards.

AP CM Reddy to embark on 'Indira Baata' (http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/ap-cm-reddy-to-embark-on-indira-baata_786594.html)

Hyderabad: With unrest and disgust growing among people due to a host of problems, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh has decided to do some "damage control" by placing the "facts" before them.

In this direction, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will embark on a new programme 'Indira Baata' (Indira's path) from East Godavari district on July 12 not just to trumpet the various "welfare" schemes being implemented by his government but also "put things in perspective".



Sources in the CMO said Reddy would randomly select a district and take up the 'Baata' every week.

As a precursor to his latest mass contact mission, the Chief Minister held a high-level meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats here on Tuesday to discuss the issues that he would have to confront (from people) during the Baata.

Under the programme, the Chief Minister will spend two to three days in each district and tour various Assembly constituencies to get a first-hand feel of the people's pulse. The CM would like to tour at least 100 Assembly segments in the next couple of months.

The main objective of the programme is to win over the people who are left totally disillusioned because of the government's failure in addressing their concerns.

"Ranging from rise in prices of essential commodities, power tariff hike, growing hours of power cut to scarcity of fertiliser and seeds affecting agricultural operations, non-disbursal of crop loans to targeted farmers...Everything has contributed to the people's anger over the government. It had clearly reflected in the by-elections last month. Besides, there is a mispropaganda that the government has watered down the welfare schemes," a senior minister noted after the meeting with the Chief Minister today.

Contingency measures in 7 states facing drought (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/contingency-measures-in-7-states-facing-drought/articleshow/14858214.cms)

NEW DELHI: Drought-like conditions in some parts of the country have prompted the government to recommend contingency crop measures for states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

In the past one week, the country has received 1% above normal monsoon but rain deficiency in these states continues to remain in the range of 60-70%. The rainfall, on Thursday, however was below 36% than normal making the rainfall deficiency across the country to inch up from 22% to 23%.

The deficiency in western Rajasthan and Gujarat is alarming at between 48 and 67% while in Karnataka it is over 50%. In past few days, the rainfall condition in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh has improved but the deficiency in these estates still hovers around 20% and 40%, respectively, in parched regions.

The agriculture ministry has earmarked 175 lakh hectare in these states out of the country's total cultivable land of 1097 lakh hectare to be put under the contingency plan on priority basis. It has also arranged around 60 lakh quintals of short-duration variety seeds of various crops like paddy, bajra, castor, sunflower, urad, til, soyabean and other pulses for distribution in these states.

"We have recommended reducing the area under cultivation in these states. For example, normal area under paddy in Maharashtra was around 15 lakh ha, we have asked the state government to reduce it to 5.14 lakh hectares. Similarly, for other crops also, we have asked the states to trim crop area and plant only recommended varieties which consume less water and mature early," said an agriculture ministry official.

The contingency plans usually come into effect after July 15 and the state governments implement it as per the prevailing situation.

"Contingency plans are important to save on crop loss and farmers' stress. The government advises farmers to go for crops which are sturdy and withstand drought-like conditions. It's good that the ministry has ensured the availability of seeds as well," said Ashok Gulati, chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Despite good rains in the past week, country main reservoirs are still running only 18% of their full capacity.

"Situation in these two states is worrisome. Poor rainfalls have forced scarcity of drinking water in these regions," agriculture minister Shard Pawar had said on Wednesday.

"The government should focus on drawing drought-proof plans rather than contingency plans. In India 60% of the land are rain-fed. If we do proper rain water harvesting, there would not be any reason for pressing contingency plan," said agri-economist Devendra Kumar Sharma.

Power crisis: Industries want CM to take lead in finding solution (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Power-crisis-Industries-want-CM-to-take-lead-in-finding-solution/articleshow/14857560.cms)

HYDERABAD: Up in arms over the state government's decision to inflict an additional power holiday on industries, apex trade and industry body Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Faphas demanded that a high-powered committee be set up headed by chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to find a permanent solution to the power crisis.

In the latest load-shedding schedule announced on Wednesday, the government increased the number of power holidays for industry from two to three days a week which will be in addition to the daily four peak hour outages, triggering off howls of protest from various sections of industry.

On Wednesday, Fapcci officials along with representatives of industry bodies like Bulk Drugs Manufacturers' Association of AP, Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small Industries' Association ( Fapsia), Andhra Pradesh Cement Manufacturers' Association, AP Ferro Alloys Manufacturers' Association and Roller Flour Mills' Association of AP among others, drew the government's attention to the deteriorating health of a powerless AP Inc. Devendra Surana, the FAPCCI president, pointed out how industry in AP was getting only 30% of its required power demand although it was being made to shoulder 70% to 75% of the total Fuel Surcharge Adjustment with the latest cuts all set to force industries to go powerless for nearly 18 days a month. The power shortage will result in losses of Rs 257 crore per day.

"Over the past few months, losses due to power outages have wiped out profits of most industrial units in the state as they find themselves unable to make up for their total monthly production in the few days when it does get power," Surana said. He added that since September 15 of last year, industry had been subjected to an average 46% power cuts. Also, he complained how the poor quality of power had resulted in disruption of production and equipment failures.

FAPCCI has demanded immediate reduction of VAT on diesel and other power generation fuels to 4% or a VAT set-off and abolition of Rs 0.25 per unit in electricity duty. It also exhorted the government, among other things, to purchase power at higher prices produced from imported LNG, encourage captive power generation in conventional and renewable energy, reduce power cuts for SSI/MSME sector and open access to all industrial units without cross subsidy surcharge throughout the year. Narayan Reddy of the Bulk Drugs Manufacturers' Association said that industry did not mind paying higher charges if the government were to buy power at higher prices to ensure uninterrupted supply. He added that it was ironic that the AP government should trumpet its huge success in attracting proposals worth Rs 6.5 lakh crore at the 2012 Partnership Summit when it was unable to ensure adequate power to the existing units in the state.

According to S Singhal of the Steel Manufacturers' Association, the government was squarely to blame for the current power situation as it had failed to anticipate the crisis and draw up a contingency plan for a bad monsoon. "The government is not planning properly. If need be, it should buy power from outside. Instead, it is just praying to the rain gods that the power crisis may be resolved and imposing power cuts on industry," he said.

North Andhra temples deposit 164 kg unused gold with SBI (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ap-temples-deposit-164-kg-unused-gold-with-sbi/271025-62-127.html)

Rajahmundry: In an attempt to convert unused temple gold into a source of income, the endowments department has deposited around 164 kg of gold belonging to 33 temples falling under 6(A) category in North Andhra region with the State Bank of India under the Gold Bond Scheme (GBS) in the last three years. The department move came after the state government approved deposit of temple gold with the SBI. The minimum deposits under the scheme is 500 gm and temples can deposit gold for periods of three, four and five years.
The bank gives 0.75 per cent interest per annum up to three years and 1 per cent for a period of three to five years. After the deposit period, the SBI will return the gold ornaments or in form of gold biscuits to the temples. Speaking to Express, in-charge jewellery verification officer DLV Ramesh Babu said that the gold had been deposited after appraisal of the unused gold belonging to the temples was completed.
“The temples under the scheme are in Krishna, East Godavari, West Godavari,Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Earlier unused gold were kept under the custody of executive officer and archakas of the respective temples. But, this move will help generate additional revenue for the temples,” he said.
The move is an attempt to convert unused temple gold into a source of income.
Briefing on the appraisal of the temple gold, Ramesh Babu said, the process has been completed in 27 temples of the 33 falling under (6A) category. The appraisal was also completed in 201 temples of the 384 under 6(B) category and 177 of 830 temples category 6(C).

PowerMin backs Andhra Pradesh's request for gas from KG basin (http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/powermin-backs-andhra-pradeshs-request-for-gaskg-basin/31919/)

The Union Ministry of Power has recommended to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, power-starved Andhra Pradesh government's request for supply of gas from D6 wells of Krishna-Godavari Basin to independent power producers in the state.

Chairman and Managing Director of AP Power Transmission Corporation Hiralal Samariya took up the issue with Union Power Secretary Uma Shanker in New Delhi today following which the latter recommended the state's case to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, a press release from the Energy Co-ordination Cell here said.

Gas-based power plants in AP are currently receiving only 6.43 million metric standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD) of gas against the total requirement of 13.65 MMSCMD.

As a result, the gas-based power plants are generating only about 1,160 MW of electricity as against the installed capacity of 2,760 MW.
This has put the state into a major power crisis leading to declaration of 12-day power holiday for major industries and eight-day holiday for small-scale industries besides extending hours of power cuts to the domestic sector.

Andhra Pradesh sought a roster system for allocation of gas from D6 wells of KG Basin to tide over the prevailing power crisis and let the power plants run to their optimum capacity.

AP Power Transco CMD also met NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury, GAIL CMD B C Tripathi and Petroleum Secretary G C Chaturvedi and discussed the power situation in AP.

He requested them to assist the AP power utilities in resolving the fuel crisis and transmission corridor problem, the Energy Co-ordination Cell release said.

Samariya also discussed with the Power Secretary the supply of additional power to the state from upcoming plants in Tamil Nadu and increase in quantity of power supply from NTPC's Jhajjar plant from 131 MW to 230 MW by May 2013, the release added.

Diversify into dairy, poultry: AP CM tells farmers (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article3636130.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy)

HYDERABAD, JULY 13:
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy, has asked the farmers to go for dairying in a big way for steady stream of incomes every month. Every farm family should invest on dairy for sustainable incomes. They should diversify into dairy and poultry segments, he said.

Inaugurating the three-day Dairy Show here on Friday, he cited the example of Chittoor district farmers could increase the gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the district by Rs 300 crore in the last 5-6 years. We need to link agriculture with allied activities such as animal husbandry and fisheries, he said. Realising the importance of the allied sectors, the State had launched the Rs 6,000-crore Milk Mission to promote the industry in a holistic way, the Chief Minister said. Several hundred farmers, dairy equipment manufacturers and representatives from dairy industry have taken part in the event being held at HITEX exhibition facility at Madhapur. With farmers coming from several districts, the officials of State Animal Husbandry Department have made arrangements to showcase high-yielding cows and buffaloes from different States in one of the halls. Mr Manmohan Singh, Principal Secretary (Animal Husbandry), has said that the dairy sector proved to be a gender equaliser, with women controlling a good part of the activity. “In drought situations, dairy sector comes in handy to farmers by providing timely incomes.”. Mr P. Mohanaiah, Chief General Manager (AP) of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), wanted the State Government to expand the Kamadhenu project to all the districts.

Govt wants to take welfare programs to all section (http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/govt-wants-to-take-welfare-programs-to-all-section_787520.html)

Rajahmundry: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday said here that the main objective of 'Indiramma Bata', his new mass contact programe, was to take the welfare programs to all sections of the society.

Reddy arrived in East Godavari district on a three-day visit today.



As a part of 'Bata' program, the Chief Minister visited Gokavaram Community Health Centre of Jaggampet Assembly segment. He interacted with the people there and enquired about the facilities available.

"Government's main aim is to reach all the welfare schemes to people, then only the schemes would be meaningful and yield good results," he added.

He announced upgrading of six-bed CHC to 50-bed, among other things.

As one of the patients at the CHC said that doctors were not available during night, the CM directed that of the three doctors attached to the Centre, one should be assigned for night duty.

Andhra BJP to hold conference on power scenario in state (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/andhra-bjp-to-hold-conference-on-power-scenario-in-state/articleshow/14901599.cms)

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh BJP unit is holding a state-level conference on July 23 on the issue of prevailing power scenario in the southern state.

"Andhra Pradesh is facing a severe power crisis resulting in closing of industries which would impede development of the state," state unit president G Kishen Reddy told reporters today.

Gujarat Power Minister Saurabhbhai Patel will inaugurate the conference which would be attended by power experts, representatives of various NGOs and consumers, he said.

On Telangana movement, Reddy said the BJP would soon come up with a new programnme in support of separate statehood.

When asked if the party would extend support to the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), which has announced stepping up the agitation for the separate state from August one, Reddy said, "we did not attend the meeting when TJAC has taken a decision".

He, however, said the party would discuss the issue and take a final decision shortly.

Referring to the July 19 presidential election, Reddy appealed to the Telangana MPs and MLAs, irrespective of party affiliation, to vote against Pranab Mukherjee for "failing" the people of Telangana.

BJP to launch month-long membership drive in Andhra Pradesh from today (http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/bjp-to-launch-month-long-membership-drive-in-andhra-pradesh-from-today-243282)

Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch a month-long membership drive in Andhra Pradesh from today, focusing on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level in the Congress-ruled state.

The membership drive and setting up of village and mandal-level committees will be completed before the election of the BJP's national President in December, Andhra Pradesh BJP President G Kishan Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The party would concentrate on strengthening organisation by constituting village and mandal-level committees in the State before November, he said.

Referring to 'Indiramma Baata' (a mass contact programme) launched by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, the state BJP chief said "it serves no purpose" at a time when Andhra Pradesh is facing a plethora of problems.

Instead of undertaking the programme, he should visit Indira Park (also known as 'dharna chowk') where various associations of the people and employees have been agitating for their causes, the BJP leader said.

Ridiculing 'Indiramma Baata', Kishan Reddy said the Chief Minister should tell the people why he was visiting the villages. "Is he going to villages to tell people that I have increased prices of petrol and essential commodities and caused scarcity of seeds and fertilisers?"

The programme would not serve any meaningful purpose and instead put a burden on the exchequer, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation demands damaged wheat and paddy for poultry (http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/andhra-pradesh-poultry-federation-demands-damaged-wheat-and-paddy-for-poultry-243489)

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation has demanded the Centre to allocate two lakh tonnes which is damaged and unfit for human consumption wheat and paddy to the poultry industry at subsidised prices.

Due to higher prices of maize and soyameal, the cost of production of an egg has increased to Rs. 3.25 and that of broiler chicken to Rs. 90 a kg, federation's joint secretary N Nageswara Rao said in a release issued in Vijayawada.

In order to save 25,000 poultry farmers, the central government should take initiatives to supply damaged wheat and rice from its stocks at subsidised prices, Mr Rao said.

The poultry federation also requested the government to ban futures trading in soyameal and maize, in the interest of poultry farmers.

It also requested the government to consider the needs of the local markets before allowing export the soyameal.

Heavy rains lash coastal Andhra Pradesh (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Heavy-rains-lash-coastal-Andhra-Pradesh/articleshow/14967418.cms)

VIJAYAWADA: Normal life was paralysed as heavy rains lashed Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry and several other coastal towns on Sunday. While Eluru recorded 14 cm rainfall, Rajahmundry received 11 cm. Vijayawada recorded 6.2 cm, the highest this season, as rain water entered several low-lying areas and inundated the households. Traffic came to a grinding halt on the national highway with hundreds of vehicles stranded as the rain water flooded the main roads.

The rain that started lashing out in the late hours of Saturday continued till Sunday afternoon.

Main roads in Vijayawada, including the Eluru road and low bridge area, were covered in sheets of rain water. Low-lying areas such as Kedareswarapeta, Giripuram, Polyclinic Road, some parts of Payakapuram were waterlogged. The water levels, however, receded by evening bringing respite to the people.

Several colonies in Eluru and Rajahmundry were flooded with rains lashing the towns for several hours. Many areas in the coastal region witnessed heavy rains in the last 24 hours. Mangalagiri, Lam, Tadikonda, Krosure, Atchampet, Sattenapalle, Tenali in Guntur district and Addanki, Darsi, Kandukur, Cumbum in Prakasam district received good rainfall. Though the coastal areas have received intermittent rains in the last couple of days, Sunday's rain was widespread. which lasted for a long time.

Agriculture officials said the current spell of rains would boost the agriculture activity in the upland areas in Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts where farmers are ready to sow operations for chilli, black gram, red gram and cotton.

With water reserves at Nagarjunasagar inching closer to the mandatory minimum level of 510 ft, the irrigation authorities let out waters from Srisailam barrage on Sunday. Nearly 30,000 cusecs of water is being released from Srisailam to manage the water level at the Sagar dam despite releases to the Krishna delta. As per the government rules, water should not be released from Sagar if the water level is below 510 ft.

The heavy rain along the downstream of Nagarjunasagar is likely to add flood waters at Prakasam barrage giving relief to the irrigation authorities.

Feedback on welfare schemes vital: AP CM (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/feedback-on-welfare-schemes-vital-ap-cm/1023746.html)

Rajahmundry (AP), Jul 16 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said the feedback from common people on various welfare schemes was vital for the state government. "If any changes are needed in the social welfare schemes launched by the state and Central governments, we are ready to hold talks with ministers, MLAs, MPs and others to achieve good results beneficial for people. Our main objective is that the schemes reach people," Reddy said here after concluding his three-day tour of the East Godavari district. About the "Indirama Bata" programme, launched by the state government in its bid to reach out to the common people, the chief minister said the main aim of the drive is to gauge efficacy of the schemes. "We will collect necessary information from people about the schemes and make necessary changes," Reddy said. The chief minister said vacancies in the district medical department will be filled immediately. The state government has also taken a decision to upgrade the Gokavaram Hospital to 50 beds from its current capacity of 6 beds.

Travel tourism fair a big hit (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Travel-tourism-fair-a-big-hit/articleshow/15017410.cms)

KOLKATA: The 96th edition of India's biggest travel & tourism fair, TTF, organized by Fairfest Media Ltd, concluded at the Netaji Indoor Stadium with a record turnout of more than 20,000 visitors.

Most of the participating states in the TTF Kolkata made aggressive pitches for the tourists of eastern India with gorgeous displays showcasing their key attractions.

Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh & Bangladesh organized marketing & cultural presentations to interact with the travel trade and media.

Gujarat, one of the most favoured tourist destinations in India, promoted tourism as an important part of their service sector. Sanjay Kaul, managing director of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd said the state spent Rs 90 crore last year to develop infrastructure, the priority being roads, accommodation and renovation of heritage sites. He further announced that this year Narendra Modi Government has requested the Planning Commission to grant Rs 1,200 crore to develop coastal tourism. Kaul emphasized the importance of tourism development around the Gandhi circuit. After Amitabh Bachchan became Gujarat's brand ambassador for tourism, the number of tourists to Gujarat has increased by 54 lakh. Kaul also outlined plans to attract tourists of South Asia and Japan to various Buddhist religious destinations of Gujarat.

Another attractive tourist destination Andhra Pradesh, unveiled special packages for Bengali tourists. Chandana Khan, special chief secretary, tourism, government of Andhra Pradesh, said Durga Puja festival will be organized at key tourist destinations of Andhra Pradesh to give the Bengali tourists a feel of Bengal while touring Andhra during the festive season. She also released a calendar of festivals of Andhra Pradesh to attract tourists in carnivals which will also help promote local culture. ""The amenity centers have motels, restaurants and interpretation centers, where help can be hired to bridge the language barrier,"" she further added.

Ponnala asks Centre to increase gas allocation to A.P. (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3650066.ece)

Only 1,170 MW of capacity being used, against capacity of 2,770 MW due to gas shortage, says Minister

Information Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has urged the Centre to increase gas allocation to Andhra Pradesh to tide over the present shortfall.

Speaking at the Power Ministers Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, he said that due to shortage in gas supply in AP, only 1,170 MW of capacity was being used against the total capacity of 2,770 MW. Additionally, more than 2,400 MW of gas-based capacity was available and could also be utilised to meet the energy deficit if gas was made available.

Pointing out that AP had been worst hit, he requested the Centre to give priority in allocation of power from unallocated share of Central Generating Stations (CGS) to tide over the current deficit.

PENALTY CLAUSES

He said coal suppliers should enter into Fuel Supply Agreements (FSA) with existing and upcoming power plants. Appropriate penalty clauses should be factored in the FSA for any shortfall in coal supply.

Mr. Ponnala said natural resources were the preserve of the people of India and could not be exploited by monopolies/private parties for profiteering, especially in a constrained economy like India. Fuel pricing in India should not be determined based on international price benchmarks but on the basis of affordability and purchasing power parity of the country.

The Minister also opposed the proposed pool price mechanism since this has the potential to distort market signals and negatively impact existing power stations. “Increase in domestic coal cost in a price pooling scenario will increase the cost of generation and result in higher burden on the consumers,” he said.

REGULATORS SOUGHT

Referring to Coal India’s cash reserves of Rs.55,000 crore, he said this amount should be utilised to increase coal production and operate at lower profit margins to reduce the cost of coal. He also wanted regulatory mechanism to determine the domestic coal price being supplied by coal companies. “It is high time regulators are appointed for coal sector and the railways to oversee the reforms,” he added.

Mr. Ponnala called for reducing the cost of electricity generation taking into account the affordability and purchasing power parity of India, especially when RGGVY (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana) has made greater inroads in rural areas. The Cost of Service (CoS) in Andhra Pradesh has increased by about 34 per cent in the last three years, mainly due to the shortage of domestic fuels, increased dependence on imported coal and high power prices in power exchanges.

Isuzu Motors plans Rs 1000 crore plant in India (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-18/news/32731049_1_sml-isuzu-isuzu-officials-dmax)

MUMBAI/HYDERABAD: Isuzu Motors Limited, is mulling an entry into India's fast growing small commercial vehicle and multi utility vehicle segment to take on Tata Motors Ace and Mahindra & Mahindra's utility vehicles. The $17.1 billion Japanese auto firm is planning a greenfield facility in India, which may entail an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore.

ET learns, the India project team of Isuzu met state government officials of Andhra Pradesh earlier this month and are expected to meet officials from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to explore plans for locating a new factory. The proposed facility is expected to have a capacity of 1,00,000 to 1,20,000 units and is likely to come up by 2014-2015.

An email query sent to Isuzu Motor did not elicit a reply.

Currently, Indian truck makers hold an unchallenged sway in the small truck segment, growing at 20 per cent yearly.
Andhra Pradesh state government officials confirmed the development stating Isuzu officials showed interest in setting up a manufacturing facility in Nellore district of the state, which is very close to Chennai port in Tamil Nadu.

""Isuzu have shown some interest for setting up one of their units here. They have huge range of products starting from cars to LCVs all the way to pick up trucks and heavy trucks. We don't yet know which specific model they are looking at manufacturing here,"" the principal secretary (Industries), State Government of Andhra Pradesh, K Pradeep Chandra, said.

The company has already formed an Indian entity called Isuzu Motors India Private Limited, which is setting up an office in Chennai, in August. To begin with, Isuzu will assemble and distribute before setting up full scale manufacturing operations.

The immediate plan is to import CBUs (completely built units) and knocked down units of its lifestyle pick up truck DMAX and large SUVs like MU7 from Thailand which are sold in the South East Asian Markets by end of 2012.
In the first year, the plan is to sell 1,500 units, but a person in the know of development said, "The mid-term plan of Isuzu is to develop SCV model tailored for local needs, build localization of parts and expand the sales channel, and eventually move towards a local manufacturing plant which will produce 120,000 vehicles per year by 2016, with almost 40,000 units exported."

Location of the assembly plant is not yet known, but reports suggest that the company had been considering contract manufacturing at the Hindustan Motors-Mitsubishi plant in Tamil Nadu.

Isuzu India is also working closely with a Mitsubishi team located in Chennai to plan its India strategy. Mitsubishi globally has 9.2 per cent stake in Isuzu Motor Limited.

The other option could be the SML Isuzu plants in Chandigarh, a venture where Isuzu has a 15 per cent stake and manufactures light duty trucks and buses. The Isuzu India project team is likely to visit SML Isuzu plant next week, ET learns.

People close to the development say the company has already approached some of the leading car dealers in the country to sell Isuzu products and the customer clinics for a pick up truck, SUV and a small commercial vehicle is expected to happen in the next couple of months.

Experts say in a growing small commercial vehicle and utility vehicle market, there is place for more players, provided they get the pricing and target customer right with market getting more competitive and customer more discerning.

Rahul Jain, director & partner at Boston Consulting Group says with the market for small commercial vehicles taking off, there is room for more players, however he cautions, ""A me-too offering won't work in India, Isuzu will have to study the market carefully and find a right niche which is large enough to cater to. According to me, there are plenty of them available. Is there an opportunity for a better segmented LCV? The answer is yes. Tata Motors convinced us with Ace, Ashok Leyland convinced us with Dost and there will be more specific application opportunity arising in the future with retail sector opening up. Isuzu will have to pick their niche carefully,"" said Jain
The focus on India is such that in the last quarter Isuzu increased its stake in medium duty trucks and bus company SML Isuzu Ltd from 4 per cent to 15 per cent by investing Rs 60 crore

Over the last one year, the company has pushed aggressively on the emerging markets and is investing heavily. Isuzu increased stake in its joint ventures in Russia and India and last year the company finalised a joint venture with Qiangling Motors in China.

GAIL to supply Andhra Pradesh with gas to generate power (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/gail-to-supply-andhra-pradesh-with-gas-to-generate-power/1024554.html)

Hyderabad, Jul 18 (PTI) Gas Authority of India (GAIL) has agreed to supply 2.5 million metric standard cubic metres per day of re-gassified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to power-starved Andhra Pradesh to enable it generate an additional 500 MW of power. GAIL chairman and managing director B C Tripathi gave this assurance to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy during their meeting here today, a press release from the chief minister's office said. Andhra Pradesh's gas-based power plants have been producing 1600 MW of electricity less than the total installed capacity of 2770 MW due to non-availability of gas. This has pushed the state into darkness and also resulted in forced closure of industries for 12 days a month due to the gap between electricity demand and supply stretching to 35 million units per day. With uncertainty continuing over natural gas supply from the D6 fields of KG Basin, the state began looking for alternative supplies and requested GAIL for help.

^^ What the heck situation we have plenty of reserves but allocation is limited Government seriously need to work curbing private firms like Reliance so on so forth orelse dark days ahead for people, The only solution to float AP govt. Gas based company.

^^ What the heck situation we have plenty of reserves but allocation is limited Government seriously need to work curbing private firms like Reliance so on so forth orelse dark days ahead for people, The only solution to float AP govt. Gas based company.

Reliance actually cut down production citing technical reasons. Maybe they are blackmailing the government so that they can increase the price of gas.

The LNG terminal proposal which had been there for the last 8 years has just been revived and it'll probably get operational in 2016. Thats a long way off.

Another bad thing is that Gas based plant are only going to increase in the next few years.

http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=1&subCategory=8&ContentId=56867

^^ What the heck situation we have plenty of reserves but allocation is limited Government seriously need to work curbing private firms like Reliance so on so forth orelse dark days ahead for people, The only solution to float AP govt. Gas based company.


Thanks to cong govt for this horrible situation....I am not able to understand one thing why state govt is not taking any steps to screw companies like reliance which is using state resources and in-turn blackmailing govt....seriously this country is run by corporates.....

Reliance actually cut down production citing technical reasons. Maybe they are blackmailing the government so that they can increase the price of gas.

The LNG terminal proposal which had been there for the last 8 years has just been revived and it'll probably get operational in 2016. Thats a long way off.

Another bad thing is that Gas based plant are only going to increase in the next few years.

http://www.thehansindia.info/News/Article.asp?category=1&subCategory=8&ContentId=56867

Reliance seriously wants most of the gas to be used in their home state of Gujurat & Mah as their intentions were clear enough when congress came into power way back 2004. Even heard certain hate speeches by a leech Modi saying that Andhra Gas is ours[Kick on his ass].

Politicos, government officers in Kakinada among property tax defaulters (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-24/hyderabad/32826860_1_property-tax-defaulters-p-venkatramu)

HYDERABAD: A recent RTI reply has revealed that the local politicians and government offices in Kakinada town are the biggest evaders of property tax. According to information furnished by the municipal corporation office of Kakinada on July 11, there are 660 individuals who have to pay a tax amount of more than Rs 20,000 each and they owe a total of Rs 17 crore to the government.

Prominent in the defaulters' list includes former Kakinada MLA Muthha Gopalkrishna, who has to pay Rs 2.18 lakh as property tax which includes arrears and penalties. Similarly, sitting Congress MLA from Kakinada town Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy owes Rs 51,530. TDP MLC Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao has to pay Rs 93,921. The ruling party is also a major violator as the East Godavari district Congress office in Kakinada town has to pay Rs 12 lakh property tax.

Coming to government offices, the district collector's office has to pay Rs 75 lakh, office of district superintendent of police Rs 30 lakh, district treasury office Rs 33 lakh, R&B district engineer office Rs 20 lakh, district rural development authority office Rs 16 lakh and district medical and health office Rs 13 lakh.

The RTI applicant from Kakinada, P Venkatramu said, "This is a clear case of discrimination between the influential in town and the ordinary citizens. Why are the revenue officials not acting when so many local politicians and other rich citizens have not paid the property tax from so long? There are also many government departments who have defaulted and the concerned officials seem least interested in it." He demanded that the properties of the defaulters should be immediately attached or he would approach Lok Ayukta on this matter very soon.

Heavy inflows into Almatti cheers AP ryots (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-24/hyderabad/32827178_1_almatti-krishna-delta-heavy-inflows)

VIJAYAWADA: The irrigation officials and the farmers heave a sigh of relief Worries over the kharif season are slowly easing out with the coastal districts receiving good rains and agriculture activity in the Krishna delta also picking up pace. The irrigation authorities heaved a sigh of relief following reports that the Almatti dam in Karnataka has been getting huge inflows. According to information, Almatti is receiving more than 60,000 cusecs a day.

The water level at Almatti, which was around 17 tmc a week ago, jumped to 35 tmc from 17 tmc following heavy inflows in the last three days. Almatti has a storage capacity of 130 tmc and projects such as Srisailam get waters from the upper stream only when the Almatti overflow. "Karnataka has not witnessed good rains in the last one month resulting in poor reserves in Almatti and Narayanpur projects. The water crisis in our state would ease only if the present level of inflow in Karnataka projects increases substantially in the next couple of weeks," observed D Sambaiah, chief engineer, Krishna delta.

The Almatti project had around 54 tmc of water in this January but the capacity fell to 17 tmc following prolonged dry spell in the region. The levels at Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam are constant at 132 tmc and 47 tmc respectively.

Although the rains arrived almost a month behind the schedule, the entire region received more than sufficient rains bringing cheer to the farmers.

Despite good rains during July, farmers were worried about the water availability in the coming days as paddy is a water-intensive crop and needs regular supply of water for the survival of the crops.

Nearly 15 lakh acres is being cultivated under Krishna delta in four districts -- West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam where all the four districts reported surplus rainfall in the last 45 days. While Krishna district received about 63 per cent surplus rainfall, Guntur reported 40 per cent surplus. West Godavari received 20 per cent more rainfall and Prakasam district too reported 14 per cent surplus rain thanks to the incessant rains in the last week. "Except three mandals, almost entire district received good rains and the farmers of upland areas such as Markapuram, Kanigiri too are content with the rains and are upbeat with farm activity," said V Narasimhulu, Prakasam district agriculture joint director.

Andhra Pradesh CM tells industrialists that steps are on to mitigate power shortage (http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=35346)

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy today assured industrial sector that several short-term measures are being taken to mitigate the power shortage problem in the State. The Chief Minister assured the representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) that the State Government will try its best to help the industries by pooling power from all possible sources.

The representatives of the CII today met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy told the industrialists that AP Transco is purchasing 900 mw power. The Chief Minister said that solar power and wind power projects are also being encouraged in a big way. The Chief Minister asked the CII to consult other industrial associations and come out with concrete proposals to overcome the situation. He wanted them to work out how much more energy they can produce from captive power plants and what support and incentives they need in this regard.

The Chief Minister said as long term measures the Government of India is being approached for gas supply to the gas-based power plants in A.P. and also other Power projects in the State would start commercial production soon. The Chief Minister agreed to consider the proposals of CII to encourage solar power for hoardings, other lightings so that 200 to 300 mw can be saved.

Meanwhile the CMD, AP Transco said that the industries are being allowed open access to industries in purchasing power. He said that there are no power cuts to the poultry, cold storage etc. now. He also offered that if the industries are ready to instal the controlled meters, AP Transco is ready to supply 60% power on daily basis

The CII said that A.P. is having second largest hydel capacity in the country however subject to vagaries of monsoon. APGENCO is the third largest power generating utility in the country, next only to NTPC and Maharashtra. Highest installed capacity on natural gas (30%). However the recent dwindling gas scenario has affected power generation. The CII said A.P. is one of the first State to undertake power sector reforms in the country. Chief Secretary Smt. Minnie Mathew, Principal Secretary, Finance, V Bhasker, Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Suresh Chand, CMD, AP Transco, Hiralal Samariya, MD, AP Genco, K Vijayanand, Commissioner, Industries, Karikala Valaven, Secretary to CM, K S Jawahar Reddy, Chairperson, CII, Suchitra Ella, Other Representatives of CII, Anil Kumar Epur, Jay Galla, M K Patodia, D V Manohar, Krishna Ram Bhupal, V S Venkataraman, Mahesh K Desai, Satya Kumar, A V Rao, Suresh Chitturi and B H Ravindra besides other State Government officials were present.

AP will protect interests of Krishna Delta farmers: Minister (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3677882.ece)

‘Government will explore all possibilities, including legal options’

The State government has taken a serious note of sentiments of Krishna Delta farmers and would take necessary steps to release irrigation water, according to district in-charge Minister Galla Aruna Kumari.

The Minister chaired the District Review Committee (DRC) meeting here on Monday. Disclosing the details of meeting, Ms. Aruna Kumari said a GO 69 issued during the Telugu Desam government came in the way of release of irrigation waters from Nagarjuna Sagar Project.

The GO 69 made it mandatory to maintain 510 feet level at Nagarjuna Sagar Project for drinking purposes. The Advocate General was studying the High Court’s recent orders. The government would take suitable action and ensure that the farmers do not incur any loss, she assured people.

The minutes of the DRC meeting regarding Krishna Delta farmers would be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister. The government would explore the possibilities, including legal options, to safeguard the interests of Delta farmers, she said.

The government has set a target to complete the irrigation projects by 2014. However, there was a delay in execution of the works due to shortage of sand. The sand scarcity arose following petitions filed in High Court and Supreme Court. To tide over the crisis, the government has asked the irrigation department to desilt 17 irrigation projects. The sand thus dug out would be utilised for irrigation works, she said.

Power crisis

On power front, she said many states across the country were facing power shortage. The demand rose by 15 per cent in the State. The hydel power generation came to a halt as there was no requisite water in reservoirs. The gas based power generation units were not functioning at installed capacity due to shortage of gas supply.

The Centre has agreed to provide gas to generate another 500 MW power. Notwithstanding the power shortage, the government has asked the discoms to ensure 7-hour power supply to agriculture, she said.

Referring to input subsidy given to farmers, the Minister said it was decided to convene a meeting with the bankers to explore the possibility of paying interest on input subsidy if the payment was delayed, she added.

Secondary Education Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, MLAs Malladi Vishnu, Jogi Ramesh, and Perni Venkata Ramaiah, Collector S.A.M. Rizvi, DRDA project director M. Janaki, Vijayawada Municipal Commissioner Md. Abdul Azeem were among those present.

Coca-Cola, Jain Irrigation to showcase modern mango farming in Andhra (http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/07/24/310--Coca-Cola-Jain-Irrigation-to-showcase-modern-mango-farming-in-Andhra-.html)

Chennai, July 24 (IANS) In a joint effort, Coca-Cola India and Jain Irrigation System plan to train around 50,000 mango farmers in ultra high density plantation (UHDP) techniques over the next five years, showcasing the 100 demo farms set up in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district.
A statement by Coca-Cola India Tuesday said Project Unnati, a sustainable agriculture initiative by the company along with Jain Irrigation, has achieved the first milestone of establishing 100 demonstration farms in the pilot phase to train over 50,000 farmers.
"Project Unnati builds on continuous efforts for sustainable agriculture. The UHDP technology for mango plantation is showcased in over 100 acres in the first phase. Given the growing demand for mango worldwide and the packaged juice segment being a high growth category, Project Unnati not only makes good social sense but also makes great business sense for us.
"We are delighted to partner with Jain Irrigation who is our largest mango pulp supplier to lend their expertise towards the success of this project," the statement quoted T. Krishnakumar, CEO, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, as saying.
In the pilot phase of Project Unnati, 62 farmers, whose farms aggregating 100 acres, have planted mango saplings using the UHDP technique while also utilising the benefits of drip irrigation to minimise quantity of water used per kilo of mango produce.
The programme will use specialised buses with in-built classrooms to provide on-the-go training in UHDP techniques in mango farming which can help farmers double their mango yields and thus significantly improve their livelihood.
The first phase of the project has an investment outlay of more than $2 million, shared equally between Coca-Cola India and Jain Irrigation.
In traditional mango cultivation, trees are allowed to grow as high as possible; they are pruned minimally or not at all. In UHDP, canopy is maintained in such a way to attain maximum light interception and canopy volume per unit area in early years of plantation. This leads in the orchard to attain full potential in three-four years.
The UHDP would allow 600 trees to be planted in an acre instead of just the conventional 40 trees to an acre.
The gestation period in UHDP is less and the farmer starts earning money in the early years as UHDP orchards start commercial bearing from the third year onwards against the seven-nine years required in traditional planting.
According to Anil Jain, managing director, Jain Irrigation, the mango productivity in farms in India is low despite the country contributing 55 percent of the global mango production.
Going forward the two companies are looking to extend the project to farmers in the Cudappa district in Andhra Pradesh which is known for the "Totapuri" mango variety used in the manufacture of Maaza mango drink.

Prisoners to grow alfalfa for Himalaya Drug Company (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3678336.ece)

HYDERABAD, JULY 24:
Prisoners in Andhra Pradesh will grow medicinal herbs for Himalaya Drug Company. The firm will give seeds, other inputs and extension services to inmates at the Prisoners’ Agricultural Colony at Anantapur, while the jail authorities would hand pick about 30 prisoners to grow alfalfa in a two-acre plot.

“We will buy back all the produce. It is up to the Department of Jails to compensate those who work on the fields,” Dr Babu, Head (Agrotech and Phytochemistry) of Himalaya Drug Company, said.

The company signed an agreement with the Department of Prisons for imparting training to the prisoners on cultivating medicinal herbs. After the training, they would grow medicinal herbs for the company.

The company procures 300 tonnes of alfalfa for its drug development activity, with most of it coming from contract farming agreements. Each acre would yield 3,000 kg of alfalfa.

The company, which registered a turnover of Rs 1,200 crore last year, is growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 25-30 per cent.

Naidu writes to AP CM over Polavaram irrigation tenders (http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/naidu-writes-to-ap-cm-over-polavaram-irrigation-tenders/36275/)

Opposition TDP today requested Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to convene a meeting of floor leaders of all parties and place files related to tenders of Polavaram irrigation project before Assembly Speaker to clear apprehensions about irregularities.

"There are allegations that certain ineligible companies qualified in the tender process for the Polavaram related works because of which the State Government will stand to lose Rs 600 crore.

"While two Ministers of your Cabinet expressed apprehension over irregularities in the bidding process, the Major Irrigation Minister ruled out the possibility. The onus is, hence, on the Government to clarify doubts on the whole issue and ensure transparency," Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu said in a letter to Kiran.

The Telugu Desam President pointed out that the multi- purpose irrigation project was supposed to be completed by 2007 but even the canal works had not been completed till date despite incurring an expenditure of Rs 4,890 crore only "due to the inefficiency of the Government".
Large-scale irregularities were unearthed in the Polavaram tender process in August last, leading to the cancellation of project contract.

"People are strongly feeling that persons holding high office in the Government have played a key role in ensuring that companies of their choice are awarded the project contract," the former Chief Minister said.

"Hence, to instill confidence about the Government in people and ensure accountability and transparency in administration, all files related to Polavaram should be placed before the Assembly Speaker for scrutiny by leaders of all political parties," Naidu said in the letter.

Shoot red sandalwood smugglers: DL to officials

Kadapa July 31 : Minister for Health D L Ravinder Reddy called upon the forest officers to shoot at sight the red sandalwood smugglers who were unbalancing the environment by falling trees to gain illegal wealth.
Talking to media person after inaugurating the 63rd Vanamahotsav program organized by Vana Samrakshana Samithi at Mydukur, Kadapa District here on Tuesday, the minister pointed out that red sandalwood was worth crores of rupees in the international market. He said only strict action could prevent the smugglers from destroying the forests through cutting and smuggling the valuable trees.
Ravindra Reddy came down heavily on some political leaders for putting the environments at stake by supporting the smugglers for their selfish gains. He said that the environmental system would lose balance with unscrupulous cutting of trees. He expressed his regression for not turning up of people against the cutting of trees even after the government introduced several acts to prevent one who try to indulge in unhealthy practice.
The minister called upon the people to play a key role in the protection of the forests which were not only the wealthy natural resources but the only source to keep the environment protected.

source:http://www.namasthetelangaana.com/EnglishNews/article.asp?category=27&subCategory=2&ContentId=134607

Tirupati temple to keep laddu patent (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tirupati-temple-to-keep-laddu-patent/981588/)

The Venkateswara temple in Andhra Pradesh, India’s richest temple, Monday scored a sweet legal victory: the Geographical Indications Registry upheld its claim of a patent over the famous Tirupati laddu.

The laddu, which is offered as prasad, was granted a Geographical Indicator (GI) tag in September 2009 — the tag ensures a product becomes synonymous with a geographical location — after Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) convinced the Registry that the laddu was unique in its “preparation, quality and reputation”.

But, owing to the growing demand, unscrupulous elements, including hawkers, were selling their preparations as Tirupati laddu. Granting it GI tag, TTD argued, would curb the problem as violating GI laws invites punishment.

The Registry’s order granting the GI tag was, however, challenged by R S Praveen Raj, a scientist with CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, and an intellectual property rights activist.

The tag, he contended, is meant to benefit local producers and act as an indicator of the geographical origin of the product. Thus, everyone from Tirupati has the right to use GI tag as long as their laddus are prepared in Tirupati and have the same delicacy and features as the laddu prepared by TTD.

On Monday Chinnaraja G Naidu — Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks and GI, Chennai — issued the verdict, upholding TTD’s claim and fined Raj Rs 10,000.

AP to buy additional power up to May (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article3731402.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy)

HYDERABAD, AUG. 5:
Utilities in Andhra Pradesh have finalised orders to procure about 1,200 MW more power every month beginning August 2012 up to May 2013.

They have finalised orders for additional procurement of 12,706 MW of power up to May 2013, according to Andhra Pradesh Energy Coordination Cell.

The power will be procured from PTC, NETS, GMR, RETL, JSWPTC, among others.

This purchase is part of the State’s efforts to bridge the demand-supply gap. The power generation from existing power plants has dropped due to inadequate natural gas supply, and hydel generation has dwindled due to poor reservoir levels.

According to a statement, Mrutunjay Sahoo has assumed charge as the Principal Secretary of Energy, Andhra Pradesh from Dinesh Kumar. Sahoo served as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India, earlier.

The power utilities stated that the focus is on reducing the transmission and distribution losses from 16.7 per cent to below 15 per cent. The Generation Corporation of Andhra Pradesh has planned to add a generation capacity of about 5500 mw during the XII Plan

GAS SUPPLY

Natural gas supply to power plants in Andhra Pradesh has been cut by 2 million standard cubic meters a day, leading to a power generation loss of 400 mw capacity.

The Centre has decided to divert gas to Ratnagiri power according to the decision taken by the Empowered Group of Ministers. Andhra Pradesh is receiving low supplies for its gas plants and this cut will be a big blow, according to G. Srinivasa Rao, AP Minister for Infrastructure.

24 gold medals to be awarded (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/rajahmundry/24-gold-medals-be-awarded-944)

The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (JNTU-K) is getting slated for its second convocation.

The Delhi Metro Railway Board former managing director and present chief advisor, Mr E. Sridharan, will be awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa.

As many as 26,446 students, scholars and others will be awarded degrees and doctorates.

According to sources, 13,500 students out of 20,724 degrees, have applied for the convocation. Sources said that 24 PhDs and 24 gold medals will be awarded in various disciplines.

Other degrees like B.Pharmacy-430, MBA-1,469, MCA-2,690, M.Tech-1,054 in 59 specialisations, M.Pharm-50 in 8 specialisations will be awarded degrees.

“Compared to the first convocation, there is a record increase in the number of qualified persons who are expected to receive degrees on the second convocation,” said Mr G. Tulasi Ram Das, vice-chancellor of JNTU-K in a press meet on Sunday.

He said that within one and half years, 463 technical papers have been published in international and national journals.

He said that nine faculty members visited countries like Europe, Scotland and others to get MOUs and present papers and nine engineering textbooks have been authored by them.

Mr Das said that the University has initiated the process of constructing buildings for different departments including modernisation of the library with Rs.75 crores.

He said that the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi has allotted the prestigious south zone inter university men and women's badminton tournament, 2012-13 to JNTU-K and this will be organised during the end of this year.

Andhra heralds low-cost drugs era (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_andhra-heralds-low-cost-drugs-era_1724394)

If all goes well, the Andhra Pradesh government would usher in a low-cost drugs regime to make affordable medicines available to all. Initial estimates peg the cost of drugs administered for various ailments costing anywhere between 30% and 84 % less compared to the branded drugs available in the market today.

Taking up the task of popularising generic drugs in the state, the AP Health, Medical Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APHMH&IDC) is in the process of identifying the drugs and their suppliers. Instead of depending on the conventional druggists and chemists, the state government, through the corporation, also plans to set up its own chain of outlets under the brand Jeevandhara.

“It is important to make drugs available to all and at affordable prices. Though there are thousands of companies manufacturing a variety of drugs, the branded drugs are making the cost of medication unaffordable to many,” a senior official dealing with the process said.

For now, the state government is believed to have identified about 350 drugs to be sold through the outlets and the process of setting up the outlets too is being kicked off while negotiations with suppliers is said to be at an advanced stage.

After developing a drug, the drug manufacturers tend to brand them and claim exclusivity either in the combination of chemicals that go into the drug or the process adopted to manufacture the drug. This exclusivity and the branding tend to make drugs expensive. However, the same drugs can be manufactured by others too and sold without any brand. These drugs are called generic drugs and are expected to cost less compared to the branded drugs.

“The focus is primarily on ailments like blood pressure, diabetes and normal fever. Most of the drugs identified so far for genericisation fall into these therapeutic segments and the effort is to make them available to all at low cost,” the official said.
In fact, several nations, including the US, have started promoting generic drugs with an intention of bringing down the cost of drugs.
The estimates show that on genericisation of a drug, the cost tends to come down as much as 95 per cent compared to a branded drug.

According to the officials, several drug majors, including Ranbaxy, Cipla and Mankind, have evinced interest in participating in the process and supplying generic drugs to the Jeevandhara outlets.
For now, the government is keen on developing a proof of concept for the model by setting up the outlets at government hospitals across the state. The rollout would happen in phases.

In fact, the government is planning to link the setting up of outlets to the government-promoted employment programme by roping in the unemployed to man the outlets.

“Most of the drugs are sold in the market with the patients spending out of their pockets. There is no formal insurance system to cover the cost of the drugs though the procedures are taken care of by the insurance companies in most cases. The AP government has already implemented a group insurance scheme called Arogya Sree for the people below poverty line and various procedures are done free of cost. But, even after the procedure, the cost of drugs is becoming a major hurdle in providing complete treatment. The genericisation would reduce the burden on the patients and help them continue the prescribed course after the procedure,” the official said.

Andhra Pradesh boy bags US varsity’s top scholarship (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/269755/andhra-pradesh-boy-bags-us.html)

Andhra boy Anurag Gogineni has become the proud recipient of full scholarship from University of Cincinnati, which would enable him to pursue under graduate programme at the prestigious institution.

The review committee for the scholarship at the university picked Anurag over 1,300 applicants for the highest level of financial reward given to students pursuing undergraduate programme at the university for his exceptional academic and extra curricular activities.

Starting this month, Anurag would begin his Bachelors programme at the university. The total scholarship amount of $100,000 (roughly Rs 56 lakh) will be awarded as $25,000 per semester.

The university awards a total sum of $1 million for students applying to its international undergraduate programmes.

“UC has a great business school, one of the best campuses according to popular rankings, well developed business leadership programs, and ample scholarships. It offers excellent placements & an enriching co-op programme,” Anurag said of Cincinnati.

Anurag has also been admitted to the highly selective Kolodzik Business Scholar’s programme at the university, enabling him to have a customized academic programme with opportunities to work with prestigious global brands like Proctor & Gamble
“This fall, the programs I'm looking most eagerly at are, University Honors, Kolodzik
Business Scholars, and professional fraternities like Alpha Kappa Pai and Delta Sigma Pi.
I'm very happy that I have chosen UC as my destination this fall”, he added.

UC, ranked among the top tier of the Best National Universities by the US News and World Report in August 2011 is a public research university with an enrolment of more than 42,000 students. It offers students a balance of educational excellence and real-world experience.

Jonathan Weller, Director of UC’s International Admissions said, “The selection of candidates for the coveted scholarship was significant as it involved thorough reviewing of numerous entries which came in. We have carefully chosen the most deserving candidate.”

Decision on gas supply to A.P. soon (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3735626.ece)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured a high level delegation from Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, that he would look into the State’s demand for increased allocation of gas to the power units. He would hold consultations with the Minister concerned and the officials on Tuesday and take a decision.

The empowered group of Ministers in the Union Cabinet decided to allot 2 MMSCMD to Ratnagiri power project in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh is claiming the variable cost of Reliance/ONGC gas to the State was Rs.2.10 a unit, compared to RLNG, whose variable cost when landing worked out to Rs.9.06 per unit.

The delegation told the Prime Minister that at least 14 units of the gas-based power plants had shut down in Andhra Pradesh following cut in gas supply and there was a loss of 1,174 MW of power.

The delegation also called on Power Minister Veerappa Moily and Defence Minister A.K. Antony.

Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao told the Prime Minister that the Centre’s decision to divert gas had forced “lakhs of small industries” to close shops in Andhra Pradesh.

Peddapally Lok Sabha member G. Vivekanand urged Dr. Singh to make sure there was no reduction of gas to the urea manufacturing industries.

Earlier, the Chief Minister also called on President Pranab Mukherjee.

The delegation was joined, among others, by Union Ministers M.M. Pallam Raju, Panabaka Lakshmi, D. Purandeswari, former union minister T. Subbarami Reddy, A.P. Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and MPs from both the Houses of Parliament.

Entrepreneurship key to success: CII chief (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3737718.ece)

‘Students from reputed B-schools are opting for such ventures, even if it means taking a risk’

Entrepreneurship and courage are key to progress and prosperity, CII Chairman, Vizag Zone and Director (Commercial), RINL T.K. Chand has said.

Addressing the second State-level students convention organised by Computer Society of India (CSI) and Dadi Institute of Engineering and Technology on Monday, he said that civilisation would have remained in caves if the ancient men would not have dared to come out.

Invention of the wheel put civilisation on the move. In medieval times, it was the invention of electricity that provided energy that provided a quantum leap. In present times computers, followed by micro-chips are speeding up progress like never before, he stated.

“In all these, it is entrepreneurship and risk-taking behaviour that played the pivotal role,” he said and elaborated that in the US and even in China, such behaviour was more pronounced and comes at a premium. Since economic reforms, Indian youth had started catching up. Now, students from reputed B-schools were opting for entrepreneurial ventures, even if it meant risk-taking, he pointed out.

Mr. Chand, who is the vice-chairman of CSI, while dwelling on the state of economy, indicated that good days were ahead. He said India was now the third largest economy next to the US and China. A structural transformation was taking place in economy with service sector contributing a chunk in GDP.

In 1950, the contribution of agriculture, industry and service sectors in GDP were 57, 13 and 30 per cent. Now it is respectively 16, 25 and 59 per cent. Contribution of service sector had almost doubled. Compared with China, where growth model had been led by industries, in India it seems service sector was leading the growth, he said.

Ideal model

As India has a large population, he advocated industry-service-led model of growth. In service sector, IT and IT enabled services would be in front and there could not be any saturation in ITES as apprehended.

‘Big boost’

“It will be an ever-growing sector with ever-increasing innovative technology in the field like micro-chip, nano technology, cloud computing and manufacturing system execution. Mr. Chand informed that CII, Vizag Zone was going to organise college cluster-industry-institution interaction to give a big boost to knowledge economy.