The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Farmer commits suicide

Cuddapah: A farmer, Bheemireddy Lakshminarayana Reddy (60), committed suicide by consuming pesticide granules at YMR Colony in Proddatur town last night owing to mounting debts and ill-health.

Lakshminarayana Reddy, who hailed from Thakkellapalle village in Anantapur district, settled in Proddatur town about two years ago, according to the police. He owned about 60 acres of land, but sold away some of it after incurring crop loss and for meeting the expenditure of marrying his two daughters. He was left with about seven acres of land, which he gave on lease, and shifted to Proddatur, where his two sons took up business.

The severe drought led to fall in his income and he was addicted to alcohol which aggravated his failing health. He left home yesterday afternoon. A hamali found him dead on Tuesday morning at RTC bus stand and informed his family members on finding their phone number in diary.

Medical college principal reinstated

KURNOOL: The Principal of Kurnool Medical College, K. Somasekhar Reddy, who was suspended for preparing to construct the shopping complex without administrative approval, was reinstated as per the directive of AP Administrative Tribunal. He was transferred to the Government Medical College, Anantapur.

Teachers to stage dharna on February 12

Hyderabad: Members of the Andhra Pradesh State Teachers' Union will stage a dharna in front of collectorates in all districts on February 12 to press their demands, including framing of service rules for teachers.

The other demands include making DEOs as appointing officers, payment of salaries to teachers, provincialisation of municipal teachers, issue of presidential orders treating municipal and panchayatat raj teacher posts as local cadre, payment of rent for private buildings housing schools and permitting inter-district transfer of teachers after considering two years service up to October this year.

P. Subba Reddy, president, and A. Anantaramulu, general secretary, in a statement on Tuesday criticised the Government for not issuing orders on the agreed demands following discussions held with the union.

Tewari is new HSL chief

VISAKHAPATNAM: Ajit Tewari, who was till recently the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Planning), on Tuesday took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of the public sector Hindustan Shipyard Limited from the in-charge CMD, Commodore Janardhan.

The 54-year-old Rear Admiral (retired) is a product of the National Defence Academy and a specialist in signals, communications and electronic warfare and had served the Navy for over 35 years holding key positions.

He took active part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, for which he was awarded the Nao Sena Medal for gallantry. In 2000, he was decorated with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.

Four sarpanches quit TDP

Cuddapah: Four sarpanches in Tsundupalle mandal of Rayachoti constituency announced their resignation to the primary membership of the Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday following mounting threat from People's War naxalites to quit the ruling party. The Pedinenikalva sarpanch, Venkataramanaiah Naidu, the G. Reddivaripalle sarpanch, M. Venkataramana, the Tsundupalle sarpanch, N. Pedda Venkatesu, and the Chinnagollapalle sarpanch, P. Penchalaiah, announced their resignation from the party at a press conference at Tsundupalle.

The sarpanches said they would continue in their elected posts but would neither campaign for the party in elections nor extend cooperation to party leaders. They said they faxed their resignation letters to the Chief Minister and TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Fake currency racket busted

KARIMNAGAR: The Karimnagar special branch police busted a fake currency note racket with the arrest of six members and recovery of Rs. 6 lakh counterfeit currency in Rs. 100 denomination from their possession in the town on Tuesday.

The Karimnagar DSP, Y. Sai Narsa Reddy, told newsmen here that on a tip-off, the special branch SIs -- Nagendra Chary and Nagender -- arrested the accused, B. Shiva Shankar, M. Sampath and V. Devender -- all hailing from Godavarikhani town at the RTC bus stand. On interrogation, they admitted residing in Sapathagiri Colony along with three others and were trying for transaction of fake currency. The fake currency was supplied allegedly from Selva Raj of Madurai. Special teams were sent to Madurai to the nab the main culprit.

Stress on enhancing maize productivity

HYDERABAD: The need for enhancing maize productivity from the rain-fed regions of the country through appropriate soil, water, nutrient and pest management, was stressed by Y. S. Ramakrishna, Director of Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), here on Tuesday.

He was speaking after inaugurating a ten-day international training programme on "Improving maize productivity under abiotic stresses", organised by CRIDA in cooperation with Directorate of Maize Research and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT, Mexico).

Dr. Ramakrishna emphasised the role played by abiotic stresses like drought, waterlogging and soil fertility in reducing the crop yields of maize and the need for farmers to tackle the problem in a concerted manner. More than 20 maize scientists from China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia and an equal number from India representing private and public sector are participating in the course.

Ganesan Srinivasan, maize specialist from CIMMYT highlighted the progress made by his institute. N. N. Singh, Director of Maize Research, welcomed the participants.

Isolated rain in coastal Andhra

Hyderabad: The impact of trough continued on Tuesday also with coastal Andhra getting isolated rain. Weather was mainly dry in Telangana and Rayalaseema.

During the 24-hour period ending this morning, Anakapalle and Srungavarapukota received 3 cm each rainfall and Terlam 2 cm.

The Minimum temperature changed little in the State. It was significantly above normal at one or two places in Telangana and above normal at a few places in coastal Andhra and at one or two places in Rayalaseema.

The State's lowest night temperature of 16 degree Celsius for the day was recorded by Adilabad.

Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar are likely to get isolated rain on Wednesday and weather will be mainly dry in coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and the rest of Telangana.

2,080 screened at health camp

KURNOOL: A total of 2,080 patients were screened for eye ailments at the three-day mega health camp organised under the Centre-sponsored scheme at Nandyal which concluded on Tuesday. The secretary of the District Blindness Control Society, P. Sudhakar Rao, said surgery was performed on 67 patients.

Under the school children screening programme, 2,264 were examined and 139 were given spectacles.

Session for engineers held

KURNOOL: The Kurnool District Technical Forum in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organised a technical session for practising engineers here on Monday. The Director of BIS, M.V.S.D. Prasada Rao, called upon engineers to help promote the culture of quality.

The Joint Director, J. Roy Choudary, and the Deputy Director, B. Deva Prasad, were present.

Recruitment for Army posts

Cuddapah: The District Employment Officer, C. Mani, has called upon Intermediate pass candidates, aged between 16 and 21 years, to appear for the soldier technical rally as part of Army recruitment at Police Parade grounds here on February 17 and 18.

The applicants should have 50 per cent marks in science and at least 40 per cent in other subjects, he said. Candidates must have a height of 165 cm, weigh 50 kg and chest of 77 cm. There would be no relaxation for Scheduled Castes/Tribes.

Project Director for Velugu

ANANTAPUR: The Government has appointed M. Hari Jawaharlal as new Project Director of District Rural Development Authority and Velugu in the district. He replaces I. Samuel Anandkumar, who has been transferred to the Revenue Department, Hyderabad.

Mr. Jawaharlal is currently working as Estate Officer in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati.

Issuance of birth certificates

ANANTAPUR: The Director of Census, V.S. Bhaskar, has appreciated the district Collector, Y.V. Anuradha, for issuing 1,60,780 birth certificates to newborns in the district during 2003. The issuance of birth certificates to the newborn has been taken up under a national campaign. Anantapur is placed second in the State behind Chittoor in the matter.

Book for women released

Hyderabad: A book authored by Rangisetti Keerthi Kumar, a teacher in Cuddapah district, titled `Mahila Telusuko,' was released here today by the Commissioner for Women Empowerment, C.S. Ramalakshmi. The book provides information regarding educational avenues and job opportunities available for women.

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