The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Tributes paid to Burgula Ramakrishna Rao

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Union Minister of State for Urban Development, B. Dattatreya, garlanded the statue of Burgula Ramakrishna Rao at Liberty Crossroads to mark the 105th jayanti of the first Chief Minister of erstwhile Hyderabad State on Saturday.

State ministers -- T. Devender Goud, K. Vijayarama Rao, T. Srinivas Yadav, the former Chief Minister, N. Janardhan Reddy, leaders of various political parties and freedom fighters paid floral tributes to Rao. B. Babu Rao Varma, chairman, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao Foundation and member, National Commission for Backward Classes, received the VIPs.

D. Srinivas, president, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, office-bearers of APCC and important party functionaries also offered floral tributes to Rao at the Gandhi Bhavan.

Janata Dal (U) names candidate

HYDERABAD: The State unit of the Janata Dal (United) has announced that it will field S. Venkatachalam for the Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly constituency in the ensuing elections. According to a press release issued by the State unit general secretary, C. Prafulla Chandra Rai, Mr. Venkatachalam had served in the Navy and had been active in public life after his retirement.

B. Vijayan appointed `special observer' for State

HYDERABAD: B. Vijayan, former Chief Electoral Officer of Pondicherry, has been appointed by the Election Commission as `special observer' for the State.

Police case against former Minister

CUDDAPAH: The Mydukur police have registered cases against the former Minister, D.L. Ravindra Reddy, S. Nagi Reddy, son of the former Mydukur MLA, S. Raghurami Reddy, and some others under the Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act last evening, following group clashes in Vanipenta village in Mydukur mandal. Police registered six cases against more than 100 persons including the two leaders, after rival groups hurled soda bottles and stones against each other and ransacked the house of a Congress functionary, Jaffer Hussain. Rival Congress and Telugu Desam functionaries lodged complaints and counter-complaints accusing each other of attacking their partymen.

FFW rice seized

CUDDAPAH: The Nandalur Police seized 20 tonnes of rice meant for food-for-work (FFW) programme near Adapur in Nandalur mandal on Saturday. A police party on patrol intercepted a lorry and seized the rice and the lorry which was said to be proceeding from Chintalapalli in the mandal to Cuddapah. Ramesh Babu, who was transporting the rice, and the lorry driver were absconding, according to the police. The police handed over the rice stocks to the MRO and registered a case.

3 taken ill after consuming spurious toddy

ANANTAPUR: A shepherd and two of his friends were taken ill after consuming spurious toddy last night in Thippepalli village of Obuladevara Cheruvu mandal. All the three were hospitalised this morning and the condition of one of them was stated to be critical.

According to information reaching here, Gopal Naik of Thippepalli brought toddy yesterday for giving it to his ailing sheep. As a lot of toddy was left, he invited his friends from Guntlavaripalli -- D. Ramachandra and P. Ramachandra -- and the three consumed it. The family members of Gopal Naik felt something wrong when the three did not wake up till late in the morning. They found the three in semi-conscious state. They shifted Gopa Naik to the PHC at Gorantla and informed the family members of his friends, who reached Thippepalli and took the two to the Government Area Hospital, Kadiri. The condition of P. Ramachandra was stated be critical.

1,000 druggists face action

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Drugs Control Administration has launched prosecution against 1,000 druggists in the State for violation of rules during 2003-04 creating a record of sorts, said M. Venkata Reddy, Director.

Speaking to newspersons here today, he said that the largest number of cases was booked in Andhra Pradesh this year. The number was more here than the other three southern states put together. He said the District Drug Advisory Committees would be constituted soon in all districts, giving representation to doctors, IMAs, consumer organisations, etc., to suggest and improve drug administration.

Eight manufacturing units had been closed in the State as they were found to be producing drugs without licence.

Discom hints at power cut

TIRUPATI: With reduction in power availability to the tune of 770 MW due to outage of generating units at NTPC (Ramagundam), Simhadri, Talcher and KTPS on March 12, load relief/shedding may be resorted to, the Southern Discom has announced in a press release.

The 32.93 MU of energy handled by the discom on March 11 was higher by 12.6 p.c. than that drawn last year and the peak demand on the day had risen by 96 MW. The Discom CMD, K. Ranganatham, stated that supply for lighting had been maintained in all the 1,476 rural feeders in the six districts of Chittoor, Cuddapah, Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna.

70 huts gutted

MADANAPALLE: Seventy thatched houses were gutted and 30 more were partially burnt in a fire accident at Buruzupalle in Thamballa Palle mandal on Friday. A few livestock also perished in the mishap. Over 120 families were rendered homeless. The Sub-Collector, Smitha Das, and the Mandal Revenue Officer, Prasad, visited the spot.

Stone laid for college building

Cuddapah: The former Chief Secretary, K. Jayabharath Reddy, laid the foundation stone for a hostel building in Government Women's College here on Saturday. The building was being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 60 lakhs, which was totally contributed by him and his family members. The college principal, Sultan Ahmed, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Reddy's parents -- Cuddapah Koti Reddy and Ramasubbamma -- for establishing the college. The Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, and others participated.

Health meet held

TIRUPATI: A health awareness meet for women was conducted by the T. Chavatapalli-based Praja Urban Health Centre in the Chittoor Pedda Harijanawada on Friday. The centre's coordinator, T.K. Moorthy, spoke.

Dies in freak mishap

Cuddapah: A lorry driver of Yerraguntla, Rayudu, who slept atop the vehicle laden with cement bags, died when he rolled over and fell onto the road on Saturday, according to the police. The vehicle was parked near Thollagangannapalle in Vallur mandal.

Naidu condoles party leader's death

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, has expressed his sorrow over the death of the former Karimnagar Zilla Parishad vice-chairman and former district TDP vice-president Mekala Madhusudhan Reddy on Saturday.

Mr. Naidu, in a message, said Madhusudha Reddy hailing from Saidapur mandal in Huzurabad constituency, held various posts and strove for the development of the party, progress of villages and welfare of people. The party had lost a good leader in his death, he said and conveyed his condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

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