The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Gastroenterology ward opened at SVIMS

TIRUPATI: A gastroenterology ward was inaugurated at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) by the TTD Trust Board Chairman, D.K. Adikesavulu on Tuesday. Giving an account of the activities taken up in the super-speciality hospital, G. Subramanyam, Director and Vice-Chancellor of SVIMS university, announced that the rates for various investigations in the hospital were at least 31 per cent, 64 per cent and 75 per cent less than those prevailing in NIMS, Hyderabad, CMC, Vellore, and Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai. The TTD Executive Officer, Ajeya Kallam, was the guest of honour.

YSR son's gesture

Cuddapah: Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of the former CLP leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Wednesday gave away Rs. 20,000 towards assistance to the widow of a debt-ridden farmer, Gajjela Vijayabhaskar Reddy, who committed suicide. Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy visited Peddajutoor village in Vemula mandal, consoled the widow and children of the deceased farmer and gave the financial aid.

TB awareness camp

Cuddapah: The District Medical and Health Officer, T. Venugopal, on Wednesday called for people's cooperation and dedicated work by health staff to contain tuberculosis. Addressing an awareness camp on tuberculosis organised in connection with the World TB Day at the Railway Institute at Nandalur, he said the mortality rate among TB patients could be considerably reduced if the health staff gave timely treatment and educated the people on proper use of medicines. The District Tuberculosis Prevention Officer, Munisekhar, warned of action and cut in pay of health staff, who were negligent in treating TB patients.

Medical camp

TIRUPATI: As many as 180 patients were examined at the fortnight-long special medical camp being conducted by the PES Medical College Hospital in Kuppam, run by the Bangalore-based People's Education Society, on the first two days. K. Suresh, a renowned cardiologist from New York University, examined the patients. The camp, that commenced on Monday, has the schedule as follows: diabetes (March 24), female health (March 25), eye check-up (March 26), child health (March 27), general camp (March 29 to April 3). Economically backward patients are being treated free of consultation charges at the camp.

Malpractice in SSC exam

NELLORE: Two instances of malpractice in SSC exam were reported from Nellore town on Wednesday. The District Education Officer, (DEO), T. Lakshmi Rajyam, has dismissed reports about the alleged leakage of today's question paper at Sullurpet.

Former MLA joins TRS

HYDERABAD: The former Vikarabad MLA, A. Chandrasekhar, who resigned from the Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday, joined the TRS on Wednesday. He resigned from the TDP feeling insulted at being left out in the first list of party candidates for Assembly polls.

Two teachers suspended

ADILABAD: Two teachers of Zilla Parishad Secondary School, Tandur, were suspended on Wednesday for their involvement in malpractice in SSC examination.

The District Educational Officer, P. B. Narsinga Rao, and the Assistant Commissioner, Government Examinations, told reporters that the two teachers were involved in bringing out answer-sheets of a student and writing it. Besides, two other invigilators and the chief superintendent were removed from duty. So far 65 candidates were booked for malpractice.

Pathan made Urdu varsity V-C

BANGALORE: The former Vice-Chancellor of Karnatak University, A.M. Pathan, has been appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Azad Urdu University, Hyderabad.

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in his capacity as Visitor of the Urdu university, has made the appointment, according to a release from the university's regional centre here.

Prof. Pathan served as the Registrar of Bangalore University and Officer on Special Duty when Karnataka State Open University was established. He is a retired professor of geology, Bangalore University.

Women demand more seats

NIZAMABAD: Speakers at a convention of the Mahila Aikya Vedika on Wednesday demanded that all political parties honour the commitment given to women that 33 per cent quota would be implemented while selecting candidates for elections.

The Mahila Aikya Vedika, floated a few days ago comprising women organisations, `mahila mandals' and women leaders of various political parties, was of the opinion that all parties neglected the interests of women. A unanimous resolution was passed at the meeting to seek 33 per cent quota for women in the coming elections.

The vedika convenor, Kalalalitha, demanded that political parties implement 33 per cent quota and duly recognise the services of women.

Pensioners' plea to defeat TDP

Hyderabad: The Joint Action Committee of Pensioners' Association has appealed to its members to defeat the ruling party as the Government has not conceded their demands on sanction of DA instalments. It has also demanded immediate release of the 30 pending DA instalments.

Representatives of the TDP, the Congress, the CPI and the CPI (M) attended the meeting of the committee here on Wednesday. It later elected D. Ramireddy honorary chairman and P.V. Ramanaiah, the chairman. The other office-bearers are: P. Krishna Murthy, K.M. Rasool and A. Kanaka Rao (vice-presidents), M. Narahari, secretary general, B. Kishan Rao and Md. Jamaluddin, secretaries, and T. Muniswamy, treasurer.

Forest fire: TTD suspects

involvement of former staff

TIRUPATI: The recent fire in the thick forests on the Tirumala hill ranges has taken a new turn with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management suspecting the involvement of a few of its former employees in it. Though it was first viewed as wildfire common in the hills during peak summer, the periodicity and places in which the mishaps occurred apparently sent strong signals to the management that they might not be a natural.

The TTD forest officials conducted an investigation into the incident and stumbled to their shock upon the possibility of the involvement of some contract staff who were removed from service in the fire mishaps.

Coal shortage hits VSP output

VISAKHAPATNAM: Owing to continued shortage of imported coal and metallurgical coke, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has been constrained to curtail its production till the coal supplies become normal, according to a VSP spokesman.

Though the global steel industry in general and Indian mills in particular had been experiencing unpredictable swing in respect of raw material supply, VSP was maintaining its production level so far, he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"But the shortage of imported coal has necessitated the plant to regulate its coke production with the available coal. As a result, daily coke oven pushings have come down from the present level of 260 to 220. This may lead to bringing down the monthly hot metal production by about one lakh tonnes.''

"VSP's efforts to source the coal and coke supplies from the US, Canada and Ukraine are not getting encouraging response. It has requested Coal India Limited and Tata Iron and Steel Company to augment their supplies so that VSP can maintain reasonable production levels,'' he added.

Poll officials' nod for TV ads

Hyderabad: The State election authorities on Wednesday cleared the decks for TV ads being telecast by political parties through select private channels complying with the High Court order issued yesterday.

Clarifying the Election Commission's stand on the order at a press conference, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Ajay Sawhney, said political parties earlier were barred from issuing such ads under the Cable Network Rules of 1994.

Dry weather prevails

Hyderabad: Heat wave subsided in all north Telangana districts, but continued in Nizamabad on Wednesday. Weather was dry in the State.

According to forecast by the Met office, heat wave is likely to continue in north Telangana for one or two more days.

During the 24-hour period ending this morning, day temperature changed little in the State.

The highest day temperature for the period was 43 degree Celsius which was recorded by Nizamabad.

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