The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

3 hurt in LPG cylinder blast

TIRUPATI: A cooking gas cylinder exploded in Sarojini Devi Layout in the town early on Tuesday. Venugopal Naidu (65), a retired RWS employee, and his wife, Prabhavati (52), a nursing tutor in Ruia Hospital, suffered mild burn injuries when the LPG cylinder exploded in their house. Chinna Subbarayalu, an engineering student living in a rented portion of the house, was also injured. Its impact was such that walls of neighbouring houses developed cracks while windowpanes were damaged.

The forensic experts, who descended on the scene this morning found the gas pipe bitten by rodents, which was believed to have caused the leakage.All the three were admitted to the Ruia for minor injuries. The Additional SP, Ashok Kumar, the Deputy SP, Jayaprasada Rao, visited the spot.

Robber beaten to death

ANANTAPUR: A member of the six-member highway robbers' gang was allegedly beaten to death on the outskirts of Guntakal town in the wee hours of Tuesday. The other five members escaped from the spot. According to the police, the gang stopped a lorry on the Bellary road at around 1 a.m. and tried to loot it. When the driver and cleaner of the lorry raised alarm, staff working in a nearby petrol filling station and a couple of hotels rushed there and tried to nab the gang. One of the members was caught and beaten up who was found dead later.

No nominations tomorrow

Hyderabad: Nominations would not be received on April 1, declared a public holiday as `annual accounts closing day' under the Negotiable Instruments Act, a press note issued here on Tuesday said. The holiday is applicable to the constituencies marked for phase II polling on April 26.

Transco allays fears on supply

Hyderabad: The AP Transco on Tuesday ruled out any impact on power supply in the State even as the 85-odd non-conventional energy sources (NCES) plants threatened to stop generation from Wednesday on the issue of low tariff applied to them by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The utility's Commercial Director, P.M.K. Gandhi, said the contribution to the grid by these sources was `negligible' at 2.4 million units as compared to 153 mu which was the total supply in the State. The NCES plants -- windmills, mini hydels and those based on biogas and bagasse -- have an installed capacity of 270 MW.

State ERC chief retiring

Hyderabad: The Chairman of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), G.P. Rao, is retiring on April 2 after serving it for five years. The Government had constituted a committee sometime ago to suggest a name to succeed Mr. Rao but with the model code of conduct being in force, the appointment is not likely before second week of May. Sources in the Government said the senior most member of the commission, K. Srirama Murthy, might function as in-charge chairman.

12.85 cr. for BC scholarships

Hyderabad: The Government has released Rs.12.85 crores towards scholarships for backward classes students pursuing degree and university courses and Rs. 3.25 crores for reimbursement of fee for others. R. Krishnaiah, president of the Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Association, said in a statement that 2.75 lakh BC students had applied for scholarships and that they require an additional Rs. 30 crores.

RTC Mazdoor Sangh's charge

HYDERABAD: The APSRTC Transport Mazdoor Sangh has asked the immediate stoppage of "illegal recovery of Rs. 200 from the salaries of drivers, conductors and mechanics of Nandyal by the management." In a statement here on Tuesday, the sangh general secretary, M. Nageswara Rao, alleged that the illegal recoveries were being made for the past three months towards sale of CAT cards by the bus crew.

30 devotees hurt in mishap

BHADRACHALAM: Thirty persons were injured, eight of them seriously, as the lorry in which they were travelling in overturned near Chintoor on Tuesday evening. According to reports, the injured persons were devotees returning to G. Koduru village after taking part in the Srirama Navami festival at Sriramgiri temple in the Bhadrachalam division.

Isolated rain in Anantapur

Hyderabad: There was isolated rain in Anantapur district on Tuesday due to a trough hovering over the State. Hindupur recorded a rainfall of 1 cm. Dry weather prevailed in the State and day temperatures rose at a few places in Rayalaseema, at one or two places in Telangana. Cuddapah recorded the highest temperature of 41 degree Celsius. Isolated rain is forecast in Telangana on Wednesday and dry weather in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Rain brings relief

Cuddapah: A heavy downpour coupled with strong winds lashed Cuddapah and some other parts of the district for about an hour on Tuesday evening, bringing respite from the scorching summer heat. The rain led to a power cut for over four hours, but no casualties have been reported as of now. Gale broke tree branches in some areas of the town. Summer showers lashed Kurnool too on Tuesday evening bringing down the temperature. The rain was accompanied by gales which caused power disruptions in several pockets in the city.

Rush to file nominations

NELLORE: A number of functionaries belonging to major political parties are to file their nominations in Nellore district on Wednesday. The day is said to be auspicious, being `Dasami,' and there is a rush to file nominations. There is hectic activity in party offices, with workers busy making necessary arrangements for the processions and meetings.

Election media centre opened

CHITTOOR: The District Collector, A. Giridhar, inaugurated the election media centre at the Collector office here on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters the Collector said the centre was equipped with all facilities to collect all information related to elections from the district administration and to pass it on to the public. The central election commission has clarified that flags and posters of political parties could be pasted on the walls of private buildings with the consent of the owners.

Collector's warning

CHITTOOR: The Collector, A. Giridhar, on Tuesday warned Municipal Commissioner that action would be taken against him if steps to improve the drinking water position in Chittoor town were not taken. He was reviewing the drinking water situation in Chittoor Municipality.

Industrialist remembered

KURNOOL: Machani Somappa, industrialist and philanthropist, was remembered in connection with his 26th death anniversary here on Tuesday. Meetings were organised at Yemmiganur, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Anantapur where the MG Brothers Group of Industries was located, according to a press note by the General Manager of MG Brothers Automotive Enterprises, K. Sheikshavali.

Ph.D awarded

TIRUPATI: Sri Venkateswara University has awarded a Ph.D in Physics to K. Kishore Kumar for his thesis titled `Studies on tropical mesoscale convective systems and associated atmospheric dynamics using VHF and UHF radar.' The study, taken up under the joint guidance of, D. Narayana Rao, director and A. R. Jain, visiting scientist of the National MST Radar Facility, Gadanki, was on the systems that play a major role in atmospheric processes related to meteorology and forecasting monsoons.

Lok satta plea to Collector

WARANGAL: The Lok Satta has urged the District Collector to take into account the expenditure spent on the number of vehicles and cadre accompanying the candidates filing their nomination on Wednesday. According to G. Meeneswar Rao, and A. Venkateswar Rao of the Lok Satta, the organisation also requested the officials to brief the media and educate people about the affidavit with regards to the properties filed by the respective candidates and the amount they are raising to spend for their election. The Lok Satta also urged the police and excise officials to keep a vigil on the political parties and their functionaries and prevent them from distributing money and liquor to the voters. The Lok Satta had constituted a committee that would keep watch on all activities relating to the elections in each constituency.

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Andhra Pradesh