The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

YSR for Delhi today

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is leaving for Delhi on Sunday evening. He will attend the meeting of All-India Congress Committee on Monday and the swearing-in ceremony of the Union Cabinet the following day, according to official sources. He will retun here on Tuesday evening.

Tobacco auction reviewed

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, on his first day in his office on Saturday, reviewed the ongoing auction of tobacco in the State and assured tobacco growers that the Government would protect their interest.

He was informed by the Chairman of the Tobacco Board, P.Dayachari, that about 53 million kg of tobacco had been marketed this season against an estimated production of 140 million kg. The Government had already released Rs.7 crores to AP Tobacco Growers Cooperative Union, Ongole, to enable them to begin market intervention operations and assured the farmers that more funds would be released if required.

The Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, and senior IAS officers were present during the review.

DIET CET hall tickets dispatched

HYDERABAD: The hall tickets for DIET CET 2004, which will be held on May 21 from 10.30 a.m. t0o 12.30 p.m., have been dispatched to all candidates.

The hall tickets are also displayed on the internet from May 15 to 21. Candidates who have not received their hall tickets can download the same from the website, www.aponline.gov.in.

In a press release here, the DIET CET 2004 Convenor, C.A.V Prasad, said there could be mistakes regarding date of birth, caste or similar facts on the hall tickets, but the same could be rectified in the examination hall. Further details would be available with the principals of the DIETs concerned, Mr. Prasad said.

Term extended for ICRISAT chief

HYDERABAD:William D. Dar, Director-General, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has been given a new five-year term of office starting January 1, 2005. This decision has been taken at the 50th meeting of ICRISAT governing board, according to a press release.

Dr. Dar, who took office in January 2000, revived the institute which was in a "financial slump, staff morale was at its lowest and research objectives unfocussed and weak". Four years later it has turned a new leaf and is once more the leading centre of scientific excellence for agricultural research in dry tropics.

Teachers seek 20 per cent interim relief

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Teachers' Union has demanded payment of 20 per cent interim relief to government employees and teachers pending setting up of the pay revision commission.

A. Anantaramulu, president, and P. Subba Reddy, general secretary, in a statement issued here on Saturday said the State Executive of the union had adopted a unanimous resolution on the demand for payment of interim relief.

The union also demanded steps for restoring the right to strike, regularisation of services of 40,000 vidya volunteers through DSC, giving weightage to seniority in appointments and implementation of counselling process while effecting transfer and promotion.

The STU leaders said the executive resolved that the new Government should scrap the education committees and apprentice appointments and sought steps to keep away teachers from non-teaching activities.

All-India Christian Council plea

HYDERABAD: The All-India Christian Council on Saturday called upon the new Central Government to tackle poverty, purge the system of "Hindutva fanatics" and help economic growth of minorities.

Joseph D'Souza, president, and John Dayal, secretary-general of the council, in a statement issued here, congratulated the people on rejecting "fascist cultural nationalism".

They said the new Government should restore the confidence of people, especially Dalits and minorities and in national institutions, judiciary, police and administration. The Government should restructure the national commissions for minorities, for SCs and for women.

The council wanted the new Government to take steps for punishing the guilty of the 2002 Gujarat riots and all those responsible for the persecution of Christians in various States. It suggested that the Foreign Currency Regulation Act be scrapped and a directorate of minority education set up.

TDP Mahanadu on May 28-29

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam will organise its Mahanadu, the party's annual conclave, here on May 28 and 29.

Generally a three-day affair, the event will be limited this time to two days. The first day will be devoted to a discussion on the conduct of elections by all the candidates who contested on behalf of the party and on the second day, the general body meeting will be held to discuss State and national politics, the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, told the Telugu Desam Legislature Party meeting here on Saturday. There would be no public meeting during the Mahanadu.

The Mahanadu is poised to clash with the first session of the new Assembly which is scheduled to commence on May 24. The MLAs of the party will have a hectic time attending the Mahanadu and the proceedings of the Assembly which are expected to stretch till the end of the event.

The TDLP meeting passed a resolution thanking the people for electing the MLAs and MPs of TDP-BJP combine.

Isolated rain in State

Hyderabad: There was isolated rain in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on Saturday while weather was dry in Telangana.

Yemmiganur and Hindupur reocrded a rainfall of 2 cm and 1 cm respectively. Day temperatures fell significantly in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema and registered a slight fall in Telangana. The highest for the State during the 24-hour period ending this morning was recorded by Medak at 41 dedgrees C.

According to a forecast for the State, valid for Sunday, there will be light to moderate rain at a few places in Rayalaseema and in the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna.

Decision on user charges hailed

TIRUPATI: The town unit of the All-India Students' Federation (AISF) has hailed the decision to abolish collection of user charges in Government hospitals, which was introduced by the TDP Government.

In a release, it urged the Government to evolve a policy to undo the damage wrought in the past to farmers, youth, unemployed, students and employees. The AISF also wanted the Government to set aside the move to privatise medical education.

CPI welcomes free power

HYDERABAD: S. Sudhakar Reddy, CPI State secretary and MP-elect from Nalgonda, on Saturday hailed the Government's decision on power supply and said it should ensure that industrialists, corporate organisations, affluent sections and firms dealing in mineral water and soft-drinks did not misuse the facility.

In a statement issued here, Mr. Reddy stated that the party was not in favour of extending free power supply to affluent farmers for the purpose of securing IT exemption.

Two die as trucks collide

KURNOOL: Two persons died and two others were hurt when two trucks collided at Chetlamallapuram on the National Highway No. 7 near Ulindakonda in the early hours of Saturday. The injured were shifted to General Hospital here. One of the trucks was proceeding to Hyderabad with a load of vegetables from Bangalore.

Market panel chief resigns

CUDDAPAH: The TDP leader, Poreddy Prabhakar Reddy, resigned to the post of the Pulivendula Market Committee chairmanship in view of the party losing power in the State. He sent his resignation to the Director of Marketing.

Ex-MLA bereaved

CUDDAPAH: The former Badvel MLA, K. Vijayamma's elder brother, Venkatasubba Reddy (50), died of heart attack in Chinnakesampalle village near Badvel town on Friday. He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

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