The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Briefly

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Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Setback to pushkaram works?

Hyderabad: A tussle is on between the Endowments and Finance departments over Krishna pushkaram works with the Endowments seeking clearance to a budget of Rs. 120 crores for the mega event and the latter putting down its foot for such a heavy amount.

The Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, held discussions with the Minister for Finance, K. Rosaiah, but the tangle remains unresolved. In line with the Government stand to make the event less flamboyant but serving its purpose, the Finance Department wants to cut down expenditure on some beautification works and on publicity.

According to official sources here on Saturday, the Finance Department, however, had given green signal to the work taken up by the Irrigation Department, costing Rs. 41 crores, relating to construction of bathing ghats.

The clearance were given because these works were grounded three months ago. Under implementation is a road to Pathalaganga at Srisailam, a stretch of 5 km, costing Rs 2 crores.

House mourns ex-members

HYDERABAD: The State Assembly on Saturday expressed sorrow at the demise of two of its former members -- M. Baga Reddy and V. Venkata Reddy. The members observed two minutes silence, condoled the death and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families. Moving the condolence motion, the Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, described Baga Reddy as a good parliamentarian and veteran Congressman. He had been representing Zaheerabad constituency for nearly three decades and served as Minister for Panchayat Raj, Major Industries, Roads and Buildings and Transport. He was also elected as MP from Medak Lok Sabha constituency.

His contribution to Urdu was notable. Venkat Reddy had represented Cumbhum in Prakasam district and was known for fighting against zamindari system.

Plea against PVC plant

HYDERABAD: Led by Anam Vivekananda Reddy and Adala Prabhakar Reddy, MLAs from Nellore and Sarvepalli respectively, members belonging to the Committee for Protection of Environment (CPE) and the Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV), submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday demanding scrapping of the MoU allowing PVC plant at Krishnapatnam.

They recalled the assurance given by him during his election campaign in Nellore that he would not allow the plant to come up. Among those who submitted the memorandum were, V. Krishna, president of JVV and T. Ramaiah, convenor of CPE.

Medal for MST Radar chief

TIRUPATI: The Indian Geophysical Union has selected D. Narayana Rao, Director, National MST Radar Facility, here for Prof. K.R. Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to the field of atmospheric sciences. Some of the other recipients of the medal are Raja Ramanna and K. Kasturirangan.

The medal will be presented to Dr. Rao on December 30 during the 40th annual convention of the union. Dr. Rao is also professor of Physics in SV University.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology has appointed him a member of the Programme Advisory Committee in atmospheric sciences.

Seventh conference of CEOs

Hyderabad: The seventh conference of CEOs, organised by the Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering, began at Ramoji Film City on Saturday participated by CMDs/CEOs of as many as 46 undertakings/companies, both public and private.

The conference deliberated on "world class management practices" dwelling on techniques like Six Sigma, corporate governance, social accountability and business process re-engineering. R.H. Khwaja, CMD, Singareni Collieries, spoke on restructuring and turnaround of his undertaking. S.K. Pachauri, Director-General, NPC, delivered the key-note address.

Weavers' body seeks ex gratia

HYDERABAD: The working committee of the Andhra Pradesh Cheneta Karmika Sangham, which met here on Saturday, demanded Rs.1 lakh as ex-gratia to each family of those handloom weavers who committed suicide in the recent past. The meeting, chaired by S. Nageswara Rao, discussed problems facing weavers such as starvation deaths, suicides, poverty, employment, ill-health and debts.

Koratala Satyanarayana, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, attended. According to a press release, the executive asked the Government to honour the promises made by the Congress during the election campaign like increasing the handloom budget to Rs.250 crores, revival of APCO and the Janata cloth scheme, payment of Rs.250 as old-age pension and a special employment package.

The meeting , which analysed reasons for the slump in the industry, decided to organise next month a handloom convention here.

Fake cigarette racket busted

HYDERABAD: The Legal Metrology Department seized fake foreign brand cigarette packages worth about Rs. 1.5 lakhs following raids conducted in the twin cities, Ranga Reddy, Nizamabad, Warangal districts and Vijayawada in the last three days.

The department registered 48 cases against the dealers who were stocking and selling the cigarettes. Aruna Bahuguna, Controller, Legal Metrology, in a press release on Saturday cautioned dealers not to stock or sell any imported packages, including cigarettes, without the mandatory declarations.

The declarations are address of manufacturer/importer, name of the commodity, quantity contained in the package, date of packing and sale price in the form MRP (inclusive of all taxes). Any violation of these would result in criminal action. She said any complaint in this regard could be addressed to her office, PWD Building, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad-500 008 (phone nos. 27612706, 27613667).

VSP announces product prices

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) management has announced the prices of its products for the information of the general public. The ex-plant prices are (per tonne): bloom--Rs.18,700, billets--Rs.18,900, squares--Rs.19,100, TMT bar--up to Rs.23,800, wire rod--Rs.22,400, round--Rs.21,800, and channel--Rs.22,600.

The applicable excise duty, freight, sales tax, octroi and other statutory levies and duties prevailing on the date of sale would be payable in addition to these prices, according to a press release on Saturday.

Fall in temperatures

Hyderabad: There was isolated rain in the three regions of the State on Saturday. Peddapuram received a rainfall of 5 cm and Yellamanchili 2 cm. Day temperatures fell at many places in coastal Andhra and Telangana and at a few places in Rayalaseema.

The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded at Adilabad.

According to a forecast by the Met Office here, there will be light to moderate rain/thundershowers at a few places in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema and isolated fall in Telangana.

Environment

Day marked

KARIMNAGAR: The National Thermal Power Corporation, Ramagundam celebrated the World Environment Day on Saturday by taking up massive neem tree plantation in the township. Painting competition too was organised for the employees and their family members. The NTPC also decided to take up plantation of about 25,000 saplings during this season.

Funds released

ADILABAD: Adilabad Municipal Council on Saturday approved release of Rs. 77 lakhs from its general fund towards bills for various works in the municipality. The council also approved release of Rs. 20,000 towards revised estimates for the park at Bokkalguda and Rs. 1.03 lakh towards the revised estimate for the culvert at Bhuktapur.

SI suspended

KARIMNAGAR: The Huzurabad Sub-Inspector of Police, S. Sudhakar Rao, was placed under suspension for dereliction of duties and irresponsible behaviour against a government doctor who sought protection from hoodlums who had thrashed him on May 19.

Change in test venue

NELLORE: The proposed written test for candidates appearing for the posts of civil police constables on June 13, will be held at the V.R. High School, Nellore, instead of D.K.W. College, Nellore, as originally intimated.

Cell One for Yerraguntla

CUDDAPAH: The Chief General Manager of A.P. Telecom, Sanjaya Kumar, commissioned the Cell One services at Yerraguntla in Kamalapuram constituency on Saturday. Addressing a meeting on the occasion, he said cellular services would be extended to Badvel, Kodur and Guvvalacheruvu in Ramapuram mandal shortly. Services would be introduced for subscribers between Renigunta in Chittoor district and Gooty in Anantapur district.

Training for BSF selections

NELLORE: More than 520 candidates have applied through the District Employment Office, Nellore, for proposed selections to the posts of constables in Border Security Force (BSF) to be conducted at Tirupati on June 22. Free training has been proposed for candidates at the employment office on June 6. Those interested should bring xerox copies of necessary certificates.

Free eye camp organised

TIRUPATI: In all 132 patients were tested and 33 of them identified for cataract operation at a free eye camp organised today in Sathyanarayana Puram village in Renigunta mandal by the local NGO, Asha, in collaboration with Navajeevan Eye Hospital, Tiruchanoor. The ophthalmologist in charge of the camp, Nagaraj, addressed the villagers and sought to dispel their reservations about the operations and pointed out that the tests and operations were being conducted by competent doctors using the latest technology. Recruitment rally

CUDDAPAH: The Army Branch Recruitment Officer, Lt. Col. P.V.S. Sangawan, on Saturday advised unemployed youth aspiring to join the Army, to be wary of middlemen. Launching the weeklong Army Recruitment Rally at the municipal grounds here, Lt. Col. Sangwan made it clear that recommendations would never be entertained in Army selections.

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