Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

World Consumer Rights Day observed

HYDERABAD: The need for the Government, associated agencies and the public to work together for improved consumer awareness, especially in rural areas, was underscored by speakers at a function to mark the World Consumer Rights Day celebrations here on Monday.

The Chief Justice of the High Court, Devinder Gupta, said the consumer movement had come a long way since the 1920s and recalled the former US President, John. F. Kennedy's action in moving a bill of rights for consumers in 1962. People needed to be told that they had the right to safety against hazardous goods, the right to choose, to information and of education, to be heard and right to representation.

He said the theme this year - Water and Sanitation, was appropriate, adding it was impossible to visualise life without water. The other speakers included A. Raghotham Rao, Special Chief Secretary, Justice I. Venkatanarayana, President, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, B. Kripanandam, MD, Civil Supplies, Koteswara Rao, President, FAPCCI and Aruna Bahuguna, Controller of Legal Metrology.

Mr. Justice Devinder Gupta earlier flagged off six mobile testing laboratories procured at a cost of Rs. 28 lakhs by the Department of Legal Metrology. The laboratories are for meant for deployment in six regions of the State -Hyderabad City and region, Warangal, Kurnool, Guntur, Eluru and Visakhapatnam.

The Director, Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies, Shalini Misra, said the celebrations would culminate on March 29.

Genco unit modernised

Hyderabad: The AP Genco has announced successful completion of renovation and modernisation of the 110-MW first unit of the 220-MW Kothagudem "C" station, stating that because of the these works, the capacity of the unit has gone up to 120 MW.

The second unit is also being refurbished.

According to a press note issued by the AP Genco here today, the first unit was recommissioned five days ago and by Sunday, its capacity touched 120 MW.

The renovation and modernisation of the Kothagudem complex was taken up in 1999, starting with the "A" station, consisting of four units each 60 MW. After modernisation with Rs 150 crores, the station's coal and oil consumption came down and its efficiency improved. The saving was of the order of Rs 20 crores, the note said.

The Genco press note also stated that Kinnerasani dam, the water source for the Kothagudem complex, had also been modernised dut to which it was able to store upto its full capacity. The dam could store only up to 398 ft earlier but today, it could go up to 407 ft. A benefit out of this was that the dam was able to part 1 tmcft for 10,000 acres in Palwancha and Burgampahad mandals and meet drinking needs of Khammam and Palwancha.

Spot valuation payment

hike sought

HYDERABAD: he State Teachers' Union has appealed for increase in rates for conduct of seventh and 10th class examinations and spot valuation.

The president, P.Subba Reddy, and the general secretary, A. Anantaramulu, in a release said that the rates were fixed way back in 1999 and since then the examination fee had been hiked significantly and there had been steep increase in transportation cost and prices of commodities.

The STU leaders appealed to the Principal Secretary, School Education, Director of School Education and Director, Government Examinations to increase the remuneration for spot-valuation and examination duties.

BHPV Managing Director quits

VISAHAPATNAM: The Managing Director of Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Limited (BHPV), Shailendra N. Roy, has resigned.

"I have submitted my resignation on health grounds and also informed the Ministry of Heavy Industries of my decision,'' he said on Monday.

He clarified that his resignation had nothing to do with the crisis in BHPV or the agitation by trade unions for revival of the plant.

Mr. Roy said that the BHPV would turn around as a revival package had been proposed envisaging wage support, clearing statutory dues like Provident Fund and counter-guarantee by the Centre for Rs.180 crores.

The BHPV had orders worth Rs.230 crore on hand and had put in place plans for executing them on schedule, he disclosed.

"I an confident that BHPV can be revived. I wish it a bright future,'' he said.

Steps to meet power shortage

Hyderabad: The Central Power Distribution Company covering Hyderabad-Secunderabad and six other districts has come out with a slew of measures for meeting the power shortage and ensuring reliable supply during the summer.

These include a control room here with a toll-free phone (1600334087) which can be contacted by farmers in distress till the end of the rabi season. The company noted that the demand by agricultural pump sets touched a new high of 62.1 million units on Sunday.

A press note released by the company here today said sub-station-wise meetings were being held for informing farmers of the present shortage, probable hours of supply and seek their help in energy conservation. It said, control rooms were also set up at district headqarters with toll-free telephone (no 1912) with senior officials constantly supervising the situation. For improvement, 22,148 distribution transformers were added to the system.

The note said necessary rolling stock of transformers was being maintained for meeting breakdowns. The CPDCL said it was ensuring lighting supply to rural areas as a must from 6 pm to 6 am in view of students preparing for examinations.

Day temperatures rise

Hyderabad: Day temperatures rose at a number of places in the State on Monday. For the 24-hour period ending this morning, the highest was 41 degrees C and it was recorded by Nizamabad.

Dry weather prevailed in the State on Monday with the day temperatures going up at a few places in coastal Andhra and changing little in Rayalaseema and Telangana. They were significantly above normal at one or two places in Coastal Andhra and above normal at a few places in Telangana.

On Tuesday, weather in the state will be mainly sunny.

Spiritual centre inaugurated

TIRUMALA: The Kshetropasana Trust of Sri Perumbudur in Tamil Nadu, on Monday handed over its newly built `Sri Padadham' - a spiritual centre and guesthouse to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). At a brief ceremony, his holiness, Sri Vishwesha Trirthapadha Swamy of Pejawar Mutt, Udipi, formally inaugurated the building and handed it over to the TTD Executive Officer, Ajeya Kallam. The building, which also houses a 200-member capacity meeting hall along with suites and rooms, was built at a cost of Rs. 2 crores. The managing trustees of the trust -- P.R. Krishnakumar and Prema Pandurangam -- were also present.

Pulse polio programme

KURNOOL: The Kurnool district Collector, Ajay Jain, on Monday reviewed arrangements for the third round of pulse polio programme. The programme will be held on April 4, 5 and 6. He said wide publicity should be given to the drive in the district in the next 15 days. He also reviewed the implementation of TB eradication programme in the district. He said patients were spread in rural areas, adding that more cases were reported in the tribal areas. He asked the Health Department officials to create facilities for diagnosis of TB at public health centres by filling the posts of technicians. The DMHO, Saiprasad and others were present.

`Peritoneal dialysis' performed

NELLORE: A rare procedure known as `Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis' was performed on a 38-year-old patient, at the Bollineni Superspecialities Hospital, Nellore. According to its Medical Director, M. Yanadi Naidu, during peritoneal dialysis a tube is inserted in the peritoneal cavity (abdomen) and kept there. A special fluid is infused into the cavity through this tube. V. Satti Reddy, nephrologist, of the hospital, said companies were supplying special fluids for the purpose. The procedure was done successfully on the patient, Mahesh Babu, for the first time by laproscopic method by Rajan Ramanathan, senior urologist and transplant surgeon, with the assistance of K. Rup Kumar, general and laparoscopic surgeon.

Restructuring of ITDA sought

NELLORE: The district unit of Dalit Sena has called for restructuring of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) to ensure a fair deal to Girijans. In a statement issued here on Monday, the Sena regretted that nothing positive had happened through the constitution of the agency and alleged that there has been inordinate delay in clearing of files and sanctioning of approvals in the agency.

Collection of poems released

MADANAPALLE: A collection of poems, `Oka Raghava Reddy Katha', written by Karnam Balasubramanyam Pillai, was released by the former All India Radio (AIR) newsreader, Jolipalem Mangamma, at a function organised by the Madanapalle Writers Association here on Sunday.

The association president, M. Guraviah, presided over the function. The retired Sankskrit lecturer, Karra Subramanyam, and others were also present.

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