Date:15/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/15/stories/2004071505040400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

RTC may revive rural services

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 14. The Transport Minister, S. Santhosh Reddy, has assured the Assembly that he will consider reviving rural bus services withdrawn by the APSRTC on the plea that they had become unviable.

Facing noisy protests during question hour on Wednesday against the RTC surrendering routes to private operators, the Minister said he would ask officials to look into the matter. The services would be resumed if it was found that there was sufficient patronage.

Mr. Santosh Reddy attributed lack of patronage to RTC rural services to irregular timings maintained by RTC buses compared with private vehicles.

The Congress member, G. Aruna, lamented it was because of this uncertainty that people in her area in Chittoor district used to call the RTC bus a "donga" (thief). The Minister retorted by saying that the red bus was earlier a "dora"(gentleman).

Water promised

for crops

The Major Irrigation Minister, P. Lakshmaiah, told E. Pratap Reddy (Congress) that water would be released this year also for the K. C. Canal ayacut in the Gudivemula area of Kurnool district but farmers should restrict the choice to irrigated dry crops.

Interest rate

The Government had represented to the 12th Finance Commission to reduce interest rates on Central loans to the market from 10.5 per cent to 9 per cent. The Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah, told Y. Ramakrishnudu (TDP) that they also sought waiver of outstanding Central loans and special rescheduling scheme with reduced interest rate for minimising debt-service liabilities.