Date:20/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/20/stories/2004072005610400.htm

Constable released on bail

HYDERABAD: Javed alias Mohinuddin, an Armed Reserve constable of Warangal district, who was arrested on the charge of writing threatening letters to balladeer, Gadar, was released on bail here on Monday. The Alwal police produced him before Medchal court and he was released after production of sureties.

MRO, three others suspended

Hyderabad: Four revenue employees, including a Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO), have been suspended in connection with allotment of Government land to ineligible persons at Kandukur in Prakasam district. They were B. Ananda Rao, MRO, R. Brahmesh, Mandal Revenue Inspector, Syed Ghouse, Deputy MRO, and K. Narasimha Rao, mandal surveyor. Announcing this in the Assembly on Monday in response to a question by M. Maheedhar Reddy (Congress), the Revenue Minister, D. Prasada Rao, admitted that there were irregularities in distribution of land at Kandukuar.

Defeated candidate's plea

HYDERABAD: N. Prasanna Kumar Reddy, defeated TDP candidate from the Kovur Assembly constituency in Nellore district, has appealed to the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer here to disqualify the winner, P. Srinivasulu Reddy, for withholding his criminal background in the affidavit filed before the Returning Officer in the election. There were two criminal cases against Mr. Srinivasulu which were pending trial in court, Mr. Reddy said.

More excise cases detected

Hyderabad: A total of 4,692 persons were arrested in excise-related cases in first four months of this financial year and an amount of Rs.160 lakhs was realised when compared to the arrest of 6,357 persons and collection of Rs.17.25 crores in the entire 2003-04 financial year. This information was available in the demands pertaining to Excise Department presented in the Assembly on Monday by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Devadula project to be renamed

KARIMNAGAR: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has said that Devadula lift irrigation project will be named after the former MP and senior Congress leader, J. Chokka Rao. Speaking after unveiling the statue of Chokka Rao here on Sunday night, Dr. Reddy lauded the services of Rao for the uplift of rural poor.

Students' deaths condoled

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Minister for School Education, N. Rajyalakshmi, the president of the School Teachers Federation of India, Rami Reddy, the United Teachers Federation (UTF) president, K. Jojaiah, and members of the UTF observed a minute's silence in remembrance of the innocent lives of school children lost in the Kumbakonam fire tragedy in Tamil Nadu during a meeting at Ravindra Bharati here on Monday. The condolence resolution was read out by the UTF general secretary, N. Narayana.

BHS degree counselling

HYDERABAD: Counselling for admissions into Bachelor in Home Science (BHS) degree course in Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University for 2004-05 will be held at 9.30 a.m. at College of Home Science in Saifabad, near Secretariat, on July 24. Candidates who have applied for the course are requested to attend counselling with original certificates.

Checkposts in for facelift

Hyderabad: Five integrated checkposts and 11 border checkposts of the Commercial Taxes Department will be modernised. The Minister concerned, K. Ramakrishna, mentioned this in the statement of demands pertaining to the department, which was presented in the Assembly on Monday. The BSNL has been contacted for leased line connectivity by which the checkposts would be linked online to the department headquarters in Hyderabad. The Minister contended that leakages could be plugged by this link-up.

Digvijay plans to visit State

NEW DELHI: Digvijay Singh, the newly-appointed Congress general secretary, today said he planned to visit Andhra Pradesh after the first week of August to familiarise himself with the affairs of the State. "My role would be that of a facilitator between the State Government and the party,'' Mr. Singh told correspondents in an informal interaction here. Mr. Singh, who was in charge of Assam and Orissa earlier, got additional charge of AP in the latest reshuffle. Mr. Singh said he had previous association with the State as an observer for the 1983 assembly elections.

80 held for forest encroachments

KHAMMAM: In a major drive launched by the Forest Department against encroachments, 80 persons from Sitaigudem village were arrested on Monday. They were accused of felling trees and encroaching upon two hectares of the reserve forest land near the village in Kothagudem forest sub-division.

Implement poll promise: Kapus

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Kapunadu has appealed to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to implement the election promise of the Congress to include Kapus in the backward classes' list. A decision to submit a memorandum in this regard to Dr. Reddy was taken at the executive meeting of the Kapunadu here on Monday.

Three farmers end lives

NALGONDA: A debt-ridden farmer, Panula Veeraiah (55), of Kampalapally village in Tripuraram mandal under the Nagarjunasagar ayacut area committed suicide. Veeraiah reportedly consumed pesticide at his fields on Sunday night and his body was found on Monday morning. A farmer, Kotapati China Malakonda Reddy (60) of Chinna Mallavaram in Hanumanthunipadu mandal in Prakasam district committed suicide by consuming pesticide at his residence early on Monday. Syed Mahamood (48), a farmer from Dhanwada village in Mahabubnagar committed suicide on Monday.

7 cm rainfall in Cuddapah

Hyderabad: Heavy rain lashed Cuddapah on Monday, which recorded 7 cm. Kavali, Gudur and Rajahmundry received a rainfall of 5 cm each; Porumamilla 4 cm; Nalgonda, Nellore and Badvel 2 cm each. Rain/thundershower is likely in three regions of the State.

New CEO for Cuddapah ZP

CUDDAPAH: P. Durga Prasad assumed charge as the new Chief Executive Officer of Cuddapah Zilla Parishad on Monday, in place of P. Sudhakar Rao, who had been transferred. Mr. Durga Prasad joined Government service as a Group I officer in 1977 and worked as Chittoor ZP CEO, prior to this posting. He called on the Zilla Parishad Chairman, K. Suresh Babu, after taking charge. He promised to strive for promoting bio-diesel plantations and imbue discipline among employees.

Nurses demand pay hike

CHITTOOR: Nurses working in urban health centres in the district staged a dharna before Collector's office here on Monday demanding that the authorities increase their salary as per Government instructions. The President of the District Employees Union of Urban Health Centres, Janardhan, has urged the Government to ensure salary payment every month instead of every five months.

Aid to mishap victims' families

CHITTOOR: The district Collector, S.S. Rawat, said here on Monday that Rs.50,000 was paid to the families of those who died in the road accident near Pileru on Sunday the under apatbandu scheme. He said eight victims belonged to Pulicherla, three to Sodum and one to Kalikiri. The Collector said of the 25 farmers who committed suicide from May to July 15 the families 10 were given financial assistance and the remaining 15 were considered ineligible.

Self-employment opportunity

NELLORE: Officials of the District Industries Centre, Nellore, have invited applications from educated unemployed youth for setting up industries/service/business ventures under the Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana, for 2004-2005. Candidates would have to appear before the Task Force Committee at different places of the district from August 4. Details can be had from the DIC, A.K. Nagar, Nellore.

Free vaccination

NELLORE: A free medical camp to administer Japanese encephalitis vaccine was arranged under the auspices of Vasantalakshmi Charitable Trust, Nellore, at Narasapuram village, Indukurpet mandal, on Monday. Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Buduru Srinivasulu, was the chief guest. He suggested that there should be more such programmes to benefit girijans.

CPI(M) lays siege to office

NELLORE: Communist Party of India (Marxist) functionaries laid siege to the municipal office, here on Monday, demanding better sanitation and sincere steps to tackle the mosquito menace.

Order on land distribution

NELLORE: The district Collector, B. Rajasekhar, has instructed the officials concerned to distribute land to all the eligible applicants, within 20 days of submitting a representation. At the grievances redressal day held in Pellakur mandal, on Monday, he asked officials of the Rural Water Supply Department to provide three bore wells in Ravulapadu village. A number of petitions pertaining to pensions, ration cards and requests for filter points were received on the occasion. District officials of various departments were present.

Stir by medical union

KARIMNAGAR: Members of the district unit of the Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives Union on Monday organised a rally protesting against the proposed amendment to the Indian Patent Act of 1970 in Karimnagar town.

In a press note, the Union's district president, V. Shekhar, the Vice-president, E. Madhukar Reddy, and the General Secretary, K. Bal Reddy, said the amendment would enable foreign drug companies to dominate the Indian market.

Nurses demand pay hike

Aid to mishap victims' families

Self-employment opportunity

Free vaccination

Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Buduru Srinivasulu, was the chief guest. He suggested that there should be more such programmes to benefit girijans.

CPI(M) lays siege to office

NELLORE: Communist Party of India (Marxist) functionaries laid siege to the municipal office, here on Monday, demanding better sanitation and sincere steps to tackle the mosquito menace.

Order on land distribution

NELLORE: The district Collector, B. Rajasekhar, has instructed the officials concerned to distribute land to all the eligible applicants, within 20 days of submitting a representation.

At the grievances redressal day held in Pellakur mandal, on Monday, he asked officials of the Rural Water Supply Department to provide three bore wells in Ravulapadu village.

A number of petitions pertaining to pensions, ration cards and requests for filter points were received on the occasion. District officials of various departments were present.