Date:30/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093006550400.htm

YSR's assurance to contract employees

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Wednesday assured the Andhra Pradesh State Government Contract Employees' Federation of continuing the services of 1,500 data processing operators (DPOs) working in the Medical and Health Department, whose term ends tomorrow. He also said that the services of those eligible would be regularised, according to A.V. Nageswara Rao, convener of the federation.

TDP criticises Congress on Telugu Ganga

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party has questioned the right of the Congress to corner glory with regard to the Telugu Ganga project.

On the eve of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's visit to Duvvur in Cuddapah district to release Telugu Ganga water for irrigation purpose, the TDP sought to claim credit for conceiving the project with an aim to provide drinking water to Chennai. The former TDP Ministers -- J.R. Pushparaj, P. Ramasubba Reddy and P. Chandrasekhar -- told reporters on Wednesday that the Congress did not have any role in the project.

Janashakthi members on monitoring panel

HYDERABAD: The CPI (ML) Janashakthi on Wednesday named 12 persons as its representatives on the monitoring committee for holding talks with the State Government.

Amar, secretary of the party, in a letter to the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, released the list of names. They are: Burra Ramulu (Human Rights Forum), G.R. Ambedkar, Y. Koteswara Rao (Right to Work Forum), Jaya Vindyala (PUCL), Batthula Punnayya, V. Hanumantha Rao, I.V. Chinnayya, Jayadheer Tirumala Rao, Nagayya, Mohan (painter), Bhoopal (writer) and S.V.L. Narasimha Rao.

Centre's austerity steps draw flak

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Coordination Committee of Service Sector Employees on Wednesday criticised the austerity measures to save Rs. 2,000 crores by the Union Government, saying they would lead to further unemployment. T. Narasimhan, general secretary, in a statement issued here demanded withdrawal of the measures, as they would affect both employees and jobless youth.

Two TDP activists held

ANANTAPUR: The Tadipatri sub-division police on Wednesday arrested two TDP activists under the Preventive Detention Act. They were sent to the Cherlopalli jail near Hyderabad.

The two activists -- Ramanarasimha Reddy and T. Chinna Narayana Reddy alias Simham Narayana Reddy of Pedda Polamada village of Tadipatri rural mandal -- were arrested in their village, according to the police.

While Ramanarasimha Reddy is an accused in seven criminal cases Narayana Reddy is an accused in five cases.

Last date extended

HYDERABAD: The last date for submitting applications for the courses of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has been extended to October 4 in view of the closure of banks on Saturday. Those desirous of applying for MCA, B.Sc (Nursing), PG Diploma in Health Sciences, Tourism, Rural Development, Translation, Creative Writing, Nutrition and Family Education can submit their applications with required fee and other documents by October 4 at IGNOU Regional Centre, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad.

Two boys drowned in tank

ANANTAPUR: Two children of Yadiki village -- Ravi (14) and Mahesh (9) -- were drowned in an irrigation tank at Lachchanapalli village in Gooty mandal on Wednesday when they went to the tank for playing.

Appointed TTD Special Officer

Hyderabad: The Joint Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, A.V. Dharma Reddy, was appointed Special Officer of the TTD on Wednesday.

An order issued by the Chief Secretary said Mr. Reddy, who was recently appointed JEO, was being transferred and his services placed at the disposal of the Revenue Department for appointment as Special Officer of the TTD.

According to a report from Tirupati, the creation of the post became necessary in view of rumblings in the TTD and in the bureaucratic as well as political circles over his appointment as JEO. Under the TTD Act the incumbent to be posted as the TTD Joint Executive Officer should not only be an IAS officer but also worked in the State. As Mr. Reddy was a central service officer belonging to Indian Defence Estate Services (IDES) and worked outside the State, the controversy became thicker forcing the Government to create the new post.

MLA seeks funds

CHITTOOR: A memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, urging him to release sufficient funds to solve the problems confronting the drought hit and tail end areas of Chittoor district. Stating this at a press conference, the Congress party's official spokesman and MLA, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, also wanted the Government to revive sick industries such as the cooperative sugar factories and diary industry.

Prisoner escapes

ANANTAPUR: A prisoner who was undergoing life imprisonment escaped from the open air jail at Reddypalli here on Tuesday evening. The prisoner, Nese Masthan Narayana Swamy of Shiva Nagar in Dharmavaram town, was sentenced to life for murder. The jail authorities lodged a complaint with the Bukkaraya Samudram police station on Wednesday.

Bifurcation of Nellore sought

NELLORE: The district unit of NGOs'Association, has reiterated its demand for division of Nellore town into urban and rural mandals, for administrative convenience. In a representation to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the association also pleaded for appointment of revenue assistant in villages and filling up of vacant posts. The CPI(M), in its representation, pleaded for permanent measures to tackle the drinking water issue in the town, setting up of proper drainage system and regularisation of town planning activities.

Left activists stage dharna

KURNOOL: The CPI(M) activists, led by the district secretary of the party, T. Shadrak, staged a demonstration at the Old Bus depot premises here on Wednesday urging the Government to construct a cultural complex. They said that the authorities were planning to construct a commercial complex to earn revenue.

Public meeting

NELLORE: A public meeting of `Swadeshi Jagaran Manch' will be held at co-operative bank compound, Nellore, on Saturday evening. It coincides with the week-long celebrations of the Manch and the main speaker will be K.N. Govindacharya, senior leader of BJP and member of the All-India Sanchalana Samiti, New Delhi.

CPI(M) demands cultural complex

NELLORE: The district unit of Dalita Mahila Sena, staged a dharna before the Collectorate on Wednesday, demanding allotment of house sites, ration cards for the poor, besides sanction of pensions. The Sena criticised the move to allot house sites to some people, already in possession of houses.