Date:10/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/10/stories/2005041007630400.htm

Praja Patham launch in Chevella

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Chief Minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, will launch Praja Patham in Chevella constituency of Rangareddy district.

He takes part in `Shramadanam' at Himayathsagar village at 10.30 a.m. on April 11 and proceeds to Pandurangapuram village of the Nandyal constituency in Kurnool district to attend the programme at 2 p.m.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the Minister for Information, Mohd.Shabbir Ali, the Government Chief Whip, N.Kiran Kumar Reddy, and the party leader, G.Muddukrishnama Naidu, criticised the TD for drawing comparison between Praja Patham and Janmabhoomi.

They said the present programme aimed at serving people was a far cry from the publicity exercise of the previous regime called Janmabhoomi.

The TD programme destroyed the local bodies and paved the way for nodal officers system, they said.

Pochampally goes online

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The exquisite designs of Pochampally, high on their acquiring patent rights recently, are going one more step ahead. Saris, dress material and furnishings manufactured at Pochampally and its surrounding villages in Nalgonda are now available online.

People anywhere in the world can now log on to www.pochampally.com and order products directly from famous weavers and get them delivered in four to five working days.

The products available include saris, scarves, stoles, neckties, dress material and made-ups. Information on the same is available by writing to info@pochampally.com as well. Pochampally Silks and Saris, a member of Pochampally Handloom Tie and Dye Silk Saris Manufacturers Association, with manufacturing units in Pochampally since 1975 are behind the new offer. The firm also has an outlet at Abids in Hyderabad.

Temple trust board

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, Ailuri Venkateswar Reddy took over as the chairman of trust board of Sri Sitaramachandraswamy temple of Bhadrachalam. Six others -- K. Panduranga rao, K. Satyanarayana, M. Suryanarayana, T. Narayana Rao, B. Yadagiri Rao and A. lakshmi -- took over as the board members.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Reddy said the new board would make all-out efforts for development of the temple as well as the temple town.

Takes over as RTC MD

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, M.V. Krishna Rao, Additional DGP (training), on Saturday took over as the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

An IPS officer of 1974 batch, earlier he held the posts of the City Police Commissioner and the DGP of Prisons and Fire Services.

Police, naxals exchange fire

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The police and Maoists exchanged fire at Garikabandha village of Koyyuru mandal in the agency area of Visakhapatnam on Saturday. However, there were no casualties on either side.

The firing, which began at 10 a.m., lasted for 15 minutes, according to the district police.

Meet on lymphatic disorders

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The ninth annual conference of the Lymphology Society of India, to be held here for two days on August 13 and 14, is likely to throw light on the lymphatic disorders such as lymphadenoma of the leg.

Karnasula Vishnumurthy, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon, who is having to his credit more than 100 lymphoadenoma of leg surgeries with the implantation of the Omentum will perform the live surgery, linking the operation theatre through closed circuit TV.

The other surgeons taking part in the CME programme and a workshop include S. Jamal, R. Radhakrishna and Manokaran Guruswamy.

New Director of VSP

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Executive Director (marketing) of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, H.S. Chhatwal, took over as its Director (commercial) on Saturday.

Joining the plant in 1994, he worked at corporate level and helped the plant in all disciplines. During his tenure as ED (marketing), VSP took a quantum leap to record spectacular turnover of Rs. 8,181 crores in the just-concluded financial year, according to a VSP release.

Before joining VSP, Mr. Chhatwal, who is an engineering graduate, was in Steel Authority of India Limited for 23 years.

Relief for sugarcane farmers

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Government will make serious efforts to protect the interests of sugarcane farmers and shareholders of sugar factories in the State. It will use discretionary powers and enforce Section 134 of the Cooperative Act for providing relief to farmers.

This was stated here on Saturday by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while reviewing the performance of private sector sugar factory at Bhimadole in West Godavari district. He said financial relief had to be provided to about 8,500 farmers and shareholders. Except Rs. 2.5 crores involved in a legal dispute, the Government would strive to pay dues to farmers and shareholders, according to a press release.

Six naxalites surrender HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, A dalam commander, a platoon member and four active militants of the CPI (Maoist) surrendered in the district on Saturday.

According to the Superintendent of Police, R.S. Praveen Kumar, the commander of the Bahuda dalam in Cuddapah district, Muthyalu of R. Kothapalli in Ramagiri mandal and a member of Maddileru platoon, Mude Naik, of Suddakuntapalli thanda in Ramagiri mandal, surrendered.

Pressure from family members and other personal reasons forced the surrender of Muthyalu. He joined the movement in 1999, became Papaghni dalam member in 2001 and the Bahuda dalam commander in 2004.

Mude Naik left the outfit due to lack of concern for colleagues by dalam members when they escaped police encounters by a whisker at Enumulavaripalli in Nallamada mandal and near Bhavani ashram along the Chitravati river.

Karimnagar centenary fete

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Satavasanthala Karimnagar (centenary celebrations 1905-2005) of the town got off to a colourful start on Saturday evening with a scintillating rally by various cultural troupe members in the town.

The cultural rally was flagged off by the Minister for Endowments, M. Satyanarayana Rao, at Shiva temple in the old bazaar area of the town.

The rally comprising various cultural forms of Oggu katha, Burra Katha, Yakshaganam, Dolu, Dappu and other traditional and folk artists participated. The rally went through important streets of the town and converged at the Government junior college grounds.

At the main venue, panchanga sravanam, cultural programmes and poets' convention will be held.

The district administration has chalked out an action plan to promote tourism and highlight the importance of Karimnagar during this year-long celebrations.

Ex gratia sanctioned

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Adilabad district Collector, J. Sudha Rani, sanctioned an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs to Bhoolaxmi, the widow of Paikarao Lingaiah, son of a former sarpanch of Bopparam gram panchayat in Kotapally mandal whom the naxalites had killed on January 26, 2005. An official press release here on Saturday said the cheque would soon be handed over to Ms. Bhoolaxmi.

Booklet on tribals

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The district administration plans to publish in the form of a booklet all the information relating to culture and traditions of tribal people in the district. Any individual, students, teachers and researchers can send information regarding different tribes, their culture, traditions, festivals, special poojas performed by them, tribal songs etc to the District Public Relations Office here till April 14.

Minister to visit Venkatagiri

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Union Minister for Textiles, Shankersinh Vaghela, will visit the Pragada Kotaiah Memorial Handloom Technology Centre at Venkatagiri town of Nellore district on April 11. He will be accompanied by the Minister for Primary Education, N. Rajyalakshmi, and will interact with the weavers and address them.

Telugu Ganga for SVU

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The SVU campus would soon be getting 50,000 gallons of Telugu Ganga water provided the university meets the expenditure for laying the pipeline. The deal struck in this regard between the SVU's Vice-Chancellor, S.Jayarama Reddy and the Municipal Chairperson, K. Sankar Reddy, would ease water scarcity gripping the 100-acre campus comprising residential blocks, hostel buildings, laboratories and college buildings.

DIETCET applications

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, Arrangements have been made to make available the DIETCET applications for the year, 2005, at the eSeva centre, Nellore, for the convenience of aspiring candidates. Each application is sold for Rs. 150. Minister to visit Venkatagiri

Telugu Ganga for SVU

Ex-servicemen's plea on VAT

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The Chittoor district unit of the Ex-Servicemen Federation has sought the intervention of the Defence Minister to issue suitable instructions to the concerned to exempt at least consumer items like soaps, detergent soaps, powder, toothpaste, hair oil, tea, coffee, boot polish and even non-deluxe type liquor, from the purview of VAT.

DIETCET applications

Freedom fighters plea

HYDERABAD:HYDERABAD:KHAMMAM:HYDERABAD:VI, The vice-president of Andhra Pradesh Freedom Fighters' Organisation, Gurram Venkat Reddy, has urged the leadership at the national level and in States to steer the country in the right direction.

In a statement, he said India got an opportunity to play a role globally after a long time, which should not be lost.