Date:01/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/01/stories/2006070110940400.htm

Environment protection

TIRUPATI: The `Environment Protection Week' celebrations came to a grand close with a valedictory function at the Regional Science Centre (RSC) here on Friday.

The event, conducted jointly by RSC and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, was aimed at creating awareness among students on environmental pollution and its catastrophic effects.

SPMVV Vice-Chancellor Veena Noble Dass took part in the closing ceremony and gave away prizes to schoolchildren. - Staff Reporter

71 p.c. re-polling

KADAPA: Re-polling was held peacefully in six polling stations in Kadapa district on Friday, amidst heavy police bandobust.

Repoll in Angadhi veedhi (PS 34) in Chintakommadinne mandal, Saraswathipet (PS 17 and 18) in Mydukur mandal, Peddanapadu (PS 24) in Yerraguntla mandal, Chitvel (PS 10) and Kondayapalli (PS 25) in Kamalapuram mandal recorded 71.06 per cent votes. District Collector M.T. Krishna Babu inspected polling at Peddanapadu polling station in Yerraguntla mandal.

Each repolling station was manned by a DSP, circle inspector, sub-inspectors and special party police personnel. Voters turned out in large numbers resulting in brisk voting. - Staff Reporter

Re-poll peaceful

KURNOOL: Re-poll was conducted at five places in Kurnool on Friday without any untoward incident. About 41.49 per cent voters exercised their franchise.

The re-poll was conducted at Varkur in Kodumur, Katarukonda in Krishnagiri, Nadichagi in Kautalam and Bathamcharla (two).

At booth no 53 at Bethamcharla, out of 962 votes, only 98 were polled (10.18 per cent).

In booth no 54, 114 votes were polled as against 988 (11.53 per cent). An inquiry into the low polling percentage revealed that the names of migratory workers who had not been in the town for the last 10 years were also on the rolls.

The election authorities initiated steps for deletion of names for the village panchayat election. - Staff Reporter

FAPCCI vice-president

HYDERABAD: Suraj Prasad Agarwal, a real estate developer, has been elected vice-president, FAPCCI for 2006-07. He had served the federation as member of the managing committee for seven years and as chairman of various committees, according to a press release. - Special Correspondent

Constable shoots self

Sangareddy: Armed Reserve head constable Vadla Kishtayya (53) shot himself to death with his 303 service rifle at the Wesley School campus here on Friday. He had been doing guard duty for the strongroom with ballot boxes from Thursday. Balraj, constable who was also on duty, said Kishtayya looked depressed from the morning and was found cleaning the gun at around 5.30 p.m. Within minutes, he heard the gunshot and found Kishtayya in a pool of blood. The bullet ripped off a portion of Kishtayya's head. - Staff Reporter

`No poll irregularity'

NALGONDA: District Collector K. Vijayanand on Friday clarified that no poll irregularity had been committed in the MPTC election at Kothagudem in Garidepally mandal where a bunch of ballot papers were found on Thursday, a day after the polling. "It was the mischief of a local person. Enquiries have revealed that no poll irregularity was committed," he said. - Staff Reporter

Prohibitory orders

HYDERABAD: Ranga Reddy district Collector L. Prema Chandra Reddy has issued prohibitory orders in 33 mandals of the district on July 2 for the polling. The orders under Section 144 will be effective within a radius of 100 metres in 1,675 polling stations. - Special Correspondent

Rajiv statue damaged

KADAPA: A statue of Rajiv Gandhi broke into pieces and collapsed near old bus stand in Proddatur town when a private bus hit a traffic island, resulting in an electric pole falling on the statue on Friday. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had unveiled the statue in 1998. - Staff Reporter

Man `kills' wife

KARIMNAGAR: A man killed his wife by slitting her throat with a knife at Muthyalammawada in Manthani on Friday. Police said accused person D. Venkanna (35), in an inebriated condition, killed his wife D. Padma (30) in his house suspecting her fidelity. They were married 15 years ago and did not have children. The accused person is at large. - Staff Reporter

Wage board for scribes

HYDERABAD: Union Labour Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said that a new wage board for journalists and non-journalists would be constituted within a month. He gave this promise when M.S. Hashmi, president, Hyderabad Union of Journalists, submitted a memorandum. - Staff Reporter

Compensation paid

VISAKHAPATNAM: For the first time in the State, the Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited on Friday paid compensation to six consumers for delay in extending its services to the latter.

The compensation was paid for delays in the release of new connections, according to V. Ramakrishna, General Manager, Customer Services. . - Staff Reporter

Low pressure

VISAKHAPATNAM: A low pressure area has formed over north-west Bay of Bengal on Friday morning. Under it influence, rainfall is likely at many places in next 24 hours. Strong surface winds from south-westerly direction with speeds reaching 45 to 50 kmph are likely along and off coastal Andhra.