Date:24/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122408530400.htm

Two girls drowned

KURNOOL: Two girls drowned in an agricultural well at Dudekonda near Pathikonda in Kurnool Saturday. The victims were identied as Radhamma and Mamata. Their bodies were fished out. — Special Correspondent

Bank signs MoU

HYDERABAD: State Bank of Hyderabad has signed an MoU with Department of Rural Development and Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) to implement a pilot project for making payments under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Social Security Pensions in 23 villages in Warangal . The payments will be through smart cards by the bank. — Special Correspondent

Edusat launch

TIRUPATI: V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor of the IGNOU said that an exclusive educational satellite, `Saaksharatha' would be put in the orbit during the 11th five-year plan period. The university will also launch in 2007 an educational index channel, `Gnana Darshan' he said, at the inaugural of IGNOU's `Study Centre-0159' at Sri Padmavathi Mahila University here. — Special Correspondent

Appeal to Ramaiah

HYDERABAD: Janata Party legislator from Medak P. Sashidhar Reddy has urged educationist Chukka Ramaiah not to oppose the setting up of Indian Institute of Technology in Medak. He recalled at a press meet that the State had lost an opportunity to house an IIT in 1959 because of such location related issues. "We should not lose the opportunity now," he said. — Special Correspondent

TANA award

HYDERABAD: C. Dharma Rao, president of Telugu Bhashodyama Samakhya, has been selected by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) for the Gidugu Rammurthy Memorial Award.

The award, comprising cash prize of Rs.50,000 and given once in two years, will be presented to Rao at the TANA conference in Washington DC next year, N.Hanumayya, TANA president said. — Special Correspondent

Land details sought

HYDERABAD: G. Narasaiah, CPI(ML) New Democracy, MLA from Yellandu in Khammam, demanded that the Government make public village-wise details of grabbed assigned lands.

— Special Correspondent

Teachers' demand

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Teachers' Federation (APTF) has urged the Government to announce payment of DA dues from July this year, in view of the price increase of commodities.

It also wanted release of special compensatory allowance to staff in agency areas. — Special Correspondent

New TRAI Secretary

HYDERABAD: R.K. Arnold, Chief General Manager, Andhra Pradesh Telecom Circle, has been selected for the post of Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), a statutory body which formulates and regulates telecom policies. P.S.R.Krishna, Principal General Manager, Hyderabad Telecom District, will officiate as CGM, AP Circle. — Special Correspondent

Call for fee exemption

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya has urged Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to exempt registration fee in case property is purchased in the name of a woman. — Special Correspondent

Egg panel's demand

HYDERABAD: National Egg Coordination Committee has appealed to the Centre to ban forward trading and export of maize in view of the "deep" crisis facing the poultry industry on account of high price of maize, the most crucial ingredient of poultry feed.

Ministers to visit

Kadapa today

KADAPA: Minister for Forests and Environment S. Vijayarama Raju and Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy will visit Kadapa on Sunday.

Mr. Raju will take part in laying of foundation stone for eco-park at Idupulapaya in Vempalle mandal by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The Agriculture Minister will address a review meeting on agriculture, horticulture, civil supplies and bio-diesel plantations with officials at 3 p.m. here. He would leave for Hyderabad by Venkatadri Express on Sunday night. — Staff Reporter

SVU institutes

1 crore corpus fund

TIRUPATI: Sri Venkateswara University has instituted a corpus fund of Rs.1 crore.

The varsity's Executive Council, which met here on Friday, also resolved to hold the 49th annual convocation in August/September 2007. The council approved the decision to construct a hostel for the physically challenged students. An anonymous philanthropist had come forward to get the building constructed in the name of her husband, a former student of the varsity.

Another significant decision taken at the meet was to bring adult education under the `Faculty of Education'. — Staff Reporter

36 new RTC buses allotted to Kadapa

KADAPA: Thirty-six new buses were allotted to Kadapa district for 2006-07, APSRTC Regional Manager M. Ravinder said on Saturday.

Interviews would be held for driver posts from January 3 to 10 in the Regional Manager's Office here, he said. Applicants who did not receive call letters could contact him, he said. Call letters for applicants to conductor posts would be sent in 10 days, Mr. Ravinder said. — Staff Reporter

Dharna staged

CHITTOOR: Activists of Janasangh staged a dharna in front of the Government headquarters hospital here on Saturday demanding suspension of Rushya Rani, Principal of Nurse Training Centre, and tutor Muralidhar for harassing nurse trainees. The struggle will continue till the authorities set things right, the agitators said.

— Correspondent