Date:05/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050514130400.htm

Murali suspended

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government has placed under suspension Visakhapatnam (Rural) Superintendent of Police J.G. Murali who is in jail here since April 29 following his arrest by the ACB on charges of amassing wealth by abusing his official position.

Principal Secretary (Home) P.V. Naidu told The Hindu that his suspension was in accordance with service rules applicable to Government staff. - Special Correspondent

BIE Tatkal scheme

HYDERABAD: The Tatkal scheme for those who did not pay the exam fee for Intermediate Public Advanced Supplementary Examinations May/June 2007 will be kept open from Saturday till May 8, a release from Board of Intermediate informed on Friday.

A special fee of Rs. 500 in addition to the prescribed examination fee has to be paid through a DD drawn in favour of the Secretary, BIE, AP, Hyderabad, payable at Hyderabad. - Staff Reporter

Sale of EdCET forms

VISAKHAPATNAM: In response to the request made by the applicants, the last date of sale and submission of application forms for Education Common Entrance Test (EdCET) 2007 has been extended up to May 12, EdCET convener K.V.S.S.N. Raju informed in a press release here on Friday. The test will be held on June 10 as scheduled, he added. - Special Correspondent

YSR meets Digvijay

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy called on AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh at the Lakeview guesthouse here on Friday night. Dr. Reddy spent close to an hour with the Congress leader, who is in the city to attend a marriage. Mr. Singh is expected to meet the State Congress leaders on Saturday. - Special Correspondent

Clarification

The Third Finance Commission headed by B. Sathyanarayana will be holding its regional meet at Tirupati on June 5 and 6 and not as published in these columns on Friday.

SP's action flayed

KADAPA: Civil Rights Forum leaders on Friday criticised Kadapa Superintendent of Police Y. Nagi Reddy for beating up CPI(M) leader B. Narayana and Ambedkar Mission leader Sampath Kumar for registering their protest in `Dalita Govindam' programme at Tallapaka two days ago. The SP could initiate action as per law against erring persons, but he acted highhandedly, forum leaders --T. Easwar and K. Hari Prasad -- alleged in a statement.

Seven suffer burns

KADAPA: Seven persons, travelling atop an APSRTC bus to attend a marriage, sustained severe burns when one of them, Kona Puli Raju, touched the low-lying electrical wires at Ummareddipalle in Muddanur mandal on Friday.

Kona Puli Raju was rushed to Kurnool General Hospital in a critical condition, according to Muddanur police. Others were admitted in Jammalamadugu Government Hospital.

Shepherd run over

KADAPA: A shepherd Nadipi Ganganna, 42, was run over by an APSRTC bus at Obulampalle on the outskirts of Kadapa city on Friday. The Chinna Chowk police registered a case.

3 die of diarrhoea

KURNOOL: Three persons died of diarrhoea at Sirivel in Kurnool district in the last two days. The deceased were identified as Reshma (7), Mahesh (11) and Mohiddin (52). Also, 50 others were affected.

Free surgery for poor

TIRUPATI: SVIMS super specialty hospital has identified 111 patients below the poverty line (BPL) for free surgery under the `Pranadanam' scheme.

Short circuit

KADAPA: Seven computer systems, two air-conditioners and furniture were burnt allegedly due to electrical short circuit in APSRTC's revenue collection wing in Jammalamadugu bus depot on Thursday evening.

TV mechanic murdered

KADAPA: A 22-year-old television mechanic Devender was hacked to death by his rivals in Gandhi bazaar in Rayachoti town on Thursday night.

Rayachoti police registered a case, said.

13 arrested in red sander case

KADAPA: Thirteen persons were arrested on the charge of smuggling red sanders in Chitvel forest range, according to Railway Kodur incharge Forest Ranger Khader Vali. There were among the 18 persons who had been absconding after 203 red sander logs were seized from a lorry in Kondur on April 5.

Minister inspects area hospital

KHAMMAM: Minister for Health Vanama Venkateswar Rao on Friday made a surprise visit to the area hospital at Bhadrachalam. He took stock of the facilities and sanitation in the wards. He spent some time with the patients and enquired from them about the availability of medicines. Later he held a review meeting with the officials in the temple town. He said the area hospital would be upgraded into 150-bed hospital soon.

_Staff Reporter

Praja patham

KHAMMAM: AICC secretary and MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy took part in the canal renovation work taken up under the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme as part of Praja Patham at Gopavaram in Madhira mandal on Friday. Some 335 workers were engaged in the work. He also visited the famous Jamalapuram temple.

_Staff Reporter

Early completion of canal works sought

ELURU: The Andhra Pradesh Rytu Sangham on Friday urged the district administration to complete the canal maintenance works at the earliest to help farmers go in for rabi crop in time. Sangham district president B. Balaram said the delay in execution of repair works to the irrigation canals would have an adverse impact on rabi prospects. Saying that the Government had sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the repair works, he requested the official machinery to ensure transparency in execution of the works.--Staff Reporter

Assumes charge

Rajahmundry: P.V.S. Nagaraja Rao took charge as the new Senior Divisional Manager of LIC of India, Rajahmundry Division, on Friday. He started his career as direct recruit officer in Kovvuru branch in 1986. He worked as Research Associate at NIA, Pune, Zonal Business Development Manager, Zonal Office, Hyderabad. Before joining at Rajahmundry, he was Regional Manager (HRD), Zonal Office, Bhopal. - Staff Reporter.

ONGC employee drowned

Kakinada: Ranjit, 46, of Chennai working as Catering Manager in ONGC base at Sivakodu was drowned in the Godavari canal on Friday. - Correspondent

Appointed AU EC member

VISAKHAPATNAM: Principal of Andhra University College of Arts and Commerce J.V. Prabhakara Rao has been appointed member of the Executive Council of AU. - Special Correspondent

Social activist's gesture

Kakinada: Social activist Adabala Rathna Prasada Rao on Thursday gave financial assistance to the wife of Venkateswera Rao, a reporter of a local Telugu daily who died after a prolonged illness. Correspondent

Seniority list

Kakinada: Municipal Commissioner K. Venkateswerlu has positively responded to the representation and prepared seniority list of school assistants working in corporation, according to N. Sesha Reddy, MLC. He said here on Friday that the list was sent to DEO for clearance. - Correspondent

Depression to intensify

Visakhapatnam: A depression formed over East Central Bay of Bengal lay centred on Thursday evening at about 200 km north of Port Blair.

It is likely to intensify further and move towards the north. Distant cautionary signal no.1 was hoisted at Vizag, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam ports. - Staff Reporter

LIC official assumes office

He worked as Research Associate at NIA, Pune, Zonal Business Development Manager, Zonal Office, Hyderabad. Before joining at Rajahmundry, he was Regional Manager (HRD), Zonal Office, Bhopal. - Staff Reporter.

Stone laid for culvert

Rajahmundry: Minister for Excise J. Rammohana Rao on Friday laid foundation for a culvert in Kadiam Aava to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.16 lakhs.

He also laid foundation for a marriage hall to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.30 lakhs. The Minister also distributed tricycles to beneficiaries. - Staff Reporter

`Nirmita Kendras' planned

Rajahmundry: East Godavari district Collector M. Subrahmanyam has said that the Housing Department will construct `Nirmita Kendras' under PPP basis under Indiramma scheme.

They will manufacture construction material like fly-ash bricks, windows and doorframes. - Staff Reporter