World Bank approves $515 mn projects for Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi, Jun 6: The World Bank has approved two projects worth 515 million dollars to India for water and pollution management in Andhra Pradesh.While 450.60 million dollars have been sanctioned for the state water sector improvement, 64.15 million dollars earmarked for a pilot to supporting development of a national programme for rehabilitation of polluted sites, a World Bank statement said. The 450.60 million dollar loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 30-year maturity, including a 5-year grace period.Of the 64.15 million dollar credit for rehabilitation of polluted sites, 38.94 million dollar comes from the International Development Association(IDA), the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm. It carries a 0.75 per cent service fee, a 10-year grace period, and a maturity of 35 years, while the remaining component of 25.21 million dollar has a 30-year maturity, including a 5-year grace period, the statement added. The water project leader and World Bank senior engineer R S Pathak said it is aimed at strengthening Andhra Pradesh's institutional capacity for multi-sectoral planning, development and management of its water resources.The project, he added, will contribute to the rehabilitation and modernisation of Nagarjuna Sagar Scheme (NSS), a large multipurpose project which generates hydro power, supplies water for industries, rural and urban drinking water and irrigation water to about 9 lakh hectare area.The World Bank said the industrial pollution management project is, however, designed as a pilot in view of large scale contamination of areas across India. Quoting an Indian government official, it said there are about 36,000 industries in the country which generate about 6.2 million tonnes of hazardous waste annually. Large quantities of industrial sludge and effluents laden with heavy metals are dumped in open areas, in rivers, around residential compounds, and on farm land. Such toxic dumps have contaminated soil and groundwater, affecting the health of local communities.Project leader Charles Cormier said it is aimed at supporting development of a national programme for rehabilitation of polluted sites and also to build human and technical capacity in selected state agencies for undertaking environmentally-sound remedial measures at polluted sites.
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Thousand to throng Pearl City for 'Fish Medicine'

Hyderabad,Jun 6: Thousand of people are expected to throng the Pearl City on the auspicious day of 'Mrigsira Karthi' on June 8 to partake fish medicine touted as a cure for asthma.The Bathina Brothers -- who have become a household name for administering 'fish medicine'-- were busy making the arrangements.Brothers Vishwanath Goud, Harinath Goud and Uma Maheshwar Goud belong to the current generation of the clan which had been administering the medicine for 156 years based on the 'the wisdom of the sages of ancient India.' Bathina Harinath Goud recalled in 1845, a holy man happened to meet his great-grand father Veeranna Goud and gave him the secret formula, blessed the well and the place of administration of medicine. He also instructed him to distribute this medicine free-of-cost to the patients.The 'secret formula' had been passed on through the generations of the Goud family.The brothers administer the medicine on ''Mrigasira Karti'' which normally falls on June 8. Referring to the controversies and apprehensions raised by the 'Jana Vijnana Vedika', Mr Goud emphatically claimed there were no side effects. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Government had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event.
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Jagan defies Congress, to go ahead with 'yatra'

Hyderabad,June 6: Continuing to defy the Congress party leaders, former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Sunday said he would go ahead with his "Odarpur yatra"."Who told you that yatra would not continue?" he shot back when reporters in Anantapur sought to know if he has called off his yatra. The Kadapa MP was asked to comment on reports that he decided to call off his controversial tour in different parts of Andhra Pradesh following a directive from the central leadership. By repeatedly asking the same question to reporters, Jagan has virtually made it clear that he would go ahead with his yatra in Srikakulam district from June 8. The yatra is aimed at consoling the family members of those who either committed suicide or died of shock following the death of his father, popularly known as YSR, in a helicopter crash last year. Jagan's attempt to defy the high command and take out the yatra in Warangal district of Telangana region on May 28 had triggered violence. The young MP was arrested on his way to Mahabubabad town in the district but firing by gunmen of his two loyal legislators in the town injured nine pro-Telangana activists, who were opposing his tour. After the incidents, Jagan visited New Delhi and met some Congress leaders to convince them that there is no politics in his yatra. After a meeting with general secretary incharge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, M. Veerappa Moily, he had claimed that the leadership permitted him to continue the tour. However, Moily later denied this and advised Jagan not to defy the high command. Jagan's loyalists among the state ministers have also advised him not to go against the party's directive. Last week, several legislators loyal to his father called on him and urged him not to take any hasty step. Unhappy with Jagan's attitude, the Congress leadership is not willing to allow him to undertake the yatra even in non-Telangana areas. Srikakulam is a part of north coastal Andhra and his yatra is not facing any opposition there.
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'BJP will support bill for separate Telangana state'

Hyderabad, June 6 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Sunday said his party was ready to support a bill for the formation of a separate Telangana state if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government brings it in parliament. Asserting that BJP was "100 percent" for separate statehood to the Telangana region, he told reporters here that the Congress party was playing with the sentiments of Telangana people. "If Congress party is sincere on Telangana issue, let them bring a bill in Parliament. BJP will support it," he said. Gadkari, who arrived here on a three-day visit -- the first since he took over as party chief, blamed the Congress for complicating the Telangana issue. "The Congress party declared that it will carve out a separate Telangana state but later backtracked. It is playing vote-bank politics on the issue," he alleged. "This is not the way to solve a problem. The Congress party is, in fact, creating more problems. The present confusion is because of its policies," Gadkari said. He also said that the Srikrishna committee formed by the central government to look into the Telangana issue was a waste of time. "This is just a time-pass," he remarked. The BJP president blamed the policies of the UPA government for the miseries of farmers in the country. He alleged that farmers' suicides were continuing due to the "anti-farmer" policies of the government. He said that the BJP, for the last four months, has been demanding a halt to future and forward trading in essential commodities. "The government is exploiting farmers. Neither the farmers are getting remunerative prices nor the consumers are being benefited," he said.
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