Vice President Presents G.D.Birla International Awrds

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari with the awardees and the trustees of the award after presenting G.D. Birla International Award – 2008, in New Delhi on June 21, 2010.       (Photo by PIB No.CNR-32144)
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(PIB NEWS) June,21,The Vice-President of India Shri M.Hamid Ansari presented the G.D.Birla International Awards in the presence of distinguished gathering at a function here today. Describing the awardees as role models and worth emulating, the Vice President applauded the Birla Academy of Art and Culture for instituting these awards and for recognizing the outstanding work of the awardees. This Award is a source of inspiration to those who make earnest efforts, benefiting masses with their contributions to Humanity, Rural Upliftment and associate themselves not only in preserving but also spreading the rich Cultural Heritage of India.The Award for Humanism was given to Mrs. Zokhumi Vankung , an eminent social activist from North East who made significant contribution for the benefit of Spastic, handicapped children and empowerment of women by helping in creation of an institution called “Gilead Special School ” and working for betterment of those needing humanitarian assistance. The Award for Preservation of India’s Cultural Heritage was conferred on Mr. P V Dhanjayans and Mrs. Shanta Dhanjayans, a famous couple known propagating Indian Dances and while maintaining their identity,collaborating them with International form of dances bring fresh wave of innovations. In the category of Rural Upliftment, the Award was presented to Dr. Percy Barnevik, a Swedish National who after retirement from a MNC devoted his life and retirement funds in transforming the socio-economic environment in rural and remote areas of Distt. Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu and achieving the success, replicating in other part of India and world. Smt. Sarala Birla, Chairperson of Birla Academy of Art & Culture which has instituted these Awards also appreciated and welcomed the contributions made to various segments of the society and invited all to join hands to make a better India.
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By-polls to 10 assembly seats in Telangana July 27

Hyderabad, June 21 : By-elections to 10 Assembly seats in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh will be held on July 27, while the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has decided to challenge in court the Election Commission's decision against conducting polls in two other constituencies.The Election Commission Monday announced that by-polls will be held to Sirpur, Chennur (SC), Mancherial, Yellareddy, Nizamabad (Urban), Koratla, Dharmapuri (SC), Huzurabad, Siddipet and Warangal West Assembly constituencies. It decided aggainst holding the by-polls for two assembly seats - Vemulawada and Sircilla - as the election petitions against the winning candidates in last year's elections were still pending in court. The bye-elections were necessitated by the resignations of all 10 legislators of TRS and one each of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February in support of the demand for a separate Telangana state. Chief Electoral Officer I.V.Subba Rao told reporters here that the poll notification would be issued on July 2. The last date for filing nominations would be July 9, while the scrutiny would take place the next day. He said July 12 would be the last date for withdrawal of nominations. According to the poll schedule, counting of votes would take place July 30. Subba Rao said the model code comes into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the constituencies fall. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao reacted strongly to the decision against holding polls in two constituencies. Terming it a "political conspiracy", he said he would challenge it in court. "This is an undemocratic move and we will challenge it in high court," he said. The TRS leader's son, K.Tarakarama Rao, was elected from Sircilla constituency in last year's elections by a thin majority of 171 votes. A petitioner has claimed that the votes were not counted properly. In Vemulawada, Ch. Ramesh of TDP was elected but a contestant filed a petition contending that Ramesh is not a citizen of India.
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Andhra Pradesh by-elections July 27

New Delhi, June 21 : The Election Commission Monday announced by-elections for 10 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh July 27.While the date of issue of notification is July 2, the last date of making nominations is July 9. The nominations will be scrutinised the next day, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 12. Polls to the 10 assembly constituencies will be held July 27 and will be held between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Votes will be counted July 30, the poll panel said. According to the commission, the model code of conduct will come into force with the announcement. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used during the by-elections. "Adequate numbers of EVMs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the poll is conducted smoothly with the help of these machines," the commission said in a statement here. Elections were scheduled to take place in 12 constituencies. But as petitions have been filed in two, the commission is holding polls for 10 assembly seats, the poll panel said. It said in the assembly constituencies of Vemulawada and Sircilla, election petitions are pending as petitioners have sought to be declared elected. Elections will be held in Sirpur, Chennur, Mancherial, Yellareddy, Nizamabad (Urban), Koratla, Dharmapuri, Huzurabad, Siddipet and Warangal West.
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GVK signs contract with Hyundai, L and T

Hyderabad, Jun 21 : GVKPIL, which owns and operates 915 MW gas-based Combined Cycle Power Plants in Andhra Pradesh located close to K-G basin gas sources is planning to substantially augment its generation capacity over the next five years.As part of the expansion program, it will be installing an 800MW (2x392.24MW) gas-based Combined Cycle Power Plant at its Gautami plant site at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore.GVK has signed EPC agreements with the Consortium of Hyundai Engineering Company Limited, Korea and Larsen and Toubro, Chennai.The implementation of the 2x392.24MW Power Project on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis envisages nstallation of advanced class Siemens single shaft gas turbine generators, unfired triple pressure HRSGs with reheat and state-of-the-art plant controls.The first unit of the project is scheduled to go into commercial operation in the first quarter of 2013.GVK Chairman GVK Reddy, in a statement said the company plans to further increase the installed capacity by adding a third unit of about 400 MW in Gautami at a later date.
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Andhra seeks 80 companies of paramilitary forces for by-polls

Hyderabad, June 21 : Andhra Pradesh has sought 80 companies of paramilitary forces, or nearly 8,000 troopers, from the central government for by-elections to 12 assembly seats in Telangana region, an official said Monday.State police chief R.R.Girish Kumar told reporters in Karimnagar town that the state needed the additional troopers for smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls. Seeking cooperation from all for the polls, the director general of police warned of strict action against those creating trouble. "In a democracy everybody has a right to campaign. If anybody tries to create trouble, we will take action as per the law," he said. His warning was an obvious reference to the threats by Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) and other pro-Telangana groups to stop both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from contesting the by-elections, likely to be held in July-August. JAC is pressurising Congress and TDP not to field candidates to allow unanimous election of those who resigned in February this year to demand separate Telangana state. All 10 legislators of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and one each of the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party had quit to press the demand for separate Telangana state to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh. Some pro-Telangana student groups Sunday threatened to stall Chief Minister K.Rosaiah's visit to Nizamabad district where by-election is scheduled for one assembly seat. The Election Commission is likely to issue poll notification this week. Meanwhile, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with senior party leaders to discuss the strategy for the by-elections.
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Expert rues lack of steps on heart disease prevention

Tirupati,Jun 21 : 'We have advanced technology in India compared to other countries but we are lagging in taking preventive steps against heart attacks in the country,' Apollo Hospitals (Chennai) Senior Cardiologist Dr Y Y C Reddy said here.Addressing the press last evening, Dr Reddy, who visited the temple town to brief on the steps taken to help people better understand risk for cardiovascular disease, said though advanced technology could save life, awareness should be created among youngsters, especially those between 30-35 years, on prevention of heart attacks.Apollo had embarked on a campaign titled 'billion heart beatings' for creating awareness among youngsters on prevention of heart diseases roping in NGOs.As per medical studies, heart attacks can be predicted from hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol levels.Consumption of five varieties of vegetables, lifestyle alteration and use of olive oil were most beneficial for health.
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CLP urges JAC not to obstruct CM tour in Telangana

Hyderabad, Jun 20 : The Congress Legislature Party today urged the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Students of Osmania University not to obstruct the tour programme of Chief Minister K Rosaiah in Telangana region as it would hamper development activities.Addressing a press conference, Information and Public Relations Minister J Geeta Reddy in the presence of Endowments Minister G Venkata Reddy, said it was wrong on the part of the JAC students to disturb the tour of Chief Minister.She said agitation and separate Telangana state demand was different from development.'We need developemnt of Telangana. Obstruction to the Chief Minister tour amounted to stalling the development of the region,' she said.She appealed the JAC students to allow the Chief Minister to tour Telangana as the developmental activities which were going on in the region would further improve for the benefit of the people of Telangana. She said though revenue collections had come down last year due to agitations and disturbances, the state government continued the welfare schemes and developmental activities launched by former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Mr Venkata Reddy said despite financial crunch, the goverrment had not taken any overdraft for the last six years whereas the TDP during its tenure depended only on overdraft.''As the government maintained the fiscal management in a perfect manner, the government has not crossed the FRBM limits so far,' he added.Stating that there was 25 per cent difference of revenue collections in the state between 2009 and 2010, he said inspite of global recession, the state had managed to implement the welfare schemes for the benefit of the people.
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