PIPED GAS SUPPLY PLAN FOR12 DISTRICTS SUBMITTED TO PNGRB

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service DSS)July,18, Piped gas supply plan for12 districts submitted to PNGRB CM wants plan to be speeded up, cover remaining dists too PNGRB thanked for introduction of regional tariffs on gas transportation HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister Dr.K.Rosaiah today asked the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to speed up the process for piped cooking gas distribution in Andhra Pradesh. Dr Rosaiah said the State Government has already prepared its distribution plan for 12 districts and submitted the Expression of Interest (EoI) with the PNGRB. The Chief Minister said when the gas is abundantly available in the Krishna-Godavari basin; there should be no problem in supplying piped gas to the domestic and other consumers in Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister today reviewed the piped gas distribution position with the Chief Secretary, Mr.S.V.Prasad; Principal Secretary, Industries, Mr.B.Sambob and top officials of A.P.Gas Infrastructure Corporation. The Chief Minister thanked the PNGRB for according differential rates of tariff of gas transmission resulting in reduced tariff for Andhra Pradesh. "The Government of Andhra Pradesh thanks the PNGRB for considering the long pending demand of the State Government for reduction of gas transportation tariff. The reduced tariff will help increased use of gas in the State and establishment of more industries here", Dr. Rosaiah said. While appreciating the support of the PNGRB, which is the awarding and regulating gas transmission and distribution, the Chief Minister wanted to know the time schedules for various aspects of gas transmission and distribution in the State. He also requested the PNGRB to give details of the progress so far made in the laying of Pipe lines in the State. The State Government has massive plans for supply of gas in the State to all the sectors -- Domestic, Industrial, Transport, Commercial, Power Generation, Fertilizers etc. The State has already prepared its distribution plan for 12 districts and submitted Expression of Interest (EoI) with PNGRB. These 12 districts are covered with 7 proposals. These districts are Medak, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Khammam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Karimnagar and Warangal. The State Government feels that the entire district areas be included as a single unit while fixing the boundaries of that unit. It is good to have the entire district as one unit for the sake of administrative convenience. The Chairman was requested to clear all the proposals and call for Expression of Interest immediately. The Chairman, PNGRB was requested to see that the gas distribution in Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Kakinada are completed on a war footing, so as to make piped gas supply in city areas at the earliest. Further, the Chairman was requested to see that all the main trunk lines are laid covering south coasts Andhra and Rayalaseema areas. The APGIC is also preparing proposal for the remaining 10 districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur. If the agencies which are awarded the main trunk line are asked to execute the works, the APGIC will file the proposal with PNGRB immediately. Dr. Rosaiah said that this is the most important and priority item of the Government. As the gas is available closest to Andhra Pradesh, the expectation of people of the State may be kept in mind and top priority should be given to piped gas distribution in the State. The Chief Minister stressed that PNGRB should protect the interest of consumers by fostering fair trade and competition amongst the entities; register entities to market notified petroleum and petroleum products and, subject to the contractual obligations of the Central Government, natural gas; establish and operate liquefied natural gas terminals; establish storage facilities for petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas exceeding such capacity as may be specified by regulations. In respect of notified petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, the Board will ensure adequate availability; ensure display of information about the maximum retail prices fixed by the entity for consumers at retail outlets; monitor prices and take corrective measures to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities; secure equitable distribution for petroleum and petroleum products; provide, by regulations, and enforce, retail service obligations for retail outlets and marketing service obligations for entities; monitor transportation rates and take corrective action to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities; levy fees and other charges as determined by regulations; and maintain a data bank of information on the activities. The Chief Minister emphasized that the Board should also lay down the technical standards and specifications including safety standards in activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, including the construction and operation of pipeline and infrastructure projects related to downstream petroleum and natural gas sector and perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government to carry out the provisions of this Act. The officials informed the Chief Minister that the Board will have jurisdiction to adjudicate upon and decide any dispute on matters arising amongst entities or between an entity and any other person on issues relating to refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.

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Progress of “Tourist Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme : January – June, 2010

(PIB NEWS) July,18, As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government has launched a Scheme of “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) from January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. During the period January - June, 2010, a total number of 3151 VoAs were issued under this Scheme. The number of visas issued under this scheme, during January-June 2010 for nationals of the five countries were Singapore (1040), Finland (802), New Zealand (768), Japan (521) and Luxembourg (20). Total number of VoAs issued during June, 2010 were 401 with countrywise breakup as Finland (66), Japan (68), New Zealand (108), Singapore (156) and Luxemburg (3). During the six month period of January–June, 2010, the maximum number of VoAs were issued at Delhi airport (1663), followed by Mumbai (689), Chennai (635) and Kolkata (164).
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Naidu, colleagues sent to judicial custody

july,18, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues were Saturday sent to judicial custody for two days by a magistrate in Dharmabad town of Nanded district in Maharashtra.The TDP leaders, who were arrested Friday for trying to enter the state despite ban orders, are likely to be kept at Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (ITI) till July 19.Since the leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers, have refused to be shifted to different jails, the authorities may allow them to stay at ITI.A Maharashtra official described the situation in Dharmabad as “peaceful and under control” with no untoward incidents of reported from anywhere. Protesting the arrests, TDP has called for state-wide protests Sunday and a shutdown Monday in Andhra Pradesh.A magistrate, who was called to ITI, sent the TDP leaders to judicial remand as they refused to take bail, saying they would not leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam.The TDP leaders opposed the move to shift them to different jails and requested that they be lodged in one jail.Police have refused to allow Naidu and other leaders to visit the Babli dam being built by Maharashtra across Godavari River.Andhra’s main opposition party has alleged that the dam was being constructed illegally and it would deprive Andhra of its rightful share of waters.Earlier, tension prevailed at ITI as the Babli Samrakshana Samiti staged a protest demanding that Naidu and the 75 other TDP leaders go back.Police baton charged the protesters and arrested them as they tried to barge into the ITI premises raising slogans against the Andhra leaders.The arrested leaders spent Friday night at the ITI. The TDP leaders here said Naidu and others, including women, slept on mats.The arrested leaders have not been provided basic facilities but they are determined to continue their protest, the TDP leaders said.Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government.The TDP has complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kirankumar Reddy about the arrests of MPs and legislators by Maharashtra Police and sought their intervention for the early release of the elected representatives.The TDP leaders were arrested on the Andhra-Maharashtra border Friday afternoon when they tried to enter Maharashtra to inspect Babli. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister argued that he had the democratic right to visit any place in the country.The TDP alleged that its leaders were arrested by police with deceit. They were taken in a police vehicle with the promise that they would be shown the project but the vehicle was diverted to the Dharmabad ITI.Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Friday evening spoke to Naidu over phone and advised him to return to Andhra Pradesh but the latter refused to leave unless he and other leaders were allowed to visit Babli and other projects.Meanwhile, the TDP continued protests in different parts of Andhra Pradesh against Naidu’s arrest. Party activists staged protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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Jagan terms his aide’s suspension ‘painful’

july,18, Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan ReddySunday termed as “painful” thesuspension of his close aide AmbatiRambabu from the party.He told reporters during his ‘Odarpu yatra’ in East Godavari district that he would take up the issue with the party’s central leadership.Veerappa Moily, Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, announced Rambabu’s suspension Saturday night. Rambabu, general secretary of the party’s state unit, has been suspended for making certain remarks against Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.While criticising the chief minister for asking ministers and legislators not to join Jagan’s yatra, Rambabu had allegedly remarked that Rosaiah should be indebted to late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s family for becoming the chief minister.“The suspension of Mr.Rambabu has pained me,” said Jagan, who continued his yatra for the seventh day against the wishes of party president Sonia Gandhi.During the yatra, the Kadapa MP is consoling the families of those who died of shock following his father YSR’s death in a helicopter crash last year.“What mistake have I committed that they will give a warning to me?” quipped Jagan when a reporter asked if Rambabu’s suspension was a warning signal to those supporting him.“The blessings of God and my late father are with those who are with me,” he said and recalled that Rambabu had accompanied his father during his 1,500-km long ‘padyatra’ across the state in 2003.Meanwhile, Rambabu said in Hyderabad that he had not received any communication from party leadership about his suspension. He pointed out that the party allows two weeks time for replying to a show cause notice. The notice on Rambabu was served July 9.The Congress leadership in Delhi issued a statement Saturday night, announcing Rambabu’s suspension. Jagan loyalists ask how he could be suspended when he still had time to reply.Moily, who had visited Hyderabad Friday, had ruled out any disciplinary action against Jagan saying ‘Odarpu yatra’ was his personal move. =============================================

Ambati suspension disturbing: Jagan

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Jul 18 : Visibly perturbed over the sudden action of the Congress High Command suspending Ambati Rambabu, PCC general secretary and his staunch supporter, Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy today said it was agonising and painful.Talking to reporters at Hukumpet near Rajahmundry during his seventh day of Odarpu Yatra in East Godavari district, he said ''I am unhappy and disturbed over the action of the high command on Ambati Rambabu.'' '' He is a staunch supporter of my father late Dr Rajasekhara Reddy and accompanied him during the padayathra covering 1500 km. He contributed a lot to the Congress winning two elections,'' Mr Jagan said.Asked whether he would take up the matter with the party high command, Mr Jagan said he would do everything in support of Rambabu.Reacting to queries of mediapersons whether he would consider action against Rambabu as a warning to him from the high command, he said 'What wrong have I committed for giving a warning. God is there and above all my father's blessings are there.
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Tension on Andhra-Maharashtra border, Naidu remains in custody

Hyderabad/New Delhi, July 18: Tension prevailed on the Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra border Sunday as the Maharashtra Police used force to disperse Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists protesting the arrest of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders.Four people were injured when police baton charged a group of TDP workers at the border near Dharmabad in Naded district of Maharashtra. Raising slogans against the Maharashtra government, TDP activists tried to enter Maharashtra but were pushed back by the police into Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Some media persons also complained that the police beat them up. Naidu and other TDP leaders were arrested Friday when they entered Maharashtra despite ban orders and tried to head towards Babli dam being built across Godavari River. TDP alleged that Maharashtra was building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its rightful share of waters. A large number of policemen were mobilised in Dharmabad as Babli Samrakshana Samiti workers took out a rally protesting against TDP leaders. Police used force to disperse as they tried to head towards Dharmabad ITI, where Naidu and 74 others remained in judicial custody. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and others were remanded to judicial custody for two days by a magistrate in Dharmabad on Saturday as they refused to take bail. Maharashtra has refused to allow Naidu and other TDP leaders to visit Babli though they have vowed not to leave the state until they visit the dam. TDP leaders, who resisted attempt to shift them to different jails, remained at Dharmabad ITI for the second consecutive day. TDP has alleged that the leaders, including women, were sharing one room which has only one toilet attached to it. TDP has complained to Lok Sabha speaker and Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker of the "ill-treatment" meted out to MPs and state legislators. Meanwhile, TDP staged protests in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and has called for a state-wide shutdown Monday to protest the arrests. "We have given a call for hartal (strike). They (Maharshtra government) should allow us to visit Babli and 13 other projects along with the media," TDP MP Nama Nageswar Rao told IANS over telephone. He said the party leaders had entered Maharashtra after they were given an assurance by police that the senior party leaders will be taken to Babli project. "They told us that only leaders will be allowed," he said. Rao, who is leader of the Telugu Desam parliamentary party, said they wanted to see Babli project ahead of the July 23 meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concerning the controversial project. An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh is expected to meet the prime minister on the issue.
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Rosaiah asks Chavan to allow Naidu's visit to Babli dam

Hyderabad, July 18 : Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah on Sunday stepped in support of Chandrababu Naidu and requested his Maharashtra counterpart to allow Naidu to visit the Babli dam, even as Naidu's TDP called for a statewide shutdown on Monday to protest against the arrest of their chief and 74 legislators by Maharashtra police.Rosaiah spoke to Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and reportedly requested him to allow Naidu and his supporters to visit Babli dam with police escort. "I have told Ashok Chavan this is no way to treat friends from neighbouring states," Rosaiah said. Naidu and his colleagues were arrested from Nanded district of Maharashtra on Friday for violating prohibitory orders and trying to march to Babli dam. They had later refused bail and are currently lodged in judicial custody in the neighbouring state. Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called an Andhra Pradesh shutdown on Monday to protest against the arrests.
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Jagan terms his aide's suspension 'painful'

Hyderabad,July 18:Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Sunday termed as "painful" the suspension of his close aide Ambati Rambabu from the party.

He told reporters during his 'Odarpu yatra' in East Godavari district that he would take up the issue with the party's central leadership. Veerappa Moily, Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, announced Rambabu's suspension Saturday night. Rambabu, general secretary of the party's state unit, has been suspended for making certain remarks against Chief Minister K.Rosaiah. While criticising the chief minister for asking ministers and legislators not to join Jagan's yatra, Rambabu had allegedly remarked that Rosaiah should be indebted to late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's family for becoming the chief minister. "The suspension of Mr.Rambabu has pained me," said Jagan, who continued his yatra for the seventh day against the wishes of party president Sonia Gandhi. During the yatra, the Kadapa MP is consoling the families of those who died of shock following his father YSR's death in a helicopter crash last year. "What mistake have I committed that they will give a warning to me?" quipped Jagan when a reporter asked if Rambabu's suspension was a warning signal to those supporting him. "The blessings of God and my late father are with those who are with me," he said and recalled that Rambabu had accompanied his father during his 1,500-km long 'padyatra' across the state in 2003. Meanwhile, Rambabu said in Hyderabad that he had not received any communication from party leadership about his suspension. He pointed out that the party allows two weeks time for replying to a show cause notice. The notice on Rambabu was served July 9. The Congress leadership in Delhi issued a statement Saturday night, announcing Rambabu's suspension. Jagan loyalists ask how he could be suspended when he still had time to reply. Moily, who had visited Hyderabad Friday, had ruled out any disciplinary action against Jagan saying 'Odarpu yatra' was his personal move.
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Andhra Pradesh shutdown to protest Naidu's arrest

Hyderabad July 18 : Telugu Desam Party called a Monday Andhra Pradesh shutdown to protest against the arrest of the party chief N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 legislators by Maharashtra police Saturday.Naidu, among other politicians, was taken into preventive custody as they tried to visit the Babhali dam in Maharashtra that triggered a water row between the two states.The Andhra government has challenged the construction of the dam in the Supreme Court and says that the barrage in Maharashtra over Godavari river would affect water flow to their state and deprive irrigation to several districts in the Telangana area."We want to protect the farmers of Andhra Pradesh. We are fighting for this issue for five years," Naidu said, while ruling Congress leaders of Maharashtra alleged Naidu is politicizing the issue for votes".Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said Naidu and his supporters would be sent to various jails across the state if they do not comply with the court order and go back to their state, said a report in DNA.If the TDP leaders do not apply for bail on Monday they would be sent to further jail custody.Naidu and other party leaders were kept in Dharmabad after nearby jails refused to lodge so many VIPs, reports said.
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