Assembly by-polls in Telangana region Tuesday

Hyderabad, July 26: By-elections to 12 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region will be held Tuesday that will see ballot papers being used in five constituencies after many years.About 23.60 lakh voters, nearly half of them women, are eligible to cast their votes at 2,783 polling stations in the constituencies spread over five districts. As many as 435 candidates are in the fray for the by-elections, which are being fought on the issue of separate statehood to Telangana region. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I.V. Subba Rao told reporters Monday that all efforts were being made to ensure free and fair polls. Election authorities have deployed 68,000 security personnel to maintain law and order while 15,000 employees have been drafted for poll duty. The mass resignations of all 10 legislators of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and one each of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on the issue of separate Telangana necessitated the by-elections. For the first time in many years, the poll authorities will be using ballot papers in five constituencies since more than 64 candidates are in the fray. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be deployed in the remaining segments. TRS, whose demand for use of ballot papers in all constituencies was rejected by the Election Commission, made many independents file nominations to force the panel to use ballot paper. The EVMs cannot contain so many names. However, the nominations of many independents were either rejected or they withdrew from the contest in seven constituencies. Poll authorities have printed 20 lakh ballot papers and 1,500 ballot boxes. Due to incessant rains in the region, the authorities have supplied poll material to remote villages by helicopters. TRS appears to be ahead in the three-cornered contest in at least 10 constituencies. All the 10 legislators of the party, who quit for Telangana, are contesting again. The party is supporting the BJP in Nizamabad Urban where the ruling Congress has fielded its state unit chief D. Srinivas.
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Rajani to participate in moharrum procession

Hyderabad, Jul 26 : Elephant ''Rajani'' will participate in the Bonalu and Moharrum processions in the twin cites of Hyderabad and Secunderabad this year.The Andhra Pradesh Government has ordered that the elephant Rajani will participate in Bonalu procession of Ujjani Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad, and Sri Akkanna Madanna Temple of Old City on August 2.APCC General Secretary G Niranjan and President Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram, in a statement to the press today, thanked the State Government and Forest Minister Dr P Ramachandra Reddy for issuing orders to provide elephant from Nehru Zoological Park for Bonalu and Moharrum Processions this year.
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Second edition of SOLARCON at Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Jul 26 : The second edition of SOLARCON India 2010, India's largest and most successful solar event, will begin from July 28 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) here.According to a press release today, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah will preside over the inaugural function of the three-day international conference. Eminent global experts from the industry, academia and the government will discuss opportunities and challenges to make India a global leader in solar energy sector. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah will be the Chief Guest and Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy will be the Guest of Honour.SOLARCON India 2010 will focus on the recently launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) which has set an ambitious target of 20,000 Megawatts (MW) of solar generated power by 2022 and aims at establishing India as a global leader in solar energy. The event includes a best-in-class exhibition bringing together leading global and India Solar-PV players from the entire ecosystem to help build a robust PV supply chain to meet the ambitious goals of the JNNSM.In its inaugural year, SOLARCON India 2009 was held at the same venue in Hyderabad, attracting over 3,500 professional visitors, 600 conference delegates and participation from 68 companies worldwide, the release  added ===============================================

Hearing on charges against Satyam accused deferred till Jul 29

Hyderabad, Jul 26 : The examination and hearing of charges against the ten accused in the multi-crore Satyam Accounting Fraud Case was today deferred till July 29.XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate adjourned the case regarding the fudging books of account of the company against the ten accused, including Former Satyam Chairman B Ramalinga Raju. Of the ten accused, nine, who were out on bail, were present in the court while the main accused Raju, who was in judicial remand, was undergoing treatment for Hepatitis-C at the Nizam Institute of Medical Science (NIMS). The Magistrate described as 'unwarranted and not maintainable' the discharge petitions filed by two of the accused, Srisailam and Suryanarayana Raju, the brother of Ramalinga Raju.
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Opposing illegal dam construction is our right: Naidu

New Delhi, July 26 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Monday said it was his right to oppose the 'illegal dam construction' over Godavari river, dismissing allegations that he was using the Babhali dam issue for political gains. He added that he would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh."We oppose the illegal dam construction over river Godavari. It is our right as the illegal construction affects the lives of people in our state. Then how will it become a political issue?" Naidu told IANS when asked about Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's allegations. "I will meet the PM at 5 p.m.," Naidu told reporters outside parliament. Chavan had termed as "political" and "unnecessary" Naidu's march to Nanded in Maharashtra for which he was taken into police custody. "Naidu's actions are political as assembly by-elections have been declared in the neighbouring state (Andhra Pradesh)," Chavan had earlier told reporters after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi here. Meanwhile, Janata Dal-Secular leader and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and AIADMK leader M. Thampi Durai met Naidu at the TDP office in parliament house and discussed the strategy for a joint move in parliament against alleged illegal mining the Reddy brothers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, "illegal construction" of Babhali dam in Maharashtra and the 2G spectrum allocation scam allegedly involving IT and Communication Minister A. Raja. "We (TDP) have the support of the JD-S and AIADMK and the Left parties in our fight against the illegal construction of Babhali dam across the Godavari river in Maharashtra by the Congress government," said Naidu. Andhra Pradesh has been protesting the construction of the Babhali dam, which it says is being built in violation of the river water sharing agreements and would prove detrimental to its interests. The row over the Babhali dam had created tension last week when Maharashtra Police arrested Naidu and 74 other TDP leaders while they were proceeding towards the dam. They remained in judicial custody for four days before being forcibly sent back to Hyderabad by a chartered flight. TDP leader Nama Nageshwara Rao told , JD-S and the AIADMK, with the support of the Left parties, have decided to put up a joint front in parliament. "We had met CPI (Communist Party of India) leader A.B. Bardhan and discussed the issues. We will also meet CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat," Rao said.
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I&PR Commissioner Sri Partha Sarthi lighting lamp on the training programme

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service DSS) July,25, Sri P.Partha Sarathi(IAS) Special Commissioner for I&PR Dept is seen lighting lamp of One Day Training Programme on “GURUVULU SAMARDHA VANTHAMGA VIDYA ANDHICHATAM ELA” held at Ravindra Bharathi and also parcipated by Prof.B.V.Pattabhi Ram, RJD of Education Surender Reddy. B.V.Pattabhi Ram’s C.D’S are also released by Commissioner for I&PR Dept  (Photo No:CNR-145)
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Shinde-Abdullah jointly released GUIDELINES of solar power projects

New Delhi (PIB NEWS) July,25, The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr.Farooq Abdullah and the Union Power Minister, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde jointly released the Guidelines for Selection of New Grid Connected Solar Power Projects, in New Delhi on July 25, 2010.The Minister of State for Power, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki and other dignitaries are also seen. (Photo by No:CNR-32626)
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President attend the "Roshni Programme" at Rashtapati Bhawan,

New Delhi (PIB NEWS) July,25, The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil congratulating a winner of the painting competition on environment, organized by Rashtrapati Bhavan under the Roshni programme, at Rashtrapati Bhavan Auditorium in New Delhi on July 25,2010.The Union Minister for Urban Development, Shri Jaipal Reddy and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath are also seen.(Photo by No:CNR-32632)
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MiG 27 crash toll rises to three

July,25, The number of casualties in the MiG 27 fighter plane crash in West Bengal rose to three Sunday after two children hit by splinters of the aircraft died at a hospital here, police said. Latika Roy and Purnima Roy died at the North Bengal Medical College Saturday midnight. Three people, two of them admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and another at the Jalpaiguri district hospital, continued to be critical.One civilian died when the aircraft crashed in Jalpaiguri district Saturday morning. Splinters of the aircraft were scattered over an area of 500 metres radius.Seven of the 16 injured were minors.Squadron Leader Saket Verma, the pilot, ejected safely, said an Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesman at the Eastern Air Command headquarters in Shillong.The pilot had flown from the Hashimara airbase on a routine sortie. Hashimara is under administrative control of the Eastern Air Command.The pilot landed at the Saptibari High School playground, about 10 km from the crash spot. He was given first aid at the Saptibari primary health centre.The aircraft had lost contact with the air traffic control at Hashimara before it crashed.This is the fourth crash involving a MiG fighter plane this year.
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Amit Shah taken into custody, says allegations fabricated

JULY,25, Former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, charged with involvement in the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout, was taken into custody by the CBI in Gandhinagar Sunday.Shah, who was missing since Thursday, earlier surfaced dramatically at a press conference of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ahmedabad in the morning and said the allegations against him were fabricated.Shah had walked in while BJP state unit chief R.C. Fardu was addressing the press.Shah, who has been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), said he was being framed by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi in a desperate bid to ‘counter’ the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat.He said he would go to the CBI court to surrender.“The accusations against me are fabricated, politically motivated and framed on the behest of the Congress government,” Shah told reporters.He pointed out that the CBI had submitted a charge sheet of 30,000 pages within a day, even though he had not appeared before the agency. “That means my summons were not linked to the charge sheet,” he added.The minister also said that the summons showed that he was alleged to have issued threats, but the chargesheet seems to have accused him of murder.Shah said that he was ready to “face all action and not scared of being arrested”. “I have full faith in judiciary and just want to say that it’s a conspiracy by Congress and misuse of power by the Congress to come in power in Gujarat,” Shah asserted.He claimed that Sohrabuddin was a terrorist, who was involved in conspiracy against the nation. “Congress calls Sohrabuddin as a petty criminal but Gujarat Police has recovered 46 AK-47s, 100 hand grenades and 100,000 ammunition from the well in his house.”Gujarat’s former minister of state for home asked why staged shootouts only in Gujarat were being investigated. “There have been 1,700 encounters all over the country… and targeting only the encounters in Gujarat is a Congress conspiracy,” he claimed.He demanded that his submission before the CBI should be “videographed”. “When this matter comes before court, I am sure that none of the claims against me will stand,” Shah said.Shah submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday.
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TRS ahead as campaigning ends for by-polls in Telangana

Hyderabad, July 25 : Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) appears to be ahead of its rivals as campaigning came to an end Sunday for by-elections to 12 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region scheduled for Tuesday.Leaders and candidates of the three major parties conducted road shows and door to door campaign in a last minute bid to woo the voters. Stakes are high for TRS, the mass resignations of whose legislators on the demand for separate statehood to Telangana February this year, necessitated the by-elections. All 10 legislators of TRS and a candidate each of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had resigned. With Telangana as the core issue, the by-elections are a major test for TRS and Telangana sentiment, especially when Srikrishna Committee - formed by the central government to look into the demands for and against Telangana state - is in the final phase of consultations. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao and party MP Vijayashanti addressed a series of election meetings on the last day of the poll campaign. Some ministers campaigned for ruling Congress while local leaders of TDP canvassed for the party candidates. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, both of whom come from outside Telangana, choose not to campaign making it a low-profile electoral battle for their respective parties. Taking advantage of this, the TRS chief mounted spirited attacks on Congress and TDP, labelling them anti-Telangana. A new alliance also emerged in the by-polls with TRS supporting BJP candidate in one constituency while BJP is backing TRS in 11 constituencies. For the ruling party this is the first election after the death of its popular leader Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The party is clearly feeling the absence of the strong leader to counter TRS and TDP. After suffering the defeat last year, state Congress chief D. Srinivas is again trying his luck from Nizamabad Urban. The party has again fielded former ministers Mohammed Ali Shabbir and G. Vinod from Yellareddy and Chennur constituencies respectively. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's son K. Tarakarama Rao is again contesting from Sircilla and is confident of improving his margin. He had scraped through by a slender margin of 171 votes in the last elections. The other key TRS candidates include T. Harish Rao (Siddpet) and E. Rajender (Huzurabad).
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Poll panel notices to TRS chief, Andhra minister

New Delhi, July 25 : The Election Commission Sunday issued notices to Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh IT minister Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy for violating the model code of conduct.According to the poll panel, the model code of conduct came into existence after it announced by-elections to 10 state assembly seats June 21 and two more seats July 1, after which government officials and candidates cannot make poll promises to the people. The by-election will be held July 27 and counting of votes will take place Aug 3. The Commission said it had received a video of Reddy, who is also sports and youth services minister, promising that he will tackle all problems related to roads and irrigation at an election campaign July 21 in Kunchavalli village of Sirpur constituency. He also promised that all these projects will be completed within a year. "The commission is of the opinion that by making these promises you have violated the model code of conduct," a statement issued here said. The panel asked the minister to explain by July 26 why action should not be taken against him. "If no reply is received within the prescribed time limit, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say and the commission will proceed to take appropriate action without making any further reference to you," it added. Notice was also issued to TRS president for making derogatory remarks against state Home Minister Sabitha Indira Reddy and also telling voters to take money and liquor from Congress and other parties, but not to vote for them. The panel said this not only violated the model code of conduct but also meant abetting corrupt practices and amounts to an electoral offence. The TRS chief has been asked to explain his stand by July 26.
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Take action on illegal mines: Chiranjeevi

Tirupati, Jul 24 : Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) President K Chiranjeevi today demanded the Andhra Pradesh government to take action on illegal mining in the state.Talking to mediapersons, Mr Chiranjeevi, who arrived here on a two-day visit to the temple town to participate in various programmes, welcomed Chief Minister K Rosaiah's initiative for taking action against multi-crore Bayyaram mining in Khammam district.The government should also take action on such illegal mines in the state to protect national resources, the Tirupati legislator said.Referring to the Babli project, Mr Chiranjeevi said all political parties in the state should fight unitedly against the construction of Babli project and 13 other projects across river Godavari by Maharashtra Government. The problem could be solved only through political resolution, he opined.He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should intervene and halt the construction of Babli project by Maharashtra immediately and find a lasting solution to inter-state water disputes.Later, the PRP chief laid the foundation stone for Rs 1.81 crore women's hostel at the premises of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswavidyalayam (SPMVV).
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Walkout exposes TDP's Publicity stunt: Govt Whip

Hyderabad, Jul 24 : Andhra Pradesh Government Whip Dr Shailajanath alleged that walkout from the all-party meet called by Chief Minister K Rosaiah yesterday by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) citing the number of persons permitted was proof that the party was not sincere towards the Babli issue, and that it was only interested in publicity.Claiming that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu was interested in generating publicity at the cost of the interests of the state, Shailajanath said the TDP chief had a moral responsibility to attend the all-party meeting since it was he who had forced the meeting in the first place.Demanding TDP president to explain his absence from the all-party meeting, Shailajanath alleged that Naidu was under pressure from his own party members to abstain from the meeting despite creating an image of spearheading the protests against the illegal constructions as part of the Babli project.Talking to mediapersons here, Shailajanath accused Naidu of 'habitually' skipping important meetings. He advised the TDP cadre not to follow this 'bad habit.' The Government Whip said the TDP president sent four of his party leaders but did not attend himself. ''Only one person from each political party was permitted to attend the meeting,'' he added.
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Andhra Pradesh student alleges sexual assault by school principal

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Two TDP leaders hacked to death

Hyderabad, July 24 : Two leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who were brothers, were hacked to death by unidentified assailants in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district in a case of fational killings, police said Saturday.Vishwanath Reddy and Maheshwar Reddy, both brothers and local leaders of the TDP, were murdered late Friday in Nakkaladinne in Kadapa. A woman was also injured in the attack. Some unidentified people, who came in a car, barged into the house of the two brothers after midnight and attacked them with sickles and other sharp-edged weapons, an official said. Police suspect it to be case of factional killings. Eight people of a rival faction have been booked and searches are on to find them, the official said. Kadapa is a part of Rayalaseema region, notorious for factional killings. The factions fighting for domination in villages kill their rivals mercilessly. The factions are supported either by the Congress or by TDP.
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State govt used force to crush democratic rights:Naidu

Hyderabad, Jul 23 : Telugu Desam Party(TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today alleged that the ruling Congress government was using force to crush people's democratic rights and suppress the opposition's voice. Addressing newspersons at the Osmania General Hospital where some of his party workers were undergoing treatment for injuries suffered during the lathicharge at the Andhra-Maharashtra border on Babli issue on July 20, he lambasted the Rosaiah government for trying to suppress the people of the state while adopting a 'soft' approach towards the Maharashtra government. Describing the lathicharge as 'illegal and inhuman', he alleged that police had deliberately used force on TDP workers on the instructions of the Congress government.He said his party had been fighting for the welfare of the people for the last 18 years. He enquired about the health of Karimnagar corporator O Ramesh, corporator and town president Ashok, ST Cell President G Sudhakar, BC cell President Raj Kumar and Vice President K Krishna, who were admitted to hospital after being injured in the lathicharge. The TDP leaders were protesting against the treatment meted out to Mr Naidu and his team members by Maharashtra police while shifting them from Dharmabad ITI to Aurangabad.Mr Naidu also visited the Apollo Hospital at Jubilee Hills where he inquired about the health of former MP Ramakrishna Reddy. He was accompanied by TDP leaders Nagam Janardhan Reddy, Muzzafar Ali Khan and others.
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EC expresses displeasure on KCR's remarks

Hyderabad, Jul 23 : The Election Commission today expressed displeasure to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhara Rao on his provocative statements during his election campaign for the July 27 bypoll in 12 constituencies in the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.''It was not satisfied with his explanation regarding these statements and is of the considered view that he as a responsible political leader, should not have made such statements in public, which can aggravate the existing differences between different sections of the society, during the period when by-elections to 12 Assembly Constituencies in Andhra pradesh Legislative Assembly are under way,'' it said.The Election Commission advised him to be more cautious in future so that no provision of Model Code of conduct was violated in letter and spirit, according to a Election Commission statement.
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Rape accused school director sent to jail

Hyderabad, July 23 : A city court Friday sent the director an international school to judicial custody for 14 days on charges of raping a Class 11 student as another girl student filed a police complaint accusing him of sexually exploiting her.Salahuddin Ayub, director of Parkwood International School, was produced before a magistrate at Nampally Criminal Court complex, who remanded him in judicial custody till Aug 5. Earlier, police sent the accused to Osmania General Hospital, where his blood samples were collected for scientific tests. Ayub told reporters at the hospital that he is innocent. "I will speak out at appropriate time," he said. Even as Ayub denied the allegations, another student has lodged a complaint with the police that the principal had tried to sexually exploit her. Sleuths of the Central Crime Station (CCS) continued investigations into the complaint by a student from Mumbai that Ayub raped her repeatedly during the past few months. The family lodged a complaint after she became pregnant. The girl complained that the director lured her to his penthouse on the premises of the residential school on March 10 and raped her after offering her a soft drink laced with some drug. She alleged that he again raped her a few days later by threatening her with a revolver and also blackmailed her by taking her nude pictures on his mobile phone. For the second day, student bodies and parents staged protests outside the school at Manneguda in Vikarabad, about 50 km from here. They demanded that that the Central Board of Secondary Education derecognize the school. Students gathered in large numbers and staged road blockade on Vikarabad-Pargi road. Tension prevailed at the school as parents of many students demanded transfer certificates of their wards. They also wanted their fees to be paid back. Meanwhile, school principal and director Ayesha Tanveer told reporters that the school would re-open July 27. She urged the government to ensure that the school functions in a smooth manner. She defended Ayub saying he is innocent. "The court will decide whether he is guilty or not," she added.
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Andhra to seek PM's intervention on dam row with Maharashtra

Hyderabad, July 23 : All political parties of Andhra Pradesh Friday unanimously decided to seek Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to stop the "illegal" construction of the Babhali dam by Maharashtra across the Godavari river.An all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah resolved to submit a memorandum to the prime minister July 26, urging him to protect the interests of lower-riparian states, especially of Andhra Pradesh. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshamaiah said the meeting decided to bring to the notice of the prime minister that the project being built by Maharashtra in violation of river water sharing agreements would prove detrimental to the interests of Andhra Pradesh. He said the prime minister would be urged to suggest a permanent solution to the problem and to ensure that upper-riparian states do not resort to steps which prove detrimental to the interests of lower-riparian states. The meeting was called to evolve a consensus before the all-party delegation visits Delhi to meet the prime minister. The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) did not participate in the meeting protesting the decision of the government to allow only one representative from each party. Its leaders came out after submitting a memorandum to the chief minister. TDP demanded that Maharashtra should stop the construction of the Babhali dam and 13 other projects being illegally built by it across Godavari. Leaders of the Congress, the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Lok Satta attended the meeting. The meeting also passed a resolution condemning the Maharashtra Police's ill-treatment to TDP leaders who had gone to visit Babhali last week. The meeting, however, felt that as a large number of Telugus reside in Maharashtra, there was a need to ensure that the problems were sorted out in an amicable way. The row over Babhali had created tension last week when Maharashtra Police arrested TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and 74 other party leaders while proceeding towards the dam. They were kept in judicial custody for two week before being forcibly sent back to Hyderabad by a chartered flight. To counter the TDP's move, the Shiv Sena Thursday took out a march towards the Salura project across the Manjira river in Andhra Pradesh but were prevented by Maharashtra Police from crossing the river. The Shiv Sena says the project has come up on Maharashtra's territory.
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Satyam scam: Examination of Raju, others adjourned to July 26

Hyderabad, July 23 : A local court on Friday adjourned the case of examination of former Chairman of Satyam Computers B Ramalinga Raju through a questionnaire and nine other accused in the multi-crore financial scam to July 26.The XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court also dismissed the application of Ch Srisailam to hear the accused before examination and framing of charges.Magistrate BVLN Chakravarti, in his orders said the application is devoid of any merits and liable to be dismissed.The court wants to examine all the accused with regard to the allegations mentioned against them by the CBI in two separate chargesheets before commencing the trial.Apart from Raju, other accused include -- Ramaraju, V Srinivas, Gopalakrishnan, T Srinivas, B Suryanarayana Raju, G Ramakrishna, D Venkatapathi Raju, Srisailam Chetkuru and VSP Gupta.The Andhra Pradesh High Court had on January 18 dismissed a revision petition of Raju and two others, challenging a lower court''s order remanding them to police custody. Raju, who resigned as chairman of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. has been charged for his role in a Rs 7,100 crore financial scam.
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Rain in AP

Hyderabad, Jul 23 : Rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of the state,Sirpur (Adilabad district) recorded a heavy rainfall of 7 cm, Met department said today.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Mudhol (Adilabad district) 6, Palasa (Srikakulam district) 5, Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram district) 4, Ichapuram, Mandasa and Ranasthalam (all Srikakulam district) 3 each, Araku Valley (Visakhapatnam district), Mahabubabad (Warangal district) and Yellandu (Khammam district) 2 each and Achampet, Kalwakurthy and Nagarkurnool (all Mahabubnagar district), Dummagudem (Khammam district), Metpalli (Karimnagar district), Narayanakhed (Medak district), Narsampet (Warangal district), Navipet (Nizamabad district), Nirmal (Adilabad district), Paleru Bridge (Krishna district), Pulivendala (Cuddapah district) and Tanuku (West Godavari district) one each.Light to moderate rain/thundershowers may occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Rayalaseema.Sky condition would be generally cloudy. One or two spells of rain/thundershowers may occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 31 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.
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Rolls-Royce Ghost debuts in AP

Hyderabad, July 22 : Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (Headquarters: Goodwood, West Sussex, United Kingdompreviewed its new four-door super-luxury saloon, Ghost, for the first time at the Hyderabad International Auto Show 2010 on Thursday.The car was unveiled by the show's Chief Guest, K. Rosaiah, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Sharad Kachalia, Director of Marketing, Navnit Motors Pvt. Ltd, the authorised Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealership for Mumbai at the Rolls-Royce exhibition stand (A29).Ghost is smaller and more dynamic than previous models but is instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce.Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Regional Director Paul Harris said: "Over the first half of this year, we saw unprecedented demand for our cars in India with both Ghost and Phantom helping to drive strong sales growth in the Asia Pacific region. India will be a significant market for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the years to come. Ghost is a unique car in its segment that blends informality, refinement and dynamism for everyday use. " Ghost is the first in a new Rolls-Royce model series, which is separate from the Phantom family that comprises Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase (four door saloons), Phantom Drophead Coupe (convertible) and Phantom Coupe (fixed roof).
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Minor raped: School Principal in custody

Hyderabad, Jul 22 : Police have taken into custody Principal of a corporate school in adjoining Ranga Reddy District for allegedly outraging the modesty of a IX class student for more than one year at gun point, Salahuddin Mohmmed Ayub, Principal of the Parkwood International School at Manneguda about 35 km from here, was taken into custody by the Central Crime Station police on a complaint filed by the parents of the girl last evening in the Jubilee Hills police station, where the principal resides.Police sources said the girl was bearing the sexual harassment as the principal threatened her at gun point. But the girl three days back told her parents residing in Delhi, about the ongoing sexual harassment by the principal at his Jubilee Hills residence where she was taken by him on the first occasion and raped.Since then, the principal has been using her photographs to continue the sexual harassment over a year.However, the school management denied the incident and claimed it that was a ploy of the girl to leave the school as she was ''not interested in studies.'' Irked by the indifferent response of the management against the principal, harassed parents today attacked the Parkwood International School's administrative block, damaging furniture. The school is part of a chain of corporate schools across Canada, Saudi Arabia and in Dubai.
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School principal held for raping student in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, July 22 : The principal of an international school here has been arrested on charges of raping a Class 11 student from Mumbai, police said Thursday. The victim had become pregnant.A case of rape and criminal intimidation has been booked against Salahuddin Ayub, principal of Parkwood International School at Manneguda near Vikarabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Station (CCS), J. Satyanarayana, investigations into the complaint were on. The CCS sleuths were questioning the principal and collecting scientific evidence to build the case against him, the official said. However, the school authorities denied the allegations against the principal and said they were aimed at defaming the school, which has branches in the Middle East. The parents of the girl from Mumbai alleged that she was repeatedly raped by the principal during the last one year. The principal had allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she said anything to anyone. The girl's family complained after she reportedly became pregnant. Investigating officials visited the school and the principal's house and other places where the girl was sexually exploited. A group of local people and parents of some students staged a protest outside the school demanding stern action against the principal. Women's organisations have also demanded punishment to the guilty. However, the school authorities have denied the allegations against the principal and said they were aimed at defaming the school, which has branches in the Middle East.
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Vizag Steel new Iron Ore Storage yard to meet contingencies

Visakhapatnam Jul 22 : The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the flagship company of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) CMD Mr P K Bishnoi, inaugurated the 'Structural Erection Work' for a new Iron Ore Storage Yard with a capacity of 6 lakh tonnes.The new storage yard will facilitate storing the additional iron ore to meet the contingencies, if arise due to disruption of any delivery to VSP. In a release here yesterday, Mr Bishnoi said, the yard would have the state of the art technology for stacking, reclaiming and conveying the raw materials to blast furnaces. The work is scheduled to be completed progressively by January, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs 418 crore, he added The work involves about 12 lakh cum of earth work, 65,000 cum of concrete, 9300 tonnes of structures, 10 km of conveyors and 3.4 km of additional railway tracks, Mr Bishnoi said.Mr Bishnoi complimented the project collective for completing the major earth work, piling work and commencing the structural work on schedule. Mr AP Choudhary, Director (Projects) mentioned that the project would be completed within stipulated contract period and approved cost.Mr Umesh Chandra, Director (Operations), K Vidyasagar, CVO and other senior officials of VSP and the consulting firm M/s Dastur & Co were also present on the occasion.
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Nanded-Bangalore and Hubli-Bangalore Hampi express delinked for today

Hyderabad, Jul 22 : As announced in the Railway Budget 2010, the Nanded-Bangalore Hampi Link Express and Hubli-Bangalore Hampi Express which used to run as combined trains have been delinked with effect from today, the South Central Railways (SCR) announced.Accordingly, Train No 6593/6594 Nanded-Bangalore-Nanded Express and Train No 6591/6592 Hubli-Bangalore-Hampi Express will now run as independent trains with effect from today, the release said.Train No 6593 Nanded-Bangalore Express will depart Nanded at 0600 hrs and arrive Bangalore at 0610 hrs tomorrow. Enroute the train will stop at all the existing stoppages. However, the timings at some stoppages are revised as mentioned. The train will depart Raichur at 1905 hrs, Mantralayam road at 1945 hrs, Kosgi at 1958 hrs, Kupgal at 2010 hrs, Adoni at 2025 hrs, arrive/depart Guntakal at 2115/2120 hrs, depart Gooty at 2145 hrs, Anantapur at 2310 hrs, arrive/depart Dharmavaram 0035/0045 hrs, depart Penukonda at 0125 hrs, Hindupur at 0200 hrs, Gauribidanur at 0230 hrs, Dodballapur at 0320 hrs, arrive/depart Yelhanka at 0358/0400 hrs, Yeswantpur at 0525/0530 hrs and depart Malleshwaram at 0540 hrs. In the opposite direction, Train No 6594 Bangalore-Nanded Express will depart Bangalore at 2300 hrs (Revised timings) and arrive Nanded at 2155 hrs the next day, as at present. Enroute the train will stop at all the existing stoppages. However, the timings at some stoppages are revised as mentioned. The train will depart Malleswaram at 2307 hrs, Yeswantpur at 2315 hrs, arrive/depart Yelhanka 2333/2335 hrs, depart Dodballapur at 2357 hrs, Gauribidanur at 0040 hrs, Hindupur at 0105 hrs, Penukonda at 0140 hrs, arrive/depart Dharmavaram at 0310/0315 hrs, depart Anantapur at 0400 hrs, Gooty at 0510 hrs, and arrive/depart Guntakal at 0535/0545 hrs. The revised composition of the train will comprise of one AC 3 Tier, seven Sleeper Class, six General Second Class, two Second Class Luggage cum Brake Van coaches totaling to sixteen, the release added.
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SCR starts special train between Dadar and Nagapatnam

Hyderabad, Jul 22 : A Special train between Dadar-Nagapatnam will be run on July 27 and July 29, the South Central Railway(SCR) has said.Accordingly, train no 0171 Dadar-Nagapatnam Express would depart Dadar at 1045 hrs on July 27 and arrive Nagapatnam at 2345 hrs the next day.Enroute it will arrive/depart Wadi at 2345/2355 hrs, Raichur at 0125/0127 hrs, Mantralyam Road at 0200/0202 hrs, Adoni at 0239/0241 hrs, Guntakal at 0415/0420 hrs, Gooty at 0450/0552 hrs, Tadipatri at 0535/0537 hrs, Kondapuaram at 0615/0617 hrs, Yerraguntla at 0652/0654 hrs, Cuddaph at 0740/0745 hrs, Razampet at 0845/0847 hrs and Renigunta at 1040/1050 hrs.In the return direction, train no 0172 Nagapatnam-Dadar Express will depart Nagapatnam at 2100 hrs on July 29 and arrive Dadar at 1125 hrs, the next day.Enroute it will arrive/depart Renigunta at 0950/1000 hrs, Razampet at 1100/1108 hrs, Cuddaph at 1205/1210 hrs, Yerraguntla at 1240/1242 hrs, Kondapuaram at 1330/1332 hrs, Tadiapatri at 1356/1358, Gooty at 1525/1527, Guntakal at 1555/1600 hrs, Adoni at 1640/1642 hrs, Mantralaym Road at 1715/1717 hrs, Raichur at 1800/1805 hrs and Wadi at 2040/2045 hrs, the release added.
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Final report by Dec 31 : Sri Krishna Committee

Visakhapatnam, Jul 21 : Panel members of Sri Krishna Committee, appointed by the Centre to look into the Telangana issue, today said the drafting committee report will start from September 15 and hopes to present the final report by December 31, 2010.Speaking to mediapersons at the airport here Member Secretary of the Sri Krishna Committee V K Duggal said, ''We will visit two villages in the three districts of North Andhra and record the people’s living standard at various places. Our Research Committee is also visiting several places to record the living standards of the local people.'' He said the Committee team will visit North Andhra region in a couple of two days. The Committee members arrived from New Delhi in this port city this afternoon. Members Dr Ranbir Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the National Law University, Delhi, Dr (Ms) Ravinder Kaur, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, Dr Abusaleh Shariff, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Delhi, consultants Amit Mehta, Dr Rajiv Sharma, Nodal officer( Director General of Centre for Good Governance ) are accompanying Justice Sri Krishna.
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TDP chief protests over Babhli dam project issue

Hyderabad, July 21 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu led a highly charged demonstration here on Wednesday to protest the alleged illegal construction of the Babhli dam on River Godavari.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, meanwhile, said the State Government is working to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in a democratic manner, and in accordance with the provisions of Constitution."As per our system of two tier of State and Central levels, we have approached the Supreme Court. So don't presume the government has not addressed the issue," said Rosaiah.He appealed to the TDP leaders and supporters not to cause damage to public properties in the State during their protest."The Supreme Court has given us (Andhra Pradesh) the favourable directive as such. When the matter is before the Supreme Court, why make a ruckus? Even the Prime Minister has been apprised of this fact," said Rosaiah.Earlier today, Naidu received a rousing welcome by his supporters on his return to Hyderabad.Naidu and other legislators of the party were released after being detained in Dharmabad, situated on the border area of Maharashtra.The Maharashtra police on Friday arrested Naidu along with 75 other politicians, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers for violating prohibitory orders.They were taken into preventive custody as they tried to visit the Babli Dam in Maharashtra to find out whether that state is grabbing more than its share of water from the River Godavari. Naidu claimed he was there only to inspect the contentious Babhali Barrage project and to fight for Andhra Pradesh''s fair share of water. Several educational institutions, cinema halls, petrol-filling stations and markets are likely to remain closed today.Amidst concerns over the controversial project, TDP leaders want to see the Babli project ahead of their July 23 meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh is expected to meet Dr. Singh this Friday.
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Andhra Pradesh Congress condemns TDP yatra to Babli

Hyderabad, Jul 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today led Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh in condemning the ''political trip'' to the site of the controversial Babli Irrigation Project in Maharashtra by former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and his team.While Mr Rosaiah spoke against the trip at the state secretariat, his fellow Congress stalwarts chose separate locations to voice their disapproval of the entire 5-day episode in which Naidu and his team were arrested and then 'deported' to Hyderabad.Talking to mediapersons separately, senior Congress leaders Ponguleti Sudhakar, Bhatti Vikramarka, Palludagu Venkat Rao and Tulsi Reddy said Mr Naidu's visit, deportation and this morning's protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the assembly premises was a drama.They virtually scoffed at the TDP chief's protest over the Babli issue, saying that it was like the pot calling the kettle black. The Congress leaders sought to turn the tables on Mr Naidu by saying that it was he who was negligent on the Babli project since he was at the helm of administration in Andhra Pradesh at the time the Maharashtra government began construction of the project across river Godavari. Decrying Mr Naidu's 'attempts to gain sympathy' by claiming that women legislators were manhandled by the Maharashtra police, they sought to remind Mr Naidu that his administration had used mounted police against women protestors.Stating that his talk of 'Telugu atmagauravam' was meaningless, they alleged that he (Mr Naidu) had held Telugu legislators hostage in a city hotel during August 2005 rebellion against the then Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, founder of TDP.
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Schoolchildren to combat climate change

Hyderabad, July 21 : What started as a simple awareness programme on global warming and climate change for students has today turned them into Young Climate Savers who have geared up to tackle the impacts of climate change in cities across India.The Young Climate Savers, a joint initiative between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India and Tetra Pak India, is a school based climate change and lifestyle education programme based on education for sustainable development and people's participation.The programme launched in 2007 has targeted more than 50,000 students across 10 cities in India and the programme, has been instrumental in raising awareness about the ill effects of climate change. Students across these cities pledged to take up the cudgel to combat climate change. Rachna, student of Rosary Convent School in Hyderabad said: "As Young Climate Savers, we took a pledge to arrest Global Warming by switching off our school lights and other electrical appliances when not in use and help conserve electricity". Sister Ann Imelda of Carmel School in Kolkata felt that the "Young Climate Savers programme has immense importance and played a major role in disseminating knowledge about Climate Change to the future generations of our society".The first phase of the initiative dealt with creating awareness on history, science and adverse impact of climate change while the second phase was more hands on with students taking up small projects within the school premises. Some of the key achievements of the schools , include students of Blue Bells School in New Delhi, who designed and conceptualized a unique project where water left over in the water bottle at the end of the day would be collected in a tank placed near the exit gate of the school. This collected water would then be utilized to water the garden.Sri Sikshayatan School students' in Kolkata showed a decrease of 50pc energy usage in their school electricity bill through their energy conservation project in the school.Students of Abhyasa Residential School located on the outskirts of Hyderabad made newspaper bags and distributed them to hawkers and grocers in the villages surrounding their schools.The second phase also saw student leaders emerge as peer educators and spread the message to their peers in and around their schools.The programme in its third phase will see the Peer Educators come together as a Young Climate Savers Task Force in the cities of New Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. This task force of students from at least 12 schools each across these cities will work on a city level problem and collectively work towards finding a long term sustainable solution. Madhur Das, Director, Conservation Alliances, WWF-India, said, "This is seen to be the first of its kind of student level initiative to be taken up in the country and is expected to impact directly and indirectly more than 1,00,000 citizens across the country".The recommendations and solutions from these initiatives carried out across India will be handed over to the respective city civic authorities for further action.
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Telugu Film On YSR To Release On August 15

Hyderabad,July 21, Sai Universal Films banner is making a Telugu feature film based on the life of ex-Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, which will be released on August 15, 2010. The work of the film is progressing in fast pace and is supposed to be released on the scheduled date.Giri Reddy is directing and producing the movie, which is titled Bhageerathudu. Veteran actor Vinod Kumar will be seen in the lead role opposite Yamuna.The YSR film's script is written by Giri Reddy, which is based on the late chief minister's life.According to the director, the film is an elaboration of the younger days of YSR. The life of YSR in college, then his entry in politics and the subsequent success stories will be portrayed in the movie. It will also highlight how Reddy managed to retain the seat of the chief minister for the second term.The movie is in its post-production stage now. A lot of research has been done for writing the script of the movie, sources informed.
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CPM demands Center's intervention in Babli controversy

Vijayawada, Jul 21 : Condemning the excessive behaviour on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) delegation led be former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu by the police in Maharashtra, CPI(M) State Committee member Y Venkateswara Rao today demanded the Centre's intervention in the controversial issue of the Babli project.Addressing a press conference here, Mr Rao said the Centre should resolve the tussle between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra over the construction of major irrigation project 'Babli', across river Godavari in Maharashtra.Describing the 'highhanded' and 'rude' behaviour of the police on the TDP delegation as 'inhuman', he said the refusal of permission to the TDP delegation to inspect the Babli project, was clearly reflecting that the project was being constructed illegally.He made it clear that the CPM would join all party delegation which was going to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the construction of Babli project and its repercussions on July 26.The CPM leader deplored that though the academic year had begun, several problems were being faced by the students, including non-availability of text books to the high school students and hike in hostel mess charges.Mr Rao said CPM State Secretary B V Raghavulu had written a letter to Chief Minister urging him to fill up vacant teacher posts, reduce hike in hostel mess charges and to stop removal of education volunteers. The CPM leader flanked by City Secretary R Raghu, released a wall poster for the publicity for the 4-day All India Convention of the CPM, to be held here from August 7 to 10, which would be attended by Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.
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Margood Hussain is new DRM for SCR

Hyderabad, Jul 21 : Margoob Hussain took over charge as the Divisional Railway Manager(DRM), Hyderabad Division of Sourth Central Railway (SCR) today, He has worked in various capacities in Indian Railways and has 28 years of rich and varied experience in the field of Electrical Engineering in Research, Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO ), Lucknow.He also worked in Kolkatta Metro in planning, design, control and execution of Electrical construction projects of Delhi, Metro Rail.Mr Hussain has also worked as Chief Personnel Officer, Kolkatta, Metro Rail and also worked as Senior Divisional Engineer in Eastern Railway. As DRM of Hyderabad Division he will head the functioning of Hyderabad Division including train operations, maintenance of assets, infrastructure, safety and punctuality of the trains, upkeep of assets and infrastructures, office buildings located at Hyderabad and in the section, according to a SCR release.
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Charges dropped, Naidu arrives in Hyderabad

Hyderabad/Aurangabad, July 20: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues returned to Hyderabad Tuesday night to a warm welcome by hundreds of supporters after the Maharashtra government dropped charges against him for attempting to visit a dam under construction in the state.The leaders arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad on the city's outskirts in a chartered Air India aircraft from Aurangabad. Flashing the victory sign, Naidu stood in an open-top vehicle and waved to his supporters who had gathered in large numbers. Raising slogans of "Long live Naidu" and denouncing the Maharashtra government, TDP activists brought the former chief minister and other leaders to the city in a procession. Earlier Tuesday evening, there was high drama at the Aurangabad airport as Maharashtra police forcibly put Naidu and other TDP leaders on the 116-seater Airbus A-319 chartered aircraft. Most of Naidu's supporters stopped the aircraft by lying flat in front of it. Naidu also took a long time to board the aircraft," said an airport source in Aurangabad. "The policemen had to literally go to each of Naidu's supporters, physically lift him and urge him to board the airport," the source said. Official sources in Mumbai said the dropping of charges was prompted by state-wide protests against Naidu and the TDP's anti-Babli dam agitation. The TDP leaders, including Naidu, were arrested Friday when they entered Dharmabad town, around eight kilometres from the Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border in Nanded district, to protest against the Babli dam on Godavari river. They alleged that Maharashtra was building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its due share of Godavari waters. Earlier Tuesday, Naidu and his supporters were moved from Dharmabad in Maharashtra's Nanded district to the Aurangabad Central Jail. They were remanded to judicial custody till July 26 but all charges against them were dropped by evening. Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari, his son Lokesh and senior party leaders greeted Naidu and his colleagues at the Hyderabad airport. Police had a tough time controlling TDP workers who barged into the airport premises carrying party flags. The TDP leaders drove directly to a private hospital in Banjara Hills where those who were injured in caning by Maharashtra Police at Dharmabad in Nanded district Tuesday morning, will be treated. Some women legislators told reporters that they were ill-treated by the police during their detention at ITI Dharmabad since Friday. "I thought we will never return alive," said A. Madhava Reddy. Another legislator said they were put to untold hardships and were mercilessly beaten up by the police.
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Chandrababu and legislators return to Hyderabad sans Babli visit

Hyderabad, Jul 20 : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu along with the 74 TDP-Lok Satta party delegation reached Hyderabad tonight on a Special Charted flight from Aurangabad after Maharashtra police foiled their bus trip to the controversail Babli project.The TDP group which was reportedly hustled in to vans at Dharmabad about 500 kms from here were driven another 350 kms to Aurangabad where they were put in to luxury buses and were persuaded by the top Maharashtra police officials to take the Special Charted flight to Hyderabad.The TDP delegation reached Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at about 2300 hours which large number of party activists receiving them at Shamshabad.Mr Naidu then went in a rally in an open jeep to a Corporate Hospital about 22 kms from Shamshabad where he underwent a medical check.Mr Naidu along with other TDP members announced tonight that they would sit in dharna infront of the Gandhi statue at state assembly tomorrow.
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Judicial custody of Naidu, others extended

Nanded/Hyderabad, July 19 : A court in Maharashtra's Nanded district Monday extended the judicial custody of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu and 74 other party leaders.However, the duration of extension is still not known. The leaders again rejected the Dharmabad magistrate's suggestion to take bail and return to Andhra Pradesh. The magistrate called the leaders at Dharmabad ITI as their two-day judicial custody came to an end. All the leaders are likely to be shifted to Aurangabad Jail later. Naidu told the magistrate that they were illegally arrested by Maharashtra Police in Andhra Pradesh territory. According to TDP leaders, their party chief said they were not terrorists and had not committed any crime. He made it clear that they would not return without visiting the Babli project being built by Maharashtra across the Godavari River. Meanwhile, the condition of at least five TDP leaders deteriorated during the day-long hunger strike, demanding that the Maharashtra government allow them to visit the Babli dam. The condition of Abdul Gani, legislator from Hindupur, is stated to be serious and he had to administered saline. Naidu and his supporters, including MPs and legislators, were arrested Friday when they tried to proceed towards the dam. They alleged that Maharashtra is building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its due share of Godavari waters. The magistrate Saturday sent the TDP leaders to judicial custody after they refused to seek bail. The leaders, who spent the third night in Dharmabad ITI, have vowed not to return without visiting the Babli project. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has rejected their demand, saying this would create law and order problems.
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TDP AP bandh sees mixed response

Hyderabad, July 19 : The Monday shutdown called by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh over the arrest of their chief N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 legislators saw mixed response with daily life in parts of the state coming to a standstill.Even though some areas, particularly the IT district of Cyberabad, saw usual traffic and a regular pace of life, many schools, colleges and businesses alike remained primarily closed across Hyderabad and other 22 districtsTransport services were reportedly hit as the State-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended bus services partially due to sit-outs by TDP activists outside the depots in Hyderabad and other places.There have also been reports of TDP activists being arrested over forceful closure of shops and staging of road blockades in a number of districts.The strike was called as 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.Naidu, who's two-day judicial custody ends on Monday, said he went only to inspect the Babhali Barrage project and to fight for Andhra's fair share of water.
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TDP strike in Andhra Pradesh evokes partial response

Hyderabad, July 19 : Normal life was affected in parts of Andhra Pradesh Monday due to a shutdown called by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to protest the arrest of its chief N.Chandrababu Naidu in Maharashtra.The strike evoked mixed response in the state capital and 22 other districts. State-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) had to partially suspend bus services here and other towns following protests by TDP activists. Educational institutions, shops and business establishments were closed in parts of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Tirupati and Guntur. Dozens of TDP activists were arrested for staging road blockades and for forcing closure of shops in different districts. TDP workers staged a sit-in outside the APSRTC depots in Hyderabad and elsewhere to stop buses from plying. The shutdown, however, had little impact in some areas as normal traffic was on the roads while markets also opened. The firms in IT district Cyberabad too were working as usual. Naidu and 74 other TDP leaders, who are in judicial custody in Dharmabad of Maharashtra's Nanded district, launched a day-long hunger strike, demanding that the Maharashtra government allow them to visit the Babli dam across Godavari River. Naidu and his supporters, including MPs and legislators, were arrested Friday when they tried to proceed towards the dam. They alleged that Maharashtra is building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its due share of Godavari waters. A magistrate in Dharmabad Saturday sent the TDP leaders to judicial custody after they refused to seek bail. The leaders, who spent the third night in Dharmabad ITI, have vowed not to return without visiting the Babli project. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has rejected their demand, saying this would create law and order problems. Tensions, meanwhile, continued to prevail along the Andhra-Maharashtra border. The TDP plans to take out a march from Adilabad district towards Dharmabad to protest the arrests and continued detention of its leaders.
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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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Naidu, colleagues refuse to take bail

Nanded/Hyderabad, July 17 : Tension prevailed in Dharmabad town of Nanded district in Maharashtra as a group staged a protest against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues, who remained in police custody for the second day Saturday and refused to take bail.A large number of policemen were deployed at Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (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. Additional forces were mobilized at the ITI amid reports that police were planning to shift TDP leaders to Nanded jail. The TDP leaders, however, resisted the attempts to shift them. 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. Naidu and others, who were arrested Friday for trying to enter Maharashtra despite ban orders, refused to take bail. The leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers were produced before a magistrate who visited the ITI. They, however, refused to seek bail and made it clear that they would not leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam. 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. Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government. 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 the Maharashtra 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. The party activists staged protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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Lok Satta condemns arrests by Maharashtra police

Hyderabad, Jul 17 : The Lok Satta Party today termed as 'reprehensible' the arrests of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Lok Satta, and other party leaders by the Maharashtra Police during the 'Babli Yatra', conducted by the TDP.Lok Satta Party General Secretary G Raja Reddy and Nizamabad Lok Satta District unit president M Rami Reddy were among the arrested.In a statement, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao said the arrest of leaders on a peaceful, fact-finding mission was ''unwarranted and unconstitutional''. It merely lends credence to the view that the Maharashtra Government would like to prevent its irregularities from coming to light, he claimed.The Lok Satta Party demanded that the Centre shed its complacency, intervene immediately and facilitate a political solution to inter-state water disputes, keeping national interests in mind.
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Shutdown in Maharashtra town against TDP agitation, Naidu may be released

Nanded (Maharashtra), July 17 : A shutdown was observed Saturday in Dharmabad town in Maharashtra' Nanded district to protest the agitation led by Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu against construction of the Babli Dam, which Andhra Pradesh fears will affect its water supply, an official said.Naidu and his supporters, who were arrested Friday, are likely to be released and escorted to the Maharashtra-Karnataka border Saturday. Naidu and his 75 supporters, including over three dozen legislators and parliamentarians were arrested after they violated prohibitory orders and entered the state to protest against the Babli Dam work on Godavari river in the district. They said that Maharashtra was grabbing more than its share of water. They spent the night in the government technical college. The official described the situation in Dharmabad as "peaceful and under control", with no report of any untoward incident. The small Babli Dam has been a bone of contention between the two states since five years when its construction began near Babli village on river Godavari. With a capacity of 2.75 thousand million cubic feet, there was an agitation in 2007 by some Andhra Pradesh politicians against the dam. Andhra Pradesh believes that the construction of Babli Dam would cut off water supply to the Pochampad Dam in Telangana region of the state, adding to the woes of the farmers and creating serious water problems.
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Pact to implement Services Project

Hyderabad, Jul 17 : An agreement has been signed between the government of Andhra Pradesh and the consortium led by Wipro-GE Healthcare Pvt Ltd consisting of Medall Healthcare Pvt Ltd for implementing the AP Advanced Radio-diagnostic Services project.The agreement was signed yesterday in the presence of Mr P Sudershan Reddy, Minister for Medical Education. Also present were Mr J Satyanarayana, Special Chief Secretary (HM and FW), Mr P V Ramesh, Secretary (Public Health), Mr LV Subrahmanyam, Principal Secretary (Finance), Dr Raviraj, Director of Medical Education and the Superintendents of the 4 General Hospitals participating in the project, besides the representatives of International Finance Corporation, the Lead Transection Advisor and Wipro-GE.The project envisages; Establishing state-of-the-art radio-diagnostic infrastructure, consisting of a 1.5 Tesla MRI, 16-slice CT Scan, Mammography and Colour Doppler at King Geroge Hospital, Vizag, and MGM Hospital, Warangal; 16-slice CT Scan, Mammography and Colour Doppler at Government General Hospital Kurnool and 1.5 Tesla MRI at Government General Hospital, Kakinada.They have been maintaining the infrastructure for a period of 7 years, supporting the respective hospitals in provision of the radio-diagnostic services to the patients and running para-medical courses in the area of radio-diagnostic services.The consortium led by Wipro-GE was selected by the Government after following an elaborate open competitive bidding process, in which 3 bidders participated actively. As a result of stiff competition, the prices quoted were significantly lower than the prevailing commercial market rates for similar services.The project will be sustained through service charges paid by the government to Wipro-GE on a per-transaction basis, an official release said here today.
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Naidu, TDP leaders remain in police custody

Hyderabad,July 17: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues, who were arrested for trying to enter Maharashtra to visit the disputed Babli project, continued to remain in police custody Saturday in Nanded district.The police will produce them before a magistrate but the leaders have decided not to seek bail. Seventy-five TDP leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers, spent Friday night at the Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and refused to leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam on the Godavari river. They alleged that Maharashtra was building the project ignoring the directions of the Supreme Court and the Central Water Commission. TDP leaders here said Naidu and others, including women, slept on mats in the ITI. The arrested leaders have not been provided basic facilities but they are determined to continue their protest. Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government. The TDP leaders were arrested on 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. Maharashtra had mobilised police force and imposed prohibitory orders around Babli to foil the march by the TDP leaders. The opposition party alleged that their leaders were arrested by the Maharashtra 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, TDP continued protests in different parts of the state against Naidu's arrest. The party has called for staging protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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