Arvind Kejriwal meets Telugu Desam Party President on Lokpal Bill

Hyderabad, Jul 2 : To garner support for the Jan Lokpal Bill, a Civil Society team led by its activist Arvind Kejriwal today met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu here.Mr Kejriwal, who met Mr Naidu at his residence also requested him to lend his party's support for mounting pressure on the Centre to bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal.He said it was an illusion that the Jan Lokpal would run parallel to the Judiciary and the government.The civil society activist also said in other countries the CBI and CEC functioned independently. But it was not so in India.He said Mr Naidu told him that there were some dangerous clauses in the bill and added the activists were meeting peoples' representatives as they will be instrumental in getting the bill passed in Parliament.The Civil Society team's visit to the city from New Delhi and meeting Mr Naidu assumed significance as the Centre had called for an all-party meet on Lokpal bill in New Delhi tomorrow.
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Andhra Pradesh youth give up traditional weaving work

Pochampally (Andhra Pradesh), July 2 : The traditional weaving work is slowly dying out in Pochampally, the biggest silk and cotton-weaving center in Andhra Pradesh, as the younger generation has given up the traditional work considering the lack of profit margins and government support.The increasing rates of silk yarns resulted in the hike in prices of silk sarees, but the traditional weavers failed to reap the profits. "My father is doing this weaving work since his childhood, but his earning is not sufficient to fulfill the needs of the family. So, I don''t want to take up his profession. But I am helping him these days by working with him part time after my college," said Bhaskar, the son of a weaver.The weavers here complain that despite working for the entire day, they manage to earn just hundred rupees in a day, which is too less for them."There is no profit left in this work. We work for entire day and earn just Rs. 120-130, which is problematic. I don''t want my children to take this profession in future. Day by day this traditional work is decreasing and soon it will vanish," said P Buchibabu, a traditional weaver."It is a difficult work with more labour and less profit. The government says that they are funding for it, but nothing has been given to us as yet," he added.Backing their children, some traditional weavers said that they couldn''t take up any other profession due to lack of knowledge. However, their children have many options, which would be more profitable for them.Pochampally is a hub of Ikkat fabrics, an ancient way of creating design by tying and dying. It has come a long way from an ordinary weaving village to a popular centre for cotton and silk tie and dye. Large numbers of weavers here are engaged in creating variety of Ikkat fabrics, which is a lengthy craftwork that requires fixing of the design and pattern before the warp and weft are coloured.
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Telangana Congress lawmakers firm on resignations

Hyderabad, July 2 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party Saturday began efforts to dissuade its parliament and state legislature members from the Telangana region from resigning Monday, but they ruled out going back on their decision unless the central government agrees to their demand for a separate Telangana state.According to party sources, state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana met ministers and MPs from the region and urged them to reconsider their decision. He said their move would only create a crisis and not help in solving the issue.Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy also held separate talks with ministers, including K. Jana Reddy, Sudershan Reddy and Basvaraj Saraiah, and urged them to act with restraint.The MPs, state ministers and legislators from the Telangana region Friday decided to submit their resignations Monday. The legislators of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Telangana also announced they too would quit the same day.Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao and Lok Sabha members G. Vivek and Ponnam Prabhakar ruled out going back on their decision.Stating that resignations alone will not help in achieving the goal of separate Telangana state, Keshava Rao told reporters that they will actively participate in the movement.He also found fault with party leader Gulam Nabi Azad's statement that consensus needed to be evolved over the issue. "The entire parliament is for Telangana. All the major parties have already supported the demand," Keshava Rao said, adding that consensus was evolved through consultations over last one-and-half years.He said that after considering all aspects, the central government Dec 9, 2009, announced that the process for formation of separate Telangana state would be initiated. He also criticised the then chief minister K. Rosaiah for not moving a resolution in the assembly in line with the central government's announcement.Keshava Rao termed as "unwarranted" Azad's statement that the Telangana issue is linked to other states and other regional parties have to be consulted. "I need not go to parties in Meghalaya to discuss Telangana issue," he remarked.Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Telangana Journalists' Forum, Keshava Rao said they decided to quit as a moral duty towards people and not to create a political or constitutional crisis.The Congress has 12 MPs and 50 members of assembly from the Telangana region.
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Pricol Travel plans two acquisitions

Hyderabad, June 27 : Pricol Travel, part of the Coimbatore-based Rs.1,500-crore Pricol Group, is looking at acquiring two companies and hopes for a three-fold increase in its turnover.Vikram Mohan, Director, Pricol Travel, told reporters here Monday that the company planned to acquire two firms in corporate and leisure travel over the next 24 months. The acquisitions are expected to be of the value of Rs.150 crore.The travel management company is already in talks and hopes to complete one acquisition by the end of the current financial year.Pricol expects Rs.120 crore revenues during the current year but with the acquisition it is likely to cross Rs.200 crore. The revenues in the third financial year will be Rs.350 crore, he said.The company, which is focused only in south India, plans to expand its operations to the north with the two acquisitions.It already has a boutique leisure resort in western Ghats close to Coimbatore and three other properties are under construction. "We will add eight new properties in five years under the Tamara brand in the form of boutique hotels, wilderness lodges, and luxury villas," Mohan said.With plans to enter cruise-cum-leisure segment in a big way, Pricol announced launch of CruiseBay lounge in Hyderabad. CruiseBay, which claims to be India's first cruises-only holiday company, will open the lounge at Pricol's office.Nikhil Thakurdas, CruiseBay director, said the lounge, the sixth such in India, would sell cruises for 28 cruise liners across the world. The firm already has sent over 500 passengers on cruise holiday from five cities.He feels cruising has a huge potential in India. The market is growing at 15 percent per year.Out of 12 million outbound travellers in 2010, only 75,000 went on a cruise holiday.He attributed this small number to misconceptions among Indian travelers about cruising as a holiday.
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Another Satya Sai Trust member questioned

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 27: Police today questioned another Satya Sai Central Trust member V Srinivasan here in connection with the seizure of a huge amount of cash which was being taken to Bangalore.The trustee, Srinivasan, who received summons from police two-days back, arrived here from Chennai in the morning to be present before the police.He was questioning by the police at Satya Sai Deemed University administrative building in connection with the recent seizure of Rs 35 lakh from Puttaparthi in the district.As part of the probe into the cash seizure, police had so far questioned Trust member R J Ratnakar, who was also nephew of the late Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba, besides Pradhan, Chief Security Officer of ''Yajur Mandir'' -- the private chamber of Sai Baba and one Venkatesh, personal assistant of Trustee Srinivasan.Police were also in the process of questioning one more person identified as Sadashiv, who is allegedly related to Harishnanda against whom they had already served a notice. However, he had sought some time to appear before the police.Three people were arrested in connection with the seizure of Rs 35 lakh in cash. However, the trio Harishnanda Shetty, Chandrashekhar Murthy alias Shekhar and engineer Sohan Shetty were granted conditional bail last week.Harishnanda Shetty was driver of a four-wheeler, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, which was transporting Rs 35 lakh and was confiscated during a vehicle check at Kodikonda check post under Chilamanthur police station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18.The cash was recovered a day after ''Yajur Mandir'' was opened at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi and it was disclosed that it contained 98 kg of gold, 307 kg of silver, apart from Rs 11.56 crore.
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Light to moderate rain in few places Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Hyderabad, Jun 27: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hours, met office said today.Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Rayalaseema during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is-- there would be no large change.The sky condition would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 33 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.Sirpur (Adilabad dist) recorded a heavy rainfall of 9 cm.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 5, Miryalguda (Nalgonda dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) 3 each, Nalgonda, Nandigama, Banswada (Nizamabad dist), Paleru Bridge (Krishna dist), Perur (Khammam dist), Ramayampet (Medak dist) 2 each and Adilabad, Hakimpet AP, Ramagundam, Atchampet (Guntur dist), Boath, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Luxettipet & Utnoor (all Adilabad dist), Eluru (West Godavari dist), Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Ibrahimpatnam & Tandur (both Rangareddy dist), Jagitiyal & Manthani (both Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist), Madhira (Khammam dist), Nuzvid (Krishna dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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Final hearing on TDP rebel MLA's disqualification tomorrow

Hyderabad, June 26 : The final hearing on pending disqualification petition given by TDP over its rebel candidate MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar, is likely to be heard tomorrow while disciplinary action against Congress MLAs will be delayed futher.Speaker Nadendla Manohar will summon rebel TDP MLA tomorrow for a final hearing in connection with the pending disqualification petition submitted by TDP seeking his disqualification for anti-party activities, particularly moving with YSR Congress Party headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, according to sources here.It is understood that the Legislature Secretariat had already sent final notice to Mr Reddy, who represents the Kovvur Assembly constitutency in Nellore district.The rebel TDP legislator and the Telugu Desam Legislature Party (TDLP) would appear before the Speaker tomorrow and day after tomorrow respectively and will decide the fate of Prasanna Kumar soon after hearing versions from the both sides, the sources added. Meanwhile, disciplinary action against Congress MLAs loyal to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress is likely to be delayed further as the state leadership intends to wait till a decision by the Secretariat is taken on the disqualification petitions pending against K Surekha (Parakal), G Srikanth Reddy (Rayachoti), C Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu) and A Amarnath Reddy (Rajampet).Speaker Mr Manohar, who is leaving for foreign tour on June 30, would decide the ruling party petitions only after returning from tour.
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4 killed in road accident

Medak, Jun 27 : Four people were killed and three others injured, one of them seriously, when the lorry in which they were travelling overturned at Pulkal mandal in the district, early today.According to Jogipet Circle Inspector Krishna, the mishap occurred when the fertilizer-laden lorry proceeding to Allapuram via Sangareddy from Hyderabad overturned at Hunnapur village in Pulkal mandal. While three people were killed on the spot, another person succumbed to injuries on the way to local area government hospital.The injured were shifted to the local government hospital and the seriously injured lorry driver was shifted to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad, police added.
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Tulasi Reddy criticises oppn on growth rate

Hyderabad, Jun 25 : 20-Point Economic Programme Chairman N Tulasi Reddy has ridiculed the opposition's criticism that the growth rate and administration has become static and is below expectations.Talking to reporters at Secretariat yesterday, he said what Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has achieved in terms of growth rate was a litmus test to his rule.Mr Reddy said over last year's growth rate, which was 8.55 per cent, this year it registered an increase to 9.22 per cent. In agriculture, the growth rate stood at 9.1 per cent this year, while the National rate was 6.61 per cent, he claimed.On the industrial front, the state had registered a growth of 8.45 per cent while the corresponding figure for National level was 7.87 per cent, and in the services sector growth in state has 9.64 per cent, while the National figure was 9.38 per cent.Mr Reddy further pointed out that the per capita income for Andhra Pradesh has been raised by 18.49 per cent during 2010-2011 as compared to the past two years.He appealed to the opposition not to under estimate Mr Reddy's rule but make estimations over the rule in terms of the data/facts available.
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TDP to convene oppn party meeting on farmers' issue

Hyderabad Jun, 25 : Senior Telugu Desam Party leader Kodela Siva Prasad Rao has said that his party would soon convene all opposition party meeting on the farmers' issue and accused the state government of giving assurances to the farmers that their problems would be solved, even while failing to act on any of those promises.Talking to mediapersons at NTR Trust Bhavan yesterday, Mr Prasad alleged that the government had failed miserably in addressing the farmers' issues. Though the government has given assurances and promised to work for farmers' welfare, it has failed to execute these assurances on the ground level, he stated.Reiterating the TDP would continue its fight against state government until farmers get justice due to them, the senior leader contended that the TDP has decided to convene all-party meeting with like-minded opposition parties to discuss the issue. Mr Prasad stated that the all-party meeting would discuss the issues and try to find a solution to long pending farmers' problems.The meeting would also discuss the steps to be taken for the farmers’ upliftment and their welfare and will be aimed at mounting pressure on the state government to take steps for the welfare of farmers, he said He said the party has also decided to organise a national level workshop on farmers’ problems. The workshop would be attended by agriculture scientists, farm officials and others and guide the farmers.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister holds review meeting on horticulture

Hyderabad, Jun 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked Horticulture Minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy and other officials to formulate an action plan as there is every scope of getting more funds from the Planning Commission in the ensuing five year plan.He held the review meeting on horticulture at the secretariat here yesterday, an official release said. Mr Reddy enquired about the progress achieved in the various schemes of the Horticulture department such as National Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krushi Vikas and Yojana and Oil Palm Development Scheme. He also reviewed the progress in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, oil palm under the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project.Officials informed the Chief Minister that since 2003, the area under cultivation in Horticulture has increased by 22.73 per cent while the production has increased 72.25 per cent. The Annual plan for the year 2011-12 has been prepared with an amount of Rs 1234 crore.New initiatives launched by the department are semi permanent sprinkler system, cold storage rentals, good agriculture practices, assistance to borewells and diesel electric pumps for oil palm cultivation and urban horticulture.In this connection, the Chief Minister launched Horticulture Alert System, a Voice Message system to inform the farmers on horticulture schemes, weather and pesticide related matters.The Chief Minister asked the officials to take immediate steps to set up cold storage units in Rangareddy, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts which supply majority of vegetables and fruits to the twin cities. He also directed the finance department officials to clear the dues amounting to Rs 59 crore of the Micro Irrigation department for the year 2009-10 and ensure phase-wise clearance with regard to the dues pertaining to 2010-11.Mr Reddy recalled his letter to Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar wherein he has asked to provide funds for oil palm cultivation in the State in order to reduce the import of palm oil spending crore of rupees.Mr Reddy asked the officials to take steps in this regard. The Chief Minister has assured to look into the issue of stopping collection of VAT charges from oil palm farmers.
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Rain occurs in Telangana and Costal AP

Hyderabad, Jun 22 : Rain occurred at a few places over Telangana while isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh.bulletin from Meteorological Centre here today said weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kaleswaram (Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist) & Sompeta (Srikakulam dist) 4 each, Parkal (Warangal dist) 3, Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 2 and Adilabad, Bhadrachalam, Medak, Ramagundam, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Nirmal & Sirpur (all Adilabad dist), Mulugu (Warangal dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) & Ramayampet (Medak dist) one each.Forecast and Farmers' weather bulletin valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was that light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar of Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & in the remaining districts of Telangana and could occur over Rayalaseema. Outlook for subsequent two days was that there will be no large change.  Forecast for Hyderabad City and Neighbourhood valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was sky condition would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in some parts of city.The Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 & 23 degrees Celsius respectively, the bulletin said.
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Minister distributes Gas stoves to HIV patients

Kakinada, Jun 22 : The Minister for stamps and registrations Thota Narasimham today distributed gas stoves to 29 HIV patients families at a function held at Immanuel colony in Katravulapalli village near here under the auspices of St Paul Trust, a voluntary service organisation.He has complimented the Trust' Chairman Vijaya for extending the assistance in both cash and kind to the HIV infected and affected families for the past eleven years.also distributed rice to the HIV affected families on the occasion and assured to provide the basic infrastructure facilities and other amenities to the colony residents. Later he visited Kandregula village and distributed Rs 5,000 cash assistance to two fire accident victims families there.He has instructed the Tahasildar to sanction houses under Indiramma scheme to the fire accident victims. Earlier the Minister laid foundation stone for the Rs 55 lakh road works in Jaggampet that were damaged in the recent Jal cyclone.
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Light to moderate rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next 48 hrs

Hyderabad, Jun 16: Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next 48 hours.

The sky would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of the city. THE maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 35 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.Observations recorded till 0830 hours today said rain occurred at a few places over Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Eturnagaram (Warangal dist), Jagitiyal & Metpalli (both Karimnagar dist), Kalwakurthy (Mahabubnagar dist), Khanapur (Adilabad dist) 2 each and Hakimpet AP, Mahabubnagar, Achampet & Nagarkurnool (both Mahabubnagar dist), Paderu (Visakhapatnam dist), Sriramsagar (Nizamabad dist), Utnoor (Adilabad dist), Venkatapuram (Khammam dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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High Court granted stay on local body elelctions

Hyderabad, Jun 16 : In the wake of an appeal made by the AP Sarpanches' Association over the contentious issue of reservations in the ZPPs and MPPs, a division bench of the High Court today granted a 'stay' on the local body elections.The stay was given over the reservation quota system communicated to the Court by the state government and the Court also directed to stall the GO that stipulated the reservation system for the said ZPPs and MPPs.In view of the Court's stay, the much-awaited elections to the Local Bodies have been put under wraps once again by the AP Sarpanches Association, who contended that the cited quota for candidates drawn from weaker sections exceeds the ceiling quota - 50 per cent - as fixed by the Supreme Court.Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Ramakanth Reddy while talking to the media persons today stated that the government-announced quota details furnished to the state High Court is invalid.He said the elections would be held only after the government sends a revised list of details related to reservations for the Local Bodies.Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana was also discussed with the Chief Minister on the issthe crisis over the local body elections was not cleared, the government has not option to bring an Ordinance for the appointment of Special Officers to the Local Body institutions, according to sources here.
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Two arrested for Hyderabad gold robbery

Hyderabad, June 15 : Hyderabad police Wednesday arrested two people and recovered one kilogram gold a few hours after two Mumbai brothers were robbed of five kilograms of gold, police said.Both the accused are also from Mumbai while the police are still on the lookout for the third accused and four kilograms of gold, police sources said.Three youngsters on a motorcycle attacked two jewellers Tuesday night and snatched a bag containing gold ornaments weighing five kilograms at Gunfoundry area in Abids, a major commercial centre here.As the jewellers, Rakesh and Sonu, were waiting for an autorickshaw after coming out of a jewellery shop, three robbers allegedly attacked them. one of them attacked Rakesh with a knife, inflicting injuries while the others snatched a bag from his brother Sonu. The robbers sped away, police said.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the two merchants were going to different shops in the city to sell the ornaments.This was the second robbery in the busy Abids area after a jeweller was robbed of two kilograms gold ornaments in broad daylight in front of Abids police station May 20.Taking a serious note of the robberies, the police commissioner Tuesday night suspended Abids police inspector K. Shiva Kumar and issued a charge memo to Abids Assistant Commissioner of Police P.V.G.Vijay Kumar for alleged negligence in discharge of duties.Meanwhile, during the overnight raids, police recovered eight kilograms gold from a hotel in Ameerpet area and arrested one person. Police were questioning him.
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Speaker suffers minor injury

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15 : Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar sustained minor injury after a bull hit him with the rear leg when he was participating in ''Eeruvaka'' (commencement of farming activities) at Tadikonda Village of the district today.Police said when the Speaker was formally inaugurating 'Eruvaka' programme by symbolically ploughing the field, one of the bulls, which was tethered to the plough, hit him with the rear leg. However, the Speaker sustained only a minor injury to his chest and continued with other programmes.Police said the bull was frightened when a large number of people, who gathered there, acknowledged the inauguration by blowing whistles and applauded. =================================================

Begins Hyderabad-Dubai flight; 2nd city in India

Hyderabad, Jun 15 : Low coat UAE Airlines ''flydubai'' inaugurated its second major Indian route with the start of operations to one of the fatest growing cities in the world -- Hyderabad.The new route is ''flydubai''s second to India and expands its network to 37 operational destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the fringes of Europe. it has been operating from earlier.Flight FZ435, scheduled to fly three times a week, landed at GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport on June 12, following a three hours and 45 minutes flight from Dubai's Terminal 2.Airline CEO Ghaith AI Ghaith told media here today that with 17 new 747 Boeing aircraft, India will account for six of the 530 flights a week for the budget airline. ==================================================

Fire in bogie, train detained

Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 15: A major accident was averted with the timely detection of fire in one of the bogies of Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Link Express (12862) after it was detained at Vatluru Station, near here, today.Railway officials said the fire was noticed in the eighth bogie of the express train. The train was immediately halted at Vatluru Station and the bogie detached. However, the train was allowed to run after a 90-minute delay. Fire broke out in the bogies due to a technical snag, Railway officials said.
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Southwest Monsoon covers entire Andhra Pradesh : heavy rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Jun 15: Southwest monsoon has further advanced over remaining parts of Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and thus covered entire Andhra Pradesh state today.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Telangana and in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari of Coastal Andhra Pradesh over next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period.The outlook for subsequent two days is there would be increase in rainfall, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city over next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 34 and 23 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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