Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, May 14: Taking strong objection to criticism of the Telugu Desam Party by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao on the vexed issue of statehood for Telangana, TDLP deputy leader N Janardhan Reddy today said the very political existence of Rao and his party would have been in question had the TDP not supported it in the 2009 general elections.

The two Parliament and 10 Assembly seats the TRS could manage were only due to TDP backing, he maintained.

Hyderabad, May 14: Alleging that the construction of the Polavaram (Indira Sagar) project was in violation of several statutes and the Constitutional mandate under V Schedule of the Indian Constitution, TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter and Telangana Jagruthi founder president K Kavitha today requested Governor ESL Narasimhan to issue orders for stoppage of the ongoing project works.

“Kindly visit the site of Polavaram project and the villages likely to be displaced, and understand the plight of the tribals first hand,’’ she urged the Governor.

Hyderabad, May 14: Taking exception to PCC chief D Srinivas’s affirmative statement that the party would contest the Assembly byelections, the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) today said the party candidates would taste defeat if they contested against those who resigned for the sake of separate Telangana movement.

Hyderabad, May 14: Andhra Pradesh is reeling under intense heat wave with temperature soaring five to six degrees above normal across Telangana and two to three degrees in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions.

According to the Met department, the severe heat wave is likely to continue for the next four to five days. Hyderabad recorded 45 degrees on Thursday, the highest in the last 20 years. For the past three days the temperature hovered around 44 degrees and touched 44.5 degrees on Wednesday, the highest in 11 years.

Guntur, May 13: In a new twist to the ongoing `war’ between Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and industries minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, a letter purported to have been written by the MP to party president Sonia Gandhi with complaints of corruption against 20 leaders of Guntur district caused a flutter late tonight.

The letter was leaked to two TV news channels which went to town saying that the MP, by writing the letter to the party president, was making renewed attempts to assert himself in Guntur district politics.

Hyderabad, May 13: Panchayat raj minister Botsa Satyanaryana today went in defence of chief minister K Rosaiah in the wake of comments made by Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district yesterday over implementation of the Pavala Vaddi scheme.

Hyderabad, May 13: Panchayat Raj Minister Botcha Satyanarayana has criticised TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu for levelling corruption charges against Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and his Ministers.

The Minister said Mr Naidu had no right to speak on corruption with reference to any leader and much less Mr Rosaiah and his Ministers, as he “was highly corrupt” during his nine-year rule as Chief Minister.

Sangareddy, May 13: Residents in Pasamylaram industrial area ran in panic as a production unit in a nearby chemical factory went up in flames as one of its reactors caught fire. The entire unit was gutted in the mishap. No causalities were reported.

According to sources, Ogene Systems (P) Ltd bought a shut down unit and resumed production after renovation pending permission from the government for the same, according to inspector of factories Radhakrishna.

Warrangal, May 13: Thieves struck at an Andhra Bank branch in Gudur mandal headquarters last night and made away with 9 kg gold ornaments worth Rs 1.36 crore.

Two special teams were constituted to nab the burglars’ gang. Meanwhile, police are fuming at bank officials that the heist took place due to their negligence.

Police maintained that the officials didn’t have a strong room, throwing Reserve Bank of India guidelines to the wind. The officials have been using a room with three Godrej safes as a strong room by fixing grills to it.

Vedadri, May 13: “If there is God’s grace, I may become the president of the Telugu Desam Party’, said actor Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, he said he was now working for the party as an activist and he was ready to offer his services to the party any time in any capacity.

Hyderabad, May 13: Andhra Pradesh government today said the month-long ‘Praja Patham’ programme (taking administration to the doorsteps of people) is a success with officials attending to a number of complaints from people.

“The attendance of MLAs from not only Congress but TDP, Praja Rajyam and Left has been about 98 per cent. Problems of people related to scarcity of drinking water, employment under NREGS, health and other issues have been successfully addressed during the programme,” Panchayat Raj Minister B Satyanarayana told reporters.

Hyderabad, May 12: In the wake of criticism from the Opposition and of late from Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi, chief minister K Rosaiah wanted the irrigation department to complete the Polavaram project by 2014.

He gave this direction at an unscheduled meeting with the department officials. In fact the Chief Minister cancelled a review of the working of the roads and buildings department and instead turned his attention to the Polavaram project.

Vishakapatnam, May 12: All the major industries in this port city will have to close down their operations if the water crisis continues to grip the city for two more years, Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi has warned.

Talking with newsmen here today, he said such an unthinkable prospect would ruin the economy of the city and stunt its growth.

Kadapa, May 12: Upping the ante against Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday came out openly against him on the implementation of the Pavala Vaddi scheme in the state. ‘‘We have to hang our heads in shame.

Women are complaining about the implementation of welfare schemes,’’ he said.

Hyderabad, May 12: The state government has decided to expose Maharashtra government’s violations with the help of remote sensing pictures taken by satellites before the Central Water Commission on May 12 at New Delhi.

It may be recalled that the CWC had convened a meeting of both states regarding the controversy over sharing of Godavari water.

In this backdrop major irrigation minister P Laxmaiah today held a review meeting with the officials.

Sangareddy, May 12: Chief Minister K Rosaiah today reiterated that he, as an individual, was against bifurcation of the state but hastened to add that he would abide by whatever decision the Centre would take in this regard.

Addressing people as part of Prajapatham in Zaheerabad constituency in Medak district, the chief minister, though there was no demand from the gathering, spoke on the T issue. “Separate Telangana is something that Delhi should decide and it is not under the state government’s purview.

Hyderabad, May 12: About 160 gentlemen cadets presented a spectacular passing-out parade of the Technical Entry Scheme-15 course at the Cadet Training Wing of the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad on Tuesday.

Anand Mohan Verma, director-general of military training, New Delhi, reviewed the parade and complimented the cadets for their excellent display. “Emphasis should be laid on character building, dedication to service, positive attitude and upholding the highest tradition of Indian army at any cost,” he exhorted them.

Hyderabad, May 12: In the wake of charges made by Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao against major industries minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, PCC chief D Srinivas today urged his party leaders not to air their views in public, but to place them before the party high command for necessary action.

Hyderabad, May 12: How did Congress nominee Kasani Gnaneswar bite the dust in the election to the Legislative Council from the Ranga Reddy LAC (Local Authorities Constituency)? Knowing its weakness in the constituency, the Congress had brought into the fray Gnaneswar, who was president of Mana Party, as it thought he would be able to win because he had the resources to turn the tables on the opposition. But the ruling party was proved wrong and Telugu Desam candidate Narender Reddy walked away with the cake.

Hyderabad, May 12: Andhra Pradesh continued to reel under intense heat with the mercury level hovering between 43 and 48 degrees Celsius in various parts of the state today.

Guntur in coastal region, Adilabad, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts in Telangana and Anatapur and Chittor districts in Rayalaseema were in the grip of intense heat, MeT officials said.

The highest temperature of 48 deg C was recorded at Ramgumdan in Karimnagar district, they said.

For the third consecutive day, Hyderabad with 45 deg C reeled under severe heatwave.

Tirupati, May 10: Twelve pilgrims going to the Golden Temple in Vellore died when the driver of the goods carrier taking them there dozed off at the wheel in the wee hours of Sunday morning at Agarala substation near Ithepalle under Chandragiri police limits.

The driver, 19-year old G Madan Kumar had bought his the auto on hire purchase nine months ago and had been operating it to supply mineral water cans to customers and lend a helping hand to his father, a mill worker.

Guntur, May 10: Chief minister K Rosaiah has reiterated that despite the financial crunch the State Government will continue the welfare and development programmes launched by the late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Addressing a meeting here after inaugurating a 384- house complex constructed at a cost of Rs 6.84 crore under the Rajiv Gruhakalpa programme, he said Rajiv Gruhakalpa was launched five years ago with an aim to construct 80 lakh houses across the state.

Warangal, May 10: Telugu Desam functionaries and students of Kakatiya University JAC exchanged blows when the latter tried to disrupt the party activists meeting being held here today.

Demanding that agitations be launched in favour of separate Telangana, KU JAC students led by convener Vasudeva Reddy stormed Reddy Function Hall in the NGO Colony where the meeting was being held.
Raising pro-Telangana slogans, they tried to give a representation to the party leaders.

Hyderabad, May 10: At least three tribals and three policemen were injured during a gun battle between Maoists and police in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam district.

The police said the exchange of fire took place after Maoists blasted a police vehicle during a weekly market in R.V. Nagar village.

Three policemen were injured in the firing. Three tribals also suffered injuries. The injured were admitted to Chintapalli Area Hospital.

Hyderabad: Six tribals were injured on Monday when Maoists opened fire on them in a forest area in Vishakapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The incident occured around noon in R V Puram forest area of G K Veedhi mandal on the Andhra-Orrisa border when a group of ultras fired on a private vehicle suspecting that it was carrying police personnel, a senior police officer said.