Govt to issue health cards to employees

Medical Education Minister Kondru Murali Mohan informed the State Legislative Council that the government has agreed to introduce a health card scheme to the employees of the state government.

Replying to a question raised by V Bala Subrahmanyam, he said that state level committees were constituted to work out the extent of coverage and other modalities for implementation of the said scheme, including the nature of identity cards to be issued. (INN)

TDP and Congress have joint agenda: YSR Cong

YSR Congress on Tuesday said that the ruling Congress and main opposition TDP have a joint agenda of trying to defame YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in a bid to share power in turns.

“TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu has institutionalised corruption and his growth from a two-acre land owner to a multi-crore entrepreneur vouches for his nature of nefarious operations,” party official spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters here.

Minister defends VAT on food items

Minister for Roads and Transport Dharmana Prasad Rao informed the State Legislative Council that several hotels in the State including Star Hotels in Hyderabad have been collecting the service charges on the food items from the customers.

Replying to a question raised by D Rajaseshwar Rao, he said that it was also an fact that VAT was imposed even on the service charges. Disclosing the reasons, he said the sale price of food item, including service charges, if any, mentioned in the bill of sale was liable to VAT under Section 4(9) of AP Vat Act. (INN)

Works on for laying of underground power cables in GHMC

Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Laxmaiah informed the State Legislative Council that it was fact that the underground cable system of 220 KV and 132 KV works have been taken up in GHMC area with the funds of Japanese Bank International Cooperation Agency and Power Finance Corporation.

Govt admits paying nominal part of MV Tax to local bodies

Minister for Municipal Administration M Mahidhar Reddy on Tuesday admitted that the State Government itself was levying and collecting Motor Vehicle Tax and allocating a very nominal part of it to the municipal bodies.

Replying to a question raised by MIM MLCs Syed Alfaq Hyder Rizvi and Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri, he said that it was fact the Second Finance Commission has recommended that 10 percent of Motor Vehicle Tax realized by the State Government be given to the urban local bodies including the GHMC.

State refutes charges on spurious drugs

Medical Education and Health Insurance Minister Kondru Murali Mohan Rao on Tuesday refuted the charges that several spurious drugs and medicines are being sold in the market with the connivance of certain drug inspectors.

TRS asks Centre to clear its stand on Telangana

Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA K Taraka Rama Rao on Tuesday demanded that the Centre make its stand clear on Telangana statehood issue.

Talking to media persons at Assembly media point, Rama Rao raised serious objection over Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for repeatedly stating that the Centre could not take any decision until stakeholders does not make their stand clear on the issue. He asked Chidambaram to honour his promise if he was really committed on the statehood issue.

Chiru to take oath as RS member on April 3

Newly elected Rajya Sabha member K Chiranjeevi on Tuesday stated that there was no truth in Endowment Minister C Ramachandraiah’s complaints that the erstwhile Praja Rajyam members were being treated as ‘second grade citizens’ in the Congress party.

Talking to media persons at Congress Legislature Party Office after receiving the certificate from the Returning Officer, Chiranjeevi said that Ramachandraiah has expressed the feelings of some ground level workers and it was not his opinion.

HM admits of illegal clubs in city

Home Minister P Sabitha Indira Reddy admitted that several clubs were being run illegally in the State, particularly in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

In her reply to a question raised by MLAs K Srisailam Goud and A Rajender during Question Hour on Tuesday, the minister said that playing cards and other illegal activities were taking place in the clubs situated in the outskirts of Hyderabad City, in the name of farm houses. She said regular raids were being conducted and several cases have been booked against those activities. (INN)

SRSP victims paid compensation: Minister

Major and Medium Irrigation Minister P Sudarshan Reddy on Tuesday claimed that the State Government has extended benefits to the displace ryots of Sriramsagar Project.

Replying to a question raised by BJP MLAs E Lakshmi Narayana and G Kishan Reddy during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly, the minister said that the benefits applicable to the displaced persons under the project as per the relevant government orders have been extended to the ryots in Nandipet and Armoor areas of Nizamabad district and Nirmal area of Adilabad district.

TDP seeks increase in turmeric MSP

Telugu Desam party whip Dhulipala Narendra on Tuesday slammed the State Government for its failure to rescue turmeric farmers who are in a pathetic condition due to government’s failure to announce appropriate Minimum Support Price for their produce.

Errabelli refutes resignation reports

Telugu Desam Telangana Forum convener Errabelli Dayakar Rao on Tuesday refuted media reports which claimed that he has submitted resignation from his post following the debacle in the recent by-elections in the Telangana region.

Talking to media persons, Errabelli said that there was no truth in the reports and he had never submitted resignation from his post. He accused the media of launching a malicious campaign against him to tarnish his image.

Cabinet sub-committee to study SC, ST sub-plan demand

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced the constitution of a cabinet sub-committee to look into the demand for having a sub-plan for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State.

Making the announcement in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the cabinet sub-committee would study the allocation, utilisation and non-usage of funds meant for the SCs and STs in the State. While the SCs were allocated 16.23 per cent of the funds, the STs were given 6.27 per cent of the total funds.

Telangana issue continue to rock AP Assembly

Demand for the introduction of Telangana resolution continued to disrupt the proceedings of the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Except for a statement by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the SC, ST sub-plan, the House could not transact any other business.

T- bandh peaceful; 200 activists taken in custody

The bandh called in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh to press for statehood demand and recent suicides by two pro-Telangana supporters in Warangal today passed off peacefully, police said.
The shutdown, called by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), was near total in Warangal, Karimnagar and Medak districts where shops, business establishments and private educational institutions remained shut. It evoked a mixed
response in other Telangana districts and the state capital.

Home Guards salary hike under consideration

The State Government is considering enhancement of salaries of Home Guards in the Home department.

In her reply to a question raised by TDP MLA A Prabhakara Reddy during Question Hour, the minister said that 27,082 Home Guards were working in the Police Department. Besides salary hike, the proposal to provide additional benefits like bus pass and medical facility was also under consideration at the department level.

–Agencies

HC cancels Acharya’s bail in Emaar case

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday cancelled the bail given to suspended IAS officer BP Acharya in the APIIC-Emaar township scam case.

Disposing a petition filed by CBI, the High Court objected to CBI special court granting bail to Acharya when the case was progressing actively. While cancelling the bail, the High Court directed Acharya to surrender before the court immediately.

Earlier on March 16, the CBI Special Court granted bail to Acharya taking cognizance of charge-sheet and the CBI failing to secure sanction from the Government of India to prosecute Acharya.

Non-Muslim family helps protect 400-yr-old dargah

A non-Muslim family has been protecting a 400-year-old dargah here at Raheempura, Puranapul, which has been facing threats of encroachment. Munni Bai and her family renovated the dargah that was in a dilapidated condition and with the help of local Muslims, they also organise Urs.

T shutdown hits life in region

Life across Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana region was affected Tuesday due to the shutdown called by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to protest the central government’s insensitivity towards the demand for a separate Telangana state, which is driving youth to commit suicide.

The shutdown had little impact in Hyderabad but was total in the nine other districts of the region. Barring attacks on a few shops in Khammam, the shutdown remained peaceful.

Shutdown in Telangana over suicides for separate state

A daylong shutdown began across Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana region Tuesday following a call by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to protest the central government’s insensitivity towards the demand for a separate state, which is driving youth to commit suicide.

Shops and business establishments remained closed in most parts of Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

State-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses were plying as usual as the TRS has exempted the bus transport service from the shutdown in view of the ongoing Class 10 examination.