Workshop on Smart Grid model

Hyderabad, April 30: Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL) chairman and managing director, MT Krishna Babu said utility departments should prepare a road map of their vision.

He was speaking at a workshop on ‘Smart Grid Maturity Model’ (SGMM) held on behalf of USAID here on Friday.

He said that efficiency has to be improved and loss, especially technical, besides theft of power have to come down.

With a turnover of three billion dollars, CPDCL is one of the leading distribution companies, he said.

–Agencies

One million surgeries on cashless basis

Hyderabad, April 30: In a record of sorts, one million surgeries/ therapies were performed on cashless basis under the Rajiv Aarogyasri scheme as on April 28.

The scheme was launched by the state government in April 2007 to provide health care to poor patients.

An amount of about Rs 2,832.44 crore has been spent till date on surgeries and therapies of 938 identified procedures.

The scheme has also provided free screening and treatment for common ailments to over 44 lakh patients at 26,000 health camps.

Court order on CAT verdict expected on Saturday

Hyderabad, April 30: The High Court on Friday heard inconclusively the arguments on the writ petitions filed by the state government and director- general of police K Aravinda Rao seeking a stay on the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal which set aside Rao’s appointment as the DGP (Head of Police Force).

The bench is expected give an order on the interim applications on Saturday.

Besides the government and Rao, writ petitions were also filed by V Dinesh Reddy, director-general of vigilance and enforcement, whose elevation to the DGP cadre was quashed by CAT.

Farewell Parade for SCR general manager

Hyderabad, April 30: Highlighting efforts of the Railway Protection Force in protecting railway assets and passengers during the Telangana agitation, South Central Railway general manager MS Jayanth said there was a need to strengthen the integrated security system for the benefit of passengers.

The RPF organised a farewell parade on Friday at the RPF centre in Moula Ali, in honour of MS Jayanth on the occasion of his retirement.

Jayanth is from the 1974 batch of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Later, he inaugurated the RPF mess and staff barrack at the premises.

Classmate kills runaway kid for her wanderlust

Vijayawada, April 30: The case of Panga Bhavani, a missing teenager from Hyderabad, was solved on Friday with her killer and fellow student Pappu alias Praveen Prakash confessing to have pushed her into the river Krishna from the Kanakadurga Varadhi.

The Class VI girl — police say she’s 12 but her neighbours claim she’s 14 — had left Hyderabad for Tirupati on April 21 along with her classmates Pappu, also of the same age, Sirisha and Srikanth, who is one year junior to them at school.

Telangana sizzles in summer heat

Hyderabad, April 30: Isolated rain occurred in many places in North Andhra on Friday while dry weather conditions prevailed in Rayalaseema and Telangana. A highest day temperature of 42.7 degree Celsius was reported from Nizamabad.

Pleasant weather conditions would prevail in coastal Andhra in the next 48 hours.

The Meteorological Department officials predicted that isolated rains would occur in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in the next few days while dry weather conditions would continue in many places in Telangana.

Sai successor may be named next week

Putthaparthi, April 30: Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust on Thursday blamed “vested interests” for the recent spate of “untrue” and “engineered” reports about infighting, flight of gold from Prashanti Nilayam and Baba’s medical condition prior to his admission to Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences.

Addressing a press conference, perhaps, for the first time, at the Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium here, the trustees, in one voice, asserted that the Trust was transparent and united and rubbished the controversies as “uninspiring.”

Probe Jagan’s illegal assets, says VHR

Hyderabad, April 30: Citing instances of a probe into 2G spectrum and CWG scam and arrest of former Union minister A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao on Friday asserted that the government should order a probe into the “illegal assets” of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress party. He criticised the BJP leaders for keeping mum on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Jagan.

Addressing newsmen at his residence here on Friday, Hanumantha Rao claimed that Congress would be benefited if Jagan joins hands with the BJP.

Nagam adamant to hold meet on May 9

Hyderabad, April 30: Deviating from the party line, rebel Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy has decided to go ahead with his first public meeting in his Nagarkurnool Assembly segment on May 9.

Stating that the meeting would be organised sans TDP flags, Nagam said all those supporting the cause of Telangana were most welcome to the meet.

However, the rebel TDP MLA claimed that the meeting was being held in accordance with the party line.

CAT ruling throws the race for DGP wide open

Hyderabad, April 30: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) verdict on the promotions of IPS 1977 officers to the rank of DGP has poured water over the chances of V Dinesh Reddy becoming DGP any time now.

Until the verdict Wednesday, there had been speculation that he was a favourite for the post when it falls vacant with retirement of K Aravinda Rao.

Since the CAT has held valid the promotion of K Aravinda Rao as DG and not as DGP, HOPF, from Sept. 1, 2010, only those officers who rose to the DGP rank on or before that date will be considered for the top post.