Month: March 2012

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)

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.

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.

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.

The State Government is planning to establish 124 new industrial centres across the State.

Municipal Administration Minister M Mahidhar Reddy on Tuesday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the government was not contemplating to remove the public taps set up for poor people in slum areas in cities.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Former Congress minister P Shankar Rao on Tuesday demanded that the State Government pass a resolution on Telangana State issue in the Assembly immediately to prevent suicides in the region.

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.