Kiran is last Congress CM, says Kishan April 20, 2011 14:47
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s state president, Mr G. Kishan Reddy, predicted that Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy would be the last chief minister for Congress in the state. He said the CM has no grip over his Cabinet colleagues and the-re is no co-ordination betw-een the Cabinet colleagues. Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, he criticised that the ministers are not conducting review meetings in their departments and are concentrating on the Kadapa by-elections and left the administration to the wind. He held the UPA chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, responsible for the failure of administration in the state. He also said people are vexed with the anti-people policies and scams of the Congress government. He criticised that the law and order failed in the state failed due to the inefficiency the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy. He said the government has failed to mount pressure on the Centre to get national project status to Polavaram and Pranahita projects.
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Manginapudi beach in a state of neglect May 05, 2011 16:03
Manginapudi beach located 12 kilometres from the port town of Machilipatnam has no basic amenities like drinking water and benches for the visiting tourists. It is the only beach located near the district headquarter Machilipatnam. The tour-ism department handed over the responsibility of its maintenance to local Tallapalem village panchayat last year. The small village is not able to invest large amount for the development beach, particularly for the construction of an overhead water tank and installation of motors and pipelines to supply drinking water.The visitors stand on the shores due to lack of benches or chairs in the beach. Due to funds crunch the village panchayat is not able to develop the beach. It collects Rs 50 for entry of vehicles into the beach. Due to lack of parking facilities, the vehicles are parked in different locations. Maintenance of the beach is not an easy task. The visitors dump waste material on the beach converting it into a dump yard. During the holidays and festivals, the village panchayat has to struggle a lot to clean the beach. The state government is not sanctioning funds for the development of Manginapudi beach. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department Corporation totally failed to develop the beach. However, the situation changed since the village panchayat took up responsibility of its maintenance.Tallapalem village sarp-anch, Mr Ravi Sankar, said the panchayat is ready to invest Rs 2 lakh to provide drinking water facility and seating arrangements. He said the panchayat is waiting for the permission from the panchayat department to start the works. Mr Ravi Sankar said the local MLA, Mr Perni Nani, is also ready to sanction grants for the development of Manginapudi beach. The visitors urged the state government to sanction funds for the construction of cottages and bathing facilities. More dress-changing rooms will be useful to the visitors and a police output to give security to the visitors.
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New courses at Maris Stella April 30, 2011 15:07
Maris Stella College will introduce a new course — Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) — from the coming academic year. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Head of Department of Commerce Shanta Kumari said that the new course would be offered with UGC grant. “The college proposes to offer M.Sc. (Computer Science & Statistics) course subject to the permission from the APSCHE,” Ms. Shanta Kumari said. “The new courses provide better prospects as they have good job potential,” she added. Stating that the college had a good academic record, she said the institution was also offering co-curricular activities such as yoga, music, dance, literary, sports and games, NCC, and NSS. These apart, there were special certificate courses which the students could take up, as they serve to be supplementary to their main subject of study, she said. Ms. Shanta Kumari said that the college was also providing mid-day meal, book bank, and scholarship for economically backward students.
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Conduct of elections to the urban local bodies on time, August 17, 2010 19:32
Notwithstanding the air of uncertainty over conduct of elections to the urban local bodies on time, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation on Monday convened a meeting with representatives of all political parties to elicit their views on various issues connected with elections.Representatives of the Congress, the CPI(M), the CPI, the TDP, the BJP and the PRP attended the meeting and raised questions mainly about preparation of voters' list, including about enrolment, e-enrolment, additions, deletions, corrections and changes of voters' names and addresses.Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu, who is the designated Additional Election Authority for the VMC, clarified that there was no communication from the State Election Commission about when election notification would be issued. But the VMC initiated pre-election exercise adhering to the Commission's orders. Reservation of divisions for backward classes would also be done as per the laid down rules.Mr. Ravi Babu made it clear that submission of applications in bulk for enrolment of voters would not be entertained. However, a single person could file applications on behalf of all his family members. Applications (for new registration, addition, deletion and so on) would be accepted till the issuing of election notification. Voters could also apply for migration from one polling station to another, apart from new registration. They would have to produce proof of residence, such as passbook of post office account, bank account or kisan pass book; or ration card; driving licence; passport; gas connection document; telephone or electricity bill; or water bill or property tax receipt. Applications would not be disposed of in a piecemeal way, but only at once.Photo ID cardsReferring to photo identity cards, Mr. Ravi Babu said that as many as 50,000 photo identity cards needed to be rectified in respect of name, address, photos and other details. This exercise would be taken up in September. The e-enrolment procedure would be in vogue and photos would be collected from applicant at the time of verification.Speaking about age and residence proof, Mr. Ravi Babu assured the representatives of political parties that the parents' affidavit about age of a person was sufficient, if the applicant was an illiterate and had no proof of age. Similarly, those living in huts and not having a door number could provide nearest door number.A. K. Ansari of the Congress, N. Ravindra Varma of the TDP, Sk. Nasar Vali, D. Sankar and D.D. Prakash of the CPI, Ch. Babu Rao, B. Satya Babu and K. Rammohan Rao of the CPI (M), B. Rammohan Rao, K. Ram Prasad and K. S. Armugam of the BJP, S. Balakrishna, Ch. Venkateswara Rao and B. Naveen Kumar of the Praja Rajyam attended the meeting.
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6.8 lakh voters' list ready for Municipal elections August 13, 2010 11:08
Preparation for the upcoming muncipal poll, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation election cell has compiled the voters’ list in the city. The 6.8 lakh voters list will be available very soon in three circle offices of the municipal corporation located in One Town, Satyanarayanapuram and Patamata, Vijayawada Urban taluk office, sub-collector's office and the municipal tax collectin centres located in 59 municipal wards. The election cell collected the voters’ list in the three Assembly constituencies of the East, Central and West and later booth-wise category will be completed soon. It is estimated that 600 booths will be arranged for the voting. Irrespective of the decision of the government and political party activities, the Election Commission is gearing up for the polls and asking the local bodies to get prepared for the municipal polls. The tenure of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation will end by September 2010. The officials have notified the boundaries of the 59 municipal divisions and drawing a clear line for each municipal division. A senior official who does not want to be quoted said, “We are gearing up for the polls irrespective the government orders or political developments.”’
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Bejawada police boss is Amit Garg January 18, 2011 16:12
Mr Amit Garg will take over as the new police commissioner of Vijayawada city in place of Sitaramanjaneyulu. The government issued orders today promoting and transferring ten IPS officials across the state as part of the shake-up in police administration. It may be mentioned that was transferred to the Grey Hounds departments dealing with anti-Maoist operations. Sitaramanjaneyulu was removed from the post after he faced allegations of sending indecent SMSs to some women in Vijayawada town through his mobile. Though he denied the allegations and blamed the city TDP leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi for trapping him in the indecent SMSs scandal, women’s organizations of Vijayawada conducted rallies and demanded his ouster from the post.Later, the government ordered an enquiry and transferred him to the Grey Hounds department. Vijayawada became famous for having short-term police commissioners as no police commissioner served there for more than six months. Whether Amit Garg will break the tradition will be known in due course of time.
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Security to be increased for Durga Temple. August 04, 2010 13:18
In order to increase the security of the temple, Sri Durga Malleeswara Swamy temple authorities on Indrakeeladri have decided to appoint trained security staff from September.The temple authorities are unhappy with the existing untrained security staff. The endowments department is inviting applications from interested private parties to entrust the security responsibility.The last date for submission of applications is August 7. Most of the existing security guards are not having high school education.The temple executive officer, Mr N. Vijay Kumar, said “We have decided to appoint trained and educated staff to strengthen the security of temple and other important complexes.”During festivals like Dasara and Sivaratri, lakhs of devotees visit the temple from early morning to night. The existing staff are incapable of handling the responsibility. So, the department has decided to increase the security Staff.The security staff should also be trained to prevent pick-pocketing and thefts during the festival seasons like Dasara. The DCP said some guidelines were framed to handover the contract to private security agency.Besides, the regular security staff, police Officers, special protection force teams, NCC and Scouts join the duty during festivals like Dasara and Maha Sivaratri.Mr Vijay Kumar said Durga temple was located in the heart of the city and the department must be extra vigilant to safeguard the temple and devotees from all kinds of attacks.
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Lagadapati: Sri Krishna’s word is final on T March 25, 2011 19:06
Vijayawada congress MP Mr Lagadapati Rajagopal today wrote to the Union Minister for Health and in charge of AP congress affairs Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad that congress will not suffer any loss even if Telangana state is not formed. “Congress will continue to be stronger even without acceding to the demand for formation of separate state of Telangana,” he told in his letter addressed to Azad. He also asked the Union Minister to ensure that all parties and individuals should abide by the report of the Justice Sri Krishna Committee on the issue of Telangana. “The committee has submitted its report after collecting all the details from people of different walks of life and all concerned must go by the decision of the committee,” he told the Minister in his letter. Even the governments have a responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations of the Sri Krishna Committee, he told Azad indicating that the Centre must take a decision on Telangana issue based on the recommendations of the committee.
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Marine Police Stations in Prakasam district July 24, 2010 09:28
The Union and Andhra Pradesh Governments' resolve to avert any terrorist attack in the country, this year Three sites were finalized for setting up marine police stations in Prakasam district.At Kothapatnam, Marine Police Deputy Inspector General N. Chandramouli said “marine police stations, part of tiered security system will be located in Kothapatnam Vodarevu near Chirala and Kaderu near Vulavapadu in Prakasam district.”“We are sending this proposal to the Centre which is expected to give its approval in a couple of months,” he added. These police stations would be manned by 55 personnel from state police. The required infrastructure including interceptor boats and safety gadgets would be provided by the Centre, he said.In all, 15 marine police stations would be located in Andhra Pradesh in addition to six such stations already guarding the vast east coast, he said.The Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited would provide both 12-tonne and 15-tonne boats to these new marine police stations for effective patrolling of the vast coastline.The six marine police stations already in operation would be provided six more 12-tonne boats by the Centre in addition to the 12 boats already provided to them to keep an eternal vigil on the coastline, he informed.
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Vijayawada will have cancer hospital July 10, 2010 14:48
Vijayawada will soon have a cancer hospital to cater to the needs of the cancer patients of the coastal region of the state. The cancer hospital will be constructed by the Nandamuri Basava Taraka RamaRao Memorial Cancer Foundation.Disclosing this to newspersons in Hyderabad on Friday, Foundation Managing Trustee and cine hero Mr Balakishna said that number of cancer patients is increasing in the state day by day and there is a need to have more cancer hospitals.“The Indo American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad run by the Foundation is attracting caner patients from other states also and the hospital is being equipped with more modern facilities”, said Balakrishna, adding that it was his prime responsibility to look after the hospital started in memory of his late mother.He said that they have designed a plan to take the cancer medical care services to the rural areas in the state with the cooperation of others.(Submitted on 10-07-2010)
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Awareness meeting on 'RAY' September 12, 2010 14:23
An ambitious plan to make Vijayawada a slum-free city, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided to take up various developmental works, including a housing scheme for the development of slums under Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY). Sensitive issuesThe VMC organised an awareness meeting on RAY vis-à-vis` Vijayawada on Wednesday. The meeting witnessed discussion on a few politically sensitive issues like eviction of people living on Karakatta (river berm), canal bunds and riverbed, and household survey taken up under Indiramma programme.The number of slums identified under the project also gave scope for corporators to express their displeasure, while opposition parties criticised the ruling Congress and the officials for not placing the project details before the general body prior to submitting it to the government.The corporation has identified 109 slums in the city for development under the RAY at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,223 crores. The VMC plans to relocate the people living in 19 hazardous areas, including canal bunds, riverbed and river berm.The ruling Congress, however, felt that the VMC should extend the RAY project area to the villages that fall under the proposed Greater Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (GVMC) too, as there should be planning for the next 25 years while ensuring that the city became a slum-free one.It also suggested to the officials to “further filter” the category of hazardous slums and relocate the dwellers of only the “most dangerous or hazardous slums”. The Congress also wanted the officials to look for ways and means to include the cost of the land acquisition for taking up housing programme under RAY.Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu, responding to the suggestions, asked the officials to include localities inhabited by SCs, STs and BCs in neighbouring villages too under RAY, and see if there was any possibility to include the land cost.He, however, made no commitment about trimming the list of slums for the purpose of relocation. Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu, floor leaders in the general body Ch. Babu Rao of the CPI (M), D. Sankar of the CPI, Congress senior corporators Samanthapudi Narasaraju and Sistla Ramalinga Murthy, Deputy Mayor S.P. Gritton and others spoke.The projectThe RAY envisages bringing existing slums within the formal system and enabling the dwellers to avail themselves of the same level of basic amenities as those of other areas in the city, while also tackling the shortages of urban land and housing that keep shelter out of the reach of the urban poor.The scheme would be implemented in a span of five years. Under this, the VMC would emphasise on drinking water, sanitation, drains, roads, street lighting, underground drainage, municipal solid waste, linking infrastructure, schools, anganwadis, urban health centres, employment, community halls, parks and playgrounds.
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Singing a few compositions of Tyagaraja August 31, 2010 09:12
The three-day annual youth festival of music of Sri Vijaya Tyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha (the earliest in Visakhapatnam established in 1950) was organised last week at Sankara matham. Felicitating four young artistes who proved to be the making of Carnatic music and the conventional presentation of gold medals, along with Rs.8000 cash, was the main feature of the fest.The artistes were Komanduri Venkata Krishna, graded vocalist and violinist of AIR, winner of gold medals at the inter-university, and AIR competitions besides that of the Sangeet Vidwat Sabha, Kakinada. He also accompanied vocal maestros like Balamuralikrishna, Nedunuri and T.N. Seshagopalan on their tours abroad (U.S.). High grade violinist of AIR, Mavaduri Satyanarayana Sarma, besides being an Aasthan vidwan of Arasavilli and Yadagirigutta Devasthanams, was the other with comparable strides. The other two were similarly merited and accomplished artistes of comparable achievements: vocalist Bhavaraju Lakshmi Surya Teja and violinist Pappu Jnanadev.The gold medals and cash prizes were instituted in memory of the founder members and the first two successive presidents of the Sabha, Dr. Alahari Singari and Doorvasula Dakshina Murty. Short duration recitals were rendered separately by all recipients of gold medals late in the evenings on which they were felicitated. The talk on ‘Saadhana' delivered by noted vocalist, music teacher and musicologist Pantula Rama on Sunday morning marked the fest.Quoting extracts from Bhagavadgeetha on one hand and singing a few compositions of Tyagaraja, Rama sought to establish that piety with single minded devotion and compassion should be the characteristic feature of a sadhaka. It enables him or her to visualise divinity in the entire range of creation. All such exponents should consider themselves doubly fortunate for being destined to become musicians and endeavour to meditate upon each one of the basic units to evolve music that could merge with its original form. That is salvation, Rama summed up.
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