Kadapa, Nov. 19: Praja Rajyam (PR) founder Chiranjeevi said he would develop entire state as the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, had developed Pulivendula if the PR was elected to power. He said he would have been happier if the state was developed on par with Pulivendula. He said people in Pulivendula were lucky as the area witnessed a lot of development.

Chiranjeevi conducted a roadshow at Pulivendula, represented by Dr Reddy in the Assembly, on Wednesday as part of the Praja Ankita Yatra. His speech assumed significance in the wake of clashes between the PR and the Congress activists on Tuesday night. While praising the development of Pulivendula, Chiranjeevi indirectly criticised the Chief Minister. He also explained why he had not developed his native village Mogaltur. The PR founder said he wanted to develop entire state.

Chiranjeevi said he also wanted to see the development in Balapanur, the native village of the Chief Minister, and added that he would see if newspapers printed photos of development in the village. Chiranjeevi said even though he had no experience in politics he had an urge to serve people.

He said some persons drew borders urging him not to visit Pulivendula and questioned whether the town was a Special Political Zone like Special Economic Zone and whether he required a visa or a passport to visit it. Chiranjeevi said he was overwhelmed with the response given by people in Pulivendula.  He said people were architects of his political future.

Kurnool, Nov. 19: Farmers in Kurnool district are facing problems due to power cuts.  They say that power is being supplied only for four hours in two phases in a day and not for seven hours as promised by government. Power supply is also stopped for another half an hour for maintenance.

They said that they were not able to provide water to their farms due to power cuts. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, directed officials to supply seven hours power to farmers at any cost. However his directions are not being implemented.

The number of agricultural power connections is more in the Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency as compared to Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency. Power connections are not necessary in the latter due to the KC canal, Srisailam right branch canal, Telugu Ganga and several tanks.

However, farmers of tail-end areas are using power motors. They are also using motors to pump water from the Kundu and Galeru rivers.  In Kurnool Lok Sabha area, farmers mainly depend on borewells and tanks for cultivation.

Power cuts were also imposed for domestic users in Kurnool district. In Kurnool city, power cut is being implemented for not less than two hours a day. The situation is worse in villages and power is being supplied to them only at night.  Villagers say that the quality of power is not good after 10 pm.

Nellore, Nov. 19: Truck operators are up in arms against the AP government for multifold increase in penalties and taxes. They have been demanding dropping of GO No 332 related to the hike immediately.

Referring to the GO, the AP Lorry Owners Association president and vice-president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, Mr P. Gopal Naidu, said that there was a heavy increase in various taxes, fines, permits and compounding fees related to goods vehicles.

Speaking to this newspaper on Wednesday, he said that truck operators holding national permits have to pay a fee of Rs 1,000 to state government to obtain an additional permit. The fee used to be Rs 300 before the introduction of the GO.

In addition, operators have to pay Rs 5,000 to the state concerned to obtain the permit. The penalty for not having fitness certificate has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. Similarly, operating without permit will attract Rs 5,000 fine as against Rs 1,000 in the past. Truck drivers have to pay Rs 5,000 fine if they fail to produce a driving license now as against Rs 1,000 earlier.

Mr Gopal Naidu alleged that lorry owners in AP had been paying Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 more when compared to the neighboring states towards government fees, quarterly taxes and user charges. He said that there were hardly any benefits for the sector. He said that many of them were not able to pay monthly instalments to finance companies because of the recession in the market.

"We are gearing up to oppose the GO, both at the state and national levels also. To bring pressure on government, 178 lorry operator associations affiliated to the state association, have started sending telegrams to the CM, demanding scrapping the GO as a first step.

The operators will protest before the regional transport offices and go on strike if there is no response from the government on the issue," Gopal Naidu said. He said that they were planning to convene an emergency meeting shortly to deal with the subject if there is no response from government.

He said that the All India Motor Transport Congress is also planning a bandh on December 20 to protest against government’s failure to bring down diesel prices even after the barrel rate plunged to $ 60 from $ 147 in the international market.

He alleged that the union government had failed to react to their representations to reduce diesel prices, forcing them to call for a nation wide bandh.

Tirupati, Nov 19: Nationalisation of banks help India tackle the global economic slowdown, said Prof. P.L. Visveswara Rao, Osmania University, Hyderabad. Indira Gandhi’s vision to see India as a global superpower, was remarkable and her policies have immense relevance today, he said.

Speaking at a national seminar on "Indira’s Vision in Public Sector Growth" organised by the Centre for Indira Gandhi Studies, Sri Padmavathi Mahila University and Public Relations Society of India, Tirupati chapter, to commemorate the leader’s 88th Birth Anniversary, he said that Indira Gandhi was a woman of courage and conviction, who had the courage to implement her policies and the conviction to ensure that they were successful.

Mr V.V.R. Sastry, chairman and managing director, Bharat Electricals Limited, Bangalore, in his keynote address, summed up public sector initiatives by members of the Nehru-Gandhi family across four generations. Initiated by Nehru, public sector undertakings in India are the nation's pride and the thrust of its development. Autonomy is important for better performance of these sectors.

Mr R.A. Anantha Padmanabha Rao, president, Public Relations Society of India, Tirupati chapter and consultant, TTD Bhakti Channel, presided over the function. Dr C. Vani, coordinator, Indira Gandhi Studies, Sri Padmavathi Mahila University welcomed the guests.

Earlier, Mr V.V.R. Sastry garlanded the portrait of Smt Indira Gandhi and P.L.Visveswara Rao lighted the lamp.

Rajahmundry, Nov. 19: With the prevalence of dry weather in the last few days after the cyclonic storm, farmers are making brisk arrangements for harvesting the paddy crop in the Godavari districts.

Downpour under the influence of a cyclonic storm caused damage to largely paddy fields in an extent of12,500 hectares in East Godavari. The areas which suffered crop damage are Mummidivaram, I. Pola-varam, Katrenikona and Uppalaguptam in the Amalapuram division. Heavy rainfall, overflowing irrigation canals and drainage network in some pockets caused partial inundation of paddy fields resulting in logging of the fully grown paddy crop.

As there is no rainfall for the last four days, farmers are trying to save the damaged crops by draining out the water, spraying salt solution and making the logged paddy crop stand again with the support of poles. In the case of fully-grown paddy crop which suffered damage, farmers are harvesting it, drying it by spreading it on dried up area in the fields and also on roads along the fields. Farmers who suffered no damage are making arrangements to hire harvesters to get their crop harvested.

As the government is encouraging the mechanisation of agriculture, several harvesters were purchased to press them into service. Nearly Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 is being charged to harvest paddy crop per acre.

The agriculture authorities maintain that on an average, the district gets 28 bags of paddy for kharif and as some crops suffered minor damages, the yield in such crops may vary by two to four bags of paddy per acre. However, they ruled out any decline in total production as the Swarna variety which was raised in nearly 70 per cent of the total area in the district is giving, on an average, 30 bags per acre for kharif.

In West Godavari, paddy crops suffered damage in an extent of 23,750 hectares, mainly in a few villages in Nidadavole, Akiveedu, Palakoderu, Yelamanchali, Palakole and Mogaltur in Narasapuram division. The 1010 variety of paddy is giving an average yield of 30 bags for kharif and in areas where crop suffered damage, the yield may slightly come down by two to four bags per acre. Farmers are making brisk arrangements for harvesting the paddy crop by deploying harvesters. The Chief Minister, while reviewing crop damages recently, assured farmers that discoloured paddy would be purchased.

Dendulur, Nov. 19: The minister for minor irrigation, Mr Maganti Venkateswara Rao, inaugurated the distribution of financial incentives to farmers who had cleared their farm loans promptly here on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said nearly 32 lakh farmers would be given Rs 1,600 crore as financial incentive of Rs 5,000 each in the state and added that in West Godavari alone, nearly 2.76 lakh farmers were going to get Rs 136.86 crore.

The minister said that the distribution programme of financial incentives to farmers would continue upto November 30.  At a separate programme held at Eluru, Mr Venkateswara Rao announced that he would take up Palle Nidra for six days with a three-day break from November 19 to 27.

He said that he would visit 15 mandals covering nine Assembly segments in the district.  The minister will take part in Palle Nidra at Gudipadu on November 19, Bandivarigudem of T. Narasapuram mandal on November 20, Kalla mandal on November 24, Penumantra mandal on November 25 and Chityala in Gopalapuram mandal on November 26.

Karimnagar, Nov. 19: Even before the bitter memories of the death of eight school students in the tragic school bus mishap at Desrajpalli a couple of years ago faded from the public memory, fresh instances of mishaps involving school buses and vehicles continued to occur due to the apathy of the errant school managements.

As many as 14 students of a private school of Kalwa Srirampur were injured when the school van in which they were proceeding to the school overturned due to the breakdown of the axle rod near Tharupalli two weeks ago.

The incident exposed the poor maintenance of the school buses and the constant risk to which the students are exposed.  The district has a staggering number of 926 buses, vans and other vehicles owned by the private educational institutions including the schools and colleges.

Of them, more than 220 vehicles are plying without paying the prescribed quarterly tax.  Several of these vehicles, mainly the second hand vehicles purchased in the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, are being operated in violation of the safety norms without possessing the fitness certificates.

The menace is rampant in the remote mandals mainly located in Manthani and Sircilla divisions.  Taking advantage of the inadequate inspecting staff and lack of regular checks, the errant managements have been using poorly maintained second hand vehicles.

"Deterrent action should be taken against the errant school managements, which are using the second-rate vehicles," demanded S. Devanand, the parent of a student of a town-based private school.

The officials concerned wake up from slumber only when some major mishap occurs and then gets down to the usual casual approach during the rest of the time, he lamented.

Meanwhile, the transport department has set November 22 as the deadline for the school and college vehicles for payment of the quarterly tax and obtaining the fitness certificates.

When contacted, the regional transport officer, Mr Rajaratnam, said that the vehicles plying without the requisite fitness certificates and documents in proof of payment of the quarterly tax would be seized after November 24.

Adilabad, Nov. 19: District additional sessions judge S. Venkataramanaiah on Wednesday dismissed the appeal filed by zilla parishad (ZP) chairman Ramesh Rathod in a case related to obstructing forest range officer (FRO) Kondal Rao of Jannaram while discharging duties and modified the lower court’s judgment which sentenced him to two years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000.

The court confined the punishment to a fine of Rs 10,000 and did away with the jail term.  FRO Kondal Rao of Jannaram lodged a complaint against the ZP chairman stating that he had obstructed him while discharging duties and removing huts on encroached forest lands at Marrimadugu village in Jannaram mandal on March 11, 2006.

Luxettipet sessions court sentenced Ramesh Rathod to two years jail and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000. Subsequently, Rathod appealed to the district court. However, both the parties compromised recently on compoundable Section -506 for criminal intimidation.

Vijayawada, Nov. 19: Buoyed by the successful conduct of the Dasara festivities on the Indrakeeladri, abode of Goddess Kanakadurga here, the specified committee is very keen to implement the same formula for the relinquishment of Bhavani Deeksha which is scheduled to be held next month.

The senior officials pulled their socks in advance to make the event incident-free as the last year’s celebrations were marred by a stampede. The meeting of the specified committee with guru bhavanis which was held here on Tuesday decided to follow the one-way entrance and one-way exit system to allow the devotees of Bhavani Deeksha during the relinquishment between December 19 and 24.

They also decided to shift the homagundam where the devotees drop their irumudi of deeksha to Mallikarjunpet at the foot of the hill. The Durga Malleswara Swamivarla Devasthanam also decided to make arrangements at all the gh-ats. For devotees coming from Hyderabad, Durga Gh-at and Punnami Ghat have been readied and the devotees thronging from Rajahmundry and Guntur, Krishna Ghat at Seethammapadalu has been allotted.

Besides these, Padmavati Ghat opposite Rajiv Gandhi Park has been spruced up to meet extra rush. As many as 200 showers would be arranged at Krishnaveni, Punnami and Padmavati ghats. The Devasthanam bu-ses would take the devotees from the railway station and the bus stands to the ghats.

Unlike last year, when qu-eue line was arranged from Vinayaka temple on the canal road, this time officials are planning to make entry point of the queue line from Kaleswararao Market. The officials promised to make temporary shelters at vacant places in Arjuna Str-eet, Jammidoddi and Akk-anna Madanna caves for the pilgrims. The police offici-als are planning to divert traffic on National Highways 5 and 9 if necessary. Meanwhile, the retaining wall proposed to club tourist bus stand with Om Curve atop Indrakeeladri is still facing hurdles. The work on the wall came to a standstill as the officials have to acquire the land of Vi-jayeswara Swamy temple.

The principal secretary to endowments, Mr Veerabhadra Rao, commissioner of endowments, Mr P. Sundar Kumar, executive oficer of the temple, Mr Chandrakumar, commissioner of po-lice, Mr K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, joint collector, Mr B. Ramaiah and sub-collector, Mr Gourav Uppal and other officials participated.

Guntur, Nov. 19: The minister for Rajiv Vidya Mission, Mr Murugudu Hanumantha Rao, distributed credit incentive certificates worth Rs 2.48 crore in connection with the loan waiver to the farmers by the Union government in Mangalagiri.

The district administration on Wednesday conducted the certificate distribution programme at the mandal parishat development office in Mangalagiri.  The minister was the chief guest for the event.  Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hanumantha Rao said 1.94 lakh farmers in Guntur district would get Rs 5,000 each under the loan waiver scheme.

He said Rs 97 crore will be deposited into the accounts of the farmers who repaid the loans before February 29, 2008. In Mangalagiri mandal, 4,004 farmers were benefited by the loan waiver. Mr Hanumantha Rao said for the first time in the country the Union government has sanctioned credit incentives to farmers who repaid the loans. He called upon the farmers to become aware of the cultivation practices for better production.

The district collector, Mr B.Venkatesam, asked the farmers to utilise the incentives being offered by the government to the latter. Lead bank manager, Mr P.S.R.K. Prasad, officials and staff from various banks and the agriculture department attended the programme.

Visakhapatnam, Nov. 19: The police have decided to bring down the drunken driving with an iron fist following growing incidence of accidents in the city during last one year. The menace is found even during the daytime on the beach road.

The deputy commissioner of police, Mr P. Viswa Prasad, said on Tuesday a youth created a scare among the public with his drunken driving in Andhra University Engineering college campus. The 27-year-old youth, S. Venu, drove his car in such a way that it overturned thrice before coming to a halt. He was arrested and sent to judicial remand. He warned that stringent action would to be taken against people found drunk while driving.

After the alco meters were introduced last year, two motorists were jailed while 1,076 motorists were booked and an amount of Rs 9,16,300 was collected as fine by the courts. This year, so far 1,276 cases were booked and an amount of Rs 9.38 lakh was collected as fine.

Earlier the blood samples were being sent to lab for confirmation which used to delay the process of prosecution and consequently diluting the indictment. Now the job of the police, has become easy with the introduction of alco meters, which is acceptable in the court as an evidence. A person could be booked of 30mg / 100ml was found on the meter.

He said the motorists were being fined an amount of Rs 2,000 or six months in prison or both for the first offence. They would be convicted for two years if they were booked subsequently. Even the punishment could be enhanced if the person found guilty for a second or third time under section 75 of IPC, the DCP said.Mr Viswa Prasad said the checking would be stepped up further all over the city after acquiring more alco meters, which were being given by the Steel Plant authorities.

He appealed to the motorists to avoid drunken driving, tripling riding and making acrobats on the roads, which would not only kill them but also harm others.