Power allocation to APEPDCL minimal

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 30, 2012: Power allocation to the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Development Corporation Ltd (APEPDCL),  which supplies power ro Vizag district has been minimal compared to that allocated to other disoms.  Amomg Tier II cities, Vizag is next to Ahmedabad in attracting the highest investments, and trade and industry stake holders are therefore concerned about district power allocation at a time when the power situation is worsening.
According to the Electricity Regulatory Commission’s final transfer scheme only 15.80 percent 
power has been allocated to APEPDCL, which serves the needs of five districts in coastal Andhra 
Pradesh including Vizag, whereas 46.06percent has been allocated to the Andhra Pradesh central Power Development Corporation Ltd ( APCPDCL) which distributes power to seven districts, including state capital.
APEPDCL is responsible for undertaking distribution and bulk supply of power in the operation circles of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts and 20 Divisions of coastal Andhra Pradesh. It supplies power to over 49.7 lakh consumers belonging to different categories.
APCPDCL has consumer strength of 8 million and supplies power to Anantapur, Kurnool, 
Mahboobnagar, Nalgonda, Medak and Rangareddy districts.
Though the APCPDCL’s consumers are 30 lakh more than APEPDCL, not even half the power 
allocated to it is given to the latter. Industry heads feel that more power should be allocated to APEPDCL due to the  presence of many industries in Vizag and its surroundings.

There are more than 500 micro small and medium scale industries and more than 50 major industries coming under the purview of APEPDCL, beisdes many commercial establishments. Ironically APEPDCL has the lowest allocation in the state. Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Development Corporation Ltd (APSPDCL) was allocated 22.27 percent and its northern counterpart APNPDCL 15.87 percent.
“Our discom APEPDCL has lowest losses of  7 percent,  among all four discoms which are 
separate companies. Other discoms have more than 15 percent why should we pay for thefts 
in other 3 discoms. We can save Rs 4000crores of power by reducing losses in other discom 
to our APEPDCL levels. Tariff,   allocations and restrictions on usage of power should be 
based on merit and losses but not same for all industries in different discoms,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association, vice president, O Naresh Kumar. He  sought more allocation of power for Vizag. 

Government land encroached in Vizag city

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 29: With the skyrocketing of land prices, government lands worth thousands of crores of rupees have been encroached by real estate agents in the city.

In a clear case of tampering and falsifaction of records, Field Measurement Book (FMB) of survey no 1011, block no. 39, Waltair Ward of Pandurangapuram on the beach road was tampered by the ULC officials which is being investigated by the vigilance sleuths. 

In collusion with e-seva centre officials, some real estate agents and developers fabricated documents and obtained government orders to allegedly grab land that vested in the government under the Urban Land Ceiling Act.

While the issue is being inquired by the vigilance department, documents available with this newspaper show that ULC office totally tampered the crucial FMB of the said survey number used to register land transactions.

The FMB used in regularizing surplus land under various ULC provisions was totally different from the FMB certified by the central survey office of 1966, on which land transactions are actually to be based and done.

The said land under the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) surplus land of 2752 sq.mtrs, and 2870 sq.mtrs, in town survey no.1011/1A1A3B & 1011/1A1A3C on the beach road, had been allotted to P Venkatapathi Raju and K Naga Kanaka Brahmam through G O Ms no. 424 issued by the revenue department on April 6,2006.  

In December 2006, the then district collector submitted a report to the government stating that P Venkatapathi Raju and K Naga Kanaka Brahmam, have managed to get the said land allotted to them by producing false documents. As a consequence of the district collector’s report, the G O was kept in abeyance.  

Later, Venkatapathi Raju and Brahmam filed representations before the then revenue minister, Dharmana Prasad Rao, and among other things, stated that they were willing to pay the highest slab rate.

The request of the applicants was considered by the state government, which decided to apply the highest slab rate of the year 2002 -Rs.1,750 per sq.mtr, and accordingly, modification orders were issued fixing the highest slab rate under G.O.Ms.No.493,on March 26, 2008 and the abeyance order issued earlier was withdrawn.

“An independent investigation, other than by state vigilance commission, preferably by CBI, should be ordered to ascertain the criminal liability of the concerned minister and the officials in this particular land transaction. Every extra day's delay in proceeding will create that much of scope for destruction of the evidence,” observed former senior bureaucrat and Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) convenor, EAS Sarma.

A multi storied apartment complex with more than 90 super luxury flats in three blocks valued hundreds of crores is coming up on the controversial land. 

VIZAG RUSHES TO GET MARUTI INTERESTED

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 28, 2012: The government is moving quickly to get Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) to invest in Andhra Pradesh after getting a hint from a top official of the company.

A team of officials from the state government’s investment and infrastructure development department will visit the corporate office of Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi in December to urge the automobile giant’s top management to consider Vizag for setting up a regional stockyard and for other investments in the region.

The move comes after MSIL chief operating officer S.Y. Siddiqui, during his visit to the Gitam University last week, showed interest in setting up one of the five regional stockyards, planned in various parts of the country, in Vizag.

MSIL has already zeroed in on Bengaluru, Nagpur, Ranchi and Siliguri to set up their stockyards and is yet to finalise the fifth location. Mr Siddiqui had promised to take up the location issue with the top management soon.

“I am glad to know that Maruti is interested to invest in Vizag. It may generate job opportunities for locals. In the second week of December, a team from our department will meet the MSIL management to take it forward,” infrastructure and ports minister Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao told this newspaper.

The minister, in a letter to Mr Siddiqui on Wednesday, also urged him to consider Vizag for setting up a car manufacturing unit given its sea and air connectivity and the availability of vast government lands, SEZs, apparel parks and many IT companies.

The minister added that a “health city” was also being developed and plots were allotted to different companies to set up hospitals. On the education sector, nearly four universities were functioning in Vizag, which would help the staff of MSIL if a manufacturing unit was established.

“Many mega housing projects taken up by VUDA and other companies on PPP base are in the finishing stages. I hope keeping all these factors into consideration MSIL will come forward to invest in this region, especially by setting up a manufacturing unit,” said the minister. 

Hinduja goes ahead with power plant work without NOC

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 28, 2012: A glaring example of pressure from the powers that be – nearly 60 percent construction of the the proposed coal based thermal power plant in Palavalasa near Gajuwaka has been completed, without a No Objection Certificate (NOC), for the work from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

The power plant is being set up by the Hindujas with at least 3,000 workers working daily on at the site.

The Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited (HNPCL) was allotted 1,123 acres land in Dewada and Palavalasa villages near Gajuwaka in 1999 to set up 1,084 MW coal-based thermal power plant. As per the agreement with state government signed in 1008, the HNPCL has to complete the project within five years, failing which the power purchase agreement would be cancelled.

But the project never took off and the Hindujas approached the government again and revived the land lease for five more years. Since then HNPCL has been seeking extensions and the government has been obliging it.  

In March 2011, HNPCL applied for renewal of the construction, following which the GVMC sent a demand notice of Rs 171 crore but it was renegotiated to Rs 51 crore. However, only Rs 19 lakh was paid by the company and the application was returned without approval.

Even as the application for the NOC remains pending with GVMC, work by the HNPCL is in full swing to get the plant operational by September, 2013. According to the plant insiders, 60 percent of the fabrication and erection work and 40 percent of the civil work are complete, remaining work is on at a fast pace.

“The application from HNPCL for an NOC is still pending with us due to various reasons. We are yet to consider their application and give a go ahead for the construction,” GVMC Commissioner MV Satyanrayana told this correspondent.

Another senior civic official who did not wish to be named privately admitted that there were “instructions” from Hyderabad not to “obstruct the construction activity”.

The proposed power project by Hindujas is already embroiled in many controversies and came under fire by opposition for alienation of Wakf property, delay in grounding the project, revision of power purchase agreement, sale of Wakf land at a throwaway price and multiple extensions.

“It’s an open construction activity which everybody can see. Irony is that basic labour rules and wage policies are not implemented by the HNPCL authorities,” said Hinduja Project Displaced Welfare Association president, B Dilli Rao.

Meanwhile from the “compliance report” submitted by HNPCL to Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF) in April 2011, it is evident that the company has purchased agricultural land of 330 acres around Devada village in Paravada Mandal in the district. The said land is apparently proposed to be used for dumping fly ash from the company's thermal power project.

Former senior bureaucrat and Forum for Better Visakha (FBV), convenor, EAS Sarma pointed that the local Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) concerned should examine the application for conversion of land-use under  AP Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2006 as per the procedure now laid down by the AP High Court in an order dated Aug, 7, 2012 in WP No. 24342/2012.

“The RDO concerned should examine the application for conversion of land-use as per the procedure now laid down by high court and pending such an examination, all construction should be stopped forthwith. Revenue authorities should pass a speaking order in this regard,” said Sarma. 

26/11: No biometric card issued in 4 years

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 26, 2012: One more anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack had quietly passed away on Monday and the lone survivor of the attack, Pakistan based Ajmal Kasab too was hanged to death but the proposal to issue biometric identity cards to fishermen along the coast line covering three districts of north Andhra to beef up coastal security has not yet seen the light.

Not a single such card was issued even four years after the directive by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to all the state fisheries departments to issue cards through the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL).  The scheme for issuing biometric identity cards for fishermen in the state has been launched as part of MHA directive to keep vigil along the coasts in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Three deadlines by the state fisheries department were ignored by the local officials and the result is that no fishermen was issued these cards due to which surveillance teams guarding Vizag coastline are facing it difficult to keep a tab on fishermen.

It is to be noted here that 26/11 terrorists had entered into Indian territory at Mumbai through sea reportedly in fishing boats and in the guise of fishermen.

Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments. State office set a deadline of August in 2009 to finish the process and issue cards. Later deadline was extended to October. “I agree there is an abnormal delay in issuing these cards. We have done our part in coordinating fishermen and organsing periodical camps in collecting various details and capturing photos of local fisherfolk. Now it’s ECIL, which has to issue the cards. ECIL representatives said these cards would be issued by December end this year,” Fisheries department joint director, P Koteswara Rao told this correspondent.

Several teams of ECIL and fisheries department, have already collected details and data related to fisherfolk in the three districts of north Andhra.  The ID card is supposed to have details like the name of the fisherman, parents' names, address, educational qualification, numbers of ration and voter ID cards. 

ECIL teams could capture photographs and take details of around 25,081 fishermen in Vizag, 37,906 in Srikakulam and 4,683 fishermen in Viziangaram districts.

Until now, details of only 76 percent of the fisherfolk in Vizag, 73 percent in Srikakulam and 52 percent in Viziangaram were collected.

“It was the poor turnout by the fisherfolk during the regular camps conducted to take details was delaying the whole process. The process has already reached the final stage of taking digital signatures and we are confident of issuing these cards very soon,” said an ECIL official. 

Yalamanchali MLA in dock again

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 12, 2012: More trouble seems to be in the offing for the controversial Yalamanchali Congress MLA, U V Ramanamurthy Raju (Kanbababu).
While the ACB sleuths here acting on the directions of special court have registered a
case and probing into his alleged disproportionate assets, fingers are now being pointed
at the palatial house he built in Seethammadhara, which a part is said to be constructed
on allegedly encroached piece of land belonging to Simhachalam Desvasthanam.
Acting on the orders of AP Lokyukta, settlement and land survey department teams here
with the help of around six surveyors readied a report which established that the MLA
constructed some part of his house in 700 sq yards of land in survey no-275 belonging to
Simhachalam Devasthanam.
While the encroachment was allegedly done by one Srinivasa Cooperative Society, the MLA constructed his house in 1,066 sq yards belonging to the society in survey no 7 along with the adjacent 700 sq yards of Simhachalam devsthanam land.
It was in 2011 June that the AP Lokayukta basing on some reports on MLA’s alleged
encroachment, asked the settlement and land survey department to submit a report in this
regard. After a prolonged examination of the land and the related records the Survey
department has recently readied the report and is going to send the report to the
Lokyukta and also to the state government.
“It is blatant violation. The present market value of a sq yard in the city’s most posh
Seethammadhara is Rs 50,000 and the total value of the encroached land would be close to Rs 3.5 cr. It’s not just this small piece of encroachment but the MLA Kannababu is
involved in many other encroachments worth hundreds of crores, We demand a CBI inquiry into his misuse of power and possession of disproportionate assets, ” former minister and TD senior leader, Ch Ayyana Patrudu.
ACB has filed cases on Sep 24 against the MLA and his family members including his wife, daughter and son for amassing huge wealth using his power.  The special court here for ACB cases ordered ACB to file a case and probe while hearing a petition filed by Adari Adimurthy. ACB on Oct 17 conducted simultaneous raids on various premises belonging to the MLA.  Adimurthy, a resident of the MLA’s home constituency in his petition alleged that the assets of the MLA, who had served two terms, increased manifold within a span of five to six years. He submitted around 28 documents substantiating his charges against the MLA.

CELEBRATION TIME Dharmana, Ganta heap praise on Kiran

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 26, 2012: The fissures in the Congress ranks were finally out in the open on Sunday over conducting the “victory day” and “rededication day” functions to mark N.

Kiran Kumar Reddy completing two years as the Chief Minister.

Dharmana Prasada Rao, who resigned as roads and buildings minister, took the function as an opportunity to express his gratitude towards Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy, who batted for him in the state Cabinet against his prosecution.

Mr Prasada Rao, along with ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao and P.

Balaraju, heaped praises on Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy at the programme, named “Kranthikiranotsavam”, held at a private function hall on the Beach Road.

Interestingly in a “rare coincidence”, the venue selected for the programme, supervised personally by Mr Srinivasa Rao, was bang opposite the family residence of Union minister K.C. Deo, who had reportedly written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently, terming the CM “ineffective”.

It may be recalled here that Mr Srinivasa Rao had openly come down heavily on Mr Deo after news about the alleged letter surfaced.

Meanwhile, the absence of any such functions or activity to celebrate the Chief Minister’s two years at the helm in PCC chief Botsa Satyanrayana’s bastion Vizianagaram was telling.

In Visakhapatnam, addressing the meeting, attended by all the local MLAs and Congress leaders, Mr Prasada Rao said, “I was saddened when he missed Cabinet post twice earlier when YSR was the chief minister, but I never saw any kind of disappointment in him at that time. He is an able leader and it’s evident the way he has dealt with challenges, both political and administrative, since he assumed the CM’s office. I am very happy that the party high command recognized his talents made him the CM.” 

He also took potshots at TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu for criticizing the CM and laying allegations of his administration being ineffective.

“Naidu could successfully tour in Mahbubnagar and other places amidst stiff resistance as part of his padayatra only due to Kiran Reddy’s able and effective administration,” Mr Prasada Rao said.

Mopidevi made a scapegoat: Family Alleging that Mopidevi Venkataramana has been made a scapegoat by the Congress, his family on Sunday said the Cabinet should have rejected the CBI plea for his prosecution in Vanpic land case, like it did in the case of Dharmana Prasada Rao.

G O issue: Minister Dharmana role under scrutiny

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 7, 2012: Already facing CBI charges in the Vanpic case, roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao could now be investigated for his role in issuing a Government Order (G O) in 2008, when he was revenue minister, regularizing hundreds of crores worth of surplus ULC land for the benefit of private persons.

The matter is related to the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) surplus land of 2752 sq.mtrs, and 2870 sq.mtrs, in town survey no.1011/1A1A3B & 1011/1A1A3C on the beach road, which had been allotted to p Venkatapathi Raju and K Naga Kanaka Brahmam through G O Ms no. 424 issued by the revenue department on April 6,2006.  

In December 2006,  the then district collector submitted a report to the government stating that P Venkatapathi Raju and K Naga Kanaka Brahmam, have managed to get the said land allotted to them by producing false documents. As a consequence of the district collector’s report, the G O was kept in abeyance.  

Later, Venkatapathi Raju and Brahmam filed representations before the then revenue minister, Dharmana Prasad Rao, and among other things, stated that they were willing to pay the highest slab rate.

The request of the applicants was considered by the state government, which decided to apply the highest slab rate of the year 2002 -Rs.1,750 per sq.mtr, and accordingly, modification orders were issued fixing the highest slab rate under G.O.Ms.No.493,on March 26, 2008 and the abeyance order issued earlier was withdrawn.

Subsequently, the director general of the Anti Corruption Bureau, conducted discreet enquiry and recommended initiating departmental action against the two private persons, for submitting a fake and fabricated house tax book and tax receipts to the then

special officer and the competent authority, Urban Land Ceiling, Visakhapatnam. The ACB also recommended that the two men be prosecuted under sections 420, 435, 465 and 471 of the IPC. “What is the necessity for a revenue minister to issue orders regularizing the said land fixing a very low price when the market value of the land is much more and when it was already established by the district collector that the two had obtained the land allotment by producing fake documents? The whole allotment itself is fraudulent,” says CPI district secretary, JV Satyanrayana Murthy.

Following a furore in the state legislative council, the present revenue minister Mr Raghuveera Reddy appointed the special chief secretary and chief commissioner of land administration, to inquire into the matter. The minister ordered the inquiry this September and the report was to be submitted within a month, but the report has bit been submitted yet.

“Since many bigwigs in the government are involved in this matter, I suggest the state government refer the case to the CBI for an independent investigation. It is possible that this case has links to the ongoing investigation by CBI on the involvement of the state’s political leaders in improprieties and illegalities committed. I have filed an application under RTI Act before the Public Information Officer of state revenue department seeking information on the case. Till date, that department has not adequately responded to my application as required by the Act,” said former senior bureaucrat and Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) convenor, EAS Sarma. 

No curbs on female foeticide in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 5, 2012: The district administration appears to be not serious in controlling female foeticide or sex selected abortions in Vizag. Despite strict norms and guidelines under the Pre Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic (Prevention of misuse) Techniques Act, PC&PNDT Act, there are no checks on ultra sound scanning centres for sex determination tests.  

According to 2011 census, the sex ration in the city is 977 females per 1000 males and child sex ratio of girls is 959 per 1000 boys.

Though an advisory committee was set up after an Supreme cOurt’s ruling long back it did not meet regularly till now.

The committee with the district collector as chairman, district medical and health officer (DM& HO) as convenor and pediatrician, radiologist and two social activists as members, has powers to conduct special checks periodically on these scanning centres.

In the last seven years, the committee had met only three to four times, the last one being during Lav Agarwa’s tenure.

According to the Act, DM & HO has to maintain a monthly record of detailed activities of ultrasound scanning centres and it should include every details of the pregnant woman, who underwent the scanning, result of the test and the doctor treating the patient.   

But, sources in district medical and health office, said that proper records are not being maintained.

It is mandatory that all scanning centres have to get themselves enrolled and registered and renew their licenses periodically.  There are around 60 to 70 ultra sound scanning centres in the district and more than 30 unauthoirsed centres in the city.  Sources said that most of these centres conduct sex determination tests clandestinely.  “The committee can conduct surprise checks on these scanning centres and take action against any centre violating PC&PNDT Act. We can terminate licenses of unauthorized scanning centres,” Dr P Venugopal, professor of pediatrics at Andhra Medical College and a member of the advisory committee, told this correspondent. 

Yerran survives powerful landmine blast in 2004, dies in mishap

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 3, 2012: When, senior Telugu Desam (TD) leader, Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu survived a powerful landmine blast triggered by outlawed Maoists in April 2004, his followers, well wishers and close aides felt he will live 100 years, but little they knew that 7 years later in 2012, a simple road mishap would kill their beloved leader.

Naidu was killed in a road accident in the wee hours of Friday, when the speeding vehicle in which he was travelling hit an oil tanker carrying tar from behind.  

On the midnight of April 18, in 2004, Naidu was returning in an SUV from Tekkali to Srikakulam when naxalites blasted the landmine. The SUV he was traveling at that time went about 5 feet up in the air and the engine was reduced to a mangle. Yerran Naidu, two of his associates and two gunmen survived the blast.

Later he won the loksabha election that was conducted after two days and went on to become face of TD in New Delhi.

From a humble beginning as a small time advocate in Srikakulam town, after completing graduation in law at Andhra University, he went on to become TD Parliamentary Party (TDPP) leader.  

He was fondly called as Uttarandhra Simham, Netaji and Yerranna by his followers. “Yerrannaidu not only strived for the party, he worked for the welfare and upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden. It’s a great loss to Andhra Pradesh and equally to our party. We lost a powerful leader,” said former minister and another senior TD leader, CH Ayyana Patrudu.

Yerran Naidu was known to be having sound knowledge about various issues concerning common man and he was always in the forefront to fight for the poor. He led many protests in the three districts of north Andhra. “Personally it’s an irrecoverable loss to me. He guided me on many issues when I newly entered politics,” said ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who begun his political career with TD.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who was elected from Anakapalli parliamentary constituency in 1999, was also Naidu’s Loksabha colleague.

“He was a mass leader and has this fighter instinct in him.,” said CPI district secretary, JV Satyanrayana Murthy. 

MARRIAGE HUES: Big fat wedding in Botsa family has officials on toes

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 2, 2012: The wedding of Botsa Anusha, daughter of transport minister and PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, has the local officials in jitters. They are under tremendous pressure to provide accommodation and “official” vehicles for VVIPs and VIPs attending the affair to be held in neighbouring Viziangaram on Friday.

The Governors of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have confirmed their visits.

The entire state Cabinet ministers including Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, 15 Union ministers along with newly sworn-in tourism minister K. Chiranjeevi, 30 MPs and more than 150 MLAs are to attend the wedding.

In a coincidence of sorts, most of the ministers are visiting Vizag on “official” work and then planning to attend the wedding in Viziangaram on Friday evening.

Interestingly, most of the ministers are visiting Vizag on "official" work and then attend the wedding in Viziangaram on Friday evening. Given the large number of VVIPs, maintaining protocol is turning out to be a problem since the local office is understaffed — Vizag is not a prominent destination due to lack of political and government related activity.

Therefore, a battery of tahsildhars, MROs, special grade deputy collectors has been deployed by the local administration to take care of the guests.

The transport and police departments are hiring more than 200 private vehicles. The transport department is hiring 150 vehicles on Thursday and Friday paying `1,000 per day per vehicle. In all, it is spending `3 lakh to hire vehicles for “official” movements.

Transport department sleuths are also said to be pressurising taxi operators.

“We are hiring private vehicles to use them as part of the convoys,” in charge deputy transport commissioner G. Krishnaiah told this correspondent.

In a last-minute arrangement, local officials are said to have brought in beacon lights from Hyderabad to fit on cars carrying VIPs.

With the government circuit house having limited accommodation and given the long list of the guests officials had to find rooms for them in star hotels on the Beach Road and also in guest houses belonging to various PSUs located in the vicinity.

“Ministers have suddenly decided to hold ‘review’ meetings at Vizag just to attend the VIP wedding. These review meetings are meant to legitimise the visits of these ministers,” said social activist and former bureaucrat, E.A.S. Sarma.