Vizag IT firms look for brighter times

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 29, 2013: The new tax policy has taken the sheen off the information technology sector in Visakhapatnam that is already bogged down by the severe power crisis, infrastructure issues and poor human resources.

IT firms in Vizag are now losing business to low cost countries like Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and some Russian block countries, where the expenses are low.  

The union government has imposed Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) at 18 per cent, even in SEZs, where earlier all exports were exempt from income tax. All IT exports outside the SEZ are taxed at the regular tax rate of 33percent. Besides, the government has also introduced service tax.

For every invoice raised domestically 12.3percvent service tax has to be paid even if there is delay in client payment. If invoice is raised this has to be paid. “Previously we could pay after client paid and it was 10percent. Now rules changed to pay 12.3percent and even if client does not pay. We have to pay.  For every invoice raised government is collecting 22.6percent (10 percent income tax and 12.6 service tax). Now offer letters issued are on hold. Pay hikes are on hold. Cost cutting is in place. Opimization of work force is the buzz word. Reduced billing is the in thing now. Every company is facing lesser billing and no hikes at all 90percent of the time,” observed Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), president and CEO of Symbiosys Technologies, O Naresh Kumar.

He added that  many companies when they outsource work to small companies in cities like Vizag they are spending 10.3percent as TDS, 12.3percent service tax and a minimum of 20percent profit for service provider, which means when they give business out it costs them at least 10.3percent+12.3percent+20percent+adminisntartion expenses which equals to total 50percent more.

“So they are reducing outsourcing and doing works in house. There is severe cost cutting. Meanwhile we are not able to offer competitive prices with so many other domestic problems,” he pointed.  

There are around 100 medium, small and big IT and ITES firms operating in Vizag with 10,000 employees.  Most of the units functioning in Vizag, deal in end-to-end business integration, medical billing, financial information processing, ERP product, content management, networking, business, recruitment process outsourcing, and medical transcription. 

Now, PAG objects to Vuda land sale

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 26, 2013: After the vigilance and enforcement department probe confirmed alleged Rs 542 cr land scam of Vuda, now it’s the turn of Principal Auditor General (PAG) to raise objections. The audit body of Andhra Pradesh which completed post audit into accounts of Vuda has found fault over the third party registrations of the plots by its staff.

PAG had submitted its audit report of 2010-11 to the government giving a copy of the same to the Vuda in the second week of March.

According to highly placed sources in Vuda, in its report PAG made some clear and specific audit objections over the third party registrations of the plots in around 12 layouts developed by Vuda between 2010 and 11. It was during the same period that there were reports that large scale illegal allotments took place in various layouts developed by Vuda. And most of the registrations of the allegedly illegally allotted plots were done on third party.

The third party registrations of plots were actually banned as per a resolution passed by Vuda Board in 2005 barring houses.

Responding to reports that irregularities in large scale took place in various land allotments by Vuda, the then vice chairman K Sasidhar submitted a report to state government’s municipal administration department stating prima facie evidence was found on the said irregularities to the tune of Rs 542 crores in various layouts developed by the urban development authority in Rushikonda, Madhurawada and many other areas. Acting on the report, department of municipal administration and urban development issued G O RT no: 341 on March 21, last year entrusting the job of probing into the alleged irregularities to the vigilance and enforcement wing and submit its report within 3 months.

Though the local vigilance office had submitted its report to Hyderabad office it is yet to be handed over to the municipal and urban development department. To give an audit reply now Vuda staff is busy digging all old files and information to know the exact number of third party registrations done during the period and the reasons cited to do so despite a moratorium on such activity and also action taken in this regard.

It is estimated that an approximate 150 such registrations were done in 2010-11 and the fate of such registrations will be known only in April first week after the staff gets some clarity on the number of registrations.

“Staff was given a deadline of this month end to dig out all the details of the third party registrations done during 2010-11. We have already served a fresh circular very recently on banning these registrations as per a communiqué from stamps and registrations department. However we will take call on the third parry registrations already done after we get all the details,” Vuda vice chairman, Dr N Yuvaraj, told this correspondent. 

Naidu’s padayatra exposes infighting

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 25, 2013: TD’s Vizag unit is yet to finalise the route map for its chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s proposed visit to the district as part of his walkathon, ‘Vasthunna Meekosam’, even though two rounds of discussion have taken place on the matter by party in charge, Sujana T. Chowdhary, over the past week.

Though Chowdhary released a final route map on Sunday, party insiders said that there would be changes, with party State Vice President Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, and party General Secretary Peela Srinivasa Rao, belonging to politburo member Ayyana Patrudu’s faction, again locking horns at the meeting.

Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy is said to have openly vented his anger and demanded that Naidu walk through a few more areas in his constituency, including the Vizag Steel Plant, which was not included in the map. Peela Srinivasa Rao insisted instead that their chief walk through a few more areas of his choice.

Chowdhary, who was vested with the job of placating the two factions in the TD Vizag unit, had recently brokered peace between Satyanarayana and Peela Srinivasa Rao. Now, with the situation back to square one with this incident at the meeting on Sunday, political observers are of the opinion that these differences would cast a shadow on Naidu’s padayatra which is expected to enter Vizag from East Godavari in the second week of April.

“It’s going to be a tough task for Chowdhary to bring everyone on to a single platform. It’s a prestigious event in TD’s history and there should be no embarrassment to the chief who is going to end his six-month padayatra here,” said a senior TD leader.

Though the padayatra is supposed to enter Vizag district at Nathavaram on April 8 it is reliably learnt that it would be delayed by a further three days. TD has planned a huge public meeting on the concluding day of Naidu’s padayatra in Madhurawada.

Balaiah tour a test for TD

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 18, 2013: It will be a Herculean task for the Telugu Desam cadre in Visakhapatnam district to organise the day-long tour of film actor Balakrishna smoothly, scheduled on March 23, if one considers the internal bickerings in the party. TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘Vastunna Meekosam’ padayatra will enter the district in April but there seems no end to the differences.

The party’s Visakhapatnam district unit lacks unity. On March 23, Balakrishna will unveil statues of TDP founder and his father N. T. Rama Rao at Payakaraopet, Akampet, Kandipudi Rajagopalapuram and Kumarapuram villages, under the mass contact programme chalked out by the party chief to revive the prospects of the Telugu Desam ahead of 2014 general elections.

TD president Chandrababu Naidu had tried to put an end to the rivalry between party senior leaders Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy and Ayyana Patrudu but the disagreement fails to die down.
On Sunday, the differences came to the fore again at a party co-ordination meeting held to decide on the route map of Naidu’s padayatra.

No discussions were held at meeting as party state vice-president Satyanarayana Murthy did not take part. He reached the office but after knowing that politburo member Ch Ayyana Patrudu had begun the proceedings, he left the place.

Against this backdrop, TD activists in the district are in a confused state on organising programmes during Balakrishna’s visit.

Payakaraopet has been included into the itinerary of Balakrishna as party former MLA and strong leader Chengala Venkat Rao has switched loyalties to the YSR Congress recently.

Interestingly, Venkat Rao entered politics by joining the TD after producing a film with Balakrishna in the lead role, Samarasimha Reddy, which was a blockbuster and earned huge revenue.

Earlier, Balakrishna had unveiled NTR statues in Krishna, Srikakulam and other districts and announced his intention to plunge into active politics.

Actor Balakrishna’s Payakaraopet programme is officially being organised by the Nandamuri youth association.

AP to follow mining laws, CM forced to reply to questions on bauxite mining

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 17, 2013: Union panchayat raj and tribal welfare minister Kishore Chandra Deo pushed Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy into a tight spot on the bauxite mining issue during the latter’s visit to Vizag Agency on Sunday.

The CM had to clarify his government’s stance after Deo gave his opinion on bauxite mining during his speech at the ‘Tribal development summit’ where Kiran had announced many schemes for tribals.

Reddy had avoided referring to the bauxite mining issue during his visit to Vizag Agency in December. But on Sunday he clarified that the government will abide by the law of the land on mining agreements and will not go against it.

Last year, evoking the special powers vested with the Centre under Clause 3 of Schedule V to the Constitution, Deo had directed the state to cancel the agreements it had signed to mine bauxite, which is abundantly available in Vizag Agency.

Miffed at the lack of response of the state government on his directions, Deo had taken up the issue with PMO recently.

“I openly said that mining should not be allowed in Vizag Agency. The same was decided by the PM at a recent meeting. Now it’s up to the state to expedite the cancellation of the agreements,” said Deo, in the presence of the CM,  Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and state tribal welfare minister P. Balaraju at the public meeting in G.K. Veedhi.

Deo, had also reportedly written to the Congress president last year, referring to the CM as ‘inefficient’ and not working for the party or the poor. “As far as bauxite mining is concerned, AP will not go ahead with the mining if it is against the law,” the CM clarified.

However, the reply was not specific, say environmentalists. “He could have straight away said that the state government would cancel the agreements it signed on bauxite mining instead of saying it would abide by the law and rule book,” said Samata coordinator G. Srinivas.

The APMDC, which was accorded mining licences is said to have submitted a report stating that its licences were given in accordance with the SC’s Samata judgement that a state agency can mine in scheduled areas.

Whereas, directives to the state government by Union tribal welfare minister raised the issue of the Alienation of Land Transfer Regulation (ALTR) society which prohibits a non-tribal from purchasing any land or even getting it on leases within the scheduled areas.

Another Union minister, Jairam Ramesh, who took part in the public meeting also reiterated the need to cancel the mining licenses and also gave a pat to the Kiran Kumar Reddy, saying state government stood ideal in implementing various welfare schemes and bringing development in backward regions. 

TD struggles in North Andhra

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 12, 2013: North Andhra Pradesh was once a strong bastion of the Telugu Desam, ever since the creation of the party by N.T. Rama Rao.

But if the recent spate of incidents are anything to go by, the party seems to be losing its hold in the three districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. It almost swept the polls in the three districts during the 1983 to 1999 polls, but the party started seeing a downward trend in the 2004 polls. In the 2009 elections, it had won a meager 7 Assembly segments of the total 34 Assembly constituencies spread across the three districts. While there are around 15 Assembly segments in Vizag, TD could win only 4  out of 9. 

 

In Vizanagaram, the party bagged only 2 and it could win only one constituency out of 10 in Srikakulam. Last year’s sudden and untimely demise of senior leader K. Yerrannaidu, was a major blow to the party in Srikakulam. In the same  district, the lone MLA from Ichapuram Sai Raj shifted his loyalties to  the new regional force, YSRC this year, reducing the party tally to zero. Part of the problem is that the party does not have a leader of the stature of Yerrannaidu.

 

In Viziangaram, except P. Ashokgajapathi Raju, there are no towering  leaders to restore the party’s lost glory.

 

In Vizag, though the party has only 4 MLAs, leaders and activists are divided into too many factions both in rural and urban units. The party is now divided into two groups in the district. A group loyal to party politburo member Ayyana Patrudu and another owing allegiance to his arch rival, party state vice president Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy. 

 

Though the tussle between these two leaders was said to be resolved on record, both the leaders are apparently not ready to see eye-to-eye. Another senior leader, Dadi Veerabhadhra Rao’s open outburst against party supremo, N Chandrababu Naidu, had paved the way for a fresh crisis in rural tracts of the district.

 

“I think there are no hopes of reviving the party in north Andhra   Pradesh. Last year defeat haunted us in the form of PR, which divided our vote bank, and this time YSRC is likely to play the same role in the 2014 polls. Unless Naidu carries a magic wand when his Vasthunna  Meekosam padayatra enters here, TD will not rise as it is a divided house in this region,” lamented a TD senior leader from Vizag.

Sexual Conduct: Agencies to spy on grooms-to-be on rise

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 13, 2013: Until recently one heard of brides and grooms approaching detective agencies to check out the prospective partners but nowadays detective agencies in Vizag are flooded with requests from parents of brides, to check the sexual conduct of the grooms.   Approaching private detective agencies was confined only to big cities and metros, but the trend has now picked up in Vizag for divorces and post divorces. The handful of private detective agencies in the city has now grown to more than 20. Most of the cases these agencies handle are related to matrimonial issues.

Interestingly, now days, parents of brides are approaching these agencies to check out sexual conduct of the groom -to-be. Private detectives check the groom-to-be with the help of some psychological and social tests. 

These detective agencies offer to check a person’s temperamental levels, past relationships, work culture, body language most importantly mother-in-law’s attitude in the pre marital check.  

 “We have our specific agencies and agents who work for us in Vizag. These days we are getting at least 10 cases in Vizag. And out of them 7 are related to pre marital checks and divorce issues, including this sexual orientation related cases. In some cases police too refer them to us,” said Sharp Detective Agencies Pvt Ltd, MD, DK Giri.

 Real Eye detective agency, manager, Sai Kumar adds “May be because of the increased awareness among educated youth and they want to be on a safer side approaching us to check their probable partners habits, relationships. These days marital related, divorce issues top the list of clients we receive every month and next are property related disputes,”

More men victims of false alimony related cases registered against them approach the private detectives to establish that the spouse seeking separation was not dependent on the husband’s income and has her own steady monthly income resources, other monetary gains.    

“There is nothing wrong in checking a boy’s background, his behaviour and habits, including his sexual orientation before marriage. We can’t do anything if his real nature, character is exposed after marriage. We can’t take such a risk,” said Narasimha Murthy of Madhurawada.

Parents do not mind spending a few thousands to a detective agency to ensure their child’s secure future. 

Rs 12k crore petro project a mirage, no progress on Amerind raises doubts

By SNV Sudhir 

Visakhapatnam, Mar 12, 2013: Silence on the much hyped, Rs 12, 000 cr worth, petro chemical complex proposed to be set up by Amerind Petroleum Pvt Ltd in Petroleum Chemical Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) is raising many eyebrows.

Adding fuel to the speculations and allegations that the project has ample scope for money laundering, there was no follow up either from the company representatives or the state government on setting up the project.

Amerind Petroleum Pvt Ltd has inked a MoU with the state government on Nov 17, 2011 to establish an Rs 12,000 worth crore refinery complex near Vizag in the PCPIR.  The company planned to relocate an existing US refinery. According to US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), it is a 64 year old polluting refinery.

Special package of incentives as per Industrial Promotion Policy 2010-15, industrial clearances and approvals through Single Window Clearance in a time-bound period was offered to Amerind. To help the company in the initial marketing, tie-up support with the public sector oil companies,  IOCL and BPCL was also considered besides procurement of land for the project through APIIC in the PCPIR region.   

But now, highly placed sources in the APIIC said they never received any directions or further orders from the state government on the project work or to acquire requited land for the refinery. “Strangely none from the Amerind approached us or we received any directions from our higher ups on the project. We heard it from the news reports in 2011 that government signed such a MoU for setting up the refinery and after that there was no follow up from the either side,” a senior official of the APIIC who is in the know of PCPIR project developments told this correspondent.

Former union energy secretary EAS Sarma, who filed an application before the industry department under RTI Act seeking copies of the file notings and the correspondence on the subject earlier was surprised to understand the casual manner on the part of the state government to sign the MoU for the project.

“Government should have not rushed into permitting a fly-by-night operator to shift an obsolete refinery in USA to Vizag area, creating an enormous scope for money laundering and shifting toxic pollution from New Jersey in USA to Vizag,” he opined. 

Sarma said that according to the file notings the department was also clueless about the background of the promoter of Amerind, Syed Badruddin. 

Amerind Petroleum had nothing to show by way of experience in oil refining or in any important economic activity.  Amerind had no audited accounts to show.

“A small time company promoted by a small time operator proposing to set up a large oil refinery in the state would have raised doubts in the mind of any prudent government official. The fact that it did not in the instant case shows that either the officials were incompetent or outright dishonest,” Sarma pointed.

The funding for the project was also raised a many doubts when the US Exim Bank Chairman,  Fred Hochberg, during a visit to Hyderabad in Jan last year confirmed that the bank had issued a Letter of Interest to Amerind, but has not yet confirmed grant of loan. Amerind had earlier stated that the project was being funded by the US Exim Bank. The company has a technical collaboration with the American Industrial Corporation, which is a consortium of 14 US companies to set up the refinery with initial capacity of 7.5 million tones.

Visakhapatnam ideal city for MRTS: Expert

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 10, 2013: With more than six lakh two-wheelers and four-wheelers plying on the city roads, causing congestion, pollution, fuel wastage and accidents, for Vizag’s two million population, the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is the ideal public transport system, say experts.

They are of the opinion that Vizag has all the ideal conditions for an excellent MRTS to be brought in. It has wide roads where road possession for construction is not difficult. Implementation will also not involve demolition of large scale private properties.

“Most of the land required is under government control and hence can be easily acquired. The citizens are enlightened and would eagerly welcome the introduction of people-friendly MRTS, though they may initially face some difficulties during the implementation phase. Added to this Vizag has an unassailable advantage in its excellent railway network within the urban area,” said Bhaskar M. of Vizag Railway Issues Forum, who was studying MRTS applicability in Vizag.

Way back in 2005, GVMC proposed a mass rapid transit system at Vizag and called for global expressions of interest for selection of consultants. The proposal was later shelved as it had not met with a good response.

In December 2005, global expressions of interest from consultants for preparation of comprehensive traffic and transportation studies with special emphasis on techno-economic feasibility for introduction of mass rapid transit system in Greater Visakhapatnam city, was invited.

The scope of work included intensive traffic study, estimation of future traffic growth, identification of major corridors, preparation of long term and short-term plans, identification of a suitable MRTS and cost estimation of the project.

Union Minister for Urban Development, Kamalnath, earlier said that since the Metro rail is a central subject, it has been decided that all such projects in the country, whether within one municipal area or beyond, shall be taken up under the Central Metro Acts.

As a result there are Metros in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore. Metro works are in progress several cities including Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and Kochi.
Vizag, Vizianagaram and Anakapalli could be be merged together to have MRTS. As the Metro is still in the nascent stage, by the time it becomes operational, the gap between these two places becomes less with MRTS, he added.
 

Credentials of EIL questioned: NABET has not yet finalised EIL accreditation in nuclear sector

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 7, 2013: While many environmentalists have raised objections over the agency, which prepared Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant in Bhavnagar in Gujarat,  has till date not got any accreditation by the top central authority- National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET)  for nuclear projects, the same was confirmed officially by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) while answering a query by Vizag based former union energy secretary, EAS Sarma under RTI.

Sarma sought response from the NPCIL whether Engineering India Ltd (EIL) have necessary accreditation to conduct EIA for nuclear power plants. NPCIL, chief project engineer of the Mithi Virdi Plant, PM Shah, in his reply under RTI on March 6, that was accessed by Deccan Chronicle, said, “ Accreditation of M/s EIL for nuclear sector is under active considerations by NABET since March 15, 2010. As the requirements for accreditation in this sector are being discussed with the experts in the field and are not yet finalized by NABET. Hence, M/s EIL has not provided in the EIA report, valid NABET accreditation certificate for nuclear sector,”

EIL carried out study for NPCIL and evaluated potential impacts of the project and formulated environmental management plans for both the construction and operation phase of Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Plant. EIL collected data within a ten-kilometer radius of the site over three seasons- summer, post-monsoon and winter from December 2010 to November 2011 to prepare its EIA report.

It was also mentioned in the reply that M/s EIL has carried out the updated EIA for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) unit 3 to 6 in 2011-12, which was reviewed by CRZ expert appraisal committee, MoEF and based on their recommendations, MoEF granted CRZ clearance for KNPP 3 to 6. Considering their overall capabilities in the field of EIA, NABET has suggested to EIL to carry out EIA study for nuclear power projects in consultation with AERB, BARC and NPCIL.

“NPCIL has confirmed that EIL has not yet been accredited by the concerned agency. It is also evident that EIL's EIA for Kudankulam was not strictly by an accredited agency,” said Sarma. 

Naval chopper crash: Wreckage spotted

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 7, 2013 : Three days after the ill-fated Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter crashed into the sea, search and rescue teams on Thursday identified the likely spot where it could have gone under.

The rescue teams, comprising personnel from Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Indian Coast Guard (ICG), state government marine police, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, local fishermen identified the spot which was about  eight nautical miles away from famous Dolphin Nose.

The ENC sources said that since the wreckage was  said to be 400 meters deep under the sea sophisticated diving equipment was needed to retrieve it.  The equipment is being brought to Vizag along with a diving bell and trained special divers on a special ship from Kochi. The Diving Bell is a rigid chamber used to transport divers to depth in the ocean to retrieve the parts of the wreckage.

It will take at least another two days for the special ship to reach the Vizag, sources said. Meanwhile the ENC authorities are not hopeful of the two who went missing after the Chetak 440 crashed into sea on Tuesday afternoon.

However, the ENC ships and helicopters in association with the ICG, VPT and local fishermen are still continuing their search for them who were identified as Lieutenant Cmdr Pranava Likithi, 25 and GS Sen, 31.

 Chetak 440 was attached to a warship belonging to ENC. The chopper on Tuesday had taken off from INS Dega, naval air station on a routine sortie at about 2 pm on Tuesday in an area about 10 nm- 18 km seaward of Visakhapatnam, with four crew members onboard before it crashed.

Ganta fires a salvo at Purandheswari, tells her to check facts, bats for GVMC’s merger proposal

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 6, 2013: Adding fuel to the speculation that all was not well in the Congress Vizag unit, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Wednesday fired a salvo at the local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry Daggupati Puandheswari over her recent remarks on the proposed merger of the Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities into the GVMC.

In a direct attack on the MP, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, said, “Being in a responsible position she should not have expressed her opinions on the merger proposal. In the name of opposing the merger, she said there was no development taking place in the villages and panchayats that are already merged in GVMC. How can she say that without checking facts, figures and statistics,” and added that her ill-informed remarks would only help the opposition unnecessarily malign the party.

Purandheswari had in a letter earlier to the chief minister, N Kiran Kumar Reddy opposed the merger, citing various reasons. Purandheswari in the letter said “Even though 32 village panchayats were merged with the GVMC in 2005, there was no substantial development in these areas that includes lack of drinking water and other basic amenities. Better civic amenities could be provided even without merger if the government prepares to do so. Antiquity of the second oldest municipality, Bheemili, in the country would lose its historical significance,”

It was reported in these columns recently that proposal to merge Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities into GVMC had turned ruling Congress a divided house in the district. While few Congress elected representatives have openly announced their opposition along with opposition TD, CPI and CPM forces, some are in support of the proposal.

Talking to this correspondent, Ganta Srinivasa Rao added that, the ‘greater’ concept itself which was introduced by the Congress government was to develop peripheral areas, municipalities, villages, panchayats surrounding Vizag and Hyderabad. He added that around 36 municipalities were merged in Greater Hyderabad and were seeing development.

The minister also refuted the allegations of Purandheswari that Bheemili, which is second municipality in the country after Surat would lose its historic and heritage significance.

“If the two municipalities are merged GVMC would get more central funds. Bheemili’s historic and heritage significance can be restored, enhanced and safeguarded in a better way with the more Centre funds. GVMC gets more funds under various Centre schemes like JNNURM,” he said.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it was opposed by several corporators, MLAs and MPs. However, since Feb 2012, the GVMC has come under special officer ruling, the authorities are now busy expediting the process. The state government had asked the GVMC authorities to prepare a detailed report with images and geographical conditions. Now, the GVMC staff is busy collecting data and would probably submit the report to the government shortly.

State vigilance wing mum on Rs 542 cr Vuda land scam

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 6, 2013: For reasons unknown, the state vigilance and enforcement department is sitting on the report submitted by its Vizag wing into the alleged Rs 542 cr Vuda land scam.

The local wing of the vigilance department after conducting an inquiry into the scam for more than 8 months submitted a report to its Hyderabad office in October, last year.

Though the state Crime Investigation Department registered a cheating case
against IAS officer VN Vishnu and eleven others over alleged attempts
to allot government land to private persons in violation of Supreme Court’s
orders, it ignored a probe into an alleged Rs542 crore land scam in
Vuda jurisdiction.

The CID, which registered the case recently, was related to a land property worth just Rs 5.42 cr belonging to Vuda after the state municipal administration and urban development department recommended the probe.  But the state government has conveniently ignored the larger scam.

The vigilance report has said to have mentioned that a couple of senior officials who acted as Vuda’s vice chairman in the past and other senior staff were found to be responsible for the illegal allotments which have incurred loss to the State’s exchequer to the tune of more than Rs 542 cr.

As the allotments’ modus operandi needed a more in-depth probe by an investigation agency, the vigilance department is said to have recommended a full-fledged probe into the scam by a premier investigation agency like the CID.

The vigilance sleuths have also recorded statements of two IAS officers as part of their probe and it was the involvement of these senior officers in the alleged land allotments which are said to have prompted  the ‘vigilance’ to recommend a CID probe.

Though the vigilance department was to submit its report by mid-July last year, it sought more than three extensions and finally submitted the report in October. It is learnt that the vigilance sleuths  recorded statements, sought clarifications or questioned more than 100 persons as part of their probe.

“We have done our part by inquiring into the scam without leaving out even a single detail  and submitted the report to our Hyderabad office long back. It is up to the Hyderabad office to do the follow-up. Our job is done here,” Additional Superintendent of Police and regional vigilance and  enforcement officer, K. Mahendra Patrudu told this correspondent.

Responding to reports in a section of the media that large-scale irregularities took place in various land allotments by Vuda, the then vice-chairman, Kona Sasidhar, submitted a report to state government’s municipal administration department.

In it he stated that prima facie evidence was found over the irregularities to the tune of Rs 542 crores in various layouts developed by the urban development authority in Rushikonda, Madhurawada and many other areas.

Acting on the report, the department of municipal administration and urban  development issued GO RT No: 341 on March 21, entrusting the job of probing into the alleged irregularities to the vigilance and enforcement wing and telling them to submit its report within three months.

“We have lodged a complaint with the CID after the instructions of our department heads of Hyderabad regarding the MVP Colony site issue. We are ready to follow Hyderabad officials’ directions in the `542 crore scam. We are awaiting instructions to go ahead from the state municipal administration and urban development department,” Vuda vice-chairman, Dr N. Yuvaraj told this newspaper.

Vizag to get desalination plant, APPFCS to submit prefeasibility report in 2 weeks, 60 acres of APIIC land identified near Pudimadaka coast for Plant, APPFCS team studied Plants in Dubai, Singapore, UAE & Chennai

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 1, 2013: To meet the ever increasing demand-supply gap of water to industry needs Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) had come up with a proposal to convert abundantly available seawater useful by setting up a desalination plant, which was proved a success in Chennai.

 The present demand and supply gap of water for industry needs of 20 Million Gallons Daily (MGD) is projected to go up by 30 MGD by 2015. GVMC authorities had appointed AP Project Facilitator and Consultancy Services Ltd (APPFCS) as consultant to prepare a detailed feasibility report on setting up a desalination plant in Vizag. 

APPFCS team visited various desalination plants in Dubai, Singapore and UAE including the country’s only such Plant in operation in Chennai and is giving finishing touches to the prefeasibility report.

“In all likelihood the prefeasibility report to set up a plant to desalinate 20 MGD water will be ready in a couple of weeks. We have studied many desalination plants and various aspects including cost effectiveness. If the industry sector is made use the desalinated water the present supply to the sector can be diverted to domestic needs in the city. I feel desalinated water is the only choice and option available in the future to meet ever increasing water needs of Vizag, which is rapidly growing,” APPFCS, chief consultant, K Lakshminarayana told this correspondent.

The APPFCS team also identified 60 acres of land suitable for the Plant belonging to APIIC near APSEZ in Pudimadaka coast. As per Vuda Master Plan, even with projected supply from Polavaram project, the city will have a shortfall for drinking water and industries by 614 million litres per day and without Polavaram 1,424 million litres per day by 2020. The Godavari water that is supplied to the city needs will also shortfall in future.

Though a similar attempt earlier was made to set up desalination plant on a small scale in Bheemili to meet drinking water needs of an approximate 45,000 population never took off.  There was a proposal to set up desalination plant at a cost of Rs11 cr, using reverse osmosis process to desalinate 2.86 Million Litres Daily (MLD). Bheemili was chosen for setting up the desalination plant by the Union ministry of urban development as a model project using indigenous technology and micro thin membranes. 

“After the prefeasibility report is submitted by the consultant we will have to see whether it should be taken up under PPP mode or a total government project. We also need to find a suitable technical partner for the project,” GVMC additional commissioner (Projects) Nagendra Kumar, told this newspaper.

GVMC authorities are confident that once prefeasibility report is adapted things will move relatively fast and desalination plant will be a reality in a period of three years from then, which is the only future to meet Vizag’s water needs both domestic and industry sectors. 

Vizag to generate power from waste

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 2, 2013: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), is planning to set up a biogas plant for effective management of solid waste and also generate electric power on an experimental basis. As per the plan initially GVMC staff would experiment on generating 100 cubic meters of bio gas from 2tonnes of organic waste generated from kitchens. Around 80 street lights can be lit with the electric power generated from the bio gas by using 15 to 18 KW capacity power generators.  As of now daily around 800 to 1,000 tonnes of waste is being generated in various segments. Especially domestic waste from the household kitchens is being collected on a door to door programme by an outsourcing firm, which is segregated and then composted.

“Around 98 percent of the food and vegetable waste from household kitchens and rythubazars can be used to generate bio gas from which electric power can be generated with the use of power generators. As of now we have plans to set up a small bio gas plant and generate little power. If it is a success Vizag can have more such plants to generate power that can be used by GVMC for its varied uses,” consultant appointed by GVMC, Suresh Bandari told this correspondent.

As a first step compost yard in 10^th ward was identified where segregation is being done. “We are soon going to approach Coromandel Fertilizers and state horticulture department asking them to use the compost made from the wet organic waste at these yards and the bio gas generated from the vegetable waste can also be supplied to apartments,” said, GVMC Commissioner, M V Satyanrayana.   

Depending on the experiment more bio gas plants would come up in some more wards across the city under GVMC limits. A standing committee of the GVMC earlier visited Bruhath Banglore Maha Palika (BBMP) where 8MW of electric power is generated from 800MT of waste with bio gas plants in 24 of the 198 wards spread across the city.

Earlier in 2011, a Swedish team visited the city and promised technology transfer for making biogas from the sludge of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in the Old Town area.

The team also visited the 38 million litre per day (mld) capacity STP and said that the sludge could be mixed with some organic waste to produce biogas and assured GVMC that it would transfer the required technology. But, the idea did not take off thereafter. 

New mining NOC guidelines not enough to check illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh, environmentalists pitch for Gujarat model

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 5, 2013: While the state government is inclined to study and emulate Gujarat’s maritime board, environmentalists are pointing that it is not interested in taking up measures to tackle issues related to illegal mining the way Modi government has formulated to check the illegal activity.

It may be worth mentioning here that state ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao along with a team of senior officials belonging to his ministry, visited Gujarat and met its chief minister Narendra Modi on setting up maritime board in Andhra Pradesh in February this year.

Environmentalists alleged that the government which came under fire, due to various illegal mining activities, right from Obulapuram mining to Avelthi, Sarugudu, Kannedhara granite quarrying in Srikakulam district, in the name of curtailing the activity has, issued a G O just making some changes to the procedure while issuing No Objection Certificate (NOC) to conduct mining.

Whereas the Gujarat government in 2011 issued orders through mines and industries department forming Grievance Redressal Committees at state, district and taluk level to effectively check illegal mining.

While the state level committee meets every quarterly to check the action taken by the concerned authorities over the illegal activity and study the status report of the complaints, the district and taluk level committees are mandated to meet once in a month. The Gujarat order also clearly fixes the responsibility to the illegal mining activity.  The order says that in the case of detection of illegal mining activity the in charge police offuicer/revenue officer/ officer of the geology and mining department of the area concerned will be held accountable.  

The G O M S No 2 of the revenue department of the state government dated, Jan 2, 2013 issued instructions directing that no “NOC” should be issued by the Tahsildar in respect of licenses for mining lease and quarry lease purposes. It also issued a new uniform guidelines and one among them is that Joint Inspection Team consisting of Revenue Divisional Officer, Divisional Forest Officer and Assistant Director ( Mines and Geology) should inspect the proposed land and submit detailed report to the district Collector within 30 days after receipt of the application for grant of licence for mining or quarry lease.

A District Level Screening Committee may also be constituted under the Chairmanship of the district collector to take collective decisions on issue of NOCs. The district collector will be the chairman of the committee, RDO, pollution control board executive engineer, joint collector, tahsildhar concerned will be the members and assistant director of mines and geology department will be the member convenor.

The District Level Screening Committee will meet once in every 60 days and scrutinize the report of Joint Inspection Team and take a decision on the issue of NOC and forward it’s decision to the mines and geology director for necessary action.

“What is needed now is not only stricter norms while issuing mining licenses but also vigilant government machinery after the license is issued to check illegal activity. For instance if the mining license by a contractor manages to get in 3 months in the earlier system it will take another 3 to 6 months more to ‘manage’ those in the inspection team as per the new guidelines issued. Actually in a way government is facilitating the contractor to ‘manage’ several officers at a go. Responsibility and accountability should be fixed and the officers concerns should be punished if the illegal mining is found,” said G Srininvas of, Samata, an NGO fighting for tribal rights and against illegal mining in forest lands.    

GVMC: Merger proposal divides Congress in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 3, 2013: Proposal to merge Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities into GVMC had turned ruling Congress a divided house in the district. While few Congress elected representatives have openly announced their opposition along with opposition TD, CPI and CPM forces, some are in support of the proposal.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it was opposed by several corporators, MLAs and MPs. However, since Feb 2012, the GVMC has come under special officer ruling, the authorities are now busy expediting the process. The
state government had asked the GVMC authorities to prepare a
detailed report with images and geographical conditions. Now, the GVMC
staff is busy collecting data and would probably submit the report
to the government shortly.
Eying metro tag and more funds from union government GVMC authorities brought the proposal to merge 140-year-old Anakapalle municipality and its surrounding villages in the extent of 73 square km having a population of more than one lakh while Bhimili, the second oldest municipality in the country and other villages in an extent of 126 square km with population of another one lakh.
While Anakapalle municipality passed a resolution earlier in favour of the merger, Bheemili municipality opposed it and sent the resolution to the government.

“Once both the municipalities are merged, people of Anakapalle and Bhimili that are facing severe fund crunch, would get better amenities and GVMC can get more Centre funds for all-round development of the district,” said ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

But on the other hand, local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry, D Purandheswari had already shot a letter to the chief minister opposing the merger citing various reasons. Purandheswari explained, “Even though 32 village
panchayats were merged with the GVMC in 2005, there was no
substantial development in these areas that includes lack of drinking
water and other basic amenities. Better civic amenities could be provided even without merger if the government prepares to do so. Antiquity of the second
oldest municipality, Bheemili, in the country would lose its
historical significance,”

Vizag North MLA Tainala Vijay Kumar too opposed the proposal saying that the taxes collected from the city dwellers will be used to develop outskirts adding that those residing in the city would lose their opportunities.

A meeting of the concerned senior citizens on Sunday about the merger too opposed the proposal.

“This proposal is not only regressive but also undemocratic. Towns like Bheemunipatnam have their own cultural and historic identity. Bheemunipatnam is among the oldest municipalities in the country. Moreover, such decisions which impact the lives of the people directly should be taken by the residents of these towns and villages rather than by a government sitting at Hyderabad. The local municipalities and Gram Sabhas should be involved in taking such decisions,” said People for India Forum, vice chair person, BL Narayana.

Naval copter crashes into sea, 2 saved, 2 missing

BY SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 5, 2013: An Indian Navy helicopter on a routine mission was lost at sea off the Vizag coast on Tuesday.

 While two of the four crew members on board the Chetak helicopter were rescued by search teams that were immediately pressed into service after it went missing, two were yet to be traced.
According to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), the Chetak 440 copter had taken off from INS Dega, the Naval air station, at about 2 pm on Tuesday on a routine mission around 18 km off Vizag, with four crew members.

A search and rescue operation was initiated when Air Traffic Control lost contact with the helicopter at about 3.30 pm after it failed to return to base at the estimated time. It is said to have developed a technical snag and crashed between the popular Dolphin Nose and Gangavaram Port.

Navy ships, copters, divers join rescue ops

After two of the four crew members on board the Chetak helicopter, that was lost at sea off the Vizag coast were rescued on Tuesday, the Navy has mounted an extensive search in and around the area and has pressed ships, helicopters and divers into service to locate the remaining crew members.

The search would continue even though darkness had fallen over the area. “The search will continue until we find the wreckage of the helicopter and the two remaining crew members,” said commander D.K. Sharma in New Delhi.

The two survivors, identified as Commander Krishna Kumar and Seaman Sahoo, were brought to the naval hospital, INHS Kalyani. The missing crew members were identified as Pradeep Roy and Sanjay Singh.

ENC has also sought assistance of the Visakhapatnam Port authorities and local fishing community.

A board of inquiry has been ordered to establish the causes leading to the accident.The Chetak helicopter, of the 1960s vintage, is normally used for logistic support and surveillance.

In a similar crash in October last year in Panaji, three naval personnel including two pilots died when their copter crashed at the Dabolim airport while landing.

Tuesday’s helicopter crash was the third time that a Navy aircraft has crashed in the last three years.

On June 2, 2010, a Chetak helicopter crashed in the Sarada River near Anakapalle town in Vizag district.

An Eastern Naval Command diver, Kishan Kumar, who was seriously injured in the mishap, died on the way to hospital while the pilot and two other officers survived.

The helicopter was on a route familiarization mission and it hit a high-tension wire while flying low to locate a landing spot to be used in case of emergencies.

In the second accident, on February 17, 2012, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle of the Indian Navy’s Southern Command crashed into a hill at Ganesh Nagar near Gajuwaka RTC depot.

The Israeli made searcher, MK-II UAV, was returning to base after a sortie when it hit the hill and was reduced to ashes within no time. There were no casualties.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Indian Navy helicopter was on “routine mission” when it was lost at sea off the Vizag coast.

Two of the four crew members on board the Chetak helicopter were rescued by search teams.

Child sex ratio in Vizag on decline

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, March 1, 2013: While the child sex ratio of Vizag as per the latest 2011 population Census has dropped to 959 girls per 1000 boys compared to the figure of 976 girls per 1000 boys of 2001 Census data. Curiously the district medical and health department has not booked even a single case this year under Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic (Prevention of misuse) Techniques Act, (PC&PNDT Act).

The district medical and health department officials’ boast of conducting around 100 decoy operations, on many ultra sound scanning centres in Vizag, and have not found any violation.
There are around 60 to 70 ultra sound scanning centres, in the district, run officially and more than 30 unauthorised centres.

“The figures say it all. But unfortunately the officials say that scanning centres doesn’t conduct sex determination tests. The fact is that many scanning centres conduct these tests clandestinely,” said a social activist, J.V. Ratnam.

Though an advisory committee came into force, not many meetings were held until now. The advisory committee has the collector as its chairman, the DM& HO as its convenor and a paediatrician, radiologist and two social activists as its members, who have powers to conduct checks on scanning centres. Forget the checks the advisory committee meetings has become a rarity. Since the last seven years, it was only three to four times such meetings were held.

“We have conducted around 100 decoy operations in the last six months on these scanning centres. We have not found any violations. No centre is conducting the sex determination tests fearing action from us. However, we will conduct more such decoy customer operations in rural tracts too,” DM&HO, R Syamala told this correspondent.

Sometimes, parents abandon and also resort to killing of girl child, immediately after the birth, might be one of the prime reasons for the fall in the child sex ratio in Vizag, added another official of the health department.