Son Rise: Ram Mohan Naidu

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 28, 2013: Former TDPP leader K. Yerrannaidu's son, K. Rammohan Naidu, barely 26 years old, has decided to join the TD and carry forward his father's legacy. 

 Lokesh Naidu is not the only US-educated young blood in the Telugu Desam. Late TD leader Yerrannaidu's son K. Rammohan Naidu, has joined the fray too. An MBA graduate from the Long Island University, USA, 26-year-old Rammohan Naidu, who did his schooling in Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, Delhi, was spotted taking a prominent place in the grand meeting organised in Vizag to mark the conclusion of TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's “historic“ padayatra, Vastunna Meekosam.

“Being a politician's son, politics was always at the back of my mind. But I never thought I would venture into so early in life. The untimely death of my father and the ensuing support from his followers triggered my early entry. I actually wanted to start my own business venture,“ says Rammohan.

When asked what his role in the TD is, he says he wants to motivate the youth and get them to actively participate in the TD party . “The youth has distanced themselves from politics thinking it is a dirty profession. I want to change that mindset,“ he says, adding, “I want to con tinue my father's goals. He was a sincere worker for the TD for 30 years. He fought for the rights of the backward classes and minorities. I will continue his good work.“

Politics in the state today is only about the Congress or Jagan. So, where does he fit in? “Things have changed.
After Chandrababu's padayatra, there is a spurge of confidence and a positive spirit in the party and its cadres. There is excellent support from people across the state.

My plan is to keep this confidence running and build on it the success of TDP in the next elections,“ he explains.

Despite being a famous politician's son, Rammohan Naidu's life was like any youngster -had many friends, was passionate about photography, loves playing cricket and is an avid reader.

“Thanks to technology, I'm in touch with my old friends,“ he says.
Rammohan also plays cricket with young boys during his trips to villages in Srikakulam. “I used to read a lot of novels earlier.

Now, I don't have time, but I've been reading a lot of political material,“ he says.

Whenever he can take off from political activity he likes to spend time in Delhi with his friends.

Bhuwaneswari, Lokesh attend Naidu's yatra, Harikrishna skips

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 27, 2013: Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu was accompanied in the last few steps of his padayatra by his wife Bhuvaneswari, son Lokesh and brother-in-law actor Balakrishna.

At the conclusion of the walkthon, Mr Naidu unveiled a lifesize statue of party founder N.T.

Rama Rao and a 60-feet pylon as a sign of victory in Sivajinagar near Kurmannapalem in Gajuwaka.

The visages of Mr Naidu and Mr Lokesh were seen prominently on the flexis put up along the way.

Earlier, the late K. Yerrannaidu’s son K. Ram Mohan Naidu stole the show at the meeting.

Mr Ram Mohan Naidu, 26, spoke confidently from the massive dais in the presence of the party chief.

“It was my father’s dream to see that Chandrababu Naidu becomes CM and the TD plays a key role in national politics. I will follow in my dad’s footsteps, he said.

However, TD politburo member N. Harikrishna, his actor-son Jr NTR stayed away as did senior leaders Dadi Veebhadra Rao and Kadiam Srihari

Naidu sounds the bugle for polls

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 27, 2013: TD chief Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday sounded the poll bugle, interestingly a year before the 2014 polls. He chose his historical padayatra concluding ceremony held at the AU Engineering college grounds as a platform to roll out promises that he would fulfill if voted back to power in 2014.

Mr Naidu walked through 84 constituencies, 162 mandals, 28 municiplaities and approximately 1,523 villages in 16 districts during his 2,817-km long padayatra, which he launched on October 2, 2012 from Hindupur in Anantapuram district.

“I never saw such a response in my lifetime which I have received at this moment. I owe a lot to you all for the affection you have showered on me. It was your affection that made me walk from Anantapur to Vizag all these days,” Naidu said.

Stating that every section of the public suffering from the problems that are plaguing the state, he vowed to put it back on track after coming to power. Naidu said his first signature would be on thefile pertaining to total farm loan waivers and the next one would be on abolition of belt shops.

Naidu chanted the ryot mantra at the public meeting probably in an attempt to shed his image as a hitech leader. “I was deeply pained and moved by the difficulties being faced by the common public especially farmers. Both mother and child Congress had ridiculed my promise of waiving farm loans. But I will now show them how it can be done. I will make agriculture attractive and will provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers. My aim is to see smiles again on famers' faces.“

Naidu promised a better health insurance scheme than Arogya Sri, special schemes for weavers, SCs, STs and BCs. He also reiterated his party’s stance on SC catergorisation.

“We are committed to the welfare of Madigas and stand for SC categorisation. We have done it earlier and Madigas have benefited from it. I know Malas are not against it and so is my party,” he added.

Poll politics: Walkathon to resurrect TD across state

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 26, 2013: Records aside, the TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has aimed two birds with a stone, during his 2,800-kmlong walkathon “Vasthunna Meekosam“, which was termed as an historic attempt in Indian politics.

He tried to strike an emotional chord with the public, in an attempt to bring back the past glory of the party, amid growing threat from new entrant YSRC and the decade-old sub regional force TRS, infusing confidence among cadre, grass root leaders, who were in disarray being away from power since a decade.

However, the success of the walkathon will be known only when the results of the 2014 polls will be out. On Friday, Mr Naidu along with his family members, wife Bhuvaneshwari and son Lokesh, served lunch to the party workers at the camp site in Gollalapalem, where he rested for the day. He interacted with the party workers over lunch and later resumed his padayatra in the evening. Before embarking onto the day's scheduled padayatra, it had become a routine for Mr Naidu to interact with the local party workers.



He walked through 84 constituencies, 160 mandals, 28 municiplaities and an approximate 1253 villages in 16 districts during his 2,800 long pada yatra.

In many constituencies it worked like a magic by Naidu brokering peace between many warring leaders and  imparting some gyan to them to work like war soldiers for the party revival setting sights on 2014 polls, which are just a year away from here.

At many such meetings Naidu told workers, “You all should not rest for atleast a year from now. Strive for the party keeping aside family among other things like how I rededicated myself for the party. After coming to power I will take care of all your ‘needs’,”

Naidu would symbolically end his 207 day pada yatra launched on October 2, last year from Hindupur in Anantapur district on Saturday at Shivajinagar, near Kurmannapalem.

Though his pada yatra will end on Friday night after entering Kurmannapalem from Duvvada, after camping for the night, he will symbolically walk for half a  kilometer on Saturday before reaching the pylon arranged in Rajeevnagar  at about 3 pm..

The pylon was constructed at a cost of  Rs 3 crore will have three parts standing 60 feet tall and 26  feet wide. This will symbolize the conclusion of the Naidu’s Vastunna Meekosam.

From the pylon on Saturday, Naidu would be taken in an open top jeep followed by 10,000 motorcycles and 400 cars to the public meeting venue- AU engineering college grounds in the city. All eyes are also on heir apparent Nara Lokesh, who is expected to make his  first ever public appearance and speech at the historic meeting.

Over half a million people are expected to take part in the public meeting with entire city painted yellow with cutouts of leaders. Around 250 important leaders would be present on the special stage which was designed by experts drawn from Bengaluru. Around two lakh people could be accommodated in the ground while another three lakhs would make their presence all over the city clad in yellow. About 5,000 party workers from each constituency were asked to be present at the meeting. 

Bayyaram mines: RINL facility at Bayyaram after scientific study

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 25, 2013: Amidst claims and counter claims among the Congress ranks over the quality and quality of the iron ore available to set up a steel plant, the RINL authorities on Thursday clarified their intent to set up commensurate value addition facilities such as beneficiation plant, pelletisation plant, steel mill, depending on the quantum of iron ore reserves available at Bayyaram in Khammam district and other proposed allotment of mines in Warangal and Karimnagar districts.

RINL on Thursday said that the company was committed to immediately commence scientific exploration in these areas which is not done so far to know the exact quantum of reserves. 

Recently, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana said the ore available in Bayyaram was of low grade quality and not suitable to set up a steel plant, as being demanded by the TRS leaders, while government chief whip of his party, Gandra Venkatramana Reddy found fault with the former’s observation.

RINL CMD, AP Choudhary thanked the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and requested the state government to take forward the recommendations as quickly as possible to union ministry of mines for their approval and subsequently issue of Letter of Interest (LOI) by state government.

“RINL being a 100percent government undertaking, will honour all the statutory, legal and regulatory stipulations in respect of mining leases recommended for allotment to RINL, such as MMDR Act 1957, Forest & Environmental clearances with special reference to Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 making it obligatory for obtaining the prospective mining (PL) and also for obtaining mining lease (ML) after exploration,” said Choudhary.  

As per the MoU signed by RINL, the state government would facilitate RINL to obtain necessary permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances from the concerned departments.

RINL is the holding company of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) – the largest industry in the State of Andhra Pradesh. RINL has drawn an ambitious Corporate Plan to expand to 20 mtpa in phases, by 2025, which would make Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the largest steel plant in a single location in the country.

The CMD further said that RINL, despite being major steel producer in the country is one of the major integrated steel plants operating without any captive iron ore and coal mines. For Iron ore securitization, RINL has applied for 7 mining leases in Andhra Pradesh starting from 2005. RINL has also signed a MoU with the state government with a commitment for an investment of Rs. 42,400 crs in the state and the state government had agreed to facilitate the allotment of iron ore mines to RINL on priority.

No grama sabhas yet in AP, recent Apex Court’s order gives imp to grama sabhas, Vizag officials begun work a year late

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 24, 2013 : It’s more than two years that the state government issued a GO enacting the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996 of the union government empowering the Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas.

The PESA was enacted to empower grama sabhas  to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of the people, their cultural identity, community resources and customary modes of dispute resolution and ownership of Minor Forest Produce (MFP).

The G O MS No 66 of panchayat raj and rural development department issued on March 24, 2011 also talks about declaration of tribal villages under PESA Act in various Agency tracts and also formation of grama sabhas in those villages.

However not even a single village in the Agency tracts coming under Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Khammam, Warangal, Adilabad and Mahabubnagar districts were declared as scheduled area or PESA villages.

No grama sabha was formed.  Every village declared under PESA shall have a Gram

Sabha comprising of adult members, whose names are included in the electoral rolls at the village level. The Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat shall be the President of the Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha shall elect a Vice President and Secretary.

Interestingly official machinery here in Paderu Agency area which comes under union tribal welfare and panchayat raj minister, V Kishore Chandra Deo’s Araku constituency from where he was elected, have begun the identification of such villages to send proposals a year late. 

Officials at Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Paderu entrusted with the job have started writing to the concerned tehsildhars to identify such villages from March 2012, after a year long delay. They have identified around 796 such PESA villages and sent the proposals just two months ago to the state tribal welfare commissioner for declaration.  State tribal welfare minister, P Balaraju is also elected from Paderu to the state assembly.

The grama sabha in a tribal village assumed significance with a recent Apex court’s order on the proposed bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills in Odisha. The Supreme Court in its order on the case filed by Odisha Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC) on last Friday directed the Odisha government to place the issue of proposed before gram sabha and the gram sabha would take a decision within three months. Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) should take a final decision on the grant of stage II clearance for the bauxite mining project in the light of the decisions of the gram sabha within two months thereafter.

Unfortunately grama sabhas are yet to be formed in Vizag Agency where bauxite mining is also proposed.  “We have already started identifying the PESA villages and sent the proposals to the state tribal welfare commissioner. We are in communication with the state tribal welfare office over some objections. It’s the state government that has to declare the villages and grama sabhas basing on the proposals which we have already sent, which we are expecting in a couple of months,” assistant project officer (APO) of ITDA, Paderu, PVS Naidu told this correspondent. 

500 buses, 12 trains for Naidu padayatra’s last leg

By SNV Sudhir 

Work of the pylon that will be unveiled by TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on April 27 to mark the culmination his 2,900-km Vastunna Meekosam walkathon  is going on a brisk pace at Kurmannapalem.

TD leaders are also making elaborate arrangements to make the public meeting, scheduled for the same day at the AU Engineering College grounds here a huge success. TD leaders are expecting 10 lakh supporters to throng the venue, Naidu will enter Kurmannapalem from Duvvada on the last day of the padayatra on April 26. After camping for the night, he will symbolically walk for half a kilometre before  reaching the pylon at about 3 pm the following day.

The pylon constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore will be 60 feet tall and 26 feet wide. From the pylon, Naidu would be taken in an open top jeep followed by 10,000 motorcycles and 400 cars to the meeting venue in the city.

Party leaders had booked 12 trains till Wednesday evening and some more would be arranged by Friday evening to bring party workers and sympathisers from all parts of the state to the port city.

Around 500 buses were also hired to bring people from the rural areas to the city.

Meanwhile. Naidu called on his party cadre to emulate him and work for the revival of the party, keeping personal and family life aside. He was speaking at  Sankhavaram village near Vizag.

Nuke technology to treat sewage water

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 23, 2013: In a path- breaking study by a group of Vizag based researchers it was discovered that nuclear technology can be useD to treat domestic sewage water, which can be reused for irrigation and other purposes.

Researchers from the environmental science department of GITAM university here along with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientists were successful in treating domestic sewage water with electron beams using accelerators, in a first of its kind in the country.

At present electron beams are used to harden rubber bearings in automobile industry and researches are also on to use the beams to change colours of diamonds.

Until now, in the regular conventional method sewage water is stored for 8 to 12 hours by the civic bodies in the treatment plants before recycling and letting out into the sea or large water bodies after chlorinating. But this method carries microorganisms that pollute sea  apart from having objectionable odour.

Researchers carried out their experiment at the BARC Mumbai labs on the samples of Vashi Sewage Treatment Plant of Navi Mumbai.  Results showed a substantial improvement in waste water quality with an efficient decrease in organic load that lead to a better remediation process.

“Based on the results it can be concluded that pollution mitigation using ionizing radiation with Electron Beam Accelerators is an eco-friendly alternative technology, without using chemical disinfectants. Irradiated sewage water is fit for irrigation as well as use in industries which will be a promising solution to existing water demand and also a gateway to sustainable management of fragile fresh water resources for developing countries,” principal investigator of the project funded by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), DR YS Maruthi of GITAM told this correspondent.

The new technology ensures safe disposal increasing water quality which will enhance aquatic life. It will also improve recharge potential controlling water borne diseases.

While, one litre sewage treatment costs Rs 2 using electron beams, one kilo sludge treatment costs Rs 32, which can be sold the same as fertilizer at Rs 35. But it costs just Rs 25 paise to treat sewage water in the regular method. “Though the treatment with the new technology costs little more than the regular method  the treated water can be put to optimum utilization for many purposes which is not possible in the regular method,” she added.

Dr Maruthi also further said that excessive chlorination of water sometimes results in the formation of byproducts that cause cancer.  To treat one litre of liquid content of sewage requires 6 kilograys (electron beam units) and it takes 300 microseconds to treat the litre. 

Bayyaram mines: T-workers in VSP fault T-leaders' claims

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 23, 2013: While Telangana leaders cutting across party lines are vehemently opposing the state government’s allotment of Bayyaram mines, their brethren working in the public sector Visakhapatnam Steel Plant found fault with the threats.

“Their argument is absurd. What if Odisha also thinks on the same lines and stops supplying iron ore to VSP? Imagine if that were to happen and the lives of thousands of employees and their families are put to risk,” asked Balaji, a senior manager with the navratna company, who hails from Khammam.

There are around 200 to 300 employees from various districts of Telangana region working with VSP since its inception. Though they don’t have any registered association or forum they all gather in Sector 12 of VSP township for Bathukamma festival every year.

“Their demand to set up an integrated steel plant near Bayyaram is a genuine demand and it’s purely a technical matter depending upon on the feasibility and other aspects. But those threats to block the supply and making tall statements are only attempts to politicise the issue. Those statements are only for provoking sentiments,” said an Assistant General Manager (AGM) from Kothagudem, who wished not to mention his name due to the sensitivity of the issue. The AGM joined VSP in 1989.

Interestingly dolomite, another key raw material to produce steel is being mined and transported from Madharam mines in Khammam district since the inception of VSP. More than 90 percent of the dolomite used in VSP comes from Khammam from Telangana region. VSP also have staff quarters near Illendhu in Khammam for it’s around 230 employees.

VSP gets around 5.5 lakh tonnes of dolomite from 950 acres allotted in Khammam and the remaining necessity, 21/2 lakh tonnes from Odisha. The VSP gets another raw material lime stone from Jagaiahpeta in Krishna district. The steel plant consumes around 2.5 lakh tonnes of lime stone every year mined from 1,295 hectares in Jagaiahapeta.

“TRS is just trying to politicize the issue. The Sponge Iron India Ltd that was established in 1972 near Bayyaram and later merged in NMDC gets raw material from Kurnool and Krishna districts. What will happen to the Telangana Company if the supplies from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts are stopped? What will happen to its employees if the company locked up due to lack of raw material supply,” said Visakha Steel Employees Congress general secretary, Mantri Rajasekhar told this correspondent.

“VSP is getting dolomite from Telangana since many decades. I wonder where this demand has come up now,” said INTUC general secretary, Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao. 

Bayyaram mines: 'Rules flouted over mines'

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 22, 2013: While the row over allocation of Bayyaram mines to public sector, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), has divided leaders of political parties along regional lines, concerns have been raised at the way state government allotted the mines without considering statutory norms.

“Bayyaram mandal and other adjacent areas are part of the tribal tract notified under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and, therefore, any economic activity in this area, including mining activity, attracts the restrictions under that Schedule. I am afraid that the state's decision on Bayyaram, without taking prior approval of the local tribal Gram Sabhas, is unconstitutional and violative of the law of the land. It is detrimental to the interests of the local tribal community,” said former union energy secretary, EAS Sarma.

He said that such a decision should follow the state's recent announcement of legislative status being accorded for the Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan and with this allotment the state government’s  intention towards the welfare of the tribals has come under a cloud.

“The unilateral decision taken by the state government on Bayyaram is in violation of Clause 4 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution which requires prior consultation in such matters with the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). No such consultation has taken place. By deciding on Bayyaram without consulting TAC, the state has marginalised the TAC in contempt of the Constitutional status of that council,” pointed Sarma

Both the statutes, the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) make it obligatory for the state to obtain prior approval from the local Gram Sabhas on two issues: one- whether mining of the local iron ore deposits be taken up at all, and if so, whether the tribals should have a predominant involvement in such mining. “By not allowing such a statutory process being gone through, the state has clearly violated both PESA and FRA and has held the interests and the rights of the tribals in utter contempt,” he added.

In this context he reminded that the supreme court in a recent order on Vedanta's bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri Hills in the Scheduled Area, in Odisha directed that prior approval from the local tribal Gram Sabhas is mandatory before any mining activity could be permitted there, as the proposed mining activity would impinge on the lives of the tribals and violate the provisions of the Fifth Schedule as well as PESA and FRA. 

Bayyaram mines: Minister Ganta talks tough on threats by T men, drops a 'gas bomb'

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 22, 2013: TRS leaders who visited the Bayyaram mines in the Telangana region on Monday vowed not to allow Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) to mine iron ore in the region even as a stir on the issue is gaining ground.

The regional divide between the Seemandhra and Telangana leaders on allocation of Bayyaram mines to VSP by the state government has further widened with infrastructure and ports minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao taking potshots and issuing threats to his counterparts in T region.

He said that it was improper on the part of Telangana leaders to use iron as the bone of contention. “It is a natural resource belonging to the nation”, Srinivas Rao said, “It doesn’t belong to any one region. The VSP is a public sector undertaking, its a national property.”

He said there was a power plant coming up in Karimnagar which was based on gas supplies from the KG Basin, which is in the Andhra region. “What if we do not allow gas supply to the 2,100MW power plant,?” said the minister, at a gate meeting held near VSP here on Monday, alluding to the Telangana protagonists blocking iron ore mining and transportation from Bayyaram to Vizag.

“We are also chalking out a plan, after consulting various groups, to hold a meeting to decide the future course of action to get Bayyaram mines for VSP,” the minister added.

He also reiterated that there would not be any deviation from the state government’s allocation order. While it would be not be feasible to set up a steel plant near Bayyaram, a pellets plant could be set up which would  provide employment in the Telangana region, he said.

Trade unions, cutting across party affiliations, took part in the gate meeting. “We have all decided to launch a stir on a massive scale if VSP is not allowed to mine in Bayyaram. We demand that the Obulapuram mines also be allocated to VSP. We have experience of achieving steel plants after prolonged protests and many sacrifices,” said VSP-recognized trade union president D. Adinarayana.

Troves to make Simhachalam temple richest

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 22, 2013: Historians strongly believe that Simhachalam temple, 22kms away from city, which is known as the second richest temple in India, after Tirumala hill shrine, may just graduate to first place if the hidden treasure troves on its premises are excavated.  Lakhs of devotees from across the state and neighbouring
Odisha and West Bengal throng the temple daily.

Fearing attacks from Maratha and Muslim kings during 18th century, those who were taking care of the temple have hid the treasures underground on the temple premises. Simhachalam is one of the eighteen Naarasimha Kshetras-shrines of Lord Narsimha in India and was patronized by the rich dynasties of Eastern Gangas, Gajapathis and Reddys who ruled eastern and southern parts of the country from Nellore to Bengal from 11th to 17th century BC.

With the unique feature of the temple being west faced- a sign of victory, all the
emperors who ruled eastern India used to frequent the temple and offer valuable gold
ornaments, gems and silver articles which has distinctive antique value besides loads of
monetary value.

“All the dynasties those ruled eastern India and parts of Andhra Pradesh used to believe
in Lord Narasimha and patronize Simhachalam temple. They offered many valuables which were listed in an inscription that has to be excavated. Out of the 600 inscriptions very few were found and in one of them belonging to 11th century it was said that gold
ornaments, gems in large numbers that can’t be valued were offered to the presiding deity by many emperors and they were listed in one of the inscriptions,” Prof Kolluru
Suryanarayana of department of history at Andhra University told this correspondent.

Except the offering by Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar Empire, an emerald
necklace and recent gold offerings by devotees no antique valued ornaments are known to the public.

Sri Krishnadevaraya after defeating the Gajapathi ruler of Odisha, Gajapati Prataparudra
Dev visited the shrine twice in 1516 AD and 1519 AD and offered numerous villages for
maintenance of bhogam (worship) along with valuable jewellery of which an emerald
necklace is still in the temple.

Prof Suryanarayana added that kings of eastern India used to patronize Simhachalam temple more than lord Jagannath temple in Puri and sun god temple in Konark as the Lord Narasimha’s temple is ancient than the latter two temples and also due to the unique feature of the temple being west faced- a sign of victory.

It is believed that there was a cave under the mandapam on the temple premises near
sanctum sanctorum where the valuables are deposited over thousands of years ago.
“In 1979 when the present Gali Gopuram was being constructed we have seen many walls and structures beneath the site. Had the authorities allowed us, a group of historians and archeologists, who were keen to excavate further, we would have found many
valuable things and information. But the temple authorities at that time were busy
completing the construction and didn’t allow us,” added Suryanarayana.

The treasure trove argument can be corroborated from the findings of senior temple
science expert TP Sri Ramachandra Charyulu who has decoded about 500 ancient inscriptions from the Simhachalam temple in 2008. According to his findings the Simhachalam temple used to receive generous donations from kings and ordinary pilgrims from all over south
India.

Gold coins offered during 1264 and 1266 by a ruler from Cuttack in Odisha were also
found. The coins and related inscriptions showed that the king had made permanent
financial arrangement to meet the salaries of 100 temple danseuses and musicians. No
temple even now days have such a large contingent of musicians, which is very rare.

State in fix over bauxite mining

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 20, 2013: The state owned APMDC is now clearly in a fix over the contentious bauxite mining issue in the state after the apex court’s Friday’s order on Niyamgiri’s bauxite mining licenses in neighbouring Odisha.

The Supreme Court in its order on the case filed by Odisha Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC) on Friday directed the Odisha government to place the issue of proposed mining before gram sabha and the gram sabha would take a decision within three months. Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) should take a final decision on the grant of stage II clearance for the bauxite mining project in the light of the decisions of the gram sabha within two months thereafter.

The state owned APMDC which had, until now, been given licenses by the state government with the rider that it would have to get clearances from MoEF to mine bauxite in Vizag Agency, had on many occasions argued that since bauxite comes under major minerals category, there was no need to take local grama sabha’s consent to go ahead with the mining as per Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) ACT.   

The state government  in a recent letter to the union tribal welfare ministry on Feb 7  responding to union minister V Kishore Chandra Deo’s directives to the state government to cancel the licenses, had also laid emphasis on the same argument of no necessity to take consent from grama sabha to mine bauxite, which is a major mineral.

In an RTI reply in 2005 to a tribal rights activist too APMDC argued the same about grama sabha’s consent. “APMDC has been arguing the same whenever and wherever the occasion is on the grama sabha consent. Now with the supreme court’s decision on Niyamgiri  bauxite mining laying emphasis on importance of grama sabhas and its consent we will have to wait and see what’s the next move of the APMDC going to be,” said Samata, an NGO, coordinator, G Srinivas, who has been working on the traibal rights and againt illegal mining.

Deo, too in many earlier occasions said that licenses to APMDC were given violating PESA Act, threatening the livelihood of many tribals in Vizag Agency. A four member committee appointed by the MoEF to study various aspects of proposed bauxite mining in Vizag Agency in December 2011, too recommended that before proceeding clearance under the Forest Conservation Act a gramsabha or the panchayat at appropriate level located within ten kilometers radius of the mining area should be consulted as contained in PESA Act and also approval should be taken from the Andhra Pradesh Tribes Advisory Council, which is a constitutional body under the fifth schedule to advise Government on all matters relating to tribals.

After wide spread opposition from local tribals on the proposed bauxite mining in Vizag Agency, without going ahead with according stage II clearances, MoEF appointed a four member expert committee headed by Former Director General of Forests and Secretary to Union government, JC Kala to study the issue. 

Bayyaram: VSP staff not enthused by low-grade iron ore mines

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 19, 2013: While allotment of 5,342 hectares of iron ore mines across Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar districts to public sector RINL invited the wrath of Telangana protagonists, the state government’s decision didn’t enthuse anyone back home.

Though there was no full fledged scientific study into the mines allotted, preliminary studies by the mines department indicated that the iron ore available there was of a very low grade and will not help much in steel production at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).

The expansion of the production at VSP from the present 3.3 tonnes to 6.3 tonnes is at an advanced stage of completion. The expansion was taken up at an estimated cost of `12,500 crore.

The state government has in principle allotted around 2,500 hectares at Bayyaram in Khammam, 2,500 hectares at Guduru in Warangal, and 342 hectares at Bheemadevapuram in Karimnagar districts.

The raw material will also exhaust within six years as the iron ore available in all the three mines put together is estimated to be 32,000 million tonnes. VSP needs at least 20,000 tonnes of iron ore per day if the expansion is completed for the production.

At present, RINL depends on supplies by NMDC for its iron ore requirement. RINL has long-term agreements with NMDC on iron ore supply. RINL’s production cost is 70 per cent compared to 5354 per cent of SAIL and 35 per cent of TISCO due to lack of captive iron ore mines.



Trade unions also raised red flag at the RINL’s agreement with the state government on setting up of 1MT capacity steel plant at Khammam.

“It will cost an approximate 6,000 to 7,000 cr to set up a steel plant with 1 MT capacity whereas the present the establishments needed to increase its production capacity to 20mt in future is already available at VSP. We wonder what is the necessity for the RINL to accept such a proposal and that too for such a low quality iron ore which will not be useful in producing quality steel,” Vizag steel recognized trade union president, D Adinarayana told this correspondent.

He said instead Obulapuram mines in Anantapur district could be allotted which has better quality of iron ore. RINL recorded a turnover of Rs.13, 650 crore during 2012-13 as against previous year’s Rs.14, 426 crore.  

However RINL CMD, AP Chaudhary said that the exploration of the mining areas will be taken up shortly by the company to assess the quantity and quality of iron ore available in the allotted area.   

RINL would be investing around Rs1,000 crores for the development of the mines allotted which would create employment for around 1,000 people, both direct and indirect, he added. 

Dump Congress in Ganges: Naidu

By SNV Sudhir

Narsipatnam (Vizag), April 18, 2013: Clearly setting his sights on the forthcoming general elections which are more than a year away from now, TD chief N Chandrababu Naidu called upon the public to dump the ruling Congress party in Ganges and elect his party for their bright future.

Addressing a road show at G Gangavaram in Narsipatnam assembly constituency, as part of his ongoing pada yatra, Vasthunna Meekosam here on Thursday, Naidu compared the
Congress governance in the state to ‘demon rule’ and said the root cause for all
sufferings was large scale corruption by leaders of the Congress and the YSR Congress.

 “There is no power in households. Even if there is power, charges are very high. Prices of essentials are skyrocketing. Fuel prices have risen abnormally. The root cause for all this is corruption by leaders of Congress and YSRCP. You people should dump Congress into river Ganga,” said Naidu and asked them to defeat the party in the upcoming polls. In the same tempo he said “Dedicate just one day (Polling day) to the TD and I assure you a worryfree life for five years.”

Naidu tried to strike an emotional chord by telling people that he had come to them as the elder son of their family ad that it was his duty to light up their lives. He criticised YSR Congress president, YS Jaganmohan Reddy and former chief minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy for looting public money and abetting corruption. He took the example of Jagan’s palatial houses in Lotus Pond and in Banglore. “He had amassed around 1 lakh crores wealth and has a house with 72 rooms in Lotus Pond and a bungalow spread in 30 acres in Banglore,” he said.

Naidu promised jobs to all the eligible and educated youth, if voted to power. He
said his first signature would be on the file related to total waiver of farm loans and the next will be on abolition of belt shops.

He also promised cycles to school and college going girls and boys. “I know your are all vexed with the nine year rule of the Congress and pinned all hopes on the TD,” said naidu and also promised an old age home for elderly people with all
facilities at Narsipatnam.

Free-fall of gold prices fail to push sales in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 16, 2013: Plummeting gold prices hasn’t seen any excitement in Vizag.   Contrary to expectations, there has been no ‘gold rush’ in Vizag.  Jewelry stores have just done marginally better business on Tuesday.

Though shops witnessed heavy rush during Ugadi and the immediate two days followed- the time when the gold prices started dipping a little, a sudden steep fall on Tuesday made buyers adapt ‘wait and watch’.

There are around 600 small, medium and big gold jewelry showrooms in Vizag including outskirts of Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam and Pendurthy. Kurupam market in One Town area itself has more than 200 gold shops. They generally do a turnover of Rs 70cr in a year. Gold shop owners are of the opinion that customers are still in a dilemma whether to buy jewelry now or not, expecting further fall in price.

On Tuesday, gold price in Vizag which follows Mumbai bullion market is Rs 2, 628 per gram. “Everybody is in dilemma whether it is right time to buy or not as gold price started falling day by day. What if they buy today at one price and that further falls which will be loss was the thinking. So there is no much excitement among the middle class or other prospective buyers. We are of the opinion that the price will not fall further drastically except a little,” Visakhapatnam Gold and Silver Jewellery Merchants’ Welfare Association, secretary, N V Achyuta Ramaiah told this correspondent.

There were hordes at the jewelry stores on Ugadi and the two days that followed.  Though they had business more than the regular days, but it was not on the expected lines. The fall in price neither excited the buyers nor the shop owners.  

“We have expected at least 50 to 60 percent of surge in the daily business today. But we have done only 15 percent more than the normal biz. Customers are rather anxious than being excited.  Let’s see what’s in the store in the coming days. This is a trend,” ES Madhavan of famous jewelery chain Jos Alukkas told this newspaper.

 He attributed the sudden fall in price to the dumping of gold in Indian market from US via Dubai.

Kiran is an arrogant man, says Naidu

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 16, 2013: Taking the political rivalry to a new low in a scathing personal attack on chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, TD chief N Chandrababu Naidu said that the former an arrogant man and a poser.

Addressing a gathering at M Bennavaram under Nathavaram Mandal in the district during his pada yatra Vasthunna Meekosam here on Tuesday, Naidu said “Kiran thinks high of himself. But actually he doesn’t know anything. He is just a poser and a highly arrogant man. He doesn’t know what exactly a poor family needs. He doesn’t even know how to get Central funds for the welfare of the state.”

Stating that state had gone back to ages behind in all sectors, he found fault with Kiran Reddy’s government for failing to get sufficient relief fund from Centre. While the state government sent loss estimates seeking Rs 52,000 cr of relief fund, Centre sanctioned a meager Rs 3,000 cr and even that amount is yet to be released, though sanctioned 6 months ago, Naidu said.

He also said in certain instances state government didn’t even respond to Centre’s initiative, with regard to availing some funds. He promised scholarships to students of Economically Backward Classes (EBC) if voted back to power.  

Earlier at a review meeting of Paderu constituency in D Yerravaram junction in an attempt to boost the morale of the party activists he asked them to work hard for a year and later he will take care of their ‘wellbeing’.  “You all should strive very hard at least a year from now later I will take of your wellbeing and all your needs after coming to power,” he said

Terming the Congress as mother and YSR Congress as its child, Naidu said both parties are known looting people. Training his guns on the TRS, the TD chief said the party doesn’t have any cadre at all.

He lamented that he had given party ticket to a corporator and made him an MLA in Karimnagar. “Now, he defected the party and joined TRS,” he said and accused  TRS of horse trading and buying leaders.  He also said that his pada yara was not aimed to get back to power but only to understand and know the problems being faced by people under Congress misrule.

Ends//9:40pm

CM Kiran turns to vastu, launches Amma Hastham in Srikakulam

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 16, 2013: Looks like the ‘vastu’ bug had bitten the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy too. He chose Tekkali in Srikakulam district for an official launch of his government’s new welfare initiative for the BPL families ‘Amma Hastham’ here on Tuesday and even acknowledged his sentiment openly. 

Being on the north eastern side of Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam is believed to be auspicious for the launch of election campaigns and any new programmes. “Though Amma Hastham was launched formally in Hyderabad on Ugadi, I wanted its actual launch to be done here in Srikakulam. Henceforth, the scheme will be implemented in all the districts across state. I believe anything launched in Srikakulam, which is on the north east side of the state will be a great success and it was proved in the past by the Racha Banda programme , which was also launched in Rajam in the same district,” Kiran Kumar Reddy said amidst thundering applause by the huge gathering.

In 2008, when actor Chiranjeevi launched his political outfit he undertook a statewide tour titled Praja Ankitha Yatraa, which he launched on October 9 at Arasavilli in Srikakulam.

In 2009, the Congress general election campaign was also officially launched in Ichapuram with the then PCC chief D. Srinivas and other party leaders actively taking part in a massive meeting and road shows.

Actor Jr NTR, who lent his hand to uncle and TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu during the 2009 elections, also launched his 40-day statewide poll campaign from Ichapuram.

 YSR’s widow, YS Vijayalakshmi too launched her election campaign last year duirng by polls from Narsannapeta in Srikakulam.

Under the scheme, BPL families can avail 9 essential commodities at just Rs 185 and that the state government would bear the additional cost of Rs 107 in the form of subsidy.  He fumed at the the opposition parties especially, TD chief N Chandrababu Naidu mocking at the scheme. Naidu dubbed the scheme as ‘mondi hastham’ (hollow hand).

“Congress government’s every scheme is aimed at the welfare of poor and needy. We don’t listen to the dissuading comments made by Chandrababu likes. Instead of encouraging government in implementing schemes like Amma Hastham Naidu is scuttling the chances of poor getting essential commodities at a very cheap price. He is against the welfare of poor and downtrodden,” said Kiran Kumar Reddy

Give me another chance, Naidu appeals to people at padayatra

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 15, 2013: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked general public to give him one chance to get back to power to put the state back into order, which is in shambles.

Addressing a gathering at Srungarvaram in Narsipatnam as part of his padayatra Vasthunna Meekosam here on Monday, Naidu said it was high time Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy be dethroned for the benefit of poor in the state.

“It is high time that Kiran Kumar Reddy be dethroned. Congressmen and YSR Congress leaders looted the state like anything. Kiran Kumar Reddy is shielding the looters and tainted ministers. Give me a chance I will put the state back into order and bring back development in all sectors,” Naidu said.

After a two day break on the advice of doctors, the TD president resumed his padayatra on Monday evening from Srungavaram.

He walked only five kms instead of scheduled 11 kms. Doling out promises on the occasion, Naidu said if voted back to power he will waive interests on loans availed by Dwcra women, interest free loans to tenant farmers, loan waiver to farmers and drinking water supply to every village under NTR Sujala Sravanthi.

Actor and Rajya Sabha member Nandamuri Harikrishna’s son Nandamuri Kalyan Ram met Naidu on Monday morning.

Kalyan Ram said that he has visited Naidu to enquire about his health as he was suffering with knee and ankle pain.

Kalyan Ram’s meeting gained significance amidst alleged differences between the Telugu Desam president and his brother-in-law Harikrishna. 

Devotees beat up priest of Sri Kurmam temple

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatanam, April 15, 2013: A priest at famous Sree Kurmanatha temple in Srikakulam was injured in an attack by irate devotees here on Monday morning. Enraged with the priest’s act of duplicating the idol of the presiding deity —  Lord Kurmanatha — with wax, the locals staged a protest at the temple.

With no response from the temple authorities the agitated locals barged into the temple and attacked the priest Chamarla Murali Krishna, who received blows on his face leaving him bleeding from the nose and severe injury to his left eye.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Kurmanatha, the second avatar of Lord Vishnu (Tortoise). This is the only temple in the entire country where Lord Vishnu is seen in a ‘Kurmavatara’.

Devotees felt that the priest was trying to create a duplicate idol hurting their sentiments and sanctity of the temple. They also alleged that the priest tried to sell the original idol to some Banglore based smuggler and install a duplicate one at the sanctum sanctorum and in the process he made a wax copy.

“He had done this even without informing the temple executive officer. We want to know the intentions and motive behind doing so in a secret manner,” asked K. Venkat Rao. The incident took place on Friday and only came to light on Monday morning.

Police had to swing into action after some agitated devotees pelted stones at the priest. “Banglore based one Ranga Rao wanted to gift silver armour to the idol and asked me a wax copy to manufacture and I did it. There are no any ill intentions behind it,” said the priest Murali Krishna.

The priest was immediately suspended by the temple executive officer, Prasad Patnaik who also lodged a complaint at the local police station. “There is a procedure to do such things. It is against agamasastra. He should have  taken  permission from the temple authorities. It’s an condemnable act,” said Sarada Peetham seer Swamy Swaroopanandendra Saraswathy.

Despite green awards, Vizag most polluted

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 15, 2013:  The famous One Town of Visakhapatnam happens to be one of the worst-affected areas in the state, as far as the environmental pollution goes, according to the official data recently retrieved by a city based voluntary organisation under the Right to Information Act.

The shocking revelation flies in the face of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust’s tall claims about Vizag being “environmentally the best managed town” in the state. In fact, the situation is so serious that about 44 people died in the town in the past one year owing to the environmental pollution, according a city based voluntary organisation.

“Out of total (44) death toll, as many as 10 were children who died due to respiratory problems and tuberculosis”, said the president of Chaitanya Sravanthi, a voluntary organisation, Dr Shirin Rehman. “Shockingly, the port authorities offered no help to the poor families whose members died due to the environmental pollution”, she told this correspondent.

As per the data obtained by her organisation from the AP Pollution Control Board and Andhra University, the port town is in the fierce grip of environmental pollution. And it is a dangerous kind of air pollution caused by the “repeated handling of coal and Iron ore” at the port for the past several decades.

“The air of the One Town is so badly choked by the thick layers of dust of coal and iron ore that it has become a permanent health hazard for the locals”, said the members of Chaitanya Sravanthi.
Incidentally, the locations where the pollution was recorded also include various schools such as St  Alyosuis School, St John Paris School and others in Visakapatnam.

As far as the pollution goes, the situation is indeed worrying. Sample this: the concentration of the total suspended particulate matter, the respirable suspended particulate matter recorded in various locations is 2-3 times more than the permissible limits. No different is the case with the ambient air quality standards.

As per the data, the RSPM and TSPM levels increased fast since 2001 but was recorded the highest in 2009-10. No wonder, if the environmental activists engaged in the research are worried. “The situation is indeed worrisome, so it is high time that the VPT authorities took urgent measures to mitigate the fast increasing environmental pollution in the town”, Dr Rehman said.

Interestingly, the port of Visakhapatnam is accredited with the ISO Certification (ISO 14001) by the Indian Register of Quality Systems for Environmental Management standards in all its activities including related support services.

It also has an environmental monitoring committee that inspects the port. The VPT is also the recipient of Greentech Gold award in 2007 and environmental excellence award (twice) for outstanding environment management.

Jolt to Naidu: Dadi meets Ganta, triggers talk on exit from TD

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 12, 2013: If speculations are to be believed it’s a major jolt to TD Chief N Chandrabbau Naidu, as he walked into Vizag during his walkathon ‘Vasthunna Meekosam’, as party senior leader, Dadi Veerabhadhra Rao held a closed door meeting with ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao here on Friday and reportedly expressed his intention to join the grand old party.

The meeting lasted for around half an hour at the government circuit house and speculations are rife in the political circles here in Vizag that the estranged TD leader, Dadi Veerabhadhra Rao who openly burst out at Naidu for denying to re nominate him as MLC, has been sulking, keeping away from the party activities and not interested in continuing in TD.

His term would be ending on May 2 and his meeting with Srinivasa Rao gave enough fodder to the rumour mills. 

The leader of opposition in legislative council, Rao, on March 10 in Hyderabad openly criticized Naidu’s leadership stating ‘poor’ BCs doesn’t have space in the party and he had waited like a dog to meet his leader, during the politburo meeting held on March 9 in Krishna district.

“I was waiting outside his bus like a dog. Yet, he didn’t even have the minimum courtesy to call me in and inform me. We, the poor BCs look for some self respect not posts. I should have been informed well in advance about the party’s decision to replace me with Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.” said Rao immediately after the news broke that he was denied MLC seat.

Rao also said he was deeply hurt for not denying renomination, but due to the humiliation caused to him by not conveying it in a proper manner. Dadi’s last month’s open criticism had left local cadres in disarray. Many activists in Anakapalli, Dadi’s stronghold said to have threatened to resign from the party.

On Friday morning both Srinivasa Rao and Dadi Veerbhadhra Rao came out with smiling faces after the meeting. “I met the minister only for sanction of funds for the developmental activities in Anakapalle. We have also discussed about allotting place for setting up TD founder NT Rama Rao’s statue in Anakapalle. There is nothing more to our meeting,” said Dadi Veerabhadra Rao.

Political analysts, however, observed that Dadi would add strength to Congress which lost a strong leader from the ‘Gavara’ community strong in Anakapalle, Konatala Ramakrishna to YSR Congress.

Interestingly Veerabhadra Rao’s son, Dadi Ratnakar, who is TD district unit, president, is actively taking part in making arrangements for Naidu’s pada yatra, which would continue in Vizag for the next 12 days and end on April 27. 

Once bitten, twice shy on land allotment to HPCL

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 12, 2013: Not willing to take any chances again, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) authorities are now waiting for a written assurance and firm commitment from the state owned oil major Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) on the latter’s application to re allot the land taken back by the state government.

APIIC in May last year cancelled the allotment it made to the HPCL for its proposed 15 million tonne refinery with an investment of Rs 45, 000 cr for delay in grounding the project on time.

HPCL was allotted around 1,500 acres at Atchyutapuram in AP Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) for setting up of Greenfield oil refinery and petrochemical complex.

While the project was proposed in 2005-06 as an anchor project of Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), land was allotted in 2007.

Land was allotted after HPCL formed a consortium with Gas Authority of India Ltd., Oil India, Mittal Energy, and TOTAL of France.  But due to reasons unknown, HPCL could not ground the project forcing the APIIC to cancel the allotment last year.

Recently, HPCL senior officials approached the APIIC with a revival plan seeking re allotment of the land. This time the oil company proposed to set up a 9.5 mtpa refinery, which will cost around Rs 20,000 crore initially, instead of 15 million tonne as envisaged earlier.  However, HPCL is said to have informed APIIC that subsequently capacity would be doubled to 18 mt in the coming years.

 “This time we are looking for a timeline written assurance. And now there are no any land acquisition pangs as land is readily available which we have acquired earlier for the same project and also as part of PCPIR. It doesn’t take much time for us to re allot the land but we are waiting for a written commitment from HPCL,” a senior official of APIIC looking after PCPIR activities told this correspondent. 

Wild reaction: New rhino in Vizag zoo breaks free, creates panic

By SNV Sudhir


Visakhapatnam, April 11, 2013: The scene seemed straight out of a movie — except that it was all too real. Staff and visitors at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park here panicked after a rhinoceros ran amok, coming out of the moat in which it had been kept for acclimatisation. Authorities had to close the zoo for the day after the incident.

The 12-year-old male rhino, named Nakul, had arrived at Vizag zoo on Wednesday evening from Kanpur zoo after a punishing four-day journey in a small cage, loaded on a truck. The cage had to be kept small because if the animal made even a small movement the truck would turn turtle.

Nakul was kept at a ‘night house’ at the local zoo for him to acclimatise to his new surroundings.

The night house is located away from the regular enclosures and visitors are not allowed there. A guard on duty at the night house suddenly heard some loud grunt on Thursday morn

ing and saw the rhino break out of its enclosure and enter a muddy pool.

The zoo authorities fell into a frenzied state, for they anticipated it would attack people. The staff members suffered minor injuries in the melee that followed.

The staff had to use tranquillisers to bring the animal under control, which took at least half an hour.

The zoo authorities said the rhino had been rescued by the Kanpur forest authorities and it would take it some time to get used to the new environment.

“The four day journey

confined in a small cage, that too in summer, may have stressed the rhino.

Rhinos generally like to be in muddy waters for long hours and it had been away from it for a few days,” said Pradeep Nath of Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Nakul is now resting at the night house. We have also called for a doctor from Hyderabad zoo to chalk out a strategy to tame it and to put it into an enclosure for public view. We evacuated the zoo as a precautionary measure so that no visitor is harmed due, said zoo doctor P. Srinivas.

Row over naming of park

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 10, 2013: A controversy is brewing in Vizag over naming a public park being developed by Vuda in 20 acres of old jail area in the heart of the city. While the Congress government wanted to name it after its demised towering leader, YS Rajasekhar Reddy probably in a bid to counter the claims of YSRC cadres that his image has been tarnished by the ruling party, veterans, senior citizens and NGOs want the park to be named after Alluri Seetharama Raju belonging to this region who fought against the British and sacrificed his life.

They are of the opinion that Alluri symbolises the pride and identity of this region. However, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao had recently ruled out changing the name from YSR-Vuda Park. He made it clear by stating that a decision in this regard has already been taken and there will not be looking back at a recent visit to the park, which is being developed.

Staff of Vuda engineering wing is sweating it out since more than two years to develop the park into a global attraction. The Park has been taken up in an area of about 20 acres with a cost of Rs 35 crores and very innovative attractions such as Jurassic Park, Bamboo Garden, Sky Gardens, Event Lawns, Children Ply Area, Cycling and jogging tracks and plazas with unique arrangements were taken up

Special focus has been given to develop greenery and landscaping to extend rich eco surroundings not only to the park but also to the surrounding areas.

“We want Vuda and government to name the Central Park after Alluri Seetarama Raju. Any deviation from this we will not hesitate to knock doors of the courts again. It should be a tribute to him who fought for independence. At that time he could inspire so many tribals without much innovation in communication technology.  His heroic epic should be passed onto the next generations so that they stay inspired. Unfortunately until now government had done nothing in the memory of Alluri Seetarama Raju. We don’t want any politician’s name to please somebody but we want a true freedom fighter” said Praja Spandana founder president, for IES officer, CS Rao.

It was Praja Spandana, a civil society organisation that played an important role in seeking judicial intervention on the way the Old Central Jail land should be used. Earlier there were proposals that the old jail road be given to private parties on PPP mode to develop commercial complex, mall with multiplexes. But Praja Spandana filed a PIL at High Court and got an order that the land should be developed as Park as a lung space.

“Congress leaders wanted to name the park after YSR and planned a grand opening to send a message to public that the party still considers him as their leader to counter YSRC campaign that the ruling party has dumped YSR though he served Congress for his lifetime. Now it turned interesting let’s see what’s going to happen,” observed an YSRC leader

Deo accuses state on tribal displacement

 By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 10, 2013: In yet another scathing attack, on the state government, the union tribal affairs minister, V Kishore Chandra Deo, in a letter to the chief ministers of all the states on implementing various provisions under Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, accused the state leadership for deliberately pushing aside alternative proposals to entail least displacement of tribes, by constructing the multipurpose Polavaram project.

Deo on April 4 wrote to the chief ministers of all the states urging them effective implementation of FRA in their respective states. While he said that Maharashtra and Odisha making changes in their policies with respect to bamboo transit rights are partial, in other states there is still a complete vacuum in empowering tribals.

Dwelling upon non cognizance of viable alternative propositions among various other problems fettering the effective implementation of FRA, Deo said there are certain propositions/proposals for amicable  settlement of rights of tribals and forest dwellers, but it is disconcerting to note that there isn’t an iota of consideration of these even before implementation of FRA.

He further said “for instance in Andhra Pradesh in the context of Polavarm projects, there already were some alternative proposals for resolving issues arising there from. These proposals were not considered worthy even a look although they offer viable solution which if opted for would entail least displacement of tribals, with considerably less area under submersion of water, and related Relief & Rehabilitation options. This is nothing but a deliberate conscious apathy by our own state authorities for problem resolutions. This aspect calls for serious consideration.”

It may be worth mentioning here that in another letter to the governors of states having schedule V areas recently Deo, accused the state government of trying to brazenly distort the constitutional safeguards against the interests of tribals.

He also earlier reportedly wrote a letter to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi calling the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy ‘ineffective’, besides terming PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana a ‘mafia don’.

This was after there was no response from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) to his directives to the state government to immediately cancel the MoUs it signed with ANRAK and Jindals on supply of bauxite ore proposed to be mined in Vizag Agency by APMDC.  

Maoist threat: House panel cut short visit to Vizag Agency

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 9, 2013: Fearing the Maoists and resistance from anti mining groups, members of the legislative committee on petitions had to cut short their trip to Vizag Agency tracts.

The committee was scheduled to visit parts of Vizag Agency for an on the spot study of the proposed bauxite mining areas in Anantagiri and GK Veedhi Agency mandals on April 8 and 9 based on the petitions it received on the proposed mining. However they could visit only Anantagiri on the way to Araku on Monday and returned to the city last night.

On Tuesday they were supposed to visit Jerella division in GK Veedhi Mandal, a known Maoists hotbed.

All party forum which was launched in Agency region to protest bauxite mining had called for a bandh in Jerella and Sapparla divisions protesting committee’s visit. They have also vowed to stop the committee members at any cost entering their region. It may be worth mentioning here that JC Kala committee too which was appointed by MoEF to study the ground situation of the bauxite mining areas before according second phase of  clearances had to take a aerial view from a chopper in 2011 December as similar resistance was showed by the local tribals. 

The committee members were also scheduled to hold a review meeting with revenue, mining and ITDA officials at Araku on Monday morning. But it was held here at government circuit house in city on Tuesday.   

The committee chairman, Mallu Batti Vikramarka at the review meeting with the officials found fault with the APMDC for reaching into agreements with private firms on supply of ore without getting requisite clearances for mining bauxite from MoEF. 

The visit of the committee also raised many an eyebrows. The same committee earlier held detailed discussions on the MoUs signed by APMDC with private companies, in Hyderabad on January 8, 2013. The discussions were in response to a petition filed by former legislator Ch Babu Ramesh of Rampachodavaram through Telugu
Desam MLA, A Revanth Reddy.
Then the committee unanimously concluded that the proposed bauxite mining would harm the interests of the state while immensely benefitting the two private companies.
“We are here to know the ground situation, gather information, listen to the objections as we have received petitions on the proposed bauxite mining issue. But the situation is very tensed in Agency tracts with the bandh call given by the locals. Not to hurt their feelings we had cut short our programme without going to certain parts. We will submit a detailed report to the assembly keeping in mind all the sentiments, feelings of the locals attached to the region,” said deputy speaker at state assembly and petitions committee chairman, M Batti Vikramarka.

TD cadre bank on Naidu's pada yatra

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 8, 2013: Cadres of Telugu Desam, which turned a divided house in the district, seems to be banking on their chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s pada yatra, which is scheduled to enter Vizag on April 12, to revive the fortunes of the party in the region.  

The three districts of north Andhra Pradesh was once considered as 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 this region. 

Naidu also chose Vizag to conclude his 208 day and 2,900 km long historic walkathon Vasthunna Meekosam, which he launched on October 2, last year at Hindupur in Anantapur. In Vizag he will take part in the pada yatra for 12 days barring two Sundays and will conclude it on April 27 at Gajuwaka.

Naidu is expected to walk 120 kms in his 12 day tour in Vizag. As a mark of conclusion of his walkathon, Naidu would unveil a pylon of 100 ft in Gajuwaka on April 27. Later he will address a public meeting in city, for which venue is being finalised. TD leaders are planning to hold the public meeting either in AU engineering college grounds or Indirapriyadarshini Grounds in Old Town.

TD leaders here have designed pada yatra in such a manner that Naidu would walk only in rural tracts avoiding urban constituencies and areas. Their strategy is that party urban workers and activists would concentrate more on making the public meeting a grand success by gathering more supporters to revive party fortunes.

TD 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. 

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. 

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. 

“We want to make the concluding programme of our chief’s historic pada yatra, in the city a grand success. We are fortunate that he chose Vizag to conclude his marathon walkathon and we are seeing this as an opportunity, chance to boost the morale of the cadre. He will address the public across the state from Vizag on April 27. It’s going to be an historic moment for all of us,” TD urban president, Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar.

Naidu is also expected to celebrate his birthday with party cadres in Yelamanchali on April 20.