After a lull, ‘Telengana’ brews again

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 29, 2013: Amid reports that the Centre might carve out a separate state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, students in Seemadhara have decided to oppose any such possible move tooth and nail.

At a meeting held at Seetammadhara on Friday, they decided to create an awareness campaign against the “disastrous consequences” of dividing the state from Saturday onwards. Student leaders from as many as 14 universities in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh participated in the meeting.

On Saturday, students will burn effigies of the public representatives from Telangana who plan to hold a meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, in which they would press for a separate state of Telangaga.  

Besides, students under the banner of Samaikyandhra will launch an awareness campaign in favour of their demand beginning July.

They will launch this campaign mounted on a vehicle “Samaikyandhra Ratham.” The Ratham would criss-cross all the 13 districts in Seemadhara to create awareness among the masses about the necessity to keep the state united. An undivided state, according to  student activists, would be good for development of the backward regions. 

On July 1, they would begin signature campaign in favour of their demand for a united Andhra Pradesh. As per that move, a demand charter consisting of 10 lakh signatures by the people would be presented to the President of India. Besides, students would also meet the state party affairs in-charge of the ruling Congress, Digvijay Singh during his proposed visit to Vizag on June 30.

In that meeting they would appeal to him to mount pressure on the Centre not to create separate Telangana state. On July 3, there will also be a meeting at Vijayawada with the students drawn from all the universities in Seemandhara and Telangana regions.

On July 10, there will be a Samaikyandhra students’ plenary in Vizag followed by a “huge public meeting to send out a strong message across the state in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh.” 

“We have also passed resolutions demanding that Hyderabad be made the country’s second capital”, said Samaikyandhra student JAC, state chairman, Areti Mahesh. 

“Besides, a demand for special economic packages for the backward regions is also on “our” agenda”, he added. Students’ other demands include a Central University at Vizag, IIT at Srikakulam apart from an IIM at Vizianagaram.

Time machine for Vizag science city

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 27, 2013: One would have watched the Time Machine in a popular Telugu flick of 90s in awe and if all goes as planned Vizag will soon have a science city on the lines of Kolkata, Jalandhar and Ahmedabad which boast of having such machine among other attractions.

But this machine would not take you to the future or past like the movie’s time machine, but it will take visitors on a thrilling space voyage past planets and asteroids in the solar system, the mysteries of the universe, into the vicinity of a black hole, or a supernova or back to the days of pyramids.

VUDA had already identified 30 acres of land in Kapuluppada for the Science City and sent proposals for in-principle approvals from the concerned authorities.

The facility will be constructed on a cost-sharing basis of 40:60 percent by the state and union governments. But it will be run and maintained by National Council of Science Museums, the apex body of science museums and centres in India.

The Science City complex at Kolkata, apart from comprising a Space Odyssey, Dynamotion, Evolution Theme Park, Maritime Centre and a Science Park hosts interactive exhibits on science and technology for both education and entertainment of the visitors.

“The members of the approval committee had wanted to see the available land with the help of Google maps for setting up Science City and we have sent the requirements to them. The committee is expected to meet in the first week of July and after we get the in-principle approval, the work will progress further. Simultaneously a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is also being readied,” VUDA vice chairman, Dr N. Yuvaraj told this correspondent. 

Health officials under scanner

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 26, 2013: The district medical and health office (DM & HO) is under a cloud owing to strict action not being taken against sex determination clinics doing roaring business in Vizag.

No action is being taken against such clinics despite a stringent law—the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act being in place.

The law aims at stopping female foeticide so as to arrest the country’s fast declining female ratio. Under the Act a prenatal sex determination is completely banned.  Sources said the The DM & HO appears to be non serious about controlling female foeticide or sex selected abortions in Vizag. Despite strict norms and guidelines under the PC & PNDT Act, there are no checks on ultra sound scanning centres for sex determination tests.  

According to 2011 Census, the sex ratio in the city was 977 females per 1,000 males and child sex ratio of girls was 959 per 1,000 boys.  Though an advisory committee was set up after a Supreme Court’s ruling long back it did not meet regularly till now.

The commissioner of health and family welfare wrote to district collector to inquire into the alleged corruption in the DM & HO in registration of hospitals and on the ‘non implementation’ of the PC & PNDT Act. 

In the letter a copy of which is with Deccan Chronicle, the family welfare commissioner asked the district collector to conduct an inquiry into the alleged corruption and submit a report to him.

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

But, sources in district medical and health office, said that proper records are not being maintained. It is mandatory that all scanning centres have to get themselves enrolled and registered and renew their licenses periodically.  There are around 60 to 70 ultra sound scanning centres in the district and more than 30 unauthoirsed centres in the city.  

“It’s an open secret that officials turn a blind eye to certain sex determination clinics. As a result, those owning such centres go scot free,” said a staff member at DM & HO. 

TD, YSRC private firms, says Kiran Kumar Reddy

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 24, 2013: Criticising Opposition parties for politicising sensitive issues, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said that both YSR Congress and TD are family entities and private limited companies.

Addressing a huge gathering at Kothuru under Anakapalle division, the Chief Minister felt that such parties should not be encouraged. “Both the parties are family entities and private limited companies. Those parties should not be supported or encouraged,” he said. Take it from me that Naidu can never become a chief minister again in his life, he said.

He inaugurated a Central government funded Model School at Thegada village in Kasimkota mandal and the office of a newly formed revenue division at Ankapalle here on Monday.

He said that the state government was committed to provide quality education to children coming from poor families and earmarked Rs 27,000 crore for it in the state budget. “Model schools will provide quality English medium education to poor children and enhance their competitiveness in the era of globalisation,” he said.

In the first phase, the state government would open 355 model schools and 400 schools in the second phase across the state. Of the first phase, already construction of 300 schools was done. Poor parents cannot send their children to corporate schools which collect hefty fees,” he said and added that education will remove the poverty and it was the only asset which parents can give their children in inheritance.

On the  women Self Help Groups (SHGs) the Chief Minister said it had become a movement in the state and it proved to be success in  making women self reliant. He also said that state government was committed for the welfare of women to improve their financial ad social status and added that 1.46 crore women through lakhs of SHGs groups were benefiting by taking loans from the banks. The chief minister added that this year the banks will provide Rs.16, 500 crores to the groups for their activities.

MGNREGS funds misused in AP

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 20, 2013 : Both union and state governments may have vehemently denied any misuse of the funds allocated under UPA’s flagship programme MNREGS in many instances earlier, but a survey report shows crores of rupees under this scheme were siphoned off meting out a raw deal to illiterate tribal farmers since 2009 who were working in plantation of coffee and silver oak trees in 11 Agency mandals-the remote areas of Vizag district. It was MNREGS which brought UPA to form government at the Centre in 2009 for the second time.

A special social audit conducted in 5 panchayats in Pedabayalu and 3 panchayats in Dumbriguda mandals, by the district administration showed that deviations were found to the tune of Rs 1.1 cr. The MNREGS works were undertaken in total 39 panchayats in the two mandals.  Action was also recommended against around more than 40 staff of ITDA for the misappropriation.

While it may be just the tip of the ice berg, a door to door survey and various meetings conducted by Girijana Sangham  for more than 6 months in all the 11 Agency mandals found that around Rs 33. 47 cr funds of the total Rs 45.45 cr shown as spent as payments in the records have gone to fake beneficiaries, which was alleged to have found its way into the pockets of the staff.  The survey was done under the supervision of Professor in economics of Andhra University, M Prasada Rao. 

Works were undertaken in total 39, 502 acres spread in around 190 panchayats in the 11 Agency mandals. Around 23, 115 tribal workers were involved in plantation of Coffee and silver oak trees under MNREGS.

“Most of the pass books belonging to the tribals coming under this employment scheme were seen blank without any entries. While some of them doesn’t even have pass books. We have found this in most of our area meetings where we called tribals to participate. They are not aware of any payment,” said Prof Prasada Rao.

Records with the government show that around Rs 45. 45 was withdrawn from the bank accounts and paid to the MNREGS beneficiaries. “While the special social audit was done only for a few panchayats in just 2 mandals it should be conducted in all the 11 Agency mandals as it was found in the survey that 80 percent of the amount was paid to fake beneficiaries which clearly indicates that the said money was siphoned.  We demand that the district collector should order special social audit to entire Agency and see that actual beneficiaries get the payments besides initiating criminal proceedings against the errant,” said CPM district secretary, Ch Narasinga Rao.     

Works in YSR Park draw flak

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 18, 2013: After the collapse of the roof that was under construction at Vuda-YSR Park, the urban development authority has come under criticism for violating a High Court order on using the old jail premises.

A slab being erected to connect two blocks of the administrative building at the park caved in on Monday afternoon, resulting in injuries to six persons including Vuda engineers.

Members of the civil society here said Vuda had taken up the construction of an administrative building, a cemented car parking area and other structures without consulting them, which is in gross violation of the High Court court order in 2010 on using the 20 acres of land.

Formation of a citizens’ committee and it be consulted in developing the park was part of the proceedings before the AP High Court. A meeting with the members of the citizens’ charter was held in May and the issue of the construction of administrative building and commercial cemented parking area also came up for discussion, which was opposed by the members.

“We emphasised that Vuda should fully comply with the orders of the HC by ensuring that a minimum extent of 20 acres is brought under greenery comprising of native species of trees that need less water and give more shade. We opposed cementing of the surface on the park premises and commercial activity,” said S.C. Rao of Praja Spandana.

It was Praja Spandana, a civil society organisation, that played an important role in seeking judicial intervention. Earlier, there were proposals that the old jail area  be given to private parties on PPP mode to develop a commercial complex, a mall with multiplexes.

Vizag chef goes missing in China, kin lose contact

By SNV Sudhir 

Visakhapatnam, June 17, 2013: A 26-year-old man from Allipuram in the city has gone missing in China, and his family here has lost contact with him since a few months.

Kannuru Venkatesh, a graduate in hotel management, had gone to Shanghai to work as a chef in a hotel in April 2011. He came home for a two month vacation in October 2012 and left for China again in December 2012.

“He left in December, and was in touch with us on the phone every weekend. The last time I spoke to him was on January 5. After that his phone used to ring but no one answered till February. Later on, his mobile became ‘unreachable’,” said a weeping Kanaka Maha Lakshmi, Venkatesh’s sister.

The family also inquired with Venkatesh’s friends here whether he was in touch with them. But his friends told them that they met him last when he was in Vizag in December, and after that had lost contact.

“His birthday was on June 13, and we called him. But his phone was not reachable. My daughter sent many emails. There is no response from him. His mother is devastated, and has stopped eating since a week. He never gave us details about his work,” Venkatesh’s father Rama Rao Rao told this correspondent

Rao also said Venkatesh was a hard worker and underwent training as a chef at food and craft institute in the city after which he worked in many hotels in city and Mumbai for almost 4 years. Later he wanted to test his fortunes abroad. Initially he tried going to Australia. And as his plans to go to Australia didn’t materialize he shifted his focus to China. 

Rao added that his son wanted to settle in Vizag after earning some good fortune abroad and ensure a comfortable living to their lower middle class family.

“We have sent the details of Venkatesh to the GAD at the Secretariat requesting them to approach the Ministry of External Affairs office in Hyderabad. We have only his passport number, email IDs and mobile number. They don’t know in which area of China he is living and the hotel he was working in. I think we can track him in a week,” collector V. Seshadri said.

The family started worrying after a website reported that one Venkatesh died in a quake in China last week.

Orders on merger of Anakapalle & Bheemili municipalities with Visakhapatnam likely this weekend

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 16, 2013: A decision regarding the merger of Anakapalle and Bheemili municipalities with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipality Corporation (GVMC) is likely to be out this weekend even while a notification calling for suggestions and objections on the proposal has been issued as a mere formality.

A government order (GO) is expected to be issued for the merger pushing aside all objections.

The GVMC received 3,000 letters welcoming the merger and 2,040 objections. Of these, there are eight major objections from civil society members like former bureaucrat E.A.S. Sarma, local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry D. Purandeswari, MLAs from the Congress and the opposition parties.

The state government, on May 25, issued two GOs asking the GVMC to submit the suggestions and objections on the proposal within 15 days, leaving no time to register opinions of the public.
Purandeswari and other Congress MLAs like Tainala Vijaykumar raised objections saying that GVMC failed to provide basic amenities to areas on the outskirts of the city, which were merged in 2005. Merging more areas will only become a burden on the civic body, they felt.

But some others argued that money collected from city dwellers in the name of taxes was being used for developing areas already merged. “Around 70 per cent of the funds are being spent on the villages and the areas on the outskrits that were merged in 2005. It’s not true that there are no amenities provided in the areas. Funds for the city were not used as much for those villages,” GVMC commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana told this correspondent.

The proposal to merge the two municipalities with the GVMC had also turned the ruling Congress into a divided house in Visakhapatnam district. While a few Congress MLAs have openly objected to it, along with the opposition parties including the TD, CPI and CPM, MLAs who won on a PRP ticket in 2009, including ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, are in support of the proposal.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it was opposed by several corporators and MLAs. However, since February last year, after the GVMC has come under special officer ruling, the authorities have been busy expediting the process.

Eying metro tag and more funds from the union government, the GVMC authorities brought the proposal to merge 140-year-old Anakapalle municipality  and Bheemili, the second oldest municipality. If they are merged, the GVMC would get more central funds. 

Vuda to go back to old ways, to allot plots by draw of lots

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 16, 2013 :  Probably in an image makeover exercise, the scam tainted Vuda would be allotting plots through draw of lots shunning the auction system. The decision in this regard is likely to be ratified at the Vuda’s board meeting which is expected to take place in the month end or early in June.

Though Vuda used to allot plots through lottery since 1989, it was from 2002 that the urban development authority started auctioning taking a cue from other organizations. And now it is planning to go back to the old ways. 

Vuda has often come under criticism for auctioning plots which was alleged to have indirectly helped the realtors in escalating the prices in the vicinity.  While the Vuda’s aim is to provide plots and houses to middle and lower income groups in urban areas at affordable prices it has deviated since a few years and was also caught in neck deep troubles due to irregular allotment of plots which turned out to be the first ever biggest scam in the history of Vuda.

As a test case Vuda had decided to allot 118 plots that have been left out in the 50 layouts developed by it by draw of lots. But to ensure that Vuda does not suffer any loss, a price fixation committee has been formed with financial experts from Andhra University. For these allotments, in the news system of draw of lots applications will be accepted online.

“Our HODs along with a professor from Andhra University already held a round a meeting on fixing the price. This was after we wrote to the vice chancellor of Andhra University to spare us a professor to fix the price of the plots depending on the market condition and rates. Very soon the rate will be fixed and issue a notification for lottery for these plots. The decision will also be ratified by the Vuda Baord very soon t o make it the lottery system permanent,” Vuda vice chairman, Dr N Yuvaraj told this correspondent.  

MLC alleges misuse of funds by Dharmana

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 15, 2013: In an embarrassment to Congress senior leader, Dharmana Prasad Rao who had to step down from state cabinet after he was chargesheeted in YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy’s disproportionate assets case, north Andhra graduates’ constituency MLC, M.V.S. Sarma has alleged that Rao when he was district in charge minister had misused the funds allotted to him under Constituency Development Programme (CDP) to the tune of Rs 50 lakhs.

  

In a letter to the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Sarma alleged that Rao misused the funds of Rs 50 lakh that had been released under the Constituency Development Programme (CDP). He also alleged that not only were the funds misused by Rao but he (Sarma) was discriminated against by Rao in distribution of funds.

He also accused him (Rao) of pushing aside his proposals and allocating hardly any funds while generously distributing the CDP funds amongst other MLAs and MLCs. The state government passed an order that Rs 50 lakhs of the total Rs 1 cr funds allotted to an MLC under CDP should be sanctioned or can be spent by the concerned district in charge minister. Taking advantage of the order, Dharmana misused his CDP funds without considering his requests and proposals, the MLC added.

“Significantly, (Dharmana) spent the CDP funds in case of other MLAs and MLCs in the district as well as in north Andhra in response to their proposals,” Sarma further alleged adding, he (Dharmana), however, “rejected and refused my proposals.”

Sarma also accused Dharmana of illegally allowing funds for digging borewells in the agricultural lands privately owned by four individuals. “No funds were allocated for my proposals that pertained to providing better hostel facilities and infrastructure for government schools in the three districts of north Andhra that are very much within my constituency,” he alleged.

Sarma added that during 2010-11, he had spent Rs 1 crore for  as many as 147 works that pertained to food, shelter and better infrastructure for schools, especially in the SC, ST areas in the three districts and there was no problem when Vatti Vasanth Kumar was incharge minister. Sarma said he divided his CDP funds in the ratio of 40 per cent for Vizag, 30 per cent each for Viziangaram and Srikakulam.

The trouble began when Rao was made in-charge minister for the district, he alleged adding, after that all his proposals submitted in 2011-12, 2012-13 were rejected by Prasad Rao.

     

The MLC wrote a letter to the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy explaining the misuse and the discrimination meted to him by Dharmana Prasad Rao. He also requested the  chief minister to review the decision taken earlier that part of funds allotted to an MLC under CDP should be sanctioned or can be spent by the concerned district in charge minister to avoid any misuse and clash among themselves. 

Australia to aid seafood export from Vizag region

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 11, 2013: Australia has evinced keen interest in partnering with India’s prestigious Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and other similar institutes for a technological  and commercial collaboration between the countries so that seafood could be exported from the Vizag region in a big way.

Though the seafood exports from Andhra Pradesh especially from Vizag region showed a healthy 20 per cent growth in volumes over the last two years, lack of better infrastructure and fish landing facilities have been bothering the seafood exporters.  Sea food especially tuna is exported to USA, Japan and European Union.

Australia’s counsel general for South India, David Holly told Deccan Chronicle that they are in talks with both the state and union governments on the possible technology exchange. “There is lot of shore based fishing activity here and the deep sea fishing, aqua culture and Tuna fishing has to be explored for which Australia would offer technology exchange. We will also look into providing better logistics to the local fishermen for them to export fresh catch quickly to the countries like Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. We will also see if we can provide some value addition to the fish caught by local fishermen for them to export to other countries,” he told this correspondent.

The state, which had over 55-60 exporters about 10 years back now has only 40 exporters.  In recent times seafood is also being exported to Russia, Vietnam, South Africa and the Middle East countries from this region

The state's seafood industry, forms a 40 precent share in India's seafood exports. Exports from Andhra Pradesh were registered at  around Rs 10,000 crore in 2009-10 and registered an increase to Rs 13,000 crore the following year.

According to Holly, Australia’s government teams would be regularly visiting Vizag to “understand the city better and to identify” key sectors for commercial collaboration. Holly observed that there was a wide spectrum of opportunities here in Vizag including infrastructure, information technology and education.

The diplomat further said that they have been encouraging more student exchange programmes for better understanding of both the countries by the students.

“Australian students don’t have idea of contemporary India and the same with Indian students about Australia. So we are encouraging more student exchange programmes and  tying up with Indian varsities for twinning courses, urging local institutes to open their campus in our country. We have also issued 10,000 scholarships for the students of many Asian countries,” he said. 

Vizag airport sees surge in travellers, records all time high passenger traffic in May@ 1,02, 535

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 13, 2013: Vizag airport has recorded all time high passenger traffic in May by crossing 1, 01, 216 passengers recorded in ecember 2012.

The number of air travelers, both domestic and international, stood at 1, 02,535 in May this year. In last  May 2012, airport witnessed 98,000 passengers. Around 15 including two international, flights operate from city airport to destinations like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Banglore, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bhunbaneswar, Kolkata, Delhi, Singapore and Dubai.

The passenger traffic increased manifold at Vizag airport in the last 8 years. In 2003-04 airport witnessed just 14,880 passengers arriving and departing while in 2011-12, it rose to 9.6 lakh and more than 11 lakh in 2012-13 fiscal.

With 95 percent occupancy in domestic flights and 70 percent in the two international flights, demand for round the clock operations at the airport, which is controlled by Indian Navy, on all the days, by local trade bodies, business and air travelers associations has gained momentum.

At present airport is operated round the clock only on three days in a week and on the remaining days it is open from 8am to 11pm only. “There has been demand from all the corners for round the clock operations on all the days. We are actively considering the demand and hopeful that airport will be opened 24/7 very soon,” Airport Director, K Srinivaa Rao told this correspondent.

However, it is learnt that though the defence ministry gave a go ahead nod for round the clock operations on three days a week, no airline is keen on operating late night or early morning flight which is said to have made the concerned authorities rethink about extending 24hrs operations during the remaining three days.

On the other hand, international airlines like Air Arabia are keen on introducing flight from Vizag to Sharjah and a team from Thai Smile is also expected to come to Vizag to conduct a feasibility study to introduce a flight to Bangkok in Thailand.

“Air Arabia delegation already visited Vizag for direct flights to Sharjah and is hopeful of starting soon. This 24/7 operations will help a quick decision. We will help extend all cooperation to the Thai delegation by facilitating  interactions with all tour operators, hotel association and trade bodies to  enable Thai Air to help the 3 crore population within 200kms of Vizag to go international at very affordable rates. We expect more international carriers to come to Vizag,” said O Naresh Kumar of Vizag Development Council (VDC). 

Special package for air travellers

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 12, 2013: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), is keen on introducing a special package of Lord Balaji’s darsan and accommodation at hill shrine Tirumala for the air travelers to the temple town from the port city.

A similar Darshan and accommodation package is being offered in Hyderabad for air travelers. Spicejet, which cancelled its flight operations from Vizag to Tirupati a few months back due to poor response, is also said to be interested in re introducing its operations if APTDC agrees to launch this package.

Tourism officer SD Anita recently wrote to APTDC higher officials in Hyderabad about the demand for such package after it was raised by the members of various business associations and trade bodies a few days back at a meeting of local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry, D Purandheswari.

The tour package for air travelers from Hyderabad to Tirupati includes visit to Srikalahasti, Alamelumangapuram and Tirumala darshan along with accommodation. APTDC would allot 40 percent of the rooms at Tirumala under their control for Vizag air passengers under the package.

“APTDC is very much interested in extending the Tirumala temple tour package that is offered at Hyderabad for Vizag air travelers. But there is no direct flight from here to Tirupati. If any airline is interested in launching its operations to Tirupati APTDC would immediately offer the same package,” said Anita.

Purandheswari on Wednesday wrote to tourism special chief secretary, Chandana Khan and tourism minister Vatti Vasant Kumar requesting possible action from their department on introducing the package.

“As Vizag is a major city attracting international and national investments, having this package will help showcase Vizag better and also help many senior citizens and other tourists.  I would like to inform that Vizag is very fast growing city in Andhra Pradesh with ever growing industrial, educational and tourism hub.  I would like to request you to take necessary action urgently in this regard so that to begin with about 100 

Bheemili port in 5 years

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 10, 2013: The authorities at Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) are hopeful that the proposed satellite port at Bheemili, 28kms away from here, will come into operation within 3 to 5 years from now.

The port at Bheemii was proposed on the lines of Ennre Port, which is a satellite port to Chennai major port to decongest its traffic.  The VPT has recently finalized a Delhi based consultant firm, Aecom to prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) for both satellite port and a fishing harbour at Bheemili after calling global tenders. 

The present port handles around 68 million tonnes of cargo every year and it is expected to touch 100million tonnes in coming years which necessitated setting up a satellite port under the administrative control of VPT to decongest traffic.

Ennore Port, located about 24 km north of Chennai Port is the only corporatised major port and is registered as a company. The Centre holds a stake of about 68 per cent in the Ennore Port and the remaining 32 per cent is held by the Chennai Port Trust (CPT). Ennore Port, designed as Asia's energy port, is the first corporatised port in India and has only 86 employees.

Around 12 firms including some globally renowned, responded to the global tenders. The consultant firm would submit DFR in two covers one – technical proposal and another financial proposal.  VPT will begin operations with an initial cargo handling capacity of 15 to 20 million tonnes at Bheemili port.

The consultant firm will submit its report within 6 months after studying topographical, hydrological and other relevant aspects like projected traffic down the line two decades, to establish a port.

VPT already has 172 acres at Mulakedu near Bheemili with waterfront area of two kilometers, which was allotted by the revenue department in lieu of 240 acres it surrendered for the expansion of INS Dega Airport.

“Bheemili port will be like Ennore Port of Chennai Port Trust (CPT) under the administrative control of VPT.  With the given advanced technologies in construction sector and other related areas once the DFR is submitted and necessary financial clearances come from the Centre we are hopeful that we can begin operations with in 3 to 5 years from now. Majority of the land required is also available with VPT at Bheemili,” VPT chief engineer K Ramachandra Rao told this correspondent.

 He added that Centre would decide the financial pattern whether will there be a portion of private partnership or fully owned by government and its agencies. 

Raiwada in eye of storm

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 9, 2013: Controversy over diversion of Raiwada reservoir water to meet the city requirements has always dominated politics in rural tracts of the district, helping many politicians to emerge as strong leaders in this region.

The issue has been simmering for more than three decades now without a solution in sight. RD, seeking political meilage launched a fresh protest last week by blocking water to the city.

The party now set a deadline of one month to the authorities to settle the issue by releasing orders so that the entire Raiwada water is utilized for irrigation instead of sending a few cusecs to city.

Interestingly in a coincidence of sorts the Madugula TD MLA Ramu Naidu who launched the agitation last week was made party rural president on Saturday the post which fell vacant after the exit of Dadi Veerabhadra Rao’s son Dadi Ratnakar. 

Raiwada reservoir, which is 58 km away from here, is one of the major sources of water to city.  Around 27 mgd of water is drawn daily by an open canal to the city. Of the 3 tmcft water, GVMC gets 1.4 tmcft and the remaining is for agriculture diverted to around 15,000 acres of ayacut in the rural tracts.   

But this water supply  has always been a controversy with various  leaders affiliated to different parties demanding that the total quantity of water be allotted to agriculture. There was also a G O issued earlier that portion of Raiwada water be supplied to city. Political parties have repeatedly used this issue to gain political mileage.

In 2003, the then PCC general secretary Konatala Ramakrishna also led a huge rally of farmers to the Raiwada reservoir demanding that the government release water for saving crops in the area. The agitation gave a fresh lease of political career to Kontala Ramakrishna. He too blocked the water supply from Raiwada to city.

Last week Madugula MLA Rama Naidu observed 36-hour hunger strike with senior TDP leaders Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, Pappala Chalapathi Rao and Adari Tulasi Rao lending support to the protest.

“A memo was issued in 2005 that Rraiwada water would be supplied to an additional 6,000 acres. But until that assurance was also not kept. We are giving one month deadline if the G O that allows water to city is not scrapped we will not hesitate to launch direct agitation,” said Ramunaidu.  He also added that the supply to the original ayacut was erratic.

Last Tuesday, Naidu with the help of  farmers from Madugula, Chodavaram, Yelamanchali and Anakapelle, blocked water supply to city at Raiwada reservoir by using sand bags. 

No salaries for Vedanta's HZL staff from March '13

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 4, 2013: As uncertainty over the reopening of the Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), in which Vendata has nearly 65 per cent stake, continues, its staff here is struggling to make their both ends meet as they stopped receiving their salaries since March this year.

The HZL management stopped production at its smelter unit since last February and asked its employees to join their mining sites and various offices located in Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uadaipur in Rajasthan or opt for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).

While few joined their respective postings, majority of them stared  protests since then terming the transfer orders and  abrupt closing of the smelter as illegal. As the deadline for transfers ended on March 11, they have stopped receiving salaries.

This is contrary to the orders earlier issued by the union mines minister Dhinsha Patel on holding the transfers for time being and immediate disbursement of the salaries. The orders by Patel were issued after the intervention of local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry, Dr D Purandgeswari’s intervention.

Later at a high level meeting held in the last week of March in Delhi in the presence of Dhinsha Patel and company representatives it was decided to constitute a technical committee to resolve the long pending issue.

But to the workers’ dismay the technical committee on which they have pinned many hopes was never appointed. It’s been more than 2 months that a technical committee was supposed to be appointed and submit its report.

The technical committee appointed by Patel will have one representative from trade union, local MLA, a district senior official and company representatives. The report is to be submitted in a month’s time.

At present there are around 220 employees who were protesting at the HZL gate since very long erecting a tent. Workers alleged that without any valid reason HZL, in which Vedanta has nearly 65 per cent stake, stopped production putting their social security at risk. Since then workers had formed a joint action committee protesting the moves of Vedanta group. They have also erected a tent near the factory and launched agitation since more than 6 months.

HZL which has commissioned its operations in 1977 is located in an extent of 360 acres in Mindi near Gajuwaka. The smelter unit was disinvested during the NDA regime.

The HZL management cited non availability of place to dump sludge and power situation in Andhra Pradesh among other reasons to close their smelter unit and suspend operations.

HZL has two tanks each on 10 acres. The second tank is half filled and it can last for another five years, said B Krishna Appa Rao Naidu of Zince Smelter Mazdoor Sangh (ZSMS).

“It has become very difficult for us to manage and maintain our families without salaries. We want the committee to be constituted at the earliest and submit the report,” said Naidu. 

Power woes: NTPC faces coal shortage, loses 325 million units per day

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 3, 2013: NTPC’s Simhadri super thermal power station here has been unable to generate power optimally since a month due to the acute shortage of coal supply, which can only add to the state’s power woes.

According to NTPC Simhadri sources, the generation loss due to shortage of fuel supply has been 325 million units as on Monday. The state government depends heavily on NTPC Simhadri, which has four units, each with the capacity to generate 500 MW.  Four units were commissioned in two stages. State gets total 1,000 MW generated from stage-I and 452 MW from stage-II.

Of 1,000 MW produced from Stage-II, other States as per  Gadgil formula Tamil Nadu gets  233 MW, Karnataka 208 MW, Kerala 95 MW and Puducherry 12 MW.  The unallocated power will be 150 MW, which will also be shared by the southern states.

 During the current financial year (2013-14), Simhadri station, which is maintaining 100 per cent availability, could utilise only 87.69 per cent capacity due to fuel shortage.

The average domestic coal receipt as on Monday was 23,661 mt/day against a requirement of 28,000 mt/day.  Simhadri station generated 1341 million units in April 2013, which is 92.83 per cent, by modulating the generation according to the receipt of domestic coal on a day-to-day basis.

NTPC gets coal from the Mahanadi coalfields, Singareni, Odisha and Indonesia.  NTPC Simhadri last year signed an agreement for purchasing 4.5 lakh tonnes of low caloric coal from Indonesia for three months while the State government too agreed last year to supply 7,000 tonnes per day besides the early availability of 3,500 tonnes from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

The average day stock in April was 16,750 mt of coal. This situation further worsened during May as the average receipt of domestic coal dipped to 21,241 mt/day, restricting the station’s generation.

The average receipt of domestic coal in the last week of April was 20,375 mt/day, which is only 5.8 rakes per day and accounts for the monthly utilisation factor in May 2013 being 82.26 per cent only. 

Electronic manufacturing cluster soon in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 2, 2013: An Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) would come up in the Visakhapatnam district, at a cost of Rs 200 cr, which can boost the local economy and generate employment for people in and around the city.

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) had already sent a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the concerned authorities for their approval for setting up the EMC. In all probability the DPR will be finalized by the union telecom and IT ministry in a couple of months.

APIIC which is the nodal agency to develop EMCs in the state had identified around 100 acres near Jaganandhapuram in Parawada in the district. Of the Rs 200 cr needed to develop the cluster union government would extend the financial assistance of about Rs 50 cr.  And the remaining would be borne by the state agencies. It needs around Rs 114 cr only to create infrastructure for the EMC.

As part of under National Telecom Policy 2012, Vizag, Srikakulam and Ranga Reddy districts were identified in the state to get four EMCs. Ranga Reddy district would get two such clusters.

Taking a cue from China and Taiwan, where  government provide support for electronic manufacturing companies, union government had decided to set up these clusters in the backdrop of software exports coming under increasing pressure due to slowdown in the largest economies.

Under the EMC scheme the government will provide aid to special purpose vehicles to set up such clusters. At present, the size of the electronics industry in the country is estimated at $45 billion and according to the union government it is expected to go up to $400 billion by 2020, almost 10 times more.

“We have already earmarked 100 acres in Parawada which can accommodate around 20 to 25 electronics manufacturing companies. Plots are divided into sizes of one acre to 5 acres. Since the land is already in the possession of the APIIC we can issue a notification calling for interested parties as soon as we get approval from the union government for the DPR we have submitted recently. Two clusters in Ranga Reddy district are at the advanced stage of completion. After Vizag we will begin work at Srikakulam,” APIIC zonal manager, Yethiraj told this correspondent.

Pharma unit lacks fire safety tools

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 31, 2013 : It took more than 12 hours for the fire fighters to bring the high rising flames to control at the factory of Glochem Industries Ltd, in the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC). The pharma firm is said to be running its unit violating norms, especially comprising safety standards.

Fire broke out on Friday evening and it was brought under control only in the early hours of Friday. Around 8 fire tenders including two foam tenders were pressed in to bring down the flames.

Experts pointed that the first explosion took place in the block B of the five blocks due to the exothermic reaction while manufacturing an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) having sodium hydrate in one of the reactors. While the manufacturing material came out of the vent of the emergency release system, it touched the wet floor. The material having the nature of being ignited if touched by water, explosion took place and the flames followed. The flames later spread to the nearby warehouse where drums of solvents were stored.

The entire warehouse was gutted and there was a major damage to the block B. Rest of the blocks suffered external damages. The estimated loss was put up at Rs 60 cr. The 5 acre factory in the plot no 77 of JNPC had 80 reactors in total.

The pharma unit was being prosecuted by the chief inspector of factories for lacking adequate fire fighting equipment and the district fire office earlier in two occasions cautioned and served notices to Glochem Industries to install necessary fire safety measures and obtain an NOC from them. “We have insisted and cautioned them to obtain the mandatory NOC from us. They didn’t even apply for it. The unit doesn’t have a fire hydrant system at all. We warned then twice in earlier two occasions,” said district fire officer Gnana Sundara Rao.

The joint chief inspector of factories, Chandrasekar Varma told this correspondent that they have prosecuted the firm in three cases, which includes running the unit without proper fire fighting equipment and commencement of operations without duly informing the authorities.

“Fortunately there were no casualties in this case as the vigilant workers after hearing the emergency alarm rushed out. We have now freshly served notices asking them not to commence operations until the unit is assessed and checked by us as part of routine,” said Varma.

Meanwhile, ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao visited the mishap site and ordered an inquiry into the incident by the district collector. He also called for a high level meeting with all the senior district officials, various stakeholders on Saturday to discuss methods to improve safety standards at the industries due to the increased fire mishaps in pharma city and other industrial hubs in the district.