Two municipalities merged in GVMC

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 30, 2013: The state government on Tuesday issued a GO merging Bheemunipatnam and Anakapalle municipalities and 10 gram panchayats in Parawada into Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Another two G Os were also issued abolishing both the municipalities, as per the AP Municipalities Act of 1965.

The GO MS No. 375 of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA & UD) said  the rapid development and growth around GVMC viz., mostly in Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and adjoining gram panchayats, are posing severe strain on the physical infrastructure facilities and service and creating problems regarding effective management, administration, in view of multiplicity of municipalities and local bodies.

Hence, considering all the above, and with a view to provide better civic services, have better administrative mechanism, ensure better planning and focused development in and
around Visakhapatnam, have more equitable devolution of finance and utilisation of resources, ensure uniform enforcement in Visakhapatnam and its suburbs, the government has decided to expand the limits of GVMC by merging Anakapalle, Bheemunipatnam and 10 gram panchayats.

The Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities have passed resolutions on April 10 and 16, 2012 respectively, agreeing to the merger proposal with the GVMC.

The merger was done under the first provision of sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act, 1979.

Simultaneously, G O Nos 373, 374 were also issued abolishing both Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities respectively to facilitate the merger.

The proposal to merge Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities evoked mixed reaction in the ruling Congress while the TD and Left parties opposed it strongly earlier.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it was opposed by many political leaders as they feared the move  would only burden people with extra taxes and other charges.

APIIC plans 2 more Industrial Parks in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 25, 2013: Notwithstanding the slump in global and national economy, APIIC has embarked on an ambitious plan of creating two more industrial parks in the district and has recently sent proposals to the state government regarding it.

APIIC teams has identified around 1,000 acres in Bheemili, 27 kms from here and around 200 acres in Pedagantyada near Gajuwaka to develop industrial parks. These parks are aimed at attracting investments from various sectors. 

“These are multipurpose industrial parks. We have already earmarked the required land and sent estimate proposals to our higher ups at the Central office. After completing the formal procedure, official notifications are expected to be released by the government. Once we get the approval we will begin other development and infrastructure work at these parks,” APIIC zonal manager, V. Nagabhushan Reddy told this correspondent. 

Interestingly, APIIC has decided to earmark nearly 50 acres in the proposed industrial park at Pedagantyada for women entrepreneurs. APIIC already has around 10 industrial parks in the district.

While three such parks are IT and ITES specific ventures, five are general or multipurpose parks, one is earmarked as health city and another as apparel city. 

Talking about apprehensions about economic slowdown, Reddy said that 80 percent of the allotments at Aganampudi industrial park were complete and many of them have already grounded their projects. He also added that very few plots are lying vacant at other industrial parks. 

“There has always been good response for APIIC’s industrial parks. We are expecting the same for the proposed industrial parks,” added Nagabhushan Reddy.

Panchayat polls: YSRC takes the lead in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 23, 2013: The YSR Congress surged ahead of other political parties in the first phase of panchayat polls held on Tuesday. As many as 56 candidates backed by the YSR Congress registered victory followed by 45 candidates backed by the ruling Congress, 30 by the Telugu Desam and nine by the Left parties. Over 33 independents too won in the polls.

Polls to the panchayats, coming under Paderu division, passed off peacefully. Over 70.1 per cent voting was registered in Visakhapatnam district.  Voting began at 7 am and ended by 2pm.

Tribals were seen thronging polling stations in all the 11 mandals of Paderu division, despite threats from Maoists to stay away from elections. 

The district poll authorities postponed election for three panchayats in the last minute. Polls for the three panchayats would be held in the last phase, on July 31.

At some polling stations, staff had to face trouble due to lack of proper furniture and other paraphernalia. Armed security forces, in large numbers, were seen at all polling booths to prevent untoward incidents.

While no major incidents were reported during polling, stray incidents took place during counting which began in the afternoon. Braving the inclement weather, tribals from remote hamlets reached concerned panchayat headquarters to exercise their franchise.

Officials said that the poll percentage recorded now was more than last time, which were held seven years ago. In neighbouring Viziangaram district, 90 per cent polling was registered. No untoward incidents were reported from any place in the district.

Land fraud revealed in Pandurangapuram

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 18, 2013: An inquiry and survey conducted by the deputy inspector of Survey, Task Force, revealed that the sketch prepared by Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department regarding a piece of land in survey No.1011, block No. 39, Waltair Ward, Pandurangapuram does not tally with the Field Measurement Book (FMB) issued by Central Survey Department at Hyderabad. 

It was reported in these columns earlier that FMB was tampered by private individuals to get it allotted by the then revenue  minister Dharmana Prasad Rao, who got a plush deluxe duplex flat in the multi storied apartment complex at a dirt cheap coming up on the said land in the question on the beach road. The deluxe flat was registered on the then minister’s son, Dharmana Ram Manohar Naidu.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After the alleged tampering of FMB was brought into the notice of the district collector and chief commissioner land administration of the state government by a local advocate they have directed assistant director, district survey and land records, Visakhapatnam for enquiry and submission of detailed report along with sketches. In response to the said orders the assistant director directed Deputy Inspector of Survey, Task Force, for survey, verification of documents, sketches and ‘On Ground’ field position.

A detailed report was recently submitted to the district collector and the chief commissioner land administration.

 “The entire procedure of sub-divisions is utterly abused to facilitate the land grabbers and to conceal the actual boundaries and schedule. All the existing sub-divisions, roads and land use are deleted and concealed which led to encroachment of public land, government land and violation of Town Planning Scheme and Master Plan,” said advocate P.V. Giridhar who brought the tampering to the notice of authorities.

Convicts to run petrol bunk in Vizag

 By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 17: After the successful running of petrol bunks by convicts of Kadapa, Rajahmundry, Chanchalguda and Warangal central prisons, a similar proposal to run a petrol bunk has been mooted by the local central jail authorities in Adavivaram.

The central prison authorities have identified around 2 acres of land, currently used as a parking ground for heavy vehicles by GVMC in Adavivaram. The petrol pump besides providing employments to around 20 to 30  convicted persons, it also contributes
handsome amount every month for the prison welfare fund.

It is estimated that the each bunk run by the convicts in various parts of the state
contributes at least Rs 1 to 2 lakhs to the prisoner’s welfare fund which is used
for the welfare of the jail in mates. The petrol bunks are run by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

Prisoners generally who show good conduct in the jail will be selected to work at the
petrol bunk in three shifts. The bunk will be open to public from 5 am to 12 midnight and the prison authorities will carry out surveillance to ensure the convicts do not run away.

“Now that many are using Hanumanthawaka- Adavivaram route to go to Sihachalam, Pendurthy and many other places we expect very good business as there is not even a single petrol bunk in this stretch. We have already started the process and expecting that everything  will fall in line and a petrol bunk run by the Vizag jail prisoners will be reality in an year’s time,” Central Prison, superintendent, Dr Indla Srinivasa Raao told this correspondent.

There are around 900 prisoners at Vizag central jail and of them half are convicted,
remaining undergoing various remand who has short stays. The convicted inmates numbering an approximate 430 are engaged in various works including gardening and vegetable farming in semi open jail.

Around 53 are engaged in manufacturing steel and iron furniture. Money earned would be deposited in prison development fund to be used to rehabilitate jailed inmates.
Around 100 prisoners are also engaged in cashew nut peeling activity which fetches them a decent daily wage.

The central prison also has a printing press where material required for the prison
office and other some government offices is printed. Books and some petty stationary
items are also made by the prisoners.

RINL agreement comes under scanner

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 8, 2013: The RINL seems to be bogged in repeated controversies. In a recent development, RINL’s decision to supply raw material to an Uttar Pradesh based entrepreneur run rolling mills and then buy finished products from it, has come under scanner and invited bitter criticism from all quarters.

It was learnt that coming under political pressure the decision was taken by the RINL in the last week of June despite objections raised by some non functional directors. Interestingly the agreement was signed with the UP based entrepreneur from where the union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma, hails from.

According to the agreement the RINL would supply billets to the yet to be set up steel rolling mill in Gondia near Lucknow and buy the finished product-rods from it, for which the management said to have agreed to pay Rs 3,700 per tonne for the finished product.   According to the highly placed sources in the RINL the same billets were given to a local private rolling mill and agreed to buy back the finished product at Rs 3,100 per tonne.

The RINL already has 3 rolling mills under its armour to covert the billets into the finished products. “Even if RINL wanted to supply excess billets to the UP based mill, management could have done it with local rolling mills. There are more than 20 such private rolling mills in the coastal region spread from Vizianagaram to Nellore. What is the necessity to go all the way to supply it to far way UP based rolling mill and buy back at a higher price,” said CITU deputy general secretary, J Simhachalam.

Interestingly the said rolling mill is yet to be constructed with an investment of Rs 400 crs, for which Bhoomi Puja was held in the first week of July.  Earlier too a decision by the RINL to invest Rs 1,000 cr in UPA chairperson and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi’s home constituency Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh also faced bitter criticism.

RINL signed MoUs with the Indian Railways to establish a forged wheel plant at Rae Bareli with an investment of Rs 1,000 cr and an axle plant at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 278 cr.  Trade unions opposed the decision stating that yielding to the political pressure RINL signed the MoUs ignoring the local interests.

Unions questioned the need to invest Rs 1,000 cr in far away Uttar Pradesh, when there was an urgent need to pool up resources for internal modifications of the existing plant which costs around Rs 3,000 to 4,000 cr. 

United AP stir gains momentum

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 9, 2013: Agitation demanding status quo in the state has gained momentum. Samaikyandhra JAC activists are mounting pressure on public representatives to quit their posts for the cause of united AP.

On Monday, students of Andhra University laid siege to the residence of a Congress MLA and burnt effigies of public representatives from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions for their inability to rein in their Telangana counterparts. They wanted the leaders in Seemandhra to join them in the agitation.

They raised slogans against Telangana protagonists and also demanded that the Centre announce a decision in favour of united Andhra Pradesh by July 12. Else, they threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike.

“How can Seemandhra leaders sit quiet when Telangana leaders are claiming that a favourable decision on bifurcation of the state would be out soon,” Samaikyandhra University students JAC convenor Lagudu Govind asked and urged the leaders to join them in the agitation.

Another group of Samaikyandhra activists sent a legal notice to the Election Commission of India asking it to postpone the panchayat polls, scheduled later in the month, in the wake of reports and utterances by the leaders from Congress high command that an announcement on Telangana will be out on July 12.

Areti Mahesh, who sent the legal notice, opined that the model code of conduct has come into force and such announcements may influence the voters. This is in violation of the poll code, he said.

In another programme organised by Samaikyandhra students JAC, representatives from Andhra University Teachers Association, Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and industry, various NGOs and voluntary organisations participated and vowed to launch an agitation for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh.

No signs of Brighton’s nuke component unit

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 7, 2013: The Rs 2,724-crore project proposal, by the US- based Brighton Energy, seems to have been put in the back burner and come under cloud due to various controversies. 

Sources in the Vizag industry sector had pointed that the proposal, which is still at a nascent stage, may be shelved. It was in Jan 2011 that the Brighton Energy representatives entered into an agreement with the State Government on setting up a Plant in Nakkapalli, in the district, to produce forged steel components, essentially fabricated by General Electric for third generation nuclear power plants. 

The firm was supposed to invest about Rs 2,724 crore initially, besides providing direct employment to about 2,500 highly skilled and indirect jobs for about 10,000 people in the vicinity.

Brighton planned to set up the facility in 24-30 months through vendors and other ancillaries at the main facility.  Around 800 acres of land, was also earmarked for the Brighton?s facility, by the APIIC in D L Puram, in Nakkapalli Mandal.The protests from the local communities and the agitation over Telangana, in 2011, has led to speculation that Brighton may back off from its investment plan.  

APIIC also tried to show and allot them another alternative site.  But the delay has caused much damage to the proposal. The locals, including fishermen, launched protests against the acquisition of their lands by the APIIC. And since then the issue has been pushed into the cold storage.  

The unit was also supposed to manufacture equipment for industries, including petrochemicals, conventional power plants and ship building. With Brighton seeing huge business opportunity in India, due to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which facilitates big players from the US and other countries to build nuclear power plants in India, it wanted to construct the plant in Vizag on a fast track basis to commence operations by 2012.

With Brighton seeing huge business opportunity in India due to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which facilitates big players from the US and other countries to build nuclear power plants in India, it wanted to construct the plant in Vizag on a fast track to commence operations by 2012.

Brighton Energy chairman Kit Kung while signing the MoU said that around 30,000 tonnes of steel would go into manufacturing the nuclear reactor units and they would mostly use scrap brought from ship-breaking units in India and abroad.

The Vizag facility would manufacture three to four nuclear reactor units per annum at a cost of USD 200 million each, he added.

End of road for HZL staff, No say in HZL affairs, says Patel to Purandeswari

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 4, 2013:  Much to the disappointment of the agitating workers union mines ministry had refused to interfere in the day to day affairs of Hindustan Zinc Limited citing disinvestment done in the company in 2002.

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 this year, they have also stopped receiving salaries.

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.

At present there are around 220 employees who were protesting at the HZL gate since very long erecting a tent. They have also erected a tent near the factory and launched agitation since more than 6 months.

Union mines minister Dhinsha Patel recently wrote to the local MP and union minister of state for commerce and industry, D Purandheswari, who was representing workers cause, explaining the limitations of the government in issuing any direction to the HZL management. Purandheswari met Dhinsha Patel several times earlier and asked him to issue directives to the HZL management to reopen the smelter and cancel the transfer orders.

Patel said that union government is now holding only 29.53 percent shares in HZL. And there is no provision in the Share Holder Agreement (SHA) or Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) signed between union government and Vedanta controlled Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Ltd (SOVL) at the time of disinvestment in 2002, to have any say in the affairs of the company and issue directives to the management.

“Ministry of corporate affairs which was consulted regarding the powers of the government as a minority shareholder in the company, have observed that the government can’t intervene in the day to day affairs of the company,” he said and added that in the absence of any powers under the law with regard to the day to day affairs of the HZL, it may not be possible for the government issue directives to the company which may lead to avoidable embarrassment.

The union mines minister also said that based on the Board Resolution initiated by a government nominee director, HZL has got a third party assessment regarding running the zinc smelter plant by L& T. After detailed examination, the experts technical committee of L & T observed that ‘based on the observations made during the visit, it is felt that the present condition of plant is not healthy or safe to run’

However Purandheswari found fault with the report submitted by L& T.        “There is an ample scope for doubting the impartiality of the L& T as none of the other stakeholders like state government or employees were consulted.  It appears that the study was silently done to safeguard the interests of the Management at the cost of the interests of the area and the employees,” she said

Purandheswari further added that even though, being the minority stakeholder government cannot intervene in day to day affairs but when it is the larger issue of closure of the Plant and the livelihood of hundreds of employees and the issue of deindustrialisation of the area, the government should find the ways and means to intervene.

Naidu sounds bugle for panchayat polls in city

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 3, 2013: Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu criticised the Congress for diluting powers vested with sarpanches and local bodies. He sounded the bugle for local body polls at the regional summit organised in the city on Wednesday in which cadres from from 40 Assembly constituencies in four districts took part.

He came down heavily on the state government for failing to provide relief and rescue for pilgrims belonging to the state stranded in Uttarakhand. Eyeing resurrection of the party in north Andhra, which was once a bastion for TD, Naidu earlier chose to end his historic padayatra Vasthunna Meekosam in Vizag and now organised the first of the regional summits, the party planned across the state.

“Congress is always scared of facing elections. Whenever the Congress came to power, it always delayed conducting polls for local bodies. It fears defeat.  It was during TD rule that panchayats and other local bodies were strengthened. Congress diluted the powers,” said Naidu.

Grass root level leaders and activists from Vizag, Viziangaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts in large numbers took part in the meeting held at AS Raja Grounds.

Land sharks grab government land in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 1, 2013: With land prices skyrocketing government lands worth billions in the open market is being encroached by real estate agents in the city.

In a fresh case of illegal encroachment of around 25 acres spread across various survey numbers in Kurmannapalem, the Lokayukta had to interfere to free the land from land-grabbers. 

The value of the 25 acres in the open market is said to be around Rs 125 crore. Interestingly though the issue was brought to the notice of the state authorities last year itself, the officials were mum and it prompted locals to approach the Lokayukta.

It was in September last year that locals of Kurmannapalem coming under Gajuwaka mandal approached the revenue department asking it to probe the illegal encroachment of 25 acres in survey numbers 23, 24, 27 and 29 near a real estate venture. 

The land was allegedly encroached by local politicians and they plotted to sell it to the gullible at a ‘cheaper price’. A memo was also issued on September 26, 2012 asking the special chief secretary and the chief commissioner of land administration to enquire into the allegations and if encroachments were found to take necessary action. The memo also said the issue should be treated as immediate.

With no response from the district administration even after the memo from the revenue department, the complainants approached the Lokayukta, which asked the collector to submit a detailed report and details of the action taken before July 22. The revenue staff then swung into action and took over the encroached land.

“We have inspected the land and found that mischief was done by the real estate agent who is having a venture adjacent to the government land. He included the government land by extending the border into his venture.

We have destroyed six foundations on the said land and gravel roads. In a couple of days we will be launching criminal proceedings against the encroachers,” Gajuwaka Tahsildhar Simhadri Rao told this correspondent.

It is also learnt that the encroachers tampered with government records and documents to sell the government land.

United Andhra Pradesh placards greet Digvijay Singh

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 30, 2013: As the Telangana Congress public representatives were busy delivering emotionally charged speeches in Hyderabad to press their demand for a separate state, ministers and other public representatives from the Seemandhra region camped in Vizag all through the day to meet the party’s state affairs in-charge, Digvijay Singh to put forth their demand to maintain status quo on the state and not divide Andhra Pradesh.

Digvijay Singh was in Vizag to take part in a private programme. High  pitched slogans, placards, posters and banners carried by Congress  activists in large numbers in support of a united state welcomed Singh at the Vizag airport.

State ministers Sake Sailajanath, Ganta Srinivas Rao, P. Balaraju, Union ministers D. Purandeswari, Killi Kruparani, senior party leaders Gade Venkata Reddy, Paladagu Venkat Rao, Rudraraju Padmaraju and many other MLAs met Digvijay Singh.

They later submitted a memorandum asking him to convey their feelings and sentiments to keep the state united to the party central leadership.

“We submitted our memorandum to Singh and told him he should  be talking to everyone on the issue on Monday in Hyderabad. We have  strongly put forth our demand before him,” said Gade Venkat Reddy.

Minister Sailajanath exuded confidence that state would remain  united and it is not so easy to divide AP which was formed  on linguistic basis.

“AP was formed on linguistic  basis and witnessed major developments. It’s not so easy to divide.  I am  confident that the state will remain united. I sincerely feel that the Congress-led UPA government will take a decision on the issue only after consulting all stakeholders,” Sailajanath said.

They also requested Singh to  convey to the party leadership not to yield to the “blackmail” tactics of Telangana protagonists.

Congress activists and students representatives of Samaikyandhra JAC  in large numbers gathered at the airport to submit memorandums.