Sabbam Hari keen to contest on YSRC ticket

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 30, 2013: Despite being snubbed by the YSRC, the Congress MP from Anakapalli, Mr Sabbam Hari, expressed his keenness to contest on a YSRC ticket in 2014.

Two days ago YSR Congress spokesperson Shoba Nagireddy had said that Mr Hari was hanging around Mr Reddy but he has nothing to do with YSRC and does not even have a primary membership in the party.

Mr Hari's recent comment in an interview to a news channel is said to have irked Mr Reddy.

 Mr Hari on Monday reiterated that what he said in his TV interview was exactly what Mr Reddy and his mother party honorary president Y.S. Vijayalakshmi had said on the party's stand for the 2014 elections.

“I did not add anything new to what Jagan and Vijayamma said on earlier occasions regarding their support for the government at the Centre if elected to power and secures a good number of seats in 2014. I said the YSRC will support either the UPA or a third front but not the communal BJP-led NDA. I think there is some misunderstanding on Jagan's part regarding my interview with the news channel. The media has played some mischief. If Jagan calls me I will explain what happened,” said the MP.

Answering a query on his plans, Mr Hari said he would contest the 2014 polls on a YSRC ticket if possible. Till then he would continue with the Congress.

“Its true that I don’t even have a primary membership in the YSRC. Barring Jagan and YV Subba Reddy, I don’t know anybody else in the party. If they give me a party ticket I will contest from the YSRC in 2014 polls,” he said and predicted that the YSRC would from the government after 2014 polls whether in divided or united Andhra Pradesh.





CM’s pet project turns sham, Rachabanda promises still elusive

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 27, 2013: In yet another instance of official apathy, not a single pension amount under various categories sanctioned during Chief Minister’s ambitious pet project, Racha Banda has beeb disbursed since 2011 to the beneficiaries in the district. The shocking fact came to light after a response by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to a query under RTI Act.     

The state government has taken up Rachabanda programme through out the state in a bid to instill confidence among the public by redressing their grievances on the spot and to take the administration to the doorsteps of the people.

Besides, the programme provides an opportunity to the ministers, people's representatives and officials to oversee the implementation of developmental programmes, strengthen delivery mechanism to the targeted people and to take stock of the situation at a focal point at Gram Panchayat level in their own territory.

The thrust areas in Rachabanda programme are ration cards, pensions, Dr YSR Abhayahastam, Arogyasri, Housing, MGNREGS and Pavala Vaddi in rural and urban areas. The main focus of the programem is 100pecent disposal of pending applications/appeals for pensions.

Fresh applications will also be received during the programme for process and it will be ensured that all eligible old-aged, widow and disabled persons who do not possess ration card also receive pension after proper verification.

The state government targeted to provide around 3 lakh new pensions during the programme, when it was launched amidst much fanfare, by following saturation principle with state as a unit.

In a reply to a RTI Act query, on Sep 22, DRDA, project director, MVVS Uma Devi admitted that during the CM’s Rachchabanda-2 in Vizag district, 21,568 applications for pensions from Nov 2011 to April 2013 to senior citizens, handicapped and widows, were processed and sanctioned but the pension amounts have not been released yet by the state authorities in Hyderabad.

“The applicants seem to be under the impression that the pensions would be released only when the CM conducts another Rachchabanda session which has been unduly delayed. Almost two years have elapsed since the last Rachchabanda session was held in Visakhapatnam area and the applicants have waited long enough to lose hope and feel helpless. In a way, the delay has eroded the credibility of the Rachchabanda scheme itself. I wonder as to how many of the 21,568 applicants are still alive. This is a typical case of a huge gap between promises and action,” said union government’s former energy secretary and Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) convener, EAS Sarma.

'Vizag not critically polluted'

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 24, 2013: Amidst furore by environmentalists, NGOs and green warriors on increasing levels of pollution, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), has declared Vizag, not a critically polluted area. The MoEF also lifted moratorium, it had imposed in 2009, on the industrial expansion in Vizag, along with 9 other industrial clusters across the country. The latest development is likely to accelerate the expansion and growth plans of many local major industries.

Until now, at least 15 industries had put their expansion on hold due to the moratorium, imposed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), after it found that Vizag industrial cluster comes under critically polluted category as the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) was above 70, out of a total 100 points.

The areas having aggregated CEPI scores of 70 and more are considered  as critically polluted industrial clusters/ areas, whereas the areas having CEPI between 60-70 are considered as severely polluted areas. While the severely polluted should be kept under surveillance and pollution control measures be efficiently implemented, the critically polluted industrial clusters/ areas needed further detailed investigations in terms of the extent of damage and a formulation of appropriate remedial action plan.

CPCB conducted monitoring in the critically polluted areas during February-April 2013 and reassessed the CEPI score and evaluated that in 10 cities, including Vizag, CEPI score was below 70 and had depicted a decreasing trend as compared to CEPI score assessed by CPCB in 2009 and 2011 and lifted the moratorium on last Wednesday.

The CEPI was computed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi with various parameters like pollutant concentration, impact on human health and level of exposure for the calculation of pollution indices for air, water and land (ground water).

The CPCB in collaboration with IIT, Delhi has applied the CEPI for environmental assessment of 88 Industrial Clusters across the country in 2009. 43 such industrial clusters having CEPI greater than 70, on a scale of 0 to 100, have been identified as critically polluted. 

In 2009 Vishakhapatnam’s air pollution was 57.00, water- 57.50, land 55.00 while the overall CEPI was 70.82.

“This is a welcome gesture. With this all the existing industries which have put their expansion plans on hold will begin their work. There will be increase in production and it will be an advantage for the ancillary units and the employees depending on them. Many new ventures will also come up,” said Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Vizag chapter, chairman, G Sambasiva Rao. 

‘Poor air cargo facilities discourage traders in Vizag’

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 20, 2013: Lack of proper air cargo facilities, infrastructure and connectivity at the local airport is said to be forcing the local business houses and exporters go to cargo terminals at Hyderabad and Chennai for their business, said a study by the students of GIITAM Institute of Management (GIM). The study was conducted on the request of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to dfecide on the feasibility of air-connectivity, develop necessarily infrastructure and also model of operation.

The study pointed that over 10,000 tonnes can be exported or imported immediately using Air-cargo facilities at Vizag airport. Pharmaceutical, garment and sea-food industries are the beneficiaries. Having such facility in Visakhapatnam will have very high impact on the local economy in creating jobs, expansion of business and increase in foreign exchange reserves.

Dean & principal of GIM Prof K Siva Rama Krishna, Associate Professors K P C Kishan and Dr U V Adi Narayana along with 10 students from MBA have spent nearly two months during summer to conduct Field survey by contacting over 100 companies.

Globally products namely pharmaceuticals, basic chemicals, apparel, sea food are mostly transported by air. Though Vizag has become the hub for all these products with the development of businesses in SEZs namely pharma city and Brandix Apparel Park there are no proper infrastructure facilities to transport then by air. There is strong case for developing the air-cargo service in the city.

In addition to the industry in and around Vizag, the city is in close proximity with major cities and towns in neighbouring Odisha and Chhattisgarh.  Setting-up necessary infrastructure would enable many trading houses to export agricultural produce such as Mangoes, Papaya and cashew, Sea food such as Tuna, Shrimp, Fish and Crabs, Dairy products such as milk powder, butter, cheese, and panner and cut-flowers to  Middle-east and Singapore. The Apparels made in SEZs are being exported to the USA, Europe and Middle-east countries.

Most of the companies have sought facilities like automated air cargo system, freezers, strong, cold rooms, warehouses for handling special cargo.

“Since there is assured business, it would be good case for attracting air-connectivity and investments in developing eco-system. PPP model such as GMR-Menzies Aviation may be adopted for developing infrastructure and operate the service in a timely manner,” said Dr Adi Narayana. 

Hyd ITIR fuels dissent in N Andhra, No progress on Vizag’s ITIR

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 21, 2013: At the time when status of Hyderabad, which has developed in leaps and bounds especially in the IT sector, has become a bone of contention in resolving the present crisis of state bifurcation, the union Cabinet’s approval for an IT Investment Region (ITIR) in Hyderabad on Friday had come under bitter criticism from this region of Andhra Pradesh.

While the ITIR, with an aim to attract an approximate Rs 2.19 lakh cr investments was approved for Hyderabad, a similar proposal for Vizag  has not progressed beyond paper. Inadequate infrastructure has been identified as one of the constraining factors being faced by the IT industry and in order to address the same, the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY)   has notified the policy for setting up of ITIRs in the country. 

ITIR would be endowed with excellent infrastructure and would reap the benefits of costing, networking and greater efficiency through use of common infrastructure and support services. Under this, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Industrial Parks, Free Trade Zones, Warehousing Zones and Export-oriented Units will come up. ITIR will attract more investment in the IT and ITeS sectors and will provide more direct employment to the people.  The exports in IT sector will also increase. 

After Hyderabad from a humble beginning where software exports registered only Rs 15 crore in 2003-04 Vizag’s IT companies has crossed Rs 1,000 cr mark and done a business of Rs 1,200 cr in 2011-12 fiscal. Besides, major players like IBM, HSBC, and Mahindra Satyam there are around 100 small, medium and big IT, ITEs companies operating in two IT SEZs in Rushikonda and in VSEZ.

As per the policy, in each state one ITIR is being sanctioned. Accordingly, an ITIR for Hyderabad has already been approved.  As several small and medium IT companies and the IT exports in and around Visakhapatnam are increasingly coming up every year, the union minister of state for IT and Telecommunications, Killi Kruparani who represents neighbouring Srikakulam constituency felt the need for setting up of ITIR in Visakhapatnam and earlier said  the proposal was approved in principle.

Later, except for a meeting on Aug 7 at New Delhi asking the department officials to speed up the sanctioning of ITIR for Vizag there has been no logical step further. “Centre should take back the proposal. Hyderabad had already attracted so many thousands of crores of rupees investments in IT sector and again they have announced ITIR there. Vizag is considered as a next IT destination in the state after Hyderabad. But the city had always got a raw deal. How can they take a decision on such a big investment region in Hyderabad when Samaikyandhra agitation is at peaks, which was due to the imbalance in the development in Seemandhra regions,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), President, P Vishnu Kumar Raju.

 The move also provided enough ammunition for the political parties that are busy advocating Samaikyandhra stir. “From tomorrow onwards we are planning a series of agitations protesting inefficiency of union ministers sfrom Seemandhra region in bringing such an ITIR for Vizag. If such an ITIR comes up here it will be helpful for the youth of three districts of north Andhra. We have union ministers Purandheswari and Killi Kruparani who represents the same ministry from this region but they are of no use,” said TD district youth wing president, Lodagala Krishna.  

Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika president, SS Shivasankar termed the Centre’s decision on ITIR at Hyderabad was gross injustice to Vizag. 

Andhra got raw deal in IT

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 15, 2013: With successive governments focusing on Hyderabad and its surroundings for developing IT, the sector suffered serious loss in the rest of Andhra Pradesh, especially tier II cities in Rayalasema and coastal Andhra regions, like Vizag and Vijayawada. Ironically there is not a single IT company that provides reasonable employment to local youth in Rayalaseema.

Now, the thought of parting with Hyderabad, in the event of state bifurcation, seems painful for the representatives of IT and software firms in  Seemandhra.  

“Severe injustice has been done to Seemaandhra region and Vizag, in particular. It was completely neglected and people are all migrating to Hyderabad in search of jobs from all of Andhra. No significant employment or investment has happened in Andhra region. Only Hyderabad has hope and it is now being given to Telangana is most unfair and not acceptable,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), vice president, O Naresh Kumar.  

There are around 100 medium, small and big IT and ITES firms operating in Vizag employing around 17,000. Vizag is considered as second important and big city after Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.  Most of the units functioning in Vizag, deal in end-to-end business integration, medical billing, financial information processing, ERP product, content management, networking, business, recruitment process outsourcing, and medical transcription.

While the IT turnover from entire Andhra Pradesh is Rs 64,354 crs with Rs 51,300 crs export and Rs 13,000 cr of domestic business, only Hyderabad’s contribution is 97 percent and the rest of the state is only 3 percent.

Of the total 13lakh employed in IT sector only 23,000 are from rest of Andhra Pradesh. Employment is less than 2percent in rest of Andhra Pradesh when compared to Hyderabad.

While Vizag’s IT sector turnover is Rs 1,445 cr and employs around 17,000, Vijayawada’s turnover is a meager Rs 115 crores employing only 2900.  Kakinada  IT companies does Rs 61 crores and employs 1900.  Tirupati IT sector makes a turnover of Rs 7 cr.  

“This is sorry state of affairs. We urgently need good promotional policies to develop tier II cities irrespective of state bifurcation. Only Hyderabad has grown. Take out Hyderabad and we have only 3percent business. Existing state government IT policy has led to sick SEZs and empty IT buildings in tier II cities and no additional growth,” said RITPA president, P Vishukumar Raju.

He suggested urgent promotional policy for this region and allow ownership in IT SEZs as per new union government SEZ policy which has not been implemented here and allow existing companies to bring another IT company to operate here. 

Vizag turns hub for illegal mining

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 14, 2013: Vizag seems to be emerging as the new hub for illegal mining. After illegal lateritic mining, here’s a case of granite mining.

In a blatant violation of the Environment and Forest Rights Act, the district administration had issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to grant lease to a Tamil Nadu-based business person to quarry coloured granite in an area, which was notified as reserved forest, coming under Narsipatnam division. The quarrying is being carried unabated in Nagallakonda since sometime.

The district administration, through the mines and geology department last year, granted the permission to quarry colour granite in an extent of 12.5 acres in Nagallakonda hill area based on a field report submitted by the office of the assistant director of survey and land records.

The Nagallakonda, in an extent of 1,480 acres was notified as reserve forest by the state government as per the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Act of 1967 and it comes under V Madugula revenue mandal.

But, the field report, submitted by the local office of the survey and land records had wrongly identified the boundary of Nagallakonda, stating that the hill is adjacent to Kotnabilli village coming under Ravikamatam mandal, to facilitate the lease licence and to avoid the “reserve forest” tag.

Interestingly, the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) also issued mandatory environment clearance to go ahead with the mining, in Nagallkonda.

The SEIAA issued the clearance for mining in Survey No. 2 of Nagallakonda, coming under Kotnabilli village, of Ravikamatam mandal, based on the information provided by the applicant.

However, the Nagallakonda actually comes under V Madugula mandal. The project was exempted from the process of public hearing as the mining lease area is less than 25 hectares.

As per the documents accessed by DC, the regional deputy director of survey and land records had also framed articles of charges and launched an inquiry against the concerned officer for wrongly identifying the boundary of Nagallakonda and misguiding higher authorities, violating Andhra Pradesh Conduct Rules, 1964.

Vizagites to taste cookies straight from prison

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 6, 2013: After successfully running the iron and steel furniture factory, the inmates of the Central Prison in Adavivaram are set to diversify and foray into a new sector of manufacturing bakery products. If everything goes as per the plan,  of the prison authorities, Vizagites will soon taste cookies, frozen bread, rolls, cakes and pies, straight from the prison, made by convicts.

The unique proposal was first mooted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and the central prison authorities had already submitted the project report. Immediately after the sanctionof the budget some convicts will be selected for training.

Already the iron and steel furniture manufactured by the prisoners with the brand name
“Sudhar” is a hit in the market and most of the government offices use the furniture.
The prison is making a turnover of Rs 40 lakhs per annum on the furniture.

“We have already submitted the proposals and detailed project report to the DLSA, which had mooted the idea. A corporate sponsorship to set up the required
infrastructure for the bakery has already been through and the funds will be released
shortly. We are now identifying prisoners to be trained in baking. We are
sure they will bake tasty cookies and other baked products to satisfy the taste
buds of Vizagites. We are also planning the supply mechanism to other bakeries, canteens across the city,” Central Prison superintendent, Dr Indla Sreenivasa Rao told this correspondent.

The bakery idea was first initiated to meet the prison requirements of bread and other
essentials, but it was later taken shape as a semi commercial venture, through which
convicts can earn some money and also put them to quality, constructive work, the jail
superintendent added.

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.

Deo demands special package

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 4, 2013: Having understood that creation of Telangana is imminent by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, Congress senior leaders from Seemandhra are pressing for special packages for the region.

Araku MP and union minister for tribal affairs and Panchayat raj, V Kishore Chandra Deo on Wednesday, put forth a charter of demands, which included a special package for the development of Andhra region before the Antony committee appointed by the Congress party to look into the issues of Seemandhra leaders in the event of state bifurcation.

He wanted the ‘package’ to be announced along with the union government’s decision regarding the formation of a new state.

“There has been a long standing demand for the creation of two Benches of Andhra Pradesh High Court at Vishakhapatnam and Kurnool respectively.  In the event of a new State of Telangana being created, a separate High Court should be immediately established at Vishakhapatnam for the state of Andhra Pradesh,” he said in the letter to the Antony committee.

He said the East Coast Railways headquarters which should have been located at Vishakhapatnam is unfortunately established at Bhubaneswar and demanded that the East Coast Zonal Headquarters must be shifted to Vishakhapatnam with the addition of Vijayawada Division.

He demanded setting up of an information technology park with cyber towers, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), IIT,  metro rail services covering important destinations in greater Vishakhapatnam, a maritime research institute, central university for specialized post graduate courses including anthropological studies, agricultural and horticultural research institute, which can be located in East Godavari District to identify agro industries which can be established at various places depending on material available in different regions of Andhra Pradesh.

He also demanded for a tribal research institute in tribal areas, tribal university affiliated to the tribal university in amarkantak, state institute of rural development and local governance, skill development centres at every district headquarters with separate centres for tribal areas.

“Andhra Pradesh has a long coastline and also several hills along the Eastern Ghats.  This geographical location has immense potential for generation of several non-conventional energies. A series of wind power energy farms must be installed along the coastline and hill tops where wind energy is available  Mini hydel power plants with capacities to produce between 1 to 5 MW of power must be installed to harness fast flowing hill streams, cascades in hills,” he said.

Deo also demanded a special package for developing tourism along east coast as also in the hills should be provided.