End of the road: Rajeev Swagruha dreams dashed

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 29, 2013: The dreams of Vizagites from middle income group to own a flat under government’s ‘Rajeev Swagruha’ have come crashing what with the government scrapping the scheme due to fund crunch.

Now, the AP Rajeev Swagruha Corporation Ltd (APRSCL) staff is working overtime to finalise the procedure and modalities to refund the payments made by the applicants who booked flats in ‘Adraja Township’ in Yendada. Efforts are also on to auction the land where the housing project was envisaged.  

A cabinet sub committee appointed by the state government to study the situation, analyse the problem and help the Corporation to come out of the financial crisis has recommended that projects across the state be categorised.  

The committee recommended that those projects coming under category I and II be given stimulus by providing loan to the tune of Rs 105 cr and projects under category III may be scrapped and the installments paid by the applicants be fully refunded.

 Vizag’s Adraja  Project falls under category III and it was decided to be scrapped.

It’s been more than 5 years since the much hyped Rajeev Swagruha housing for the middle class was first launched and except four model houses on display for the applicants nothing has come up at Yendada’s Adraja Township, where government allotted around 57.3 acres of land for the project.

A demand survey for city’s Rajeev Swagruha scheme was done in 2007 and around 57.73 acres of land was taken possession by the APRSCL in 2009, to construct around 2, 588 under Adraja township. The proposed township is located close to Rushikonda.

Earlier authorities were confident of finishing the first phase by constructing 800 flats but nothing has moved positively except foundation for 6 blocks. Due to non availability of river sand it was delayed for more than year and later funds crunch hindered the housing scheme.

The digging of 30m depth to make the terrain suitable for construction, took many years. Initially the Rajeev Swagruha Corporation had received around 13, 045 applications for flats at Adraja township of three different categories but some of them backed off initially due to delay in grounding the project and the escalation in the upset price.

Subsequently the allottees of flats had lost interest in the scheme. Most of the allottees who paid an initial amount of Rs 25,000 as confirmation had lost interest in owning a flat by the Corporation and backed off. They were reluctant to pay the remaining installments which pushed the Corporation into financial crisis delaying the project.

“Many allottees backed off which pushed the project into financial mess. There are no hopes of revival and government decided to scrap the project as it’s is not viable though we spent very good amount on foundation. The 57.3 acres will be disposed in an auction. We have divided the entire land into 8 bits. The auction date and also the repayment schedule will be announced very soon,” said an APRSCL senior official told this correspondent.

APRSCL authorities last year has taken up first phase of constructing 896 flats in six blocks, with G+ 13 structure each. The first phase itself was supposed to be grounded in August 2009 as envisaged initially, but it was delayed till 2011. 

No 'Real' biz in Vizag, realtors first time offer sops to attract buyers

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 25, 2013: The Centre’s exercise to divide the state failed to spur the real estate business in the city.

Realtors hoped that the Centre’s move to split the state would infuse a fresh lease of life into their business. However, there are no signs of it and in despair, realtors, for the first time in Vizag, had begun giving special offiers to the buyers.

The sops include free registration of plots etc. Realtors are of the view that these offers would help them make some money at least than being dry, if none of the plots are sold.

They are ready to bear 8 per cent of the total value of the plot that has to be paid to the land registration department.

There are more than 100 such layouts, that are lying idle without many transactions across the district. First, it was global economic slowdown, later, ambiguity over the fate of Andhra Pradesh since 2009, that has pushed the realty sector into slump.

The UPA’s flip flops over its decision after 2009, regarding division,  has made buyers adopt the ‘wait and watch’ policy.

As ambiguity still continues over the location of the capital of the residuary state, there are not many land transactions in the revenue department. This is mounting the financial burden on small and medium scale realtors, who invested in the business borrowing money from private lenders at high interest rates.

“We hoped that Vizag would be the dream destination for investors and started investing in developing layouts from 2008. But most of plots remained unsold and now, we have started this offer to attract buyers,” said a real estate agent Bhaskar Rao, who developed two ventures of 40 plots each near Kottvalasa, Viziangaram.

He also added that they need not be surprised if some of the realtors go a step ahead and announce that they would furnish the new homes, offer fridges other home appliances if buyers booked a plot.

“The real estate sector in Vizag, witnessed a slump after 2008. Since then, the situation has not improved. Our members are now desperately looking for alternative ways to dispose the plots,” said APREDA local chapter member.

Some real estate firms are also offering ‘arrangement of bank loans’. There are around 100 realtors doing business in Vizag.

Property prices have witnessed a sharp rise in Pendurthy zone, Dakamarri zone, Anandapuram, Yendada, Madhurawada, Thagarapuvalasa, Bheemili, Kottavalasa since 2009, when the Centre announced that Telangana would be carved out and that the process would begin.

Heritage lovers fume at civic body for Kurupam arch demolition

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: Heritage lovers in the city are up in arms over the demolition of a heritage structure by the civic authorities. GVMC staff have demolished historic market gateway, famously called Kurupam arch- gateway in the One Town. The market was donated by Raja Vyricherla Veerabhadra Raju of Kurupam to the then Vizagapatam Municipality on September 1, 1914, to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.

It was also marked as one of the 50 odd heritage sites in the district and is crying for the attention of authorities for restoration, as it is already partially damaged. It was only recently that a delegation of The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) visited GVMC office requesting the officials to take measures to restore the neglected heritage structure.

A  GVMC team led by its additional commissioner M Janaki visited the site and assured INTACH members that they would take up the restoration work after consulting the experts of Andhra University’s architecture department as suggested by the INTACH fraternity.

“We thought she (Janaki) was so sincere and take up the restoration work. But we are now shocked to see that the entire gateway-arch was demolished instead of restoring or reconstructing it. It’s very unfortunate that such an old, important heritage structure was simply razed. They don’t have any concern towards the heritage structures,” INTACH Vizag chapter convenor, MV Prasad told this correspondent.

 GVMC sources said that since the market arch was in a dilapidated condition they wanted to raze it totally and build shopping facility for the local vendors.  Prasad added that the conservative architects at Andhra University were ready to help restore the heritage site.

“We will be very soon holding a meeting with all the members of INTACH and going to raise the issue in an appropriate manner. We fear they don’t understand the difference between an old building and a heritage structure and are just razing everything stating they are dangerous as they collapse,” added Prasad.  

ODI used to raise united AP demand

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: Samaikyandhra protagonists, especially youngsters, chose venue of the ODI match between India and the West Indies as a platform to show case their aspirations of United Andhra Pradesh. Students flashed placards like “Save Andhra Pradesh“, “Jai Samaikyandhra” during the day and night match, held at ACA VDCA YSR Stadium, in Madhurawada on Sunday.

Along with the national flags and cheering team India, city youth raised slogans of united Andhra Pradesh.

 “We felt it's our duty to rise for the occasion and highlight our cause for which, every section of the society, took to streets demanding that Union government take back the Telangana decision. We tried to highlight our issue and cause by grabbing attention from national and international media,” said Rajesh, who is studying engineering at a city college.

The Samaikyandhra votaries were divided vertically on organising ODI match in Vizag. A few objected and vowed to stop the match stating that the people of Vizag are not in a mood to enjoy such matches, due to the on going stir for Samaikyandhra, some argued that cricket matches should be taken in sporting spirit and such acts would only dent the image of the city.

They opined that the match should be treated as an opportunity to showcase their aspiration. Ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao also wrote a letter to the match organizers seeking to either postpone the match or change the venue from Vizag. However, ACA and VDCA members approached, the minister requesting him to cooperate with them in organizing the match.

“It’s actually a bad idea to demand to cancel the match. It sends wrong signal about Vizag. See, now we could use this as a platform to highlight our cause. A few persons from north India who came to city to watch the match and sitting next to us inquired why were giving slogans like Save AP and we could give them a clear perspective about the ongoing issue,” said Teja.

 Police too were seen deployed in good numbers to thwart any attempt by the Samaikyandhra agitators if they tried to disrupt the match and create trouble. Senior police officials also on Saturday cautioned the Samaikyandhra votaries not to disrupt the match but can showcase their feelings in a democratic and peaceful manner. 

Bhadradri demand splits BJP in Andhra Pradesh

By SNV Sudhir

 Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: When it comes to the demand for inclusion of Bhadhrachalam into residuary state of Andhra Pradesh in state’s bifurcation issue, the BJP which claims to be very clear on the division is also divided on the regional lines.

While the BJP’s Seemandra leaders are demanding inclusion of Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions into Seemandhra, their counterparts in Telangana want both divisions remain with Telangana.

The BJP Seemandhra leaders are maintaining that their central leadership is yet to take a view on it and are hopeful that they would insist on Bhadhrachalam inclusion, as part of the ‘justice for Seemandhra’ stance the BJP central leadership taken recently, before passing the Telangana Bill when it comes to Parliament.

Apprehensions are being raised in Seemandhra region that the Telangana state government, after the bifurcation, may create hurdles to the completion of the Polavaram project, which can provide irrigation water to 7.2 lakh acres in upland areas of coastal Andhra, as the villages that may face possible submergence are located in the Telangana region.

As per the estimates of irrigation experts and the state government, Polavaram project submerges 276 villages with an average population of 642 per village. Of the 276 villages, 204 are in the present Khammam district of Telangana. Out of these 204 villages, 121 are in Bhadrachalam revenue division and the remaining in Palvancha.

“No doubt our party is committed for division of the state. There is no going back on that. At the same time, we are very confident that our central leadership would definitely stand by us on the inclusion of villages coming under Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions to the residuary state.

We were already assured that the central leadership would stress, pressurise for ‘justice’ to Seemandhra during discussions on Telangana Bill in Parliament,” BJP national executive member and former MLA Kambhampati Haribabu told this correspondent.

Though BJP Telangana leaders were reportedly miffed with their central leadership’s now tough stance on ‘justice to Seemandhra’ thinking that it will send adverse message in Telangana region, they toed the party line later. 

The state level leaders from the Telanaga are openly talking about problems, apprehensions, issues of public from Seemandhra region.  

AP bifurcation: Vizag, Vijayawada vie for new capital, Report suggests Vijayawada

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 20, 2013: In the race for the capital of the residuary state, after Andhra Pradesh bifurcation, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stand out to be possible final contenders.

A study conducted by, Delhi based Innovative Transport Solutions (iTrans), an urban transport consultancy, formerly an incubation unit in the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), in association with a local NGO Vaada Foundation found that these two cities have much better existing infrastructure and have the potential to take in more growth over the future.  iTrans has experts from IIT Delhi.

Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur, Kurnool and Ongole were assessed by the group for three months and studied the aspects of - existing population and city area, presence of a thriving economy, and regional connectivity i.e. air, rail and road connectivity.

The existing city area of Kurnool and Ongole is very less and hence creating the new capital is like creating a new city altogether, which is not a good choice, said the report. As per the excerpts of the report, which was prepared by Vaada Foundation, accessed by this newspaper, it involves huge land acquisition and investment requirements from the centre if Ongole or Kurnool is considered. 

Interestingly between Vizag and Vijayawada, even though the former has better existing infrastructure and economy, Vijayawada is a city with good connectivity to all the Seemandhra districts including Rayalaseema, said the report. The report suggested and recommended Vijayawada as a best choice for capital as it has access to two national highways, better rail connectivity.

Barring better air connectivity, Vizag, which is almost on the eastern corner of the state scored less on rail and road connectivity to other districts in Seemandhra. The distance from far off areas like Srikakulam, Chittoor, Anantapur and Kurnool districts to Vijayawada-Guntur is around 450 km to 500 km.  And need to develop infrastructure from the scratch has deprived Ongole and out from the race. 

“Presence of a thriving economy is very important because the experience of creating new cities like Gandhinagar, Mohali and Naya Raipur is not very encouraging. It is observed that the development in these cities continues to happen in the nearby old city which has some base development in place. Cities grow organically over a period of time and they can’t be manufactured instantly,” observed Vaada Foundation founder, P Suresh Raju.

The study was recently submitted to the Group of Minister (GoM), appointed by the union government to look into the process of Andhra Pradesh bifurcation.

Vizag and Vijayawada have the required area within the city limits to build the new infrastructure needed for the capital. Vijayawada and Guntur are both part of the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA) which has a total of 706 sq. km. 

Between Vizag and Vijayawada, even though Visakhapatnam has better existing infrastructure and economy, Vijayawada is a city with good connectivity to all the Seemandhra districts including Rayalaseema.

Based on this criterion the study suggested that Vijayawada should be made as the capital for the new state being formed. In case the existing area is deemed to be insufficient the VGTMUDA jurisdiction shall be taken up for the capital.  “It is to be noted however that various other factors like physical feasibility etc. have not been considered as a part of this study,” added Raju. 

Earlier the same group submitted another report to the GoM  stating that the Seemandhra government will have to spend at least Rs 2.5 lakh crore to develop a capital city with proper infrastructure.

The earlier report said that a minimum long-term investment of  Rs 2.5 lakh crore would have to be made for the new city.

The most important requirement would be extensive transport facilities like an international airport, road transport and connectivity to all towns and cities of the state. 

Other important infrastructure requirements would be power transmission and distribution grids, backup supply facilities, underground sewerage and water supply lines and solid waste management facilities.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao bats for Kiran

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 19, 2013: A day after tribal welfare minister P. Balaraju launched a tirade against Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for ignoring him, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, on Tuesday, batted for Reddy.

Rao said there was no truth in Balaraju’s claim that he was not invited for the chief minister’s programme. The tribal welfare minister was informed and invited four days in advance to the Rachchabanda programme in Chodavaram.

Bickering in the Congress in Visakhapatnam district came to the fore again with Balaraju’s diatribe against the chief minister for allegedly favouring his arch rival, ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

Though Balaraju has not taken Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s name at the press conference held at Hyderabad on Monday, wherein he charged the chief minister with ‘ill-treatment’ and ‘discrimination’ against him, it is seen as indirect reference to the proximity Rao and Reddy enjoy.

“There is no truth in his (Balaraju’s) claims that he was not informed or invited for Rachchabanda programme held at Chodavaram. I was told by the district officials that the minister was informed in advance about the programme,” Ganta Srinivas Rao told media persons here on Tuesday.

Rivalry between the two state cabinet ministers, hailing from Vizag, was exposed very recently, on November 8, when both of them held review meetings separately with the district officials on the same subject.

Rao and Balaraju never see eye to eye. It is rare to see them together at any programme. Balaraju had even skipped Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s  programmes in the district last month twice.

The minister was also absent from Rachabanda programme in Chodavaram on November 15, in which Rao was seen taking part actively. Both had differed on many issues from merger of Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities.

Ganta creates flutter, opposes ODI, backs celebrity match

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 2013: While the support for India Vs West Indies ODI scheduled to be held in Vizag on Nov 24 is growing among the locals, ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivas Rao, who had opposed the match has drawn flak after he lent his support for a celebrity cricket match in the city on Dec 21.

The minister attended the unveiling of the “Crescent Cricket Cup”, the trophy for the celebrity match, in Hyderabad on Saturday night.  He was the chief guest at the programme that was attended by Tollywood bigwigs like Nagarajuna and a good number of heroines.

The celebrity cricket match will be played between Tollywood and Bollywood teams,  led by Srikant and Suniel Shetty respectively. The match will be played in a 10 over format and the organizers made it a free entry for all. Organisers earlier held similar celebrity cricket matches at Anantapur in 2011 and Hyderabad last year.

 The minister, a few days back, openly opposed conducting the match when tempers were very high in the backdrop of ongoing agitation for Samaikyandhra after the union government decided to divide Andhra Pradesh. He said people are not in a mood to enjoy the match or celebrate. However, the day after his remarks many Samaikyandgra JACs came in support of the match and felt it would enhance the image of Vizag at global level.

Rao also asked the ODI organizers BCCI and ACC to either postpone the match to some other day or shift the venue. On Sunday, more than half a a dozen student outfits affiliated to various political parties held a meeting and pledged their support on conducting the match. Representatives from AISF, SFI, TNSF, BJYM and Loksatta took part in the meeting. “This exposes his (Ganta) double standard attitude. The minister opposes ODI and lends his support openly for a star match. What kind of message is he sending? We condemn his attitude,” said Samaikyandhta student JAC state convenor, Adari Kishore.

Meanwhile, Telugu Shakthi, a voluntary organization conducted a signature campaign on the beach road in support of the match. Public in large numbers signed in support of the match.  

'Decentralise growth'

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 213: With Hyderabad becoming a contentious issue in division of the state, people are of an opinion that the union government should plan cluster development by creating more growth corridors.

Parting with Hyderabad, the only developed city in the entire state, has turned a sticky issue and people in Seemandhra argue that it is not fair, as they too have invested in its development.

The development should be decentralised. Growth should be scattered in different cities in Seemandhra to prevent another Hyderabad-like situation, said Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika president S.S. Shivasankar.

BJP national executive member Kambhampati Haribabu felt that the union government should come up with growth corridors along  Visakhapatnam – Kakinada, Kakinada – Eluru, Eluru – Guntur, Ongole – Nellore – Tirupati, Anantapur – Kurnool for future development.

“All the adminstrative bodies like the legislative Assembly, Secretariat, quarters for ministers and legislators should be at one place and the High Court can be in another city or town,” he said. Secretaries of various departments can stay in the capital but offices of heads of various departments can be located at different places.

For example, the headquarters for endowment can be at Tirupati, fisheries at Kakinada, agriculture at Anantapur and ports at Visakhapatnam.

“Decentralisation should not pose any problem to smooth adminstration as many facilities like video conferencing are available,” said Haribabu.

He also suggested that the location of the new capital should be finalised in three months after bifurcation and the construction of buildings must begin forthwith. “The provision of 10-year common capital might lead to different problems,” he added.

Clear Danger: Abandoned vessel threat at Vizag Port

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 9, 2013: An unlit and abandoned cargo vessel, MT Pratibha Neera, anchored in the busy shipping lane in the approach routes of Vizag port, has turned out to be a potential threat to the safe passage of regular cargo vessels and also in a worst scenario may bring entire shipping activity at the port to a standstill.

The likelihood of the anchor chain breaking, due to severe weather conditions, is also a possibility. In a worst case scenario, it can lodge itself in the entrance to the breakwater, bringing shipping activity in the port to a complete standstill until the wreckage is
removed.

The ship belonging to Mumbai based Prathibha Shipping Company Ltd run by the kin of Maratha strongman, Sarad Pawar has arrived in the Port of Visakhapatnam in the October last year.  It is almost a year since the ship has been in the port limits of Vizag left abandoned.

The ship seems to be now unseaworthy on many counts. Last year another ship belonging to the same shipping firm, MT Prathibha Cauvery stoked a controversy off Chennai coast while it ran aground and its crew members jumped for safety when the low intensity Cyclone Nilam hit Tamil Nadu coast. Prathibha Neera has embroiled in a legal battlebetween the shipping firm and a Singapore based supplier on payment ofdues and is stranded at Vizag port.

And it’s a moment for the Vizagites to heave a sigh of relief as the recent severe cyclone Phailin spared Andhra Pradesh and so Prathibha Neera averting a major mishap to occur.

Bombay High Court in June this year, ordered the arrest of the cargo vessel anchored at Vizag port. And as per the order, the ship won’t get clearance from the port authority to move until further orders.

Prathibha Neera has come to Vizag port on Oct 29, 2012 to take an approximate 20,000 tonne of Light Sulphur High Speed Diesel Oil from a local refinery. Ever since the case taken a legal turn, the ship was said to be abandoned by the owners.

Presently coast is experiencing a spell of cyclones and storms in the area. Due to the age of the ship and the prevailing weather conditions, it’s a strong possibility that the vessels anchors may drag or in a worse case, break leaving this big mass of metal to float around uncontrolled, says Capt Sebastian Ravi Fernandes, Master Mariner who has been in the sailing profession for nearly twenty years on various types of tankers.

“Should this happen, other installations in the area - breakwaters, submarines, naval ships, merchant ships in the area, etc are all put through dangerous situation,”  he adds.

More than 10 vessels from various countries reach Vizag port in a day carrying different cargo.  Prathibha Neera is a double hull oil tanker built in 1986 at USSR.

“To a layman, this could be compared to a situation if you have a boulder lying unlit on a busy highway. Until such an obstruction is removed, the likelihood of an accident is more or less definite and imminent. In 2002, a vessel Tricolor sank in the English Channel after colliding with the Kariba. The Tricolor sank in the busy shipping lane. In the days that followed before the wreck was removed three ships collided with the sunken wreck. Given the present conditions, the likelihood of an incident occurring are definite and imminent. The authorities need to act before a situation that is already bad does not deteriorate,” Ravi added.

If the ships sink in a busy shipping route, the wreck would lie below the water surface, reducing the amount of safe water below the keel for ships to enter and leave port. In such a scenario, wreck removal costs would have to be incurred to render the shipping lanes safe. Wreck removal costs often run to the tune of millions.

“The owners seem to be running the vessel on a skeletal staff and that’s the reason why it is not event lit. On humanitarian grounds we are providing safe drinking water to the crew. Acting on their requests we have sent a tug to reposition the ship during the cyclone Phailin warnings,” said a senior official of the traffic department of
Vizag Port.

Ganta – Balaraju rivalry reaches flash point, puts officials to trouble

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 8, 2008: Rivalry between two state cabinet ministers hailing from Vizag,  Ganta Srinivasa Rao and P Balaraju seems was exposed  again here on Thursday with both of them holding review meetings with district officials  separately on the same subject.

Ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao held a review meeting with the  district collector, Solomon Arokia Raj, GVMC commissioner, MV Satyanarayana along with heads of various other departments on the proposed Rachabanda programme scheduled to begin on Nov 11, at the conference hall of the government circuit house. The meeting lasted for close to two hours and arrangements for the programme were discussed elaborately.

Soon as Rao concluded the meeting and left the place, tribal welfare minister P  Balaraju held a meeting with the same set of officials at the same place on the  same issue. Officials were forced to discuss the same programme twice. “It was so tiring to discuss and repeat the same issues twice that too without any gap. They should have buried their differences and could have held the review meeting jointly,” felt a district official.

Interestingly, Balarju waited in a suite until Ganta Srinivasa Rao held the review  meeting and entered the conference hall only after Rao left. Rao and Balaraju are known  arch rivals in the district politics and never see eye to eye. It is rare to see then together at any programme. Balaraju had also skipped the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s  proghrammes in the district in the last month twice where Rao was seen actively taking part.

While Balaraju said he would abide by the party central leadership’s decision on state bifurcation, Ganta Srininivasa Rao had openly found fault with the decision and actively took part in Samaikyandhra agitation related programmes.

The proposed ODI match between India and West Indies on Nov 24 has also exposed the rift and rivalry between the two ministers. While Ganta Srinivasa Rao opposed conducting the match in the backdrop of popular mood prevailing in this region over AP bifurcation, Balaraju welcomed the proposal.

Rao, on Thursday appealed the BCCI and ACC officials to shift the match venue. But  Balaraju on Thursday made a strong pitch to hold the match and also assured security to  hold it. “It’s a prestigious match and we should all feel proud that Vizag is hosting  such an international match. It will enhance the image of the city in the international  arena,” said Balaraju after the review meeting on Rachabanda.

IT R&D campus for Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 8, 2013: Amid uncertainty triggered by the union government’s decision to divide Andhra Pradesh there is a positive news.

As a breather, the Society for Applied Microwave Electronic Engineering and Research (SAMEER), which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has decided to set up its campus in Vizag with an initial investment of Rs 80 crore.

SAMEER was set up as an autonomous R&D laboratory at Mumbai, under the then department of electronics, Government of India, with a broad mandate to undertake R&D work in the areas of microwave engineering and electromagnetic engineering technology.

SAMEER has facilities in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. It has decided to set up its second facility in south India at Vizag. The R&D facility will also provide employment for technicians and engineers.

According to informed sources in the state Information Technology and Communications (IT&C), the Government of India enterprise had applied to the APIIC to provide 50 acres of land recently to set up its campus.

The SAMEER Vizag campus is likely to come up on the lines of its Chennai facility, which serves Indian and global industries in applied research and development, design consultancy, testing and training with the state-of-the-art infrastructure.

“Over 50 per cent of the work and business for this company comes from the defence  industry and navy here. We are confident that this will create more employment and provide a big boost for new units in the proposed ITIR  and electronic manufacturing clusters (EMC) at Vizag. We hope SAMEER investments will lead to more investments in our city, especially after the sanction of 24/7 operations of our airport and an international convention and science centre,” said RITPA and Vizag Development Council (VDC) vice-president O. Naresh Kumar.

Split woes: Polavaram, a sticky issue

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 6, 2013: It’s not just Hyderabad that is a contentious issue in bifurcation of the state.  There is another thorny issue- multi purpose Polavaram irrigation project, which may prove to be a ‘headache’ for the union government in the division process.

If the apprehensions of the Seemandhra people on completion of Polavaram project are to be addressed, Bhadhrachalam revenue division that also houses famous lord Rama’s temple should also be included in residuary state post bifurcation.

At present, Bhadhrachalam is in the limits of Khammam district, which is in Telangana.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution on creation of Telangana basing on which the union cabinet had begun the bifurcation process, has assured that the Polavaram will be declared as a national project and that it would be completely funded by it.

However apprehensions are being raised in Seemandhra region that the Telangana state government, after the state bifurcation, may create hurdles to the completion of the multi crore project which can provide irrigation water to 7.2 lakh acres in upland areas of coastal Andhra, as the villages that may face possible submergence are located in the Telangana region.

Polavaram project is already mired in controversies with governments of Odisha, Chattisgrah and Maharashtra approaching appropriate legal entities to stall the project showing many reasons and it is felt another state government Telangana would add to the list of woes. To assuage these apprehensions a demand is growing in this part of Andhra Pradesh that those villages that may face submergence be included in the residuary state.

Polavaram project is also vital to provide water to Rayalaseema through inter-basin transfer of 45 TMC, to generate 960 MW hydropower, to stabilize and secure the present Godavari and Krishna delta systems, considered the rice bowl of the nation, besides controlling the periodic flood devastation in coastal areas.  The project is also as important as Bhakra-Nangal and Nagarjuna Sagar, the two mighty irrigation projects in the country in the view of interlinking of river waters across the country.

As per the estimates of irrigation experts and the state government Polavaram project submerges 276 villages with an average population  of   642 per village. Of the 276 villages 204 are in the present Khammam district of Telangana.  Out of these 204 villages 121 are in Bhadrachalam Revenue Division and the remaining in Palvancha division.  Bhadhrachalam revenue division was part of East Godavari district in Seemandhra region until 1959.

“We have this apprehension that the future government of Telangana State would not allow Polavaram project because of the submergence. The new Telangana government may create hurdles in land acquisition and rehabilitation to halt the progress of the construction of the project as these are the state subjects.  This concern of Seemandhra people can be addressed only by transferring the land under submergence of the reservoir and land earmarked for rehabilitation of the displaced to the new Andhra Pradesh state,” pointed BJP national executive member, Kambhampati Haribabu, who was the member of Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers.

The Task Force on interlinking project was set up during NDA rule in December, 2002 on the recommendation of the apex court.  However the task force was cancelled when the UPA came to power in 2004.

It would be interesting to see if the Telangana votaries would be ready to forego Bhadhrachalam revenue division which also houses famous lord Rama’s temple.

AP bifurcation: Samaikyandhra stir fizzles out; Vizagites send suggestions to GoM on Seemandhra devpt

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 5, 2013:  With the Samaikyandhra stir fizzling out, various sections seems to be coming to terms and accepting that the state bifurcation is imminent. Many  have started preparing and  drawing plans for the development of  Seemandhra region.

In a significant development, the CII members and  representatives of Vizag Development Council (VDC) held a brainstorming session on Tuesday on the representation to be forwarded to GoM set up by the Union government to oversee the bifurcation process. They prepared a charter of demands for the development of Seemandhra region.

This comes close on the heels of a closed door meeting called by Union ministers D.  Purandheswari and M.M. Pallamraju with the select industrialists in the city a few days ago seeking opinions and suggestions to develop residuary state.

The two union ministers were very vocal in support of the decision taken by their party led UPA government on division of Andhra Pradesh. Both were first among the Seemandhra leaders to talk about plans on development of Seemandhra region after bifurcation and need to approach GoM.

“The union government should take every possible step to protect the interests of the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema who are worried on account of division of state. Besides granting special package, which is yet to be announced, the government must clear some of the pending demands of Andhra and Rayalaseema which are sectorally divided into Fund based and Non Fund Based expectations from the Government in our report to the GoM.  Regional Development Council which includes the representatives of trade and commerce bodies should be formed with appropriately to expedite development and enforce Single Window clearances,” said VDC and Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), vice president, O Naresh Kumar.

With November  5  deadline for sending suggestions to the GoM, VDC  along with CII  sent their proposals through email.

Their demands included allocation of power from Central Grid until proposed new units meet the requirement on date to domestic, industry and agriculture 24X7, adequate gas from KG basin should be allocated to Andhra Pradesh Power Plants and Industries on priority, incentives and special tax concessions such as VAT, excise, central sales tax, Income tax and service tax etc. for new units as well as the ones being relocated to this region, creation of Free Trade zone at Vizag and Kakinada with concessions and facilities like in Singapore or Dubai, facilitate early sanction of ITIR in Vizag including National Manufacturing Investment zone among others.

Meanwhile a Vizag based NGO Chaitanya Sravanthi, working for women empowerment also sent a report to GoM on Tuesday demanding special, exclusive package for north Andhra.

“The Congress led UPA Government is going ahead with its proposal without taking concern and fears of people in the region. It is very important to win confidence of people to go ahead with it, without allaying their fears and doubts, the proposal will receive stiff résistance from people. As people are not ready to believe the political parties any assurance or package will not be of much use. Hence it is important to involve all stake-holders and take their views before finalizing the GOM report .This will go a long way in winning the trust of people, and for this the government should be sincere and should not give priority to political consideration,” said  Chaitanya  Sravathi, chair person, Shireen Rehman.

She added that if the UPA succeeds in finalizing  the bifurcation it should consider an exclusive development package for north Andhra, which is the most back wards region not only in the state but also in the Country.

To give a fillip to development in North Andhra, Visakhapatnam, Which has all infrastructure facilities, should be made capital a part from locating a high court bench in this region, said that report of Chaitanya Sravanthi. 

Dhanteras: Jewellers disappointed

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Nov 1, 2013: Dhanteras, considered an auspicious day before Diwali, failed to create any buzz among gold buyers. It’s a popular practice to buy gold on Dhanteras day and use it while doing puja to the goddess of wealth Lakshmi.

Gold merchants who were going through a tough time since some months due to lack of business after the Samaikyandhra agitation and floods, had pinned hopes on Dhanteras thinking that the public would come forward and buy gold. Gold merchants said they had just average business and nothing extraordinary. They had been witnessing a downtrend in gold sales ever since rates started going up.

Gold merchants also felt that the government’s decision to levy 11 per cent taxes have been discouraging buyers. And adding to their woes are disturbances in the form of agitations, strikes which had weakened business since the last three months.

“We are probably facing the worst crisis ever. After 2007-08 we started witnessing a downward trend. We are not doing even 10 per cent of the business we had in the 2007-08 period. And we hope that at least during occasions like Dhanteras and Akshaya Thritiya we will get a boost. But this year both occasions disappointed us,” said Visakhapatnam Gold and Silver Jewellery Merchants’ Welfare Association secretary, N.V. Achyuta Ramaiah.

There are around 600 small, medium and big gold jewellery showrooms in Vizag including in the outskirts of Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam and Pendurthy. The Kurupam market in the One Town area itself has around 200 gold shops. They generally have a turnover of Rs 70 crore in a year.

“As of now we have done just an average business there is no any unusual jump in our business or mad rush on the occasion of Dhanteras. We are still waiting as there is also little confusion about Dhanteras whether it is to be observed on Friday or Saturday,” said Sunil Francis of famous jewelery chain Joy Alukkas.