Volunteering catches up in Vizag, youths are into social activities as it adds to their resume

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 30, 2013: Volunteering and campaigning for social causes is catching up among Vizag youth. They are making beelines to offices of NGOs and voluntary organizations offering their Good Samaritan hand, all for a participation certificate.

Youth feel that a participation certificate will be an ‘add on’ to their Curriculum Vitae or resume and that it would land them in a plum job. With more youth coming forward offering help, some voluntary organaisations in the city are clearly under pressure to organize more service oriented programmes every month.

Ken Foundation Society, which has been into conducting beach clean up drives, heritage sites restoration, teaching classes to poor children and other programmes has recently introduced 120 hr volunteer internship programme.

“The response has been very good. Earlier we used to find it very difficult to find people for the voluntary programmes but now the scene has changed. They are coming forward asking us to conduct programmes regularly. Normally, students spend 2 hours in a week to participate in voluntary programmes. We issue participant certificates to them which they add it to their accomplishments and resumes,” said Santosh P of Ken foundation.

 The Foundation collects one time fee of Rs 100 as registration amount to enroll for the volunteer internship programme.

“When competing with freshers, there would be a significant 30 to 40 percent advantage that those who do a social internship would hold, as they would come across as being more committed and inspired,” said, Kiran Dasari, Vizag head of Adecco, a Swiss multinational human resource consulting company.

Some students are also taking up the voluntary activity as a recreation besides building up their resumes.

“Its fun to be part of such voluntary programmes and the satisfaction we get is immense. The certificates issued by the NGOs helped some of my seniors to get a job,” said Ram Vikas of MVGR engineering college.

Hair matters: Coastal hair is world’s crowning glory

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 30, 2013: The economy may be in a slump, but the one sector that is doing booming business is the export of human hair. Some 3,000 tonnes of human hair have been exported so far this year to various European countries, China and the USA, from Vizag port. At a rough estimate, this bizarre export is worth Rs 1,500 crore.

Traders dealing with hair from five districts — Vizag, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, East and West Godavari — have been exporting from Visakhapatnam Container Terminal since the last three years. Earlier, they were exporting from Chennai port.

The trade in human hair has been on the upswing — it was 2,240 tonnes in 2011-12 and 1,500 tonnes in 2010-11.

One tonne of human hair costs Rs 50 lakh in the international market, though the price varies according to length, density, volume and quality. Hair that is over 18 to 30 inches-long sometimes costs $300-$450 per kg.

The traders get the hair from thousands of hawkers who collect it from roadside haircutting saloons, households and temples where tonsuring takes place.

“There is a lot of demand for virgin remy hair (quality hair) in European countries like Switzerland, Italy and France. We get the remy hair from temples like Simhachalam, Dwaraka Tirumala and Annavaram. Non remy, which is inferior quality, goes to China,” explains Y.V. Rao, member of the human hair exporters’ association and owner of Golden Hair Company.

He said that a kilo of hair is bought in the domestic market for an amount ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 50,000 depending on the quality of the hair.

Hair auction brings Rs 5 crore every year

Visakhapatnam: A senior official of the Visakhapatnam Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd (VCTPL) says that every month at least eight to 15 containers of human hair weighing 20 tonnes each, are exported. “Besides European countries, the containers go to Jebel Ali port in Dubai, UAE, and Port of Busan in South Korea and to many South Asian countries,” he said.

Seeing the demand and to cash in on it, officials of the famous north Andhra Varahalakshmi Nrusimhaswami Temple in Simhachalam are planning a global e-auction of the human hair that is offered at the hill shrine by lakhs of devotees.

For the past few years, Simhachalam temple has been selling hair offered by devotees through offline tenders which brings in Rs 5.7crore annually.

The Endowment Department is planning e-auctions of the hair through the Metal and Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) Ltd, a Central government enterprise.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is already into global e-auction of human hair.

Every day about 1,200 local devotees and about 3,000 devotees from other parts of India get their hair tonsured at Simhachalam as offering to the presiding deity Sri Varahalakshmi Nrusimhaswami.

Seemandhra ministers differ on T

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 24, 2013:  Differences among Seemandhra ministers over the AP Reorganisation Bill came to the fore in Vizag. Minor irrigation minister, TG Venkatesh, a strong votary of Samaikyandhra and health minister Kondru Murali who has softened his stance on Samaikyandhra, expressed divergent views on the Bill while addressing media persons at a programme organised here on Tuesday. Ministers Yerasu Pratap Reddy, and Ganta Srinivasa Rao also participated in the programme. The ministers laid foundation stone for a farmers training centre in the city.

While Venkatesh found fault with the Bill stating there was nothing in it that would help the development of the region, Murali hoped that Seemandhra region would prosper after the division, given the proposals in the Bill.

Venkatesh reiterated the need to delay the discussion on the Bill in the state assembly to stop the state bifurcation. “We will stop the Bill, which is against the aspirations and sentiments of the Seemandhra public. If the Bill is passed in the Parliament Seemandhra will be at loss. To stop the Bill from being passed public should go to Delhi and besiege Parliament. If the discussion on the Bill is taken up a wrong message will go to public that Seemandhra ministers, MLAs have accepted to the bifurcation. Everyone should come forward irrespective of political parties to stop the Bill at every stage,” said Venkatesh.

Murali said that Seemandhra would be benefited, if  the proposals by the GoM in the Bill be implemented. “Am confident that Seemandhra will  benefit with the 8 proposals made by the GoM in the Bill. A new railway zone, IIT will come up in the region,” he said and added that he will continue in Congress party even if the state is divided. Murali exuded confidence of Congress winning maximum seats in Seemandhra too even after state bifurcation.

Meanwhile, law minister, Yerasau Pratap Reddy, who also spoke to reporters, said that they would strive to stop bifurcation of the state.

Naidu tries to boost cadre's morale

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 25, 2013 : TD chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in Vizag to attend the wedding of Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s daughter, used the opportunity to interact with local party leaders in the region and set them going for the 2014 polls.

Interestingly, he allowed almost everyone who desired to meet him a chance to do so and made efforts to boost the morale of the grassroots leaders who were worried over their sagging fortunes in the event of bifurcation, and the alleged dubious stance of Naidu on it.

He held a series of meetings with the party leaders of the district at a hotel after attending the wedding.

There were said to be enough fireworks during the interactions. Former minister and TD politburo member Ch Ayyana Patrudu, who met Naidu, said to have expressed his strong opposition to Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s rumoured entry into the party.

Rao and Patrudu are known rivals in the TD since the former was in the party before joining the erstwhile PRP. Patrudu has been openly expressing his opposition towards Rao’s re-entry. There are speculations that Ganta Srinivasa Rao due to the virtue of PRP merged in Congress has become a minister in the state cabinet has decided to return to TD.

 “Legendary NTR has launched TD 38 years back with so many good ideals. I wish that opportunists would not be entertained in the party. And it’s up to our leader N Chandrababu Naidu if he wants to take take in leaders who change colours too often,” Ayyana Patrudu told reporters after meeting Naidu at the hotel making indirect reference to Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

Meanwhile, TD MLA Payyavula Kesav hoped that the 2014 polls would be held in united Andhra Pradesh and the TD would regain its strength in both the regions of Seemandhra and Telangana. He stressed for the need to discuss the AP Reorganisation bill in the state assembly which he fely had many loopholes that needed to be pointed out. Rajyasabha member, CM Ramesh was confident that the state would not be divided before 2014 general elections. 

VIP rush in Vizag for big wedding

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 23, 2013: Police and district officials of various government departments were kept on tenterhooks due to the last minute arrangements for the visit of VIPs to attend a high profile wedding on Wednesday.

More than half the state Cabinet ministers, MPs, a few Union ministers, and around 50 MLAs, bureaucrats, leaders of various political parties are going to reach Vizag from Tuesday to attend wedding of ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivas Rao’s daughter.

Police and other district officials were busy in security arrangements, to provide accommodation and other protocol obligations to the VVIP guests on the list.

The high profile wedding is slated to be held on Wednesday morning.  Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Governor, E.S.L. Narasimhan and Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah have confirmed their coming.

With the government circuit house having limited accommodation and given the long list of the guests, officials had to find rooms for them at star hotels on the Beach Road and at guest houses belonging to various PSUs located in the vicinity.

To avoid any embarrassment, GVMC staff had worked overtime to repair the potholes on the road leading to the wedding venue — AU Engineering College Grounds — where a huge film set was erected.

Artisans and Tollywood workers from Hyderabad were sweating it out for a week to construct the venue. Union tourism minister K. Chiranjeevi would be the main attraction at the wedding while political observers are waiting to see if TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu would attend the wedding or not.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao has begun his political career as a TD MP from Anakaplle and there are speculations that he is likely to switch over to the regional party shortly due to the Congress decision to  bifurcate the state. Rao too personally visited Naidu to invite him to  the wedding.

There were many rounds of meetings by the senior district officials  and the police on the arrangements. "We have entrusted the job of  accommodation of a minister to the respective department staff. However, we are reviewing and monitoring the protocol and other issues  from time to time so that there will not be any lapses," said a senior  district official.

Tourism projects in Vizag in limbo, no pacts inked

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 22, 2013: The state government’s ambitious tourism projects in Vizag, to showcase the city as the tourists’ next destination in Andhra Pradesh are in a limbo. The increased land prices and policy of state tourism department to entrust the projects to private players on lease basis instead of Hyderabad model of revenue sharing, had discouraged many potential private parties to take up the projects.

The consultant appointed by the Centre and the state government, IL&FS prepared more than 11 Detailed Project Reports (DPR), two years back and 29 firms responded to the global expression of interests called last year for five of the DPRs. However, none came forward to sign the agreements with the state government to kick start the works.

After identifying the city’s tourism potential and its rich natural resources, the union government in 2011 entrusted the job of preparing a blue print of ‘attractions’ to be set up in Vizag to India's leading infrastructure development and finance firm, Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS).

Except offering tour packages on a couple of websites of the tourism department there was no attempt to make outsiders know about Vizag. Apart from 17 tourist spots in the city, besides enchanting Araku valley, centuries old Borra caves, the north Andhra region has more than 100 heritage sites.

Of the 100 heritage sites more than 12 are age old Buddhist monuments which can attract tourists from most Asian countries.  Except Visakha Utsav which was held last in 2005 no event was held, even planned in recent times to showcase the city.

The IL & FS officials have prepared DPRs for around 11 mega tourism projects at a cost of Rs 1,800 cr. Of the 11, around 5 projects at a cost of Rs 850 cr were approved in principle by the union tourism ministry.

Global tenders were also called for 5 projects. Around 29 submitted their technical and financial bids, out of which, 28 were qualified. The tourism department had also finalised the tenders after receiving request of proposals from the successful qualified bidders.  But no firm has evinced interest in signing the agreements after looking into the actual modalities of handling the project.

The state government had fixed the land price at Rs 4 crs per acre and asked the successful bidders to pay 5 percent of the price as an annual lease amount per acre. The lease policy has discouraged the potential bidders.

The IL & FS has recently written to the state government to review the policy to attract investors. “The lease model is not at all viable. Each project requires at least 20 acres of land and after that they need to pump in so much of money to develop the tourist attraction. Whereas in Hyderabad, state adapted revenue sharing model for projects like HICC, Samshabad airport, which is viable and encourages investors. Unless state government changes the policy no project can be grounded in Vizag. We should have actually signed the agreements and grounded the projects by now. Hope we get a positive response from the state government for the letter we have written on change in the pattern. We are waiting for that to go ahead,” a top official at IL &FS told this correspondent.

The 5 DPRs belonged to Multi Theme Park at Madhurawada in 100 acres, Wonders of the world park at Yendada in 40 acres, international convention centre at Madhurawada in 20 acres, science city near Thotlakonda in 25 acres and Arogyadham-traditional health care centre at Madhurawada in 20 acres.

The remaining 6 projects are giant Ferris wheel, Vizag Eye, on the lines of London Eye,  fourth generation aqua Marine Park with 180degree view, for which a suitable location is identified at Endada, a sea cruise terminal, dedicated tourism train to Araku, rope way at Meghadrigedda and another theme park. All the works would be taken up under PPP mode.

Vizag’s debutant MLAs uncertain about their political future

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 22, 2013: The debutant MLAs, irrespective of political parties, in Vizag district are at crossroads and worried lot what with their future seeming uncertain.

The emergence of YSR Congress, as a strong force in the region, and the Congress led UPA’s decision to bifurcate the state have made things worse for these budding politicians.

 As many as 11, out of the total 15 MLAs of Vizag, are new entrants to politics, having contested for the first time in 2009 polls. These legislators have lost hopes on switching loyalty as ‘berths’ in the other parties are full.  

Of the, four belong to Telugu Desam and seven to the Congress and they are considering it the end of their political career, which had begun five years back though.

MLAs Muthamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, Chinthalapudi Venkataramaiah have switched loyalty to the Congress from PRP, after its merger with the grand old party. They contested the 2009 polls on PRP tickets.

Payakaraopeta, MLA, Golla Babu Rao had jumped the fence long back from Congress and was reelected during a by poll on the YSR Congress ticket. Rest of the Congress MLAs including, Tainala Vijay Kumar, Bolem Mutyala Papa and Malla Vijay Prasad are perturbed about their future, in view of the misrule, anti incumbency wave in the region, which has grown more strong following the Centre’s decision on Telangana.

Similar is the condition of TD MLAs, G Ramu Naidu, KSN Raju, Siveri Soma and V Ramakrishna Babu. They feel that that the ongoing Samaikyandhra stir and the ambiguous stance of their party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on state division would dent their prospects in 2014 polls, if they contest from the state party.

Political observers are pointing that most of these MLAs of both TD and  Congress have no option than stick to their respective parties and rue at their fortunes, wait for another round of assembly polls to come in 2019.

“We are literally at crossroads. We don’t know what to do and where to go. Public mood is clearly against us. There is no doubt about it and at the same time we are not sure which party has the edge. Even though there is an offer from a party am not sure whether I can win on that ticket. Some of us even don’t have any offer or invitation from other parties and their situation is most pathetic,” a ruling party’s first time MLA told this correspondent.    

BJP fights for Seemandhra

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 21, 2013: In a bid to change its pro-Telangana image and increase political prospects in Seemandhra, the BJP leaders from the region have vowed to mount pressure on the party central leadership to demand justice to the region, when the AP Reorganisation Bill comes for discussion in the Parliament.

Expressing displeasure at the raw deal meted out to Seemandhra region without any time-bound committed assurances in the Bill, BJP national disciplinary committee member Kambhampati Haribabu hoped that the party leadership would definitely fight for the rightful share of Seemandhra, in the event of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Terming the assurances given to Seemandhra in the Bill as ‘hollow promises’, Haribabu, speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, came down heavily on Jairam Ramesh, a member of the GoM appointed by the union cabinet to look into the bifurcation process, for allegedly acting in favour of Telanagana on construction of Polvaram project.

“Ramesh had openly said that he is against the Polavaram project. And instead of including Polvaram as multi-purpose project in the Bill, it was termed as just any ordinary irrigation project. There is no firm assurance how the Centre would fund the project. The Bill also says that the project can be taken up with the consultation of both the states. How can we expect that the Telangana government would support construction of Polavaram, when everyone in that region is opposing it.”

Haribabu said Polavaram project can be a reality only if Bhadhrachalam division, some parts of which fall in the submergence area of Polavaram, can be given back to Seemandhra.

He reminded that until 1959, from 1840, Bhadhrachalam was part of EG district and that it was made part of Khammam, only for the administrative convenience, three years after Andhra Pradesh was formed.

The BJP on Friday staged demonstrations and protests across Viziangaram and Vizag, demanding justice to the region in the event of the bifurcation of the state. Party cadres in large numbers took part in the protests, burnt copies of AP Reorganisation Bill and effigies of Union rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh for ignoring the interests of the Seemandhra people.

Issues raked up by them include, the multi-purpose Polavaram project, addition of Bhadrachalam division to Seemandhra, Hyderabad revenue sharing and development of infrastructure and institutes of excellence. The Polavaram project was initially envisaged as a multi-purpose project covering power, irrigation and drinking water but now they claim, the Congress has reduced it to a mere irrigation project.

“Being a member of the GoM, Jairam Ramesh should be neutral but he is acting in favour of Telangana,” said BJP national disciplinary committee, member, K. Haribabu. The BJP activists gathered in large numbers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue opposite to GVMC office and raised slogans against Jairam Ramesh.

They demanded the Centre announce time bound committed assurances on the financial package for the development of Seemandhra and its capital. They also demanded inclusion of Bhadrachalam division into residuary state for the completion of Polavaram project.

Vizag IT facilities fail to attract entrepreneurs

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 11, 2013: Contrary to the demand from IT companies to set up operations in Vijayawada and Guntur considering them low cost destinations, there is no demand from IT entrepreneurs to start their units in Vizag, which is considered as next IT destination in Andhra Pradesh after, Hyderabad.

Blame it on state government policy, there are no takers for the plots at the IT/ITES SEZ in Gambheeram, which was notified by the union ministry of commerce, way back in April 2009.

No IT entrepreneur has come forward to take these plots at IT SEZ in Ganbheeram which was developed by the APIIC, in an extent of 51.28 acres around 20kms away from the city. All the 28 plots are still vacant since 5 years.

Interestingly the Gambheeram IT Park proposal has created real estate boom in the surroundings. Realtors use “near Gambheeram IT Park’ in their brochures to attract people to buy plots in the layouts developed by them in the area.

The APIIC also fixed an upset price of Rs 3,140 per square meter that has to be deposited to get the lease at Gambheeram IT Park.

“The SEZ policy for IT parks should be blamed for this situation. This is pathetic that even after 5 years not even a single company has come forward to begin the operations. Even after paying so much money as deposit it is conditional lease and there is no land ownership. The lease holder can’t sub lease it. Most of the IT companies that are actually looking at Vizag are domestic and midsized.  These factors are discouraging them. There is also no social infrastructure around. Upon that the land upset price at Gambheeram is also too high,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association (RITPA), vice president, O Naresh Kumar.

At present there are two IT parks in Madhurawada and one in Duvvada SEZ. The IT entrepreneurs are asking the authorities to de notify these IT Parks from being SEZ to encourage new investments.

There are around 100 medium, small and big IT and ITES firms operating in Vizag employing around 10,000.  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.

“There were only a couple of applications for the plots at Gambheeram IT SEZ and they couldn’t be processed due to various reasons including lack of interest too from the applicants. After seeing the abysmal response we wrote to our higher authorities seeking to de notify Gambheeram IT SEZ and also Rushikonda IT SEZ to encourage IT entrepreneurs and we are waiting for further orders,” said APIIC Zonal Manager, V Nagabhushan Reddy told this correspondent. 

AP split: Ganta justifies defying party high command

SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 10, 2013: Ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, on Tuesday, upped his ante against the Congress central leadership over its decision to bifurcate the state.  This comes after the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had openly raised a banner of revolt, a few days back in Vijayawada.

There are also speculations that Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who joined the Congress after PRP’s merger with the grand old party, is ready to leave the party to join either YSRC or TD.

The minister attended a conclave organized by the Andhra Pradesh Journalists Forum on the state reorganization bill here on Tuesday. He said “No doubt we should abide by the  high command but if they take anti people decisions, we will defy the party leadership. For me, people, their aspirations and sentiments are high command. From the beginning, the Centre has been undemocratic over state bifurcation issue. Centre brought up issues like Hyderabad as UT, common capital and Rayala Telanagana only to create confusion and rift among MLAs. On all the issues high command has been biased towards Telangana and it’s justifiable to defy the leadership.”

He further suggested that other elected representatives of his party, who are toeing the party high command line on bifurcation, to defy the central leadership for the sake of Seemandhra public. He lamented lack of unity among the public representatives of  Seemandhra region, which prompted the Congress led UPA go ahead with the bifurcation. He said, whereas for the Telanagana cause cutting across the party lines all the public representatives fought with single voice in the region.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao also observed that the Centre without considering the views expressed by national IB chief Ibrahim on threat to national security if Telangana is created and attorney general Vahanavathi on amending constitution, was going ahead with the division. He opined that there should be a national policy on dividing the states. He also warned of many extreme steps if the Centre goes ahead with the bifurcation move.

Other MLAs who took part in the conclave lamented raw deal to the Seemandhra region in the draft bill. TD MLA, G Ramunaidu, Congress MLAs, Malla Vijay Prasad, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu,  Chinthalapudi Venkata Ramaiah made a strong pitch to garner support of national parties for Samaikyandhra stir. Malla Vijay Prasad said that they would be remembered as traitors in the history if they allow Andhra Pradesh be divided. 

Seemandhra MLAs raise pitch on Bill, Congress men to move Supreme Court

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 10, 2013: Even as Congress state affairs in-charge Digvijay Singh is set to reach Hyderabad to build consensus among the party MLAs over the AP reorganisation bill, which is most likely be introduced in the state assembly for discussion in winter session, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s camp seems to be working overtime to garner the support of  MLAs from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra, cutting across the party lines, to defeat the bill and then approach the apex court  against bifurcation.

After the Congress MPs, who moved a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, its the turn of party legislators to embarass the high command. They have decided to further defeat the bill in the Assembly.

Further, the MLAs are also mulling to approach the apex court with views expressed against the Telangana bill by the majority of the state Assembly members. The apex court had already, in a petition filed against the state bifurcation by a group, stated that it was premature to seek a legal remedy, but left the option of approaching it at an appropriate time.

Ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who has been strongly pitching for united Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday, dropped enough hints in this regard.

“We are approaching every MLA and preparing a list district-wise who will be on board in opposing the draft bill in the state Assembly. The Supreme Court had already left an option for approaching it at an appropriate time. We are confident that at least 60-70 per cent MLAs, including those belonging to Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and surrounding districts, would oppose the bill. It will be a strong point for our case when we approach the apex court. This is one of the options we have,” he said.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao, a strong votary of Samaikyandhra, has been backing the chief minister’s moves on the issue. He lamented that lack of unity among elected representatives of the Congress was impeding them in their fight for Samaikyandhra cause.

“Some MLAs of our party talk about special packages for regions like north Andhra and Rayalaseema, others talk about Rayala Telangana. But with regard to Telangana, all elected representatives, cutting across party lines, voice only one opinion and this helped them push their cause,” he added.
  

Illegal sand mining rampant in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 9, 2013: Despite the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order in August banning sand mining without environmental clearance, across the country, the activity is going on unabated in many places in Visakhapatnam district.

Illegal sand mining is rampant along the banks of Varaha, Tandava and Sarada rivers in Anakaplle, Chodavaram, Mungapaka, Payakaraopeta, S Rayavaram and Yelamachali mandals.

Environmentalists are of the opinion that indiscriminate sand mining will lead to ecological imbalances and also affect environment.

In August, the NGT, while hearing a petition on rampant sand mining on the banks of Yamuna, Ganga, Chambal, Gaumti and Revati, passed orders restraining any person, company, authority to carry out any mining activity or removal of sand from river beds anywhere in the country without obtaining environmental clearance from MoEF or State level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and license from the competent authorities.

However, sources in the pollution control board office here said that there were no applications from any prospective miners in the district nor has the SEIAA accorded EC to any person or firm. But the mining activity is going on under the nose of the authorities.

Interestingly, the sleuths of the vigilance and enforcement wing, revenue, mines and mineral department, who are to check the illegal mining, have not booked even a single case so far since the Tribunal award was out.

“We have not booked any cases regarding sand mining so far,” said a senior officer of vigilance and enforcement. Illegal river sand mining or quarrying can be witnessed in Juutada, Amberapuram, Chadavad under Chodavaram mandal, Seetanagaram, Venkatapalem in Anakapalle mandal, Payakaraopeta, Aratla, Pedabhadhrapuram in Paayakaraopeta mandal. 

“It’s unfortunate that officials are ignoring the tribunal’s order. Rampant illegal sand mining, in the long run, would lead to environmental havoc,” pointed environment rights activist J.V. Ratnam.

Eastern Naval Command to strengthen force

By SNV Sudhir

On Board INS Sahyadri, Dec 3, 2013: The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) will induct more ships, aircraft and submarines in the coming days to strengthen the force.  ENC commander in chief, vice admiral, Anil Chopra, addressing newspersons, here on Tuesday, said that with the world’s focus shifting to the eastern side from the Middle East, waters to the east of India have become critical mainly in the wake of many conflicts of territories, maritime and historical in nature.

 He said that ENC’s role includes safeguarding economic assets of the country and establish control on sea, as and when required, to ensure security of sea lanes of communication and protect Indian merchant ships.  

The ENC, he said, is also creating infrastructure and acquiring lands for the airfields from Tuticorin to Visakhapatnam as the eastern region has gained strategic and economic importance it deserves over the last few years.

“ENC has responsibility to safeguard Indian’s maritime interests along a coastline of 2,600 kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 6 lakh square kilometers. We are also sharing these waters with countries on the eastern Indian Ocean with Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Mynamar and Bangladesh. We are also conducting naval exercises with the neighboring countries and maintaining good diplomatic relations,” he said.

Basing of the Shivalik class stealth frigates, the nuke powered submarine, INS Chakra as an indigenous aircraft carrier, a good number of advance ships, submarines and aircraft assigned to the command are a testimony to the growing stature of the Eastern seaboard, he said.

On nuke powered submarine INS ARihant, vice admiral Anil Chopra, said the submarine was launched two and half years ago and it was put to harbour trails and would shortly go to sea trials.

Responding to a query on threat from ships deployed by China, the vice admiral said China’s economic interests are different from India. “China’s ships are going all over the world. Our ships too go to China for exercises and their ships come to Indian waters. We have also conducted joint naval exercises with the Chinese navy,” he said.

He further said that the Indian navy was capable of acquiring ships and aircraft ingeniously.  “The Indian shipyards are capable of building war ships. All the 46 ships of the Indian navy were in different stages of construction by the Indian shipyards,” he added.

ENC celebrates Navy Day every year on December 4 as it was on this day in 1971 that the missile boats of the Indian Navy carried out a deadly attack on Karachi Harbour during the Indo-Pak War.

Ayyana says ‘no’ to Ganta Srininvasa Rao

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 3, 2013: Ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srininvasa Rao might have not taken a decision on whether to join the TD but his opponents in the opposition party had already started raising red flag to his entry.

Rao’s bête noire in TD, party’s politburo member, Ch. Ayyana Patrudu said Ganta Srinivasa Rao’s entry will be an ‘unfortunate’ thing to happen, if he joined their party.

Patrudu said Ganta had criticised TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu many times after he quit their party and joined the PRP.

“How can he join back our party? I leave it to Naidu’s decision whether he would re-induct Ganta, despite the latter levelling charges of corruption against him,” Patrudu told reporters at the district collectorate.

Further, Ayyana Patrudu said Rao has always diminished the prospects of political parties, whichever he entered.

“When he was in the TD, our party suffered a set back in Vizag. Then he joined the PRP, which has sunk into oblivion. Now he is in the Congress, which is in dire straits in Seemandhra. Congress will face rout in Seemandhra,” the TD politburo member said.

The scathing attack by Ayyana Patrudu on Ganta comes at a time when the speculations are rife in political circles that Rao is likely to quit the Congress and join the TD.

Ever since the minister started opposing the Congress decision on bifurcation of the state, there was speculation that he would quit the Congress and join either the YSRC or the TD.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao entered politics as a TD MP. Patrudu also lambasted Congress senior leader and former minister Dharmana Prasad Rao for taking a decision to join the YSRC even while having criticised its president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy earlier.

Fire on Naval minesweeper ship; 20 choke, hospitalised

By SNV Sudhir

Vishakhapatanam, Dec 4, 2013:  Three and a half months after INS Sindhurakshak was gutted in a blaze at Mumbai, the Indian Navy’s minesweeper INS Konkan caught fire and suffered major damage at the Naval Dockyard here on Wednesday.

There were no fatalities; but about 20 personnel were choked by the smoke and taken to the hospital.

The mishap took place at the dry docks of the dockyard when Naval personnel elsewhere were celebrating Navy Day, with an operational display at the Ramakrishna Beach.

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) refused to specify the extent of damage, but sources at the dockyard said that the ship had suffered more than 70 per cent damage, including to its engine.

 City police commissioner B Shivadhar Reddy told this newspaper, “Preliminary reports said an electric short circuit led to the fire. Though there is no loss of life, due to thick smoke around 20 persons who were there at the mishap site suffered suffocation. They were immediately rushed to the hospital.”

It was reliably learnt that fire broke while workers are engaged in welding work. Only the personnel working on the INS Konkan were in the dockyard, the rest of workers had been given a holiday from afternoon on the occasion of Navy Day.

At least 15 fire tenders belonging to Ship Building Centre, Hindustan Ship yard Ltd, other neighbouring industries like HPCL and from the city were rushed to the spot to control the fire, along with the Navy’s own fire fighters.

The INS Konkan is a Pondicherry class minesweeper built for the Indian Navy by the Soviet Union. The 891tonne ship was inducted into the Navy on October 8, 1988. 

The vessel was undergoing a mid life refit to extend its operational life. It is learnt that the sonar suites and combat systems were to be replaced, which will give the upgraded vessel leading edge capabilities.

Fingers were being pointed at the inexperienced outsourced manpower working at the Naval Dockyard for the fire mishap. “We have been always against the outsourcing and warned not to engage the contract labour in the defence  sector when the work is perennial in nature,” said Bharat Mazdoor Sangh leader K. Bhavani Shankarudu.