CID yet to launch probe into scam

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Feb 6, 2013: More than three months after the vigilance and enforcement department was ordered to probe the biggest land scam in Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority worth Rs 542 crore, the state investigation agency is yet to begin its  investigation.

The vigilance report  pointed at involvement of senior officials including  Vuda’s vice-chairman and two IAS officials in the illegal allotments which led to a loss to the state’s exchequer to the tune of more than Rs 542 crore.

In view of the involvement of senior officials a CID probe was recommended. Though the vigilance department was to submit the report by mid July last year, after three extensions the report was finally submitted in October.

It is learnt that the vigilance sleuths recorded stat-ements and questioned more than 100 people as part of their probe.

Basing on the report, the state chief secretary issued a memo to the CID to register a case and investigate into the alleged  scam.

“While the CID insists on a formal complaint by Vuda to go ahead with the probe, Vuda senior officials say that the CID can file a case based on the directions of the chief secretary and investigate. The standoff between the two parties would definitely help those involved in the scam to  cover up their actions,” observed a Vuda official.

Reacting to media reports  that the irregularities had taken place during his  tenure as vice-chairman, Kona Sasidhar, submitted a report to the state government’s municipal administration department stating prima facie evidence was found on the said irregularities to the tune of `542 crore in various layouts developed by the urban development authority in Rushikonda, Madhurawa-da and many other areas.

Acting on the report, department of municipal administration and urban development issued GORT no: 341 on March 21 entrusting the job of probing into the alleged irregularities to the vigilance and enforcement wing and submit its report within 3 months.

The vice-chairman, in his  report, found fault with some of his staff members for conniving with outsiders in allotting valuable plots, lands to fake beneficiaries.

VSP staff ‘involved’ in steel smuggling

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Feb 4, 2013: The demand for a  high level or CBI probe into the smuggling of finished products from Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) is gaining momentum after suspected involvement of top level management of RINL.

Last Monday a CISF unit of VSP seized a truck inside the plant loaded with over 22 tonnes of steel rods of various sizes worth more than `50 lakh.

Trade unions of VSP workforce staged protests demanding a CBI probe alleging that the transport firm to which the truck belonged has been involved in this clandestine activity for the last  two years.

“Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a totally computerised plant. Entry and exit gates are also computerized. Without a valid delivery document no gate pass can be issued, without gate pass product is not weighed.  Loading and invoicing, is also not possible. Therefore it is very clear that high level involvement from the management side is not ruled out. Hence, the case should be handed over to the CBI.,” said All India Steel Consumer Council member, Varasala Srinivasa Rao.

The incident also brought to light serious security lapses at the Navaratna company.

The main gates are not equipped with CCTVs nor x-ray scanners. It is alleged that valuable steel rods and steel coils worth lakhs is smuggled in the slag laden trucks.

“Loss of crores of rupees could have been curtailed if the x-ray scanners were installed to check smuggling. Every truck entering and leaving the premises should have been scanned instead of physical verification,” pointed another trade union leader.

Layout violators warned

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Feb 2, 2013:  In an attempt to streamline the development in Vizag, Vuda authorities have decided to crack whip on the defaulters and violators. 

“Layout developments without any permission or approval from Vuda, building construction without proper plan, approvals and any deviation, would face criminal action apart from issue of notices, demolition and imposing penalty. We will act tough and are not going to spare anyone. Our responsibility is to ensure planned development. A system should be evolved to achieve it,” said Vuda vice-chairman, Mr N. Yuvaraj.

Their staff also was entrusted to identify such plan deviations, illegal constructions coming under Vuda jurisdiction and preparing a list to file complaints for criminal proceedings. Already Vuda, had earlier identified around 190 such illegal and unauthorised layouts in its jurisdiction and issued notices.

To bring in transparency, Mr Yuvaraj said that Vuda would very soon launch monitoring system with the help of IT to check accountability and fix responsibility for lapses. Vuda would very soon begin putting every rupee spent on public domain, by uploading details of the expenditure for public scrutiny. “We are also planning to introduce SMS facility to register grievances at public amenities, like parks and other amusement themes, maintained by Vuda. A tracking system of the file movement with the help of information technology would be launched for the convenience of general public who approach us,” he said and further added that unsold flats, plots since some years, in already developed layouts, will be auctioned soon.

Mr Yuvaraj said they would be very soon taking a call on whether to concentrate on housing or developing layouts.

APIIC takes back land from Kenexa

By SNV  Sudhir 

Visakhapatnam, Jan 24:  After many twists and turns in the tale AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) finally took possession of 21.4 acres of unused land allotted to the Kenexa Corp out of the total 25 acres on Hill No 2 in the IT SEZ at Rushikonda.

In a bid to stop APIIC from taking over the land from Kenexa Global, which is now a part of IBM, its Indian arm Kenexa Technologies Private Ltd (KTPL) approached a civil court in Hyderabad in November against Kenexa Global and IBM Corporation.
However APIIC authorities confirmed Deccan Chronicle that they have recovered the unused land as IBM which had taken overt Kenexa Corp as part of a global acquisition was ready to surrender it. APIIC had earlier served notices to pay penalty or surrender a portion of land that was allotted to them for failing to provide jobs as promised during the allotment of land in 2008. 

KTPL promised to create 2,500 jobs, but managed to provide only 384. After repeated notices APIIC had decided to take back the remaining unused land of 21.4 acres, the way the Corporation taken back the land allotted even from Indian IT giants such as Wipro after they failed to keep up the promise of job creation.

With IBM backtracked on paying the penalty, Kenexa Corp decided to handover te unused land allotted to it by APIIC through its Indian arm KTPL. And IBM reportedly not keen on expanding its operations at Madhurawada IT SEZ,  and willing to handover the remaining land than that where a building of KTPL stands, the local top executives who were not willing to part with the land had approached court in Hyderabad challenging Kenexa Corp’s decision.

“Since they violated the agreement that was signed with us during the allotment by not providing jobs we have taken back the land after serving many notices. We are looking into various options of utilizing the recovered land,” APIIC Zonal Manager, TV Ramana Murthy told this correspondent. 

Fishing renders sharks extinct

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 23: Aggressive hunting by greedy fishermen to make some fast buck with decline in several species of regular fishes proved fatal to certain species of sharks in Bay of Bengal between Srikakulam and Kakinada coast.

In a shocking revelation during recent studies by the researchers from department of zoology at Andhra University, Saw Head sharks had totally vanished from the high seas.

While Hammer Head sharks are at the verge of total extinction, Tiger Sharks, Monkey Tailed sharks reached the ‘threatened’ stage of extinction.

Since three years researchers studied the frequency of shark landing at Vizag coast as a byproduct during regular fishing and made these observations. Sharks are a highly endangered species according to the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and local fishermen are hunting for their fins.

Studies also revealed that there are around 16 kinds of shark species found in the Bay of Bengal between Srikakulam and Kakinada.

Shark fins are very popular in some Asian countries like Hong Kong and other parts of China , Japan , Singapore , Thailand and South Korea prompting local fishermen to catch them even strict laws are in place.

Shark fin soup is a prized delicacy in those countries while according to Chinese traditional medicine, the fins are used to strengthen the waist, supplement vital energy, nourish blood, reinvigorate the kidneys and lungs and improve digestion. Powdered shark fins are also highly sought after as an aphrodisiac in Asian markets. According to the Wildlife Act 1972, hunting, trading and consumption of sharks can attract prison term of seven years and fine of Rs 25,000.  

“Due to its aphrodisiac quality shark fin soup is very famous in certain Asian countries. Unfortunately aggressive hunting of these sharks for its fins had led to the present situation where certain species have already faced extinction and rest at the verge of extinction,” senior zoology professor at Andhra University, Dr D E Babu told this correspondent.

An average sized shark weighing between 60 to 100 kg would fetch the local fisherman about Rs 1,500 to 2,000. Traders buy these sharks openly from the fishermen, cut the dorsal, pectoral and tail fins, dry them and sell them to other traders at Chennai. From Chennai these fins go to markets of other Asian countries. Fishermen do not get much money by selling shark meat and it is solely because of the demand for fins that they hunt the big fish aggressively.

The price increases once the fins reach Asian markets. In cities such as Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, a bowl of shark fin soup costs $90. It is also a favourite delicacy in China. “There needs to be a strong regulation and watch on the shark hunting, sale and transport in coordinated effort along with forest department,” admitted, department of fisheries, joint director, Koteswara Rao.

Unfortunately not a single case of shark fishing was booked by the fisheries department though sharks are sold in an open local market.

Shark fish landing in the country reported to be 2.2 percent of the total fish landing across the country in 1985 and it dropped to 0.9 percent by 2010 mirroring an alarming situation of the depletion of shark population, adds Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) scientist in charge, Dr MM Prasad.

Of the total India’s shark catch east coast contributes 25 percent. “There needs to be a an integrated approach for shark fisheries management and conservation keeping in mind the livelihood of thousands depending on the shark hunting, though it is illegal. We should seek international cooperation for the activity and the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem meeting held at Maldives in 2011 also stressed on these aspects,” said Dr Prasad. 

RTI rule amendment under scrutiny

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 21: A Government Order (GO) issued recently amending rules of State Information Commission (SIC) and procedure to deal with dispose of the appeals has come under attack by RTI activists.

As per the G O MS no 20 of the General Administration Department (GAD) issued on Jan 10, 2013, government decided to delete sub-rule (IV) of Rule 5 of GO Ms No. 66 dated Feb 25, 2006 issued by the same department on the procedure to be followed by the SIC.

The latest G O exempts the Public Information Officers (PIO) or Assistant Public Information Officers (APIO) appearing before the SIC while deciding appeal. RTI activists are of the view that the G O would preempt the authority of the SIC which should be free to summon the officers designated as PIOs/ APIOs to tender evidence and render help to the Commission.

The sub rule IV of rule 5 of the earlier G O NO 66 of 2006 says that ‘in deciding the appeal the Commission may- hear State  Public Information Officer, State Assistant Public Information Officer or such Senior Officer who decide the first appeal, or such person against whom the complaint is made, as the case may be’

The latest GO says that ‘In rule 5 of the said rules sub rule (IV) shall be omitted and sub rules (V) and (VI) shall be re-numbered as sub rules (IV) and (V) respectively’.   

“The amendment also preempts the authority of the SIC to summon the other officials of the government for evidence and, as such, it tends to vitiate the quasi-judicial process involved in the proceedings before the SIC. It runs counter to the public interest,” said retired senior bureaucrat and a known RTI activist, EAS Sarma.

He further said that the SIC may have to impose penalties on the PIOs/ APIOs and appellate authorities for failing to comply with the provisions of RTI Act. In such a case, unless the concerned officers are present before the SIC and put forward their respective arguments, any unilateral action on the part of the SIC may amount to violation of the principles of natural justice and therefore liable to be set aside by the courts.

“The amendment gives one the impression that the officers of the State government, especially the senior officials assume that they are above the RTI Act and are contemptuous of its reach and ambit. This is highly objectionable. In a way, it indicates the scant respect in which the officials hold the Act in general and the SIC in particular,” added Sarma.

Ayyanna Patrudu puts Desam in crisis

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Jan 20: The fire that was ignited in Vizag unit of Telugu Desam (TD) with the resignation of Ayyana Patrudu from the party’s politburo on Saturday refuses to die down. TD is now divided into two groups in the district. On Sunday there was a flurry of meetings by groups loyal to Patrudu and those owing allegiance to his arch rival Bandaru Satyanrayana Murthy.  Around 12 party ward members and secretaries of Gajuwaka including former district party secretary, Kona Tata Rao resigned from their party posts in support of Ayyana Patrudu.

Earlier a group of former TD corporators held an internal meeting at a private hotel and deplored Ayyana Patrudu resigning from the party post without discussing the issue with anyone. Another group from the west constituency committee in the evening held a meeting and expressed dissatisfaction at the party’s decision to suspend their leader Peela Srinivasa Rao without issuing a show cause notice or giving him any chance to give his version of the incident that took place on January 18 on the occasion of party founder NTR Vardhanthi.

“Its unfortunate that Peela Srinivas Rao was suspended without giving him any chance to depose. These kinds of acts by party central leadership would definitely send wrong signals to the cadres. We request the party leadership to rethink on the suspension and appoint a committee to inquire into what happened on January 18. In fact Peela Srinivasa Rao was not at the spot when scuffle took place in Pendurthy on the day of NTR death anniversary,” said former corporator, Seeram Pydi Raju.

Interestingly, another TD senior leader and party floor leader in legislative council, Dadi Veerabhadhra Rao issued a stern warning to the cadre saying groups in the party will not be tolerated and also told them not to go to media on the issue anymore.

He told reporters at the party office on Sunday afternoon that TD chief Chandrababu Naidu would very soon announce the names of two observers who are going to inquire into the January 18 incident.

He also added that Ayyana Patrudu’s resignation was not accepted by the party chief and he is still a party politburo member. Veerabhadra Rao on Sunday met Ayyana Patrudu at his residence in Narsipatnam and tried to convince him to withdraw his resignation.