information on greater hyderabad

Contents of Srikrishna Committee report

2011-01-10T03:30:00.000-08:00

(iii) the agitation for separation of Rayalaseema from Coastal Andhra may also start taking shape sooner than expected; (iv) even though water and irrigation issues can be handled by creating autonomous/semi-autonomous structures, the apprehensions of the people of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema will continue to be voiced; and (v) the impact on internal security situation with the anticipated growth of Naxalism and religious fundamentalism.

(c) The division of the State will also have serious implications outside Andhra Pradesh. It would not only give fillip to other similar demands but it will be for the first time, after the re-organisation of States, that a political demand for dividing a linguistically constituted State would have been conceded by the Union government with the creation of two Telugu speaking States. The issue requires a most calm and dispassionate consideration of the consequences. The matter should also be seen in the larger context of whether a region can be allowed to decide for itself what its political status should be, as that would only create a demand for a great number of small States resulting in problems of coordination and management.

(d) The economic dimension is also not to be lost sight of. The world over, there is a trend towards economic integration with economic blocs consisting of many smaller nations being formed in the interest of enhancing economic opportunities, markets and employment. It is normally believed that formation of smaller States contributes to pre-existing barriers to inter-State and intra-state trade and movement of goods and services. For example, a variety of local entry taxes and cess may impede free trade and enhance cost of business and increase prices of goods and services. There can also be local laws restraining physical movement of goods and services between neighbouring regions and between States. Such fears are very strong in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema and there is apprehension that Hyderabad city as a market destination and also a source of supply will be out of bounds on the creation of Telangana with Hyderabad as a separate State. Coastal Andhra would also lose a major market inherent in the huge population, business, and market concentration of the city of Hyderabad. On this count, division of Andhra Pradesh can only be a negative factor which would inhibit the economic growth of the newly formed States. Economically, the land locked region of Telangana may also lose out on access and opportunities to the eastern coastline which has a major port in Vishakhapatnam and many other sea ports.

With vast discoveries of oil and gas on the anvil and the resultant likely spurt in economic growth and employment in the Coastal region, an integrated economy is likely to benefit the people of both regions optimally rather than through separation by formation of Telangana State. However, the overall economic viability of Telangana with Hyderabad is projected to be stable and as a matter of fact the GDP of this State will be much larger than many other States in the country.

(e) The Committee is of the view that given the long history of the demand for a separate Telangana, the highly charged emotions at present and the likelihood of the agitation continuing in case the demand is not met (unless handled deftly, tactfully and firmly as discussed under option six), consideration has to be given to this option. The grievances of the people of Telangana, such as non-implementation of some of the key decisions included in the Gentlemen's Agreement (1956), certain amount of neglect in implementation of water and irrigation schemes, inadequate provision for education infrastructure (excluding Hyderabad), and the undue delay in the implementation of the Presidential Order on public employment etc., have contributed to the felt psyche of discrimination and domination, with the issue attaining an emotional pitch.

The continuing demand, therefore, for a separate Telangana, the Committee felt, has some merit and is not entirely unjustified. In case this option is exercised, the apprehensions of the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema people and others who have settled in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana with regard to their investments, properties, livelihood and employment, would need to be adequately addressed and confidence instilled that their safety and security would get the highest priority from the new dispensation. Considering all aspects, the Committee felt that while creation of a separate Telangana would satisfy a large majority of people from the region, it would also throw up several other serious problems as indicated above.

The implications for the other two regions also cannot be ignored. Therefore, after taking into account all the pros and cons, the Committee did not think it to be the most preferred, but the second best option.

Separation is recommended only in case it is unavoidable and if this decision can be reached amicably amongst all the three regions.

(vi) Keeping the State united by providing simultaneously certain definite Constitutional/Statutory measures for socio-economic development and political empowerment of Telangana region –creation of a statutorily empowered Telangana Regional Council

(a) In view of various considerations indicated earlier, the Committee is convinced that the development aspect was of utmost importance for the welfare of all the three regions and could best be addressed through a model that includes deeper and more extensive economic and political decentralisation. The Committee believes that overall it may not be necessary to have a duplication or multiplication of capitals, assemblies, ministries, courts, institutions and administrative infrastructure required by the other options. The Committee considers that unity is in the best interest of all the three regions of the State as internal partitions would not be conducive to providing sustainable solutions to the issues at hand. In this option, it is proposed to keep the State united and provide Constitutional/Statutory measures to address the core socio-economic concerns about development of Telangana region. This can be done through the establishment of a statutory and empowered Telangana Regional Council with adequate transfer of funds, functions and functionaries in keeping with the spirit of Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956. The Regional Council would provide a legislative consultative mechanism for the subjects to be dealt with by the Council. This would imply that if the State Legislature has to enact a law which impinges upon such subjects as are being dealt with by the Council then the matter would be referred to the Council for comments/suggestions. Likewise, if the Council forwards a resolution to the government for enacting certain legislation on the subjects within its domain, such a resolution shall be discussed in the Assembly for becoming a law.

In case of any difference of opinion between the Regional Council and the government/Assembly on such legislative issues, and such differences are bound to arise once in a while, an Apex Committee headed by the Governor with preferably an equal number of members from the two regions with the Governor having the casting vote may be constituted to resolve the matter. The suggested membership of this Apex Committee could be the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker, Chairman of the Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chairman of the Telangana Regional Council and an eminent, apolitical and respected Jurist who is well versed with Constitutional law and regional issues.

The suggested subjects that can be dealt with by the proposed Telangana Regional Council could be as follows: Planning & Economic Development, including preparation of development sub-plan (excluding area under HMDA) for the region as part of State Plan Water and Irrigation sector Education (primary and secondary); Skill development and vocational education Local Administration (PRIs and ULBs, other than HMDA) Public Health (up to district hospitals excluding medical colleges and speciality health care). The above list is only illustrative and other subjects having a bearing on the regional, social, economic and cultural aspects may also be considered for inclusion at the time of the constitution of the Council or whenever required.

The Chairman of the Regional Council should be an MLA enjoying the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister in the State government.

The Council will implement the sub-plan for Telangana region and for this purpose funds, functions and functionaries will be placed at the disposal of the Council. The Council will be served by its own Secretariat headed by an officer of the level of Additional Chief Secretary in the State who would report to the Chairman of the Council. The total membership of the Council which should essentially be from amongst the MLAs/MLCs should depend on the number of subjects transferred to the Council and its total work load. Some independent subject matter experts can be co-opted as non-voting members of the Council.

Likewise, the total number of officers and staff to be deputed to work in the Council Secretariat shall be determined by the number of subjects transferred and the work load keeping existing Government norms in view. The GFRs will continue to apply in the day-to-day functioning and for the expenditure to be incurred by the Council. However, any re-appropriation of sub-plan funds would only be done on the recommendation of the Regional Council. Other confidence building measures that need to be initiated include providing adequate political space to Telangana, such as the positions of Chie Minister or Deputy Chief Minister and other key ministerial portfolios. It would also be necessary that for confidence building, important meetings in Government of India particularly where allocation of development and other funds are discussed such as the ones chaired by the Finance Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and the Chairman of Finance Commission are attended by both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. The Committee is of the considered view that the momentum for a separate Telangana started picked up from the time the decisions incorporated in the Gentlemen's Agreement were not implemented. With the constitution of the proposed Statutory Council, these grievances would be taken care of. The united Andhra option is being suggested for continuing the development momentum of the three regions and keeping in mind the national perspective. With firm political and administrative management it should be possible to convey conviction to the people that this option would be in the best interest of all and would provide satisfaction to the maximum number of people in the State. It would also take care of the uncertainty over the future of Hyderabad as a bustling educational, industrial and IT hub/destination. For management of water and irrigation resources on an equitable basis, a technical body i.e. Water Management Board and an Irrigation Project Development Corporation in expanded role have been recommended. The above course of action should meet all the issues raised by Telangana people satisfactorily. The Committee expects that the first reaction to this option will be of a total rejection by some political leaders, other groups and organisations and a majority of people from Telangana region, since their long standing demand for a separate Telangana would not have been met. Although the model recommended is considered to be in the best interest of all the people of the State, some segments of Telangana population, such as students and unemployed youth (who have been promised lakhs of jobs), non-gazetted officers (who are anticipating accelerated promotions), lawyers and farmers etc. may not feel satisfied and may resort to violent agitations. It is possible that the MLAs/MLCs and MPs belonging to different parties in Telangana may be pressurised to resign in order to create a political crisis. It would indeed pose a serious challenge to the leadership to deal with this immediate backlash and the agitations which are likely to continue for a period of time. This aspect has been covered at some length in the chapter on law and order and internal security implications. It is, however, also our anticipation that once the empowerment model as also the advantages of the State staying united have been understood by the people it would be possible for the government to contain and control the agitational activities and take the State towards economic growth and progress. The other implication of the model proposed is that there could be similar demands for creation of such regional statutorily empowered councils in Rayalaseema, which as per our economic analysis is the most backward of the three regions, and in other backward sub-regions of the State like north coastal Andhra and the tribal areas on the northern border of the State and also in other similarly placed backward regions outside the State. However, it goes without saying that this option will receive a near unanimous acceptance by the people of Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and large segments of Hyderabad Metropolis. The Committee discussed all aspects of this option and while it acknowledges that there will be certain difficulties in its implementation, on balance, it found it the most workable option in the given circumstances and in the best interest of the social and economic welfare of the people of all the three regions. The core issue being one of socio-economic development and good governance, the Committee, keeping the national perspective in mind, is of the considered view that this option stands out as the best way forward.

This option, thus, suggests a model that carries forward the national goal of deepening and extending decentralisation and of sustaining inclusive growth. It is hoped that the model suggested here would be useful in addressing regional aspirations elsewhere in the country.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/07/stories/2011010766130900.htm

GHMC to add girth with another expansion

2010-10-21T03:19:00.001-07:00

Greater Hyderabad is all set to expand further with the proposed merger of 52 surrounding grampanchayats into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Once the merger happens, the corporation's jurisdiction will spread to about 800 square km (currently spread over 625 sq km), and will catch up with the other leading metros of the country.

Hyderabad is the sixth biggest city in India after Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. With the addition of these new areas, the city will emerge as a 'giant global player'.

While the government wants to merge the surrounding areas in Greater Hyderabad for all-round development and better infrastructure, especially grampanchayats like Shamshabad which houses the airport, GHMC officials fear the addition of more areas might drain the corporation financially. Now, GHMC gets a meagre revenue from the surrounding areas of the city, but has to pump in more funds for development.

The move to add the new areas comes even as the tenure of the elected bodies in the 52 gram panchayats would expire in August 2011. The government is mulling over various options to get these villages into GHMC fold. Sources in the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department told TOI that the state government is likely to issue a notification by the end of this year and begin the process of inviting suggestions and objections from people of those areas. By the time the process is completed, the term of the elected sarpanches would also end.
The state government also has another option before it whereby it can abolish the grampanchayats in the first quarter of next year and take up the process. However, officials are rooting for the first option to avoid legal wrangles. The Rangareddy district administration has already sent proposals a few months ago to merge 52 grampanchayats in 10 mandals surrounding the city to merge with Greater Hyderabad. Some of the to-be-merged areas include Shamshabad, Almasguda, Boduppal, Meerpet, Kokapet, Nizampet, Medchal, Badangpet, Bandlaguda zagir, Peerzadiguda, Poppalguda, Kompally, Gundla Pochampally, Satamarai, Utupally, Tondupally, Jillelaguda, Jalpally, Kothapet, Nadergul, Pahadisharief, Balapur, Sardarnagar, Peeramchervu, Bachupally, Doolapally, Bahadurpally, Pragatinagar, Injapur, Kuntlur, Manganur, Thattu Annaram, Rampally, Nagaram and Dammaiguda.

When Greater Hyderabad was created in 2007, the officials proposed to merge eight grampanchayats - Shamshabad, Satamrai, Jalpalli, Mamidipalli, Mankhla, Almasguda, Sardarnagar and Ravarala - along with 12 surrounding municipalities in RR district. The MA&UD department had also issued a notification, but the government dropped the idea as there were elected sarpanches for Shamshabad and Almasguda.

Telangana cloud on tech launch pad

2010-10-21T03:16:00.001-07:00

The Telangana agitation has rocked Andhra’s technology cradle, months after having hit its IT industry.

Over 26 per cent of the 1.8 lakh seats in the state’s 690-odd engineering colleges have had no takers, the drop fuelled by concerns among students and parents that bouts of unrest over the statehood demand are disrupting studies. At this time last year, only 3 per cent of the 1.5 lakh seats on offer then had gone unfilled.

The agitation, which has ebbed since peaking last December and in January this year, could pick up again with political parties, including statehood spearhead TRS, threatening to hit the streets if the Centre-appointed Sri Krishna Committee does not accept the demand in its report to be submitted by December.

“Uncertainty over whether they (prospective students) will be able to complete courses, threat to academic activity and the prospects of renewed violence have kept many of them, particularly those from other states, away,” said K.C. Reddy, former chairperson of the state higher education council that regulates admissions. The colleges draw a large number of students from the east, including Bengal, and the Northeast.

Only 95,000, or 54 per cent, of the 1.42 lakh students who cleared entrance tests took admission after the first round of counselling — pre-entry guidance to select courses and colleges — ended on Wednesday. That left 47,000 seats, or 46 per cent, vacant. Colleges fear the no-taker count will rise further after the second round of counselling.

Some of the vacancies also stem from the fact that there are 38 more colleges, and 30,000 extra seats, on offer than last year but the Telangana agitation remains the overriding concern among teachers and students. It does not help matters that the Telangana region, which includes Hyderabad, accounts for almost half of the state’s nearly 700 colleges. The rest are in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

“Even students from the Telangana area are choosing colleges in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra,” an education department official said.

But if the statehood spasms are a bane for Andhra, it seems to have come as a boon for its neighbours. Officials say many students have taken admission in engineering colleges in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The desperation for students — and the need to keep the coffers from going barren — has seen colleges dangling baits ranging from cheaper accommodation facilities, free transport and healthcare and special hostel feasts. Donations, a regular feature in many of the colleges with sums of Rs 5 lakh common, are being waved.

Also being promised are annual vacations in Bali Islands and Mauritius, though the expenses are likely to be worked into the fees. “Even offers of trips to Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok are common,” says Nirmala Goud, who joined an engineering college in Medak attracted by the prospect of a trip to the Bali Islands.

But there is also flip side to the hard-sell: agents and touts engaged by colleges to attract students are tampering with prospectuses to promise facilities and courses that the institutions do not have or can’t provide.

Telangana activists disrupt PET counselling again

2010-10-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

The counselling for Physical Education Teachers (PETs), being conducted at JNTU, Hyderabad, was disrupted for the second consecutive day with TRS activists preventing candidates from other regions from attending it. Over 200 students from different districts in the state had come to attend the counselling at the JNTU centre here on Monday.

The students, who came to attend the counselling, clashed with TRS activists and then staged a dharna in front of the counselling centre demanding that the officials resume counselling as soon as possible. Students from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions said that counselling should not be stopped to suit the demands of just one section of candidates.

Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education had cancelled the counselling on Sunday with over 300 TRS activists rampaging the counselling centre demanding 42 per cent reservation for candidates from Telangana region. The state council officials have not rescheduled the counselling yet.

Telangana TV on Jan 28 between 10:50-11:00 am

2010-01-25T03:22:00.000-08:00

Telangana TV will begin with Namasthe Telangana Bulleto on Jan 28 between 10:50-11:03 am

Gentlemens' agreement 1956

2010-01-25T03:18:00.000-08:00

Agreement text

1. There will be one legislature for the whole of Andhra Pradesh which will be the sole law making body for the entire state and there be one Governor for the State aided and advised by the Council of Ministers responsible to the State Assembly for the entire field of Administration.

2. For the more convenient transaction of the business of Government with regard to some specified matters the Telangana area will be treated as one region.

3. For the Telangana region there will be a Regional Standing Committee of the state assembly consisting of the members of the State Assembly belonging to that region including the Ministers from that region but not including the Chief Minister.

4. Legislation relating to specified matters will be referred to the Regional committee. In respect of specified matters proposals may also be made by the Regional Committee to the State Government for legislation or with regard to the question of general policy not involving any financial commitments other than expenditure of a routine and incidental character.

5. The advice tendered by the Regional Committee will normally be accepted by the Government and the State Legislature. In case of difference of opinion, reference will be made to the Governor whose decision will be binding.

6. The Regional Committee will deal with following matters:
--Development and economic planning within the framework of the general development plans formulated by the State Legislature.

--Local Self Government, that is to say, the Constitutional powers of Municipal Corporations, Improvement Trusts, District Boards and district authorities for the purpose of Local Self Government or Village Administration.

--Public health and sanitation, local hospitals and dispensaries.

--Primary and secondary education.

--Regulation of admission to the educational institutions in the telangana region.

--Prohibition— Sale of agricultural lands.

--Cottage and small scale Industries, and Agriculture, Cooperative Societies, Markets and Fairs. Unless revised by agreement earlier this arrangement will be reviewed after ten years.

7. Domicile Rules : A temporary provision be made to ensure that for a period of five years, Telangana is regarded as a unit as far as recruitment to subordinate services is concerned; posts borne on the cadre of these services may be reserved for being filled up by persons who satisfy the domicile conditions as prescribed under the existing Hyderabad Mulki Rules. ( 12 years of Stay in Telangana area)

8. Distribution of expenditure between Telangana and Andhra Regions--- Allocation of expenditure with the resources of the state is a matter which falls within the purview of the State Government and the State Legislature. . Since , however, it has been agreed to the representatives of Andhra and Telangana that the expenditure of the new state on central and general administration should be borne proportionately by the two regions and the balance of income should be reserved for expenditure on the development of Telangana area, it is open to the state government to act in accordance with the terms of agreement in making budgetary allocations. The Government of India propose to invite the attention of the Chief Minister of Andhra to this particular understanding and to express the hope that it will be implemented.

9. The existing educational facilities including Technical Education in Telangana should be secured to the students of Telangana and further improved---

10. The cabinet will consist of members in proportion of 60:40 percent for Andhra and Telangana respectively, out of 40 % of Telangana ministers, one will be a Muslim from Telangana. If the Chief Minister is from one region the other region should be given Dy Chief Ministership.

Signatories

Andhra region	Telangana Region
B. Gopal Reddy Chief Minister, Andhra State	B. Rama Krishna Rao Chief Minister, Hyderabad state
N. Sanjeeva Reddy	K.V. Ranga Reddy
G.Lachanna	M. Channa Reddy
Alluri Satyanarayana Raju	J.V. Narsing Rao

Telangana Today: Status paper

2010-01-03T22:01:00.000-08:00

The long-suppressed agony of Telangana people is finding expression once again in their aspirations for independent existence and separate identity. After the great betrayal of 1971, they have once again gathered strength to assert themselves; they prepared to stake their all for realization of their dream to be free from the bondage to the people of coastal Andhra.

No movement, no struggle has ever started from the top: from intellectuals, thinkers, political and other leaders, elected representatives and so on. Inevitably, the struggles begin from people - the people give expression to their suffering because it is they who are victims of status quo. The long-dormant hope in the people of Telangana was awakened with the announcement as statehood for Uttarakhand by the Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Within a year it has gathered so much strength that politicians, realizing its potential have jumped on to its bandwagon. Such disparate schools of thought as People's War Group and Bharatiya Janata Party have supported statehood for Telangana.

Why Telangana State?

Because successive governments and ruling political parties have not only neglected to develop Telangana but have systematically exploited it, denying its share of funds, grabbing its rich, fertile land, exploiting its mineral riches and impoverishing its people. Telangana people have been looked down upon, their language derided, their customs and traditions scorned at, their land grabbed, their houses snatched away. They have been discriminated against in recruitment and developmental programmes. In short, they were colonized in 1956 even as the country threw off colonial yoke.

Let us see a conscious, deliberate well-thought out and implemented conspiracy has worked against the interests of Telangana in the fields of education, irrigation, employment, industrialization, and allotment of funds and the region's share in income for its development. Even in cropping pattern is changing for the worse in Telangana, its traditional food crops being replaced with commercial crops with disastrous consequences.

Education

Elementary education is recognized as one of the fundamental human rights. And yet this human right has been denied to the people of Telangana: the region has the lowest literacy rate and minimal educational infrastructure in the state.

Andhra Pradesh, with a literacy rate of 44.09 percent ranks among the least literate state. It ranks 26th in the country out of 31 states and Union Territories. It is the most backward in the entire south. As many as eight districts of Telangana out of 10 (including Hyderabad) figure among the most backward educationally. Mahbubnagar has the least literacy rate, both among males(40.8 per cent) and females(18 percent). The entire Telangana, except Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy Urban areas which are Hyderabad, has lagged behind educationally. Not a single mandal of Telangana has the national literacy rate of 52.19 percent. Coastal Andhra districts account for 33 out of 45 rural mandals which exceeds the national literacy rate (the rest being Rayalaseema). The mandals with lowest literacy rate of less than 20 percent are more in Telangana, as a consequence: 35 such mandals are in Telangana, almost three times those in Coastal Andhra (14). There are only two such mandals in Rayalaseema. District-wise, Adilabad has most of these mandals (14), followed by Mahbubnagar (9), Medak (6), Khammam (3) and Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Nalgonda (one each).

Although Telangana accounts for half of the state's population, less than 25 percent of educational institutions from primary to college level are situated in the region. Only 15 percent of aided junior colleges are in Telangana while it has only two medical colleges. As many as six medical colleges are in the other areas. The region is discriminated in the field of technical education also. Only 26 out of the 72 government ITIs, 20 of the 91 polytechnic colleges are in Telangana. The gross injustice to Telangana can be seen from expenditure on education. Of the total expenditure of Rs 1150.2 crore the state has incurred on the aided degree colleges since 1956, coastal Andhra cornered the loin's share of 73.71 percent while Telangana got a paltry 10.43 percent. The corresponding share of the two regions in the expenditure incurred on the aided junior colleges is 62.71 percent and 9.45 percent, respectively. In this kind of lopsidedness, how can literacy spread? This is no accident; it cannot be especially since it has continued since 1956, and it pervades all type of education - school, college, professional and technical. This discrimination is deliberate, conscious and planned given its spread, the extent, and all-pervasiveness, it cannot be anything but a conspiracy against the people of Telangana.

Irrigation

Of the three regions of the state, Telangana has the largest area, with 11,48,000 sq km, followed by coastal Andhra with 9,28,000 sq km. The cultivable area is estimated at 64,02,358 hectares in Telangana and 46,33,304 hectares in the Coastal Andhra. But 13,12,795 hectares or 28.33 percent of the cultivable land in the Coastal Andhra is being irrigated under canal irrigation system, whereas 2,66,964 hectares or 4.17 percent of the cultivable land in Telangana is receiving canal waters. The entitlement of Telangana of waters of Krishna and Godavari rivers is 975 tmc. ft. In 1974, 800 tmc.ft water was allotted to AP by the Bachawat Award to Andhra Pradesh. A re-distribution of this in 1981 saw coastal Andhra getting the major share with 377.07 tmc, Telangana 266.783 tmc and Rayalaseema 123 tmc. Telangana's share in Godavari waters is 709 tmc.ft of the state's total allotment of 1,495 tmc.ft. Out of its total share 1153.50 tmc (from all sources) barely 380 tmc is used for irrigation.

The discrimination against Telangana stands out glaringly in the amounts spent by the state on irrigation. The amount spent in Telangana so far is Rs. 4005 crores while that spent in Coastal Andhra is Rs. 19,693.50 crores, nearly five times higher. In terms of percentage, while Telangana got a mere 15.5 percent, coastal Andhra got 76 percent. If the principle of expenditure proportionate to cultivable area were to be followed (as it should be), Telangana, with 44.28 percent cultivable area should have got an equivalent amount and coastal Andhra 32.04 percent. Instead, coastal Andhra got more than twice its share.

Since 1956 to date, the additional irrigation potential created in Telangana is only 5 percent since none of the planned irrigation projects have been completed although they were planned 30-40 years ago. The 12 projects sanctioned for Telangana at an estimated cost Rs. 5,449.53 crore to provide for 10.08 lakh hectares have been progressing at snail's pace for decades.

The Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) was started 1n 1963 and is yet to be completed. Even the first phase of the project was not completed after 33 years. The rehabilitation of the displaced people under this project is still pending. The Bheema project, which is older than Andhra Pradesh has remained on paper. Jurala, Icchampally too have languished. While experts and decision makers debate interminably and have still not decided on Srisailam Left Bank Canal (which is to irrigate about 3 lakhs hectares in Telangana), to supply water either through lift or tunnel. The Srisailam Right Bank Canal feeding the coastal districts progresses steadily. Even the 33 medium projects proposed in Telangana which could utilize 80 to 100 tmc of water at a cost Rs 500 crore have been kept pending. Compare this delay with alacrity attending on the Telugu Ganga project: it got funds allocated consistently year after year, within 12 years of its grounding, the project is supplying water to Chennai.

Even budgetary allocation are not fully spent on projects benefiting Telangana. For the Bheema lift irrigation scheme, the budgetary allocation was nine crore rupees in 1996-97, which was pruned to Rs 10 lakhs. Subsequently, only six lakh rupees were spent. On the SRSP, only six crore rupees were spent during 1996-97 against an allocation of Rs 25 crores. In 33 years only Rs 978 crores had been spent on SRSP. And yet Rs 1075 crores were spent on Telugu Ganga in 12 years.

Callous indifference and neglect of maintenance of tanks in Telangana has reduced the area under tank irrigation by half, an unprecedented occurrence. In 1956-57, 4,47 lakh hectares were under tank irrigation which has come down to 2.26 lakh hectares. This increasingly made Telangana farmers resort to exploiting groundwater which is suicidal for a semi-arid region. This dependence on pumpsets saw a great tragedy befall Telangana farmers early this year: as power supply was erratic, irregular and of low quality (low voltage), they incurred huge losses as other region suffered as much due to power scarcity as Telangana.

Power Situation

As irrigation projects for Telangana got bogged down in delays, cost-overruns, controversies, power generation projects too suffered. The Srisailam Left bank canal is one such project. Only 1543 mw of power is generated in this region whereas the generating capacity of the other two regions is 7477 mw. All power situations with the exception Ramagundam and Kothagudem are located outside Telangana, although Telangana accounts for a major share of power consumption and more than three-fourths of catchment area of Krishna and Godavari rivers is in Telangana. That the needs of Telangana are at the bottom of priorities of the government is evident from the fact as many as two lakh applications for new power connection is pending with the government. Yet, there is no plan to increase the power generating capacity in Telangana even as two lakh people wait in vain for a power connection.

Changing Crop Pattern

A dangerous and little-noticed development that threatens Telangana is the changing cropping pattern in the region with food crops giving away to cash crops. The change has been taking place over two decades now with food crops suitable for semi-arid regions giving way to water-intensive cash crops. Staple cereals such as jawar, maize and bajra preferred by local people, serving as food for them and fodder for their cattle have declined significantly in area. The area under jawar has come down from 13,63,169 hectares to 7,97,864 hectares during 1981-84 to 1990-93. Bajra declined from 1,94,981 hectares to 64,398 hectares and maize fell to 2,55,863 hectares from 3,17,098 hectares. Coarse cereals have been the major staple food for millions of people in the area and a shift from these crops needs to be understood in the context of the needs of the people most of whom continue to languish in poverty. Groundnut, castor, sunflower, cotton, chillies and sugarcane have witnessed considerable growth in cropped area. While sunflower registered 500 percent growth, it is more than 100 percent in case of cotton. Except for castor and groundnut, all other crops have entered the region quite recently.

While it may seem strange that the impoverished farmers of Telangana are opting for water-intensive cash crops in the place of rain-fed food crops, the fact is that this change has been brought about the migrant farmers and not the native ones. Settled in tracts irrigated by Nagarjunasagar and Sriransagar canals, these farmers who came to Telangana in 50s and 60s have adopted sugarcane, sunflower, chillies, cotton and groundnut since returns on them are higher than on traditional crops. Liberalization and opening of the market has come as god-sent opportunity to these farmers to make more money at he cost of the people of Telangana.

In Medak, where cotton has been introduced by the Coastal Andhra farmers on a wide scale, the people realized the dangers from it: it introduced new pests to the region and new diseases since the crop requires heavy doses of strong pesticides, and more important, the change in their dietary habits, from jawar and maize to rice had come with high undesirable price: insufficient nutrition to them and shortage of fodder for their cattle. Helped by NGO, the people have gone back to their traditional crops, which have provided them since time immemorial, food and fodder.

Another development as a result of this change is the rise of a merchant class in towns dealing in these inputs, a majority of whom are immigrants from coastal area. The cash-rich migrants beat the local entrepreneurs and farmers out of the market.

Employment in Government

The entire government and its various departments are dominated by people of Coastal Andhra. This pattern has been a blatant violation of agreement to share government jobs between Andhra and Telangana in the ratio of 2:1. Out of 14 lakh jobs in the government today(1997 figures), Telangana's share has been barely two lakhs and these too are in lower levels. Similarly, of the 531 judicial officers, only 92 belong to the region. Of the 22 judges in the state high court, there are only two representing Telangana. Moreover, no one from Telangana could become the advocate-general since the state was formed in 1956. On the educational front, of the 96,031 primary teachers, only 15,921 belong to Telangana. All the top and middle level jobs cornered by Andhra people: there's not a single secretary in the government today belonging to Telangana. Out of 140 heads of department in the government barring a handful, all are from Coastal Andhra. Public and private undertakings, autonomous bodies, corporations and universities have been made the monopoly of Andhras.

Rules have been twisted, manipulated or simply ignored to ensure government jobs went to those from coastal a Andhras and to keep out Telangana people. The present trend is to keep out the Telangana people even from the posts of peons, bus conductors and drivers. The new recruits are all brought over from coastal districts. This strategy has been adopted since 1956 despite agreements entered into, working out the procedure and share. For instance, in 1966, all of the 70,000 vacancies, of which 90 percent went to the people of Andhra.

The latest example is that of recruitment of more than 200 munisif magistrates, the highest post under direct recruitment. In course of time, they will become district and high court judges. Evidently, with an eye on capturing these crucial posts, the procedure has been changed, more centers of examinations opened in coastal Andhra towns, and it was ensured that an overwhelming majority of examiners chosen belong to Coastal Andhra: 50 of 55 judges-examiners were Andhras. The written examination was held on February 23, 1997. The results were predictable: 68 candidates (80 percent of them from Andhra region) passed from Hyderabad; Warangal ( the only center in Telangana) was only 15. Visakapatnam accounted for 85, Vijaywada 75 and Tirupati 47 successful candidates. Only 30 candidates out of 290 called for interview are from Telangana.

Industrial Development

Industrialization of Telangana has been restricted to the Hyderabad city and Ranga Reddy district due to their physical proximity to the seat of the government. Industries in other parts of Telangana did not take off other than those set up prior to 1956. Several industries in Telangana have been allowed to become sick with government refusing to help out to restore them. Today, more and more PSUs such as Allwyn Auto and Republic Forge, located in Telangana are being closed down by the government for various reason. Those threatened include Antargoan and Sirpur Sirsilk Mills. Others in the line for closure are Nizams Sugar factory, FCI at Godavarikhani and Miryalguda Sugar Mill.

According to data, a major chunk of the existing medium and major industrial units in Telangana are owned by people from coastal Andhra. Of the 10,0000 odd units located in Telangana, only 1250 units are owned by the native Telanganites. Coastal Andhra industrialists own 6000 units and the rest are owned by outsiders from different parts of the country. With regard to employment in these industrial units, only 23 percent belong to Telangana, the rest hail from the Coastal Andhra region.

Budget Allocation

In terms of budget allocations, the pattern is the same: denial, deprivation and diversion. Based on area and population, Telangana should get 39-44 percent of the state's budget allocations. But at no point did its allocation exceed 30 percent. Yet Telangana contributes 42 percent of revenue to the state exchequer. Besides, according to some reports, as much as Rs 5000 crores allocated to Telangana under various heads by successive state governments have been diverted to the coastal Andhra region in the past two decades. This is hardly unbelievable since diversion of all kinds of wealth and resources including Telangana's share of water, has become a regular practice. The plunder and exploitation of Telangana to benefit the coastal Andhra region and its people has been planned, constant and systematic.

The utter indifference of the officials toward Telangana can be seen from a recent occurrence. The Nizamsagar dam on Manjira river, built in 1931 was designed to irrigate 1.1 lakh hectares but enormous siltation over the years has reduced its ayacut by half. A satellite mapping has shown that all its major distributaries (83 in number) and minor distributaries (243) have been silted up as the canal bunds eroded. Nine gates of the dam meant for letting silt escape from the reservoir has been jammed for the past 20 years, reducing the capacity of the reservoir. Nothing has been done to rectify them. In 1992-93, the World bank lent Rs 30 crores for Nizamsagr through its Natural Water Program for remodeling the project. The government utilized only six crores rupees and the rest of the amount lapsed. The state government failed to get the loan revived. A high-powered committee went into question of finding funds for the project and submitted its recommendations in 1994. They have remained on the paper.

Similar is the situation of all major and minor irrigation sources all over Telangana. Breached bunds siltation, infestation by water hyacinth have slowly killed them in places, reduced their ayacut, forcing farmers to drill borewells and open wells as in Toopran mandal of Medak district. This has affected the water table in the region. Medak has as many as 1.2 lakh borewells, all dug in the last few years.

Diversion of resources from an area to another to benefit the latter is feature of colonizer. And this has been going for several decades. Water from Krishana and Godavari, coal from Singareni, limestone for cement factories owned by Andhra entrepreneurs, revenue from Telangana are all diverted to Coastal Andhra region, or Andhra businessmen and entrepreneurs of Andhra settlers in Telangana. The result has been the impoverishment of the people of Telangana, slow and tardy development of the region, oppression of the people by unemployment, discrimination and lack of opportunities.

Statehood is the only Answer to Telangana's Suffering

For hundreds of years, people from various parts of India made Telangana their home. There have never been any instance of intolerance of Telangana people towards them. To the credit of the immigrants, they too adopted the local culture, and contributed some their own to Telangana culture. However, the Andhras were a different category. They came, made their home and life in Telangana, and in a few years, assumed a superior, arrogant posture, looking down upon the Telangana people. Gradually, people who had come looking for opportunities, displaced the local people from every field. This brings to mind the pattern followed by European immigrants to the Americas and the English in India, in fact colonizers everywhere: they come as guests, stay as friends, turn occupiers, and overtime, shunt out the local people to reservations refusing them a place of respect in their dispensation, treating as a lower class citizens.

Case for Smaller States

Whether it is a case of state of Jharkhand or Telangana, the demand for a separate state is opposed mainly by those who have benefited from the exploitation of the disaffected people, just as colonizers everywhere. Several arguments have been put forth against the need, viability and purpose of Telangana. Most important, will Telangana become reality? And if it does, will it eradicate the problems of backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment?

Need for Telangana

For all the above reasons discussed above, Telangana has to separate. Another important reason is that the merger of the two regions in 1956 did not result in the merger of their hearts, nor have the last 40 years led to emotional integration. Quite to the contrary, in fact, because the economic inequality has grown, the developmental divide has become a chasm and the cultural differences have moved the two people further away. This is because over the last four decades, the relationship of two unequal partners deteriorated into one of oppressor - oppressed, exploiter - exploited. colonizer - colonized. The division has so greatly deepened that there's no going back.. history, attitudes, prejudices cannot be undone easily.

The common language, Telugu, has been devisive rather than unifying factor because that has been the major, most visible and universally experienced by Telangana people. They have been discriminated against, humiliated and ridiculed for the language they speak. If English language is the one dividing factor between English and American people, it is even more so between the people of Telangana and Coastal Andhra: they have been divided by a common language. This one factor rejects the premise of the state reorganization committee that language binds.

Can a backward region develop economically independently? Or does its future lie in a larger state? Experience of larger states like UP, MP and Bihar has shown that size impedes rather than promotes development - the backward remain backward; the administration is unwieldy, and the growth concentrated in pockets. The answer lies in smaller states where decentralization of administration is possible; developmental activities can be more focused in smaller areas; and people can be involved in the process of development, which is a major factor in giving a push to development. An example of how smaller, backward region can come into its own after separating from the more developed region can be seen in Harayana after breaking away from Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

Today in India, almost every large state is facing the demand from its backward, neglected, culturally different people to be recognized as different and given independent status and separate identity. Apart from Telangana, 11 regions are seeking statehood, and these are: Vidarbha (Maharastra), Saurastra(Gujarat), Chattisgarh(Madya Pradesh), Malwa, Bundelkhand( both comprising parts of MP and UP), Pancahl Pradesh (Western UP), Poorvanchal (Eastern UP), Uttarkhand (UP), Bodoland (Assam) Gorkhaland( West Bengal) and Jharkhand ( Bihar).

The size of the state cannot be a factor for its viability, as it is being argued by some. If that factor were top be applied, then Telangana should be considered first since there are at least five existing states that are smaller than Telangana. Telangana with 11.48 lakh square kilometers area, 107 Assembly and 14 Parliament constituencies with three crore population is larger than the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Hoimachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Another 49 assembly constituencies and nine parliament constituencies will be added to the present 107 assembly and 14 loka Sabha seats once the constituencies reorganized.

There is nothing sacrosanct about the 1956 merger that it has to be retained at the cost of the people of Telangana. The demand for separate state is neither undemocratic nor unconstitutional. In fact, by refusing to heed the genuine aspirations of the people, the rulers are being undemocratic. They are trying to supress the movement only to protect their own interests and hegemony over Telangana. The ceded districts of Madras Presidency - the Costal Andhra districts - put forth several reasons justfying their demand for separate state in the 1950s.They are extremely similar to those put forward by the people of Tlanga today: political and cultural domination by the Tamils; economic exploitation, discrimination in employment and education, uneven development of the land of the Telugus and jeopardy to the individuality and self-respect of the Telugu people.

The late K .Kaleshwara Rao, the first Speaker of the AP Legislative Assembly in his autobiography expanded on the perception of Andhras under Tamilians, that the latter had greater influence in the legislature, executive and judiciary and the Andhra district were neglected in industries, power, employment, education and economic development. "There are nine bridges across Cauvery but not even one on Krishna and Godavari…the pace of development of towns in Andhra area is no comparison to that of Tamil districts," he said. Supporting the movement for a separate Andhra state, an editorial in Andhra Patrika said, "If a separate state is formed, the very reason for Telugus' backwardness will disappear." If a separate state was an answer to Andhras' development in 1953, why can't a similar solution be adopted for Telangana in 1997?

Agenda for a Separate Telangana State

It is extremely important that if our efforts for a separate state are to succeed we have a clear vision of the future of its people. An agenda needs to be developed through a pooling of ideas, tasks prioritized, and plans outlined to tackle the major problems facing the people.

Blueprints would have to be drawn up for a social and economic development of the people. An action plan is necessary for the immediate tasks on hand, such as land reforms. This could be worked out to be completed within a time-frame to avoid the pitfalls of earlier well-meaning intentions that were hijacked by vested interests in free India.

Universal educational should be the first priority; special efforts should be made make access to education available to the Dalits, women and minorities. This task too should be achieved within a specific time-frame.

Other priorities should be safe drinking water in all villages, electricity and health for all. The rich mineral resources of Telangana, the fertile soil, massive irrigation potential and the hard-working nature of its people will help them to realize their dreams.

A word about the support PWG has extended to Telangana state.: it is welcome, as is all support, from within Telangana and outside. Given the political dominance and brute majority enjoyed by ruling Telugu Desam Party in the Assembly, given the control of the mass media by Coastal Andhra people, and given the threat a separate Telangana poses to the entrenched economic interests that have grown at the cost of Telangana people, any and all support is necessary to carry the struggle forward.

The statement of PWG that it will only support and not lead the agitation should lay to rest apprehensions of break out of violence, or that the struggle for Telangana would be hijacked by PWG. Solidarity and unity of all people, of all ideologies, of all persuasions is the need of the hour.

Another fear, perfectly justified, is that the support of PWG might be used by the state to suppress the Telangana movement. The government has found it convenient to blame PWG for the continuing backwardness of the region, for the agitation of the farmers against low voltage, and for many struggles taking place all over Telangana for justice. There is every danger of the government using the excuse of PWG support to Telangana to crackdown on the movement to suppress it. That is why the movement has to be democratic, peaceful and non-violent.

P.L.Vishweshwer Rao ,
(Professor, Osmania University)

Governor urged to take up Telangana issue with Centre

2010-01-03T21:59:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: The BJP has urged Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to apprise the Centre of the constitutional and administrative crises gripping the State and advise it to initiate the process for formation of Telangana State.

A delegation of BJP leaders comprising State unit president, Bandaru Dattatreya, former Union Minister Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and others, submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging him to suggest to the government to take steps for introducing a bill in Parliament in this regard. Requesting the Governor to understand Telangana movement in its historical and cultural entirety, the memorandum said the only way to end the present constitutional crisis was to announce a time-bound process for the formation of Telangana State. The BJP leaders demanded the withdrawal of cases foisted on Telangana agitators, students, JAC, BJP and ABVP workers since November 29 in consonance with the promise made by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

Chidambaram’s letter spells out agenda for Jan. 5 meeting

2010-01-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has stated in his letter to presidents of eight political parties that the January 5 meeting in New Delhi on the Telangana issue was aimed at deliberating the mechanism and laying down a road map for consultations.

Following is the text of his letter dated December 30: “You will recall that on December 23, 2009, I made a statement on behalf of the government that, on the demand for a separate State of Telangana, there was a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The government also assured the people that steps would be taken to involve all concerned in the process.

In order to deliberate on the mechanism and lay down a road map for the consultations, it is proposed to convene a meeting of the recognised political parties in Andhra Pradesh to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 10.30 a.m. I invite your party to kindly nominate two representatives to attend the meeting.”

Telangana: APCC chief to opt out of Delhi meet

2010-01-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president D. Srinivas is unlikely to be part of the two-member delegation representing the Congress at the meeting convened by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on January 5 on the Telangana issue.

Sources said he was willing to attend the crucial meeting if the Centre decides to invite the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister as well as the APCC chief.

But he is unlikely to be part of the delegation that will officially represent the Congress for fear of being branded as ‘pro-Telangana’ by leaders from the other region. The choice of the two Congress representatives itself is turning out to be a tough task for Mr. Srinivas as those not nominated may raise objections.

‘Let AICC decide’

He has, therefore, put the onus of identifying the party representatives on the AICC itself. “The high command alone will decide the two delegates,” Mr. Srinivas told The Hindu on Wednesday night.

“The names may be announced only a day prior to the January 5 meeting after seeing the representatives of other political parties. We want our representatives to effectively articulate their views and also counter criticism from our rivals,” a senior APCC functionary remarked.

‘WOW initiative’ launched

2009-05-08T23:23:00.000-07:00

HYDERABAD: The State Forest Department launched a ‘Wealth Out of Waste (WOW) initiative’ in collaboration with IT Bhadrachalam, to mark the World Earth Day on Wednesday.

The WOW programme envisages collection of office dry waste (paper, glass, plastic) and recycling it for producing paper boards. In return for the dry waste collected, the ITC would provide fresh paper, books, registers needed for office purpose to the Forest Department.

This initiative can also be replicated in residential colonies where the ITC would pay an amount of Rs.4 per kg of dry waste collected.

In collaboration with the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), the Forest Department also organised awareness camps on energy conservation for its ministerial staff, drivers and officers.

Ananth Kumar, Joint Director, PCRA and Mr. Venkatesham, Assistant Manager ITC, were the key resource persons. P. Raghuveer, Chief Conservator of Forests (Environment Cell) said an egroup had been created to work as a platform for all the enthusiastic environmentalists in the State. It is called APEC (Andhra Pradesh Environment Connect). Those interested in joining the APEC network may send their request by email to praghuveer84@gmail.com

DD Kendra Hyderabad website launched

2009-05-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

The Hyderabad Doordarshan Kendra has launched its own website, www.ddsaptagiri.tv. Viewers can send their suggestions/observations to director@ddsaptagiri.tv.

More MMTS trains between Secunderabad and Lingampalli

2009-01-08T05:53:00.002-08:00

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) has responded to the growing demands of running more local and MMTS trains in twin cities and is now operating six local and two MMTS trains between Secunderabad and Lingampalli from Saturday.

For the first time, SCR is introducing local trains between Secunderabad and Lingampalli and these trains would be operated in three trips. Accordingly, train no. DSL I, local train would depart Secunderabad daily at 8.50 a.m. and arrive Lingampalli at 9. 45 a.m. Another train, DSL-III would depart Secunderabad at 6.30 p.m. and arrive at Lingamapalli at 7.15 p.m.

In the return direction, train no. DLS-I would depart Lingampalli at 10.10 a.m. and arrive at Secunderabad at 11 a.m. and another train would depart Lingampalli at 6.30 p.m. and arrive Secunderabad at 8.15 p.m.

Similarly, the MMTS train no. SL-3 would depart Secunderabad at 12.30 noon and arrive Lingampalli at 1.10 p.m. In the return direction, LS-3 would depart Lingampalli at 2.30 p.m. and arrive at Secunderabad at 3.15.

MMTS Trains will not be operated on Sundays.

Nuclear plant to come up at Pulivendula

2009-01-08T05:53:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will soon sign an agreement with AP Genco by the end of this month to pave way for setting up a 2,000-MW capacity nuclear power plant at Pulivendula in Kadapa district proposed by the State government.

While the NPCIL will have 51 per cent stake in the project, AP Genco’s shareholding will be 49 per cent. This was announced by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in New Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Union Power Minister Jairam Ramesh.

An NPCIL team which visited Kadapa district recently, expressed satisfaction. The balancing reservoir Telugu Ganga project at Brahmamgari Mattam was shown as water source for the project.

The Pulivendula plant will be India’s first nuclear power project to be set up as a joint venture .

G. Vaman Rao, Director (Human Resources), AP Genco, who made a presentation before Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on the project after discussions with NPCIL official at Mumbai, told The Hindu that soil, seismic and other formal tests would be conducted for Pulivendula site shortly as required. He also said the project’s capacity might go higher if the NPCIL imported the reactors in preference to indigenous ones.

Silk Mark Expo-2009 opens today

2009-01-08T05:52:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: Silk lovers of the twin cities will now have an opportunity to lay hands on authentic silk products marked in assurance of their quality. Silk Mark Expo—2009, the five-day exhibition and sale of “100 per cent pure silk products” will be organised by the Silk Mark Organisation of India from January 8 to 12 at Sri Satya Sai Nigamagamam in Srinagar Colony.

Sharing the details at a press conference, T. D. Koshy, Deputy Director of the five-year-old organisation said that this was the first such exhibition to be organised in the city. “Six out of ten silk consumers are taken for ride by the producers who either mix other yarn or sell look-alikes. Silk Mark strives towards assuring that the consumer gets quality silk products,” Mr.Koshy said.

The organisation stamps the purest silk of authorised producers with the ‘Silk Mark’ label. All varieties of silk such as Mulberry, Tussar, Eri, and Mooga will be on display. “There will be 42 participants from 12 States. In all, 47 stalls will be set up at the expo,” said Mr. Koshy.

All the products to be displayed will be of 100 per cent pure silk, and will have Silk Mark label, he said.

Those sceptical about the quality may get it checked at the ‘Fee check counter’ at the expo.

Vigilance probe into entertainment tax evasion by film exhibitors

2009-01-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

HYDERABAD: The Vigilance and Enforcement authorities have begun a State-wide probe into entertainment tax evasion by cinema exhibitors.

This follows detection of a ‘large-scale evasion’ by the exhibitors in city falsely claiming exemption on certain categories of films.

The department’s officers have been tasked to verify similar claims, as several crores might have been evaded, official sources told The Hindu. The government had exempted certain percentage of ET, depending on local area, from the total amount payable and issued an order, revising the rates, on April 22, 2008, in the light of the Supreme Court judgement in Ashirwad Films case.

According to sources, in the city municipal limits, an exemption of five per cent was allowed on the rate payable (20 p.c.) for exhibiting high-budget films produced in the State.

Likewise, 13 p.c. exemption was given for low-budget films produced in the State and seven per cent on movies which were five years old or more or a repeat run of such films. To claim exemption, an exhibitor had to submit a certified copy of the affidavit of the producer of a feature film or a low-budget film along with the certificate issued by the AP Film Development Corporation, whether it was produced in Andhra Pradesh or was a low-budget film.

Verification of year-long records of 22 theatres here by the Vigilance sleuths up to September 2008 showed that exhibitors had not submitted certificates from AP Film Development Corporation and failed to comply with stipulated condition.The sources said in the absence of certificates, it could not be verified whether the film screened was a low-budget one or produced in the State, resulting in irregular claims and short realisation of tax of Rs. One crore. The department has sent an alert note to the Principal Secretary (Revenue) to instruct the Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, to take steps to realise the evaded tax.

BRAOU MBA results

2009-01-08T05:50:00.002-08:00

The D.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) announced the results of annual examinations of its MBA programme here on Wednesday.

Results of the first, second and third years can be viewed on the university website: www.braou.ac.in and marks memos will be sent to the students soon, stated a press release from the university.

Rajiv Gandhi cricket tourney begins

2009-01-08T05:50:00.001-08:00

VIZIANAGARAM: Minister for Housing Botcha Satyanarayana said the objective of conducting Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Tournaments with the active participation of Congress cadres from each Assembly constituency was to create awareness among people on government welfare schemes. Speaking at the inaugural function of the tournament at M.R. College grounds here on Wednesday, the Minister called upon the party cadres to popularise the schemes with the same team spirit in rural areas and help the party win ensuing elections. MLA K. Veerabhadra Swamy said the Youth Congress planned the sports event and it was the responsibility of the youth to strengthen the Congress at the grassroot-level.

District Youth Congress president I. Raghu Raju said the tournament would be conducted till Jan. 14. Earlier, the participants carried placards displaying names of government welfare schemes. The tournament is being conducted on knock-out basis.

CB-CID to probe Satyam fraud

2009-01-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday termed the massive financial fraud unveiled in Satyam Computers “mind-boggling” and said his government had ordered a CB-CID preliminary inquiry.

“The total figures are really mind-boggling and as per the statement of Satyam CEO Ramalinga Raju [who has since resigned] the accounts were fudged. We will ask the CB-CID to hold an immediate preliminary inquiry to look at the criminal angle into the entire episode,” Dr. Reddy told a news conference here. Further action would be taken on the basis of this report.

Asked why Mr. Raju could not be arrested in the wake of his own statement, Dr. Reddy said: “That is what I am trying to tell [you]. We will take every possible step. Whatever is needed will be done.”
“Different entities”

The Chief Minister said he would ask his officials to look into various problems and issues concerning this episode. Observing that Satyam and Maytas were two different entities, he said that while Mr. Raju owned very little stake in Satyam, the company employed over 53,000 people and the government would have to look into every aspect.

The Chief Minister said the Hyderabad Metro Project and the Machilipatnam Port Project had been awarded to Maytas. “I have asked the Chief Secretary to look into all aspects related to the metro project. We will decide on it later. Protecting the job security of thousands of young professionals working in the company is of prime importance. Everything that needs to be done to protect the careers and shareholders’ investments would be done.”
“No clean chit”

To a question, Dr. Reddy said he never gave a good certificate to Satyam. “I only said that the attempt of Satyam to take over Maytas was an issue between those two companies and the State government had no role. ”

Cultural programmes usher in New Year

2009-01-02T05:06:00.001-08:00

SANGAREDDY: The district officials blessed the students for to excel and put their best efforts forward in the New Year and extended warm greetings to them. New Year celebrations were held on Wednesday at the Boys Hostel premises.

Around 1,000 students from BC, SC, and ST hostels attended the programme. Cultural programmes were also arranged to enthral them.

The programme was organised by BC Welfare Department.

Collector Peeyush Kumar, Superintendent of Police Mohd. Iqbal, Joint Collector Ram Shankar Naik, district revenue officer B.S.V.V.S. Murthy and others participated in the programme.

On Thursday, the staff of UCO Bank organised a programme at the Sabita Deaf and Dumb Students’ Hostel in the town.

They distributed pens and sweets to the students. Branch manager Swami Rao, B. Kiran Babu, G.V.S.S. Sai Ram and others participated.

Orders on remission of stamp duty issued

2009-01-02T05:05:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: The Government Order providing a two-year concession of 5 per cent remission on stamp duty for flats/ apartments admeasuring 1200 square feet and below used for residential purposes was issued on Thursday.

Starting from Thursday, the remission is applicable to all flats/ apartments, including semi-finished structures having plinth area of 1200 square feet and below, including common area excluded for parking. It is applicable to all flats where there are five or more tenements in any apartments/buildings subject to approval of the building plan by the competent authorities, according to the guidelines for implementation of the concession.

The guidelines issued for the guidance of registering officers stated that the concession is not applicable to independent houses and flats/apartments having less than five units. It is also not applicable to apartments/flats/shops used for commercial or purposes other than residential.

The concession is applicable for one-time registration and only on Stamp Duty. The Transfer Duty and registration fees will continue to be levied at the existing rates.

It must be ensured that full flat is registered and no portion of the flat shall be allowed to be registered. For this purpose, the boundaries of the flat must be thoroughly verified.

The concession will be available till December 31, 2010.

Magician chases record

2009-01-02T05:03:00.002-08:00

HYDERABAD: Nowadays a safe passage is not assured even if one were to drive vehicle keeping eyes wide open. Mistake from either side can lead to an accident. How it would be if one sets to travel thousands of kilometres by riding a bike blindfolded?

T. Vijayakanth, an upcoming magician from the city, exactly set forward for such an exciting escapade. He will travel 3,330 km, covering 23 districts of the State, in 17 days on a blindfold ride. Objective of the trip, he said, was to spread message on HIV/AIDS and terrorism.

The expedition of Mr.Vijayakanth and his 15-member support crew was flagged off by the Project Director, A.P. State Aids Control Society (APSACS), R.V. Chandravadan and personality development coach B.V.Pattabhiram here on Thursday.

The trip is being organised by Rotary Club of Secunderabad Silver-Line in association with APSACS and TVS Motors Ltd.

Mr. Chandravadan said the decision of the young magician was timely as there was a need to create awareness among people on HIV/AIDS and terrorism. Mr. Vijayakanth, a final year student of M.A.Theatre Arts at Nizam College, also aimed at breaking the previous Guinness Book Record created by magician Samala Venu by travelling 3,186 km on bike blindfolded in 1991. Mr.Vijayakanth said he was confident about the success of his trip. He will pass through 66 cities and towns and return to Hyderabad on January 17.

SMSes ring in the New Year

2009-01-02T05:03:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: Hyderabadis have nearly pushed the GSM and CDMA mobile communication systems to the brink of a collapse, as they thumbed a mind-boggling 15 crore short messages on their mobile phones while ushering in the New Year.
Messages

While the youngsters adeptly thumb-texted wacky messages, the elders too were not left behind though using the ‘hunt-and-peck’ typing system on a majority of the 60 lakh mobile phones in the State capital. As the messages reduced to zeros and ones in the cyber world, zigzagged their way through to the recipient mobile phones, the telecom operators must have been the happiest lot.

But all is not hunky dory with the SMS greetings. Most of the mobile phone users were still getting their messages delivered till late in the evening on January 1 too, as the overloaded systems put the incoming SMSs on the queue and began transmitting them later. “This delay is acute on festival days or on occasions like new year eve. It’s happening on normal days too,” complains Amrita. C, a bank employee.

Mobile phone firms say they are taking measures to tackle the delay.

“Routing, capacity enhancement along with a complete action plan are taken up by the network teams to check the delays. The whole effort is to check network jamming,” says Elango Thambiah, COO of AirTel (AP Circle).

“Messaging has almost replaced greeting cards as every other person uses a mobile phone now. During normal days, about 1.5 crore messages are sent in the city and these numbers grow ten fold during festivals and other significant occasions,” says T. Hanuman Chowdary, Director of Centre for Telecommunications Management and Studies.

The comfort of sending an SMS rather than making a call seems to have got people hooked on to it. Be it the discreet factor, or just getting the word across without having to talk, the message sent is loud and clear.

“It’s a better way of not disturbing people but still getting your message across. Sometimes, one may be in a meeting or asleep, so sending a message is always better,” says Jenny D’Souza, a senior executive from a software company.

Satyagraha marks ‘Telangana 100’ launch

2009-01-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

HYDERABAD: The State BJP kicked off ‘Telangana 100’ campaign on Thursday by organising a satyagraha at Koti, in which 100 leaders participated, including party president, Bandaru Dattatreya, who gave a call to the people of the region to wipe out Congress in the coming elections.

The campaign was aimed at highlighting the promise made by former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani that the process of carving out Telangana State would begin in 100 days with the introduction of a bill in Parliament if NDA returned to power at the Centre.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Dattatreya said the people of Telangana were deceived time and again.

He accused the Congress and TRS of betraying the people after coming to power on the plank of a separate State in 2004.

If the same attitude continued, Congress would be ‘buried’ in Telangana and meet a similar fate in Andhra too.

Although the Telugu Desam Party had changed its stand in favour of Telangana and various parties were trying to strike alliances, only a national party like the BJP would be able to deliver a separate State.

He criticised Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for allotting only Rs. 200 crore for Pranahita-Chevella project while the total cost was estimated at Rs.30,000 crore.

Party’s Telangana Udyama Committee chairman, Ch.Vidyasagar Rao said the ‘Telangana 100’ campaign was taken up to make other parties ponder on the issue and recalled how all political organisations, including the Left, had observed Hyderabad Liberation Day on September 17 after the BJP began highlighting it.

He said the campaign was also meant to remind the people of the history of the region, including the armed struggle against the autocratic rule of Nizam and the sacrifices made by several people.

Singareni Collieries to make Rs. 300-crore profit

2009-01-02T04:59:00.000-08:00

HYDERABAD: The Singareni Collieries Company Limited, a leading public sector coal mining company, is all set to register profit close to Rs. 300 crore by the end of the current financial year.

The company, which made a turn around after reporting losses till few years ago, budgeted profits to the tune of Rs. 360 crore during the current year. But, the economic slowdown and decline in demand from ferro alloys, sponge iron, paper and other sectors are likely to have an adverse impact on the company’s profits. SCCL Chairman and Managing Director S.Narsing Rao told reporters here on Thursday that the e-auction of coal fetched the company Rs. 204 crore over and above the normal price while it was also earning revenues through consultancy and other services.

The company achieved record production of 32.65 million tonne (MT) upto the end of the third quarter against the targeted 30.36 million tonne with growth pegged at 8.5 per cent.

It achieved an all time record in dispatching 32.35 MT of which 73 per cent went to power sector, with coal supplies to power stations owned by National Thermal Power Corporation and AP Power Generation Corporation crossing the 100 per cent mark. The SCCL was likely to achieve production of 43.6 MT by the end of the current fiscal and was planning to set a target of 50.4 MT for the next financial year. The calendar year was a “near strike free year” for the company and the SCCL set a record of 20 strike free months from December 2006 to July 2008.

The SCCL’s proposal for setting up a 600 MW merchant power plant at Jaipur mandal of Adilabad district was pending approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and the first phase of the Rs. 2,960 crore plant was likely to be operational in 36 months once the permission was accorded.
No privatisation

Replying to queries, he said there were no plans for privatisation of SCCL, but the company was outsourcing a part of works to other agencies. He lamented that the SCCL could not achieve the “best on safety front” with 12 accidents involving 13 fatalities during the year.