DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Telugu Desam supremo N Chandrababu Naidu is a much more beleaguered man now as two more of his party MPs have ditched him.
Despite making some new friends in UP Chief Minister Mayawati and former Union minister Ajit Singh and reviving old friendship with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda at the national level, Naidu is increasingly losing his own party leaders in what appears to be a calculated exodus from the TDP.
The signs are clearly turning out to be ominous for the once-king-maker who is fast losing ground on the home turf.
The trust vote in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday added two fresh candidates to the growing list of TDP deserters -- Chittoor MP D K Adikesavulu Naidu and Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannatham.
Both the TDP MPs -- out of the party's total five -- supported the United Progressive Alliance government as they "support the nuclear deal."
Adikesavulu Naidu and Jagannatham are expected to join the Chiranjeevi bandwagon later. Tuesday started with widespread speculation in New Delhi that Adikesavulu Naidu -- known as an "all-party man" -- will defy the TDP whip and vote in favour of the confidence motion. Jagannatham, however, turned out to be a surprise element in the eleventh hour. Chandrababu Naidu, with whom Adikesavulu Naidu has a very strong relationship, was closeted in a meeting with the latter and tried to prevail upon him not to go against the party at a time when they were trying to a build a political front at the national level.
Adikesavulu, however, was apparently not willing to buy anything and, as speculated, wanted to vot for the Manmohan Singh government. A technical glitch, however, rendered his vote invalid though Adikesavulu informed Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that he supported the confidence motion.
A known liquor baron, Adikesavulu Naidu earlier served as the treasurer of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee when Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was its president. He unsuccessfully contested the Chittoor Lok Sabha seat in 1996. In 2003, Chandrababu Naidu made him the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman upon joining the TDP. In 2004 he won the Chittoor Lok Sabha on the TDP ticket.
Following the delimitation of constituencies, Chittoor has now become a reserved segment, forcing Adikesavulu to look for an alternative. Indications are that he will contest on behalf of Chiranjeevi's party from Rajampet constituency in Kadapa district, which covers some Assembly segments that are currently in Chittoor district.
Jagannatham is a Madiga leader from Mahbubnagar district and served as a state minister earlier.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
JULY BLUES for TDP
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam Party may now have to treat July as an inauspicious month as far as its national politics are concerned.
Everybody knows that August is generally considered ominous for the Yellow brigade in Andhra Pradesh, going by the TDP's history. A small piece of history, coupled with the latest happenings, would drive one to infer that July certainly doesn't bode well for the party at the national level.
It was in July way back in 1993 that the TDP Parliamentary Party witnessed a major split with six out of 13 Lok Sabha members, led by the then Narsapur MP Bhupatiraju Vijaya Kumar Raju, defied the party to charter their own path. It was the no-confidence motion against the P V Narasimha Rao government and the TDP members were supposed to vote for it. However, following a request made by none other than P V himself, Bhupatiraju convinced five of his fellow party MPs to vote against the no-confidence motion. MPs K V R Choudary (Rajahmundry), Thota Subba Rao (Kakinada), K P Reddaiah Yadav (Machilipatnam), Indrakaren Reddy (Adilabad) and Ganga Reddy (Nizamabad) obliged and faced the axe from TDP.
History seemed to have repeated on Tuesday for the party when two out of its five MPs in Lok Sabha openly violated the party diktat and voted in support of the confidence motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
This has indeed come as a rude shock for the TDP at a time when its supremo is trying to cobble a coalition of non-Congress and non-BJP parties at the national level.
Now, what course will Naidu take is the question that's haunting the partymen.
Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam Party may now have to treat July as an inauspicious month as far as its national politics are concerned.
Everybody knows that August is generally considered ominous for the Yellow brigade in Andhra Pradesh, going by the TDP's history. A small piece of history, coupled with the latest happenings, would drive one to infer that July certainly doesn't bode well for the party at the national level.
It was in July way back in 1993 that the TDP Parliamentary Party witnessed a major split with six out of 13 Lok Sabha members, led by the then Narsapur MP Bhupatiraju Vijaya Kumar Raju, defied the party to charter their own path. It was the no-confidence motion against the P V Narasimha Rao government and the TDP members were supposed to vote for it. However, following a request made by none other than P V himself, Bhupatiraju convinced five of his fellow party MPs to vote against the no-confidence motion. MPs K V R Choudary (Rajahmundry), Thota Subba Rao (Kakinada), K P Reddaiah Yadav (Machilipatnam), Indrakaren Reddy (Adilabad) and Ganga Reddy (Nizamabad) obliged and faced the axe from TDP.
History seemed to have repeated on Tuesday for the party when two out of its five MPs in Lok Sabha openly violated the party diktat and voted in support of the confidence motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
This has indeed come as a rude shock for the TDP at a time when its supremo is trying to cobble a coalition of non-Congress and non-BJP parties at the national level.
Now, what course will Naidu take is the question that's haunting the partymen.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Air Pollution: From menacing to alarming
The 'air' we breathe!DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: There is nothing new in saying that the air we breathe is polluted.
From menacing to alarming, air pollution levels are fast zooming up in urban areas in Andhra Pradesh, threatening to adversely affect the people indiscriminately.
Vehicles of all kinds are the single largest source contributing to 50 per cent of the total air pollution in urban areas while the dust on roads is the next biggest culprit with 25 per cent contribution. Burning of refuge and vegetation is resulting in 15 per cent of air pollution while the industry is adding up to the balance 10 per cent.
Take the case of the state capital Hyderabad. The number of vehicles in twin cities has shot up from 10.91 lakh in 2001 to 18.47 lakh by the end of 2007 (in twin cities alone). Add another 7.94 lakh vehicles registered in surrounding Ranga Reddy district, the total number of vehicles adds up to 26,42, 337 i n Greater Hyderabad region. If the vehicles registered in other districts (used by migrants) and plying on city roads is also taken into account, the number crosses 27 lakh. Between 2006 and 2007, the total number of vehicles in Hyderabad increased by 1,66,129 with cars\jeeps rising by 33,986 and two-wheelers by 1,16,511. Now, as many as 2,61,850 cars and 13,81,861 two-wheelers in all are being used in the twin cities.
"On an average, 600 new vehicles are adding up to these numbers every day," a senior transport official pointed out. This has been causing the air pollution levels to shoot up day by day -- way above the standard levels. For example, the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) should be 200 milligram per cubic metre but the average value being recorded in the twin cities is 280 milligram per cubic metre with heavy traffic junctions like Panjagutta, Charminar, Paradise Circle and Abids recording a staggering 300-400 on any given day.
RTC city buses, the Setwin services, cabs, Aero Express buses being run by the Hyderabad International Airport and autos are found to be causing the most pollution. Fuel adulteration has become rampant these days with the hike in prices of petrol and diesel and also due to shortage of diesel. Thus cabs and autos could be found emitting unbearable smoke. But neither the traffic police, the transport authorities nor the civil supplies department seem to be taking any action to check this.
Port city Visakhapatnam used to be relatively free from air pollution, particularly that caused by vehicles, but of late it too has been "catching up," thanks to the growing number of vehicles.
"But the scene in Vizag has not still been beyond the critical limit," a senior official of the AP Pollution Control Board said. While the TSPM levels in Vizag are just below the standard level, they seem to be rising in certain pockets like Police Barracks, Mindi, Gnanapuram and Seetammadhara.
A study conducted by the AP Pollution Control Board in the state revealed that the air pollution levels (TSPM) have been steadily rising in major towns like Vijayawada, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Kadapa, Vizianagaram and Warangal. The levels, however, fell below the standard mark in Tirupati, Khammam and Nizamabad after showing an upward trend for a few years.
"The level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which is indeed more dangerous than the TSPM, has been steadily increasing, causing concern to one and all. Just a few towns like Tirupati, Khammam, Kadapa and Warangal have low RSPM levels while all other cities are clearly in the danger zone," the APPCB official pointed out.
From menacing to alarming, air pollution levels are fast zooming up in urban areas in Andhra Pradesh, threatening to adversely affect the people indiscriminately.
Vehicles of all kinds are the single largest source contributing to 50 per cent of the total air pollution in urban areas while the dust on roads is the next biggest culprit with 25 per cent contribution. Burning of refuge and vegetation is resulting in 15 per cent of air pollution while the industry is adding up to the balance 10 per cent.
Take the case of the state capital Hyderabad. The number of vehicles in twin cities has shot up from 10.91 lakh in 2001 to 18.47 lakh by the end of 2007 (in twin cities alone). Add another 7.94 lakh vehicles registered in surrounding Ranga Reddy district, the total number of vehicles adds up to 26,42, 337 i n Greater Hyderabad region. If the vehicles registered in other districts (used by migrants) and plying on city roads is also taken into account, the number crosses 27 lakh. Between 2006 and 2007, the total number of vehicles in Hyderabad increased by 1,66,129 with cars\jeeps rising by 33,986 and two-wheelers by 1,16,511. Now, as many as 2,61,850 cars and 13,81,861 two-wheelers in all are being used in the twin cities.
"On an average, 600 new vehicles are adding up to these numbers every day," a senior transport official pointed out. This has been causing the air pollution levels to shoot up day by day -- way above the standard levels. For example, the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) should be 200 milligram per cubic metre but the average value being recorded in the twin cities is 280 milligram per cubic metre with heavy traffic junctions like Panjagutta, Charminar, Paradise Circle and Abids recording a staggering 300-400 on any given day.
RTC city buses, the Setwin services, cabs, Aero Express buses being run by the Hyderabad International Airport and autos are found to be causing the most pollution. Fuel adulteration has become rampant these days with the hike in prices of petrol and diesel and also due to shortage of diesel. Thus cabs and autos could be found emitting unbearable smoke. But neither the traffic police, the transport authorities nor the civil supplies department seem to be taking any action to check this.
Port city Visakhapatnam used to be relatively free from air pollution, particularly that caused by vehicles, but of late it too has been "catching up," thanks to the growing number of vehicles.
"But the scene in Vizag has not still been beyond the critical limit," a senior official of the AP Pollution Control Board said. While the TSPM levels in Vizag are just below the standard level, they seem to be rising in certain pockets like Police Barracks, Mindi, Gnanapuram and Seetammadhara.
A study conducted by the AP Pollution Control Board in the state revealed that the air pollution levels (TSPM) have been steadily rising in major towns like Vijayawada, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Kadapa, Vizianagaram and Warangal. The levels, however, fell below the standard mark in Tirupati, Khammam and Nizamabad after showing an upward trend for a few years.
"The level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which is indeed more dangerous than the TSPM, has been steadily increasing, causing concern to one and all. Just a few towns like Tirupati, Khammam, Kadapa and Warangal have low RSPM levels while all other cities are clearly in the danger zone," the APPCB official pointed out.
The state government prepared an action plan, on the directions of the Supreme Court, for "lowering air pollution" in Hyderabad and constituted the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to monitor its implementation.
A high-level co-ordination committee comprising the AP Pollution Control Board member-secretary, additional commissioner of police (traffic), civil supplies commissioner, transport commissioner and co-ordinator of oil companies meets "as and when required" to monitor the pollution control action plan. The emphasis of the action plan is to promote public transport and curtail the number of private vehicles which is not only causing pollution but also chaos on roads.
"Only 40 per cent of people in the state capital now use public transport. We want to increase it to 60-70 per cent so that use of private vehicles can be restricted and pollution curbed," APPCB member-secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari said. Besides, the APSRTC has been asked to increase more number of city buses that meet the Euro-III environment norms.
Though the RTC has plans to introduce buses that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the delay in completion of CNG pipeline work from Vijayawada is proving a major impediment. Official sources said the RTC as well as the Bhagyanagar Gas Limited, supplier of CNG, are working on pricing, the quantum of fuel that would be made available and related issues. "We hope to get CNG at least before the end of this year so that we can press the eco-friendly buses into operation. We already have such buses running in Vijayawada," an executive director of RTC said.
If indeed the CNG buses hit Hyderabad roads, they will certainly bring at least some relief to the harassed road-users.
Monday, July 21, 2008
'Chinna Sir' gives a power shock to Malaysian
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO) is busy these days desperately trying to trace the address of a Malaysian power producer who came calling to set up a thermal power station in the state.
The Malaysian power producer first met Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy early this year for giving a brief about his plans. "I am ready to set up a 2000-MW thermal power plant near any upcoming port in Andhra Pradesh. I have an investment of 600 million dollars ready and have coal mines in Indonesia, from where I shall import the coal by sea. I don't need any other assistance from the AP government except land for setting up the power plant," the Malaysian told the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister was impressed but insisted that the Malaysian not press for any power purchase agreement with the state and could sell the power anywhere else. The Malaysian agreed to this and said he has no problems on this count as the Power Trading Corporation of India was ready to buy electricity from him. Having heard the plans, the Chief Minister promptly asked the power producer to meet the "Chinna sir" (junior sir), as is customary. (Now, everybody knows who this Chinna sir is and the authority he wields in the current dispensation).
Accordingly, the Malaysian approached the "Chinna sir" with his project proposals. "Since a new port is coming up at Krishnapatnam, I would like to set up the power plant in its vicinity," the Malaysian told the Chinna sir. "No way," the Chinna sir made it clear, as two major power plants were already proposed at the same location.
The Malaysian then bargained for Visakhapatnam or Machilipatnam, where too another port is being developed. The Chinna sir was "not impressed" and negated these proposals. By then the government had already approved a plan for power plant at Machilipatnam, under the aegis of a ruling party MP.
Later, the power producer approached the Chief Minister once again to apprise him of the situation and seek an alternative location. Rajasekhara Reddy, however, did not show any interest and asked the Malaysian to meet the 'Chinna sir' again.
Distraught, the Malaysian gave up his plans and went away.
All this happened more than six months ago when the power scenario in the state was not alarming as it has been now. But, with the situation going out of hand, the government has become desperate and started looking at all avenues to boost the power generation. Hence, the search for new power producers, particularly the ones who come with no "liabilities" like the compulsory power purchase agreement.
"We never really took any details from the Malaysian man though he met the Chief Minister a couple of times. Ironically, we don't even know his name to get in touch again," a senior official in the CMO lamented.
Even Google hasn't been of much help to the CMO authorities!
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO) is busy these days desperately trying to trace the address of a Malaysian power producer who came calling to set up a thermal power station in the state.
The Malaysian power producer first met Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy early this year for giving a brief about his plans. "I am ready to set up a 2000-MW thermal power plant near any upcoming port in Andhra Pradesh. I have an investment of 600 million dollars ready and have coal mines in Indonesia, from where I shall import the coal by sea. I don't need any other assistance from the AP government except land for setting up the power plant," the Malaysian told the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister was impressed but insisted that the Malaysian not press for any power purchase agreement with the state and could sell the power anywhere else. The Malaysian agreed to this and said he has no problems on this count as the Power Trading Corporation of India was ready to buy electricity from him. Having heard the plans, the Chief Minister promptly asked the power producer to meet the "Chinna sir" (junior sir), as is customary. (Now, everybody knows who this Chinna sir is and the authority he wields in the current dispensation).
Accordingly, the Malaysian approached the "Chinna sir" with his project proposals. "Since a new port is coming up at Krishnapatnam, I would like to set up the power plant in its vicinity," the Malaysian told the Chinna sir. "No way," the Chinna sir made it clear, as two major power plants were already proposed at the same location.
The Malaysian then bargained for Visakhapatnam or Machilipatnam, where too another port is being developed. The Chinna sir was "not impressed" and negated these proposals. By then the government had already approved a plan for power plant at Machilipatnam, under the aegis of a ruling party MP.
Later, the power producer approached the Chief Minister once again to apprise him of the situation and seek an alternative location. Rajasekhara Reddy, however, did not show any interest and asked the Malaysian to meet the 'Chinna sir' again.
Distraught, the Malaysian gave up his plans and went away.
All this happened more than six months ago when the power scenario in the state was not alarming as it has been now. But, with the situation going out of hand, the government has become desperate and started looking at all avenues to boost the power generation. Hence, the search for new power producers, particularly the ones who come with no "liabilities" like the compulsory power purchase agreement.
"We never really took any details from the Malaysian man though he met the Chief Minister a couple of times. Ironically, we don't even know his name to get in touch again," a senior official in the CMO lamented.
Even Google hasn't been of much help to the CMO authorities!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
AP Police Academy's distinction
DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The prestigious Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA), that has carved a niche for itself in training police officers not only from the state but also from other states and countries, will soon be elevated to the level of a University. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has given his nod, in principle, to the proposal to upgrade the Academy into a University when APPA director C N Gopinatha Reddy came up with the proposal. Once upgraded as a University, APPA plans to award graduate and post-graduate degrees in police management not only to police officers but also to civilians who wish to pursue research studies on police affairs, according to Gopinatha Reddy. APPA is also planning to set up a Department of Management, Behavioural Sciences, Research and Evaluation Studies to train police officers in management and behavioural science. "The Department could also serve as a research centre on police affairs," the APPA director said. A Cyber Forensic Lab is also on cards to train police officers in modern crime, notably white-collar offences. The APPA was established in 1986 to serve as a nodal agency and an institution of higher learning for police and other law-enforcing agencies and grew to become a Centre of Excellence in police training. It has also won international acclaim with agencies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) besides National Human Rights Commission, National Crime Records Bureau recognising it as their regional training centre or nodal agency for training officers from India and abroad. In fact, the UNODC declared APPA as its resource, research, development and nodal training centre and granted Rs 10 lakh for infrastructure development. APPA is likely to find its place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having provided in-service training to 8475 personnel in 2006 and 8020 in 2007, spanning a staggering 2.50 lakh training days. With such accomplishments on its back, the APPA is now aiming to become a regular university and award degrees. "In fact, officials of the Osmania University visited our Academy and found it fit to be recognised as their post-graduate centre and award master of police management degree to the trainee officers," Gopinatha Reddy pointed out. With the Chief Minister promising to get university status for APPA, police authorities are now drawing a detailed blueprint to make it a reality.
Hyderabad: The prestigious Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA), that has carved a niche for itself in training police officers not only from the state but also from other states and countries, will soon be elevated to the level of a University. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has given his nod, in principle, to the proposal to upgrade the Academy into a University when APPA director C N Gopinatha Reddy came up with the proposal. Once upgraded as a University, APPA plans to award graduate and post-graduate degrees in police management not only to police officers but also to civilians who wish to pursue research studies on police affairs, according to Gopinatha Reddy. APPA is also planning to set up a Department of Management, Behavioural Sciences, Research and Evaluation Studies to train police officers in management and behavioural science. "The Department could also serve as a research centre on police affairs," the APPA director said. A Cyber Forensic Lab is also on cards to train police officers in modern crime, notably white-collar offences. The APPA was established in 1986 to serve as a nodal agency and an institution of higher learning for police and other law-enforcing agencies and grew to become a Centre of Excellence in police training. It has also won international acclaim with agencies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) besides National Human Rights Commission, National Crime Records Bureau recognising it as their regional training centre or nodal agency for training officers from India and abroad. In fact, the UNODC declared APPA as its resource, research, development and nodal training centre and granted Rs 10 lakh for infrastructure development. APPA is likely to find its place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having provided in-service training to 8475 personnel in 2006 and 8020 in 2007, spanning a staggering 2.50 lakh training days. With such accomplishments on its back, the APPA is now aiming to become a regular university and award degrees. "In fact, officials of the Osmania University visited our Academy and found it fit to be recognised as their post-graduate centre and award master of police management degree to the trainee officers," Gopinatha Reddy pointed out. With the Chief Minister promising to get university status for APPA, police authorities are now drawing a detailed blueprint to make it a reality.
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