Ravi Naidu Pushes for Adventure Sports Centre in AP

Vijayawada: Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman Animini Ravi Naidu has urged the Indian Army Adventure Wing to establish an Adventure Sports Training Centre and organise expeditions to promote adventure sports in Andhra Pradesh. Ravi Naidu met Colonel PS Chouhan, Director of the Indian Army Adventure Wing, in Delhi on Saturday to discuss the proposal. During the meeting, Ravi Naidu assured full support from the state government for the centre. The Colonel responded positively to the initiative. Later, Ravi Naidu, along with Life Saving Sports Commission Chairman Pradeep Naidu, attended the All India Taekwondo Leaders Seminar organised by the Indian Taekwondo Association and the Korean Cultural Centre in Delhi. On this occasion, Ravi Naidu spoke about the new sports policy introduced by the AP government to promote sports and pledged to expand Taekwondo in the state. The Taekwondo Association and the Korean Cultural Centre also honoured Ravi Naidu for his efforts.

Lokesh helps troubled woman return to Nellore from Kuwait

Vijayawada: Minister for education and information technology N. Lokesh facilitated the safe return of a woman from Kuwait who had been facing difficulties with her employer. Sheik Munni, a resident of Atmakur in Nellore district, had travelled to Kuwait seeking employment. However, she encountered harassment from her employer and, unable to endure the ordeal, reached out to the minister for help via the microblogging platform X. Responding promptly to her plea, Lokesh instructed his team to ensure the womans safe return to Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, Munni was brought back and reunited with her family. Her family members expressed gratitude to the minister for his timely intervention, which enabled her safe rescue and return to her hometown.

NETA NATTER | DEMAND FOR INQUIRIES WILL LEAD TO SUPPLY REVANTH

Ask and ye shall receive. That appears to be the story with the BRS with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy turning the tables on the Opposition party in the Legislative Assembly using the BRS challenges to his advantage. It started with former power minister G. Jagadish Reddy daring Revanth to order an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Yadadri Thermal Power Plant project. Revanth seized the moment, and announced a judicial probe. Then came former finance minister T. Harish Rao, who challenged Revanth to cancel the Outer Ring Road (ORR) lease tender awarded during the last days of the BRS regime. Again, Revanth acted, initiating an SIT inquiry into the irregularities in the ORR tender. While BRS leaders including Harish and KTR accuse Revanth of vendetta politics, Revanth says these inquiries follow BRS leaders own demands in the Assembly, asserting his commitment to transparency, and not revenge. KOMATIREDDY BROTHERS DRAW EVERYONES ATTENTION In Telanganas political soap opera, the current talk of the town is the Komatireddy brothers. While the elder Komatireddy Venkat Reddy is a minister, his younger brother Raj Gopal Reddy is lobbying hard for his turn. Raj Gopal, who switched from the BJP to the Congress, claims the party promised him a ministerial berth a promise he says remains unfulfilled even after a year of Congress governance. However, Congress MLAs are up in arms against the idea of two Cabinet posts for the same family, same caste and same district. Critics argue that such favouritism would alienate party cadres, spark public backlash, and tarnish the Congress image. But Raj Gopal remains defiant, insisting on his due. The Komatireddy saga adds yet another twist to the long-awaited Cabinet expansion, keeping political circles buzzing as speculation and internal rifts escalate. SPOOKY FORT ATTRACTS THE SUPERSTITIOUS It is not quite haunted like the old ruins in movies sometimes are, but the Koulas fort in Jukkal mandal of Kamareddy district has built a reputation of its own for all those who visit. At least those who are government officers. And, of course, for politicians. The lore goes that folks from these categories after a visit to the fort will face a certain transfer and this received some fresh traction soon after the recent visit to the age-old edifice by excise and tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao. Soon after Jupally checked out the fort, began a demand from BC welfare organisations who are staking claim that a person from one of their communities, the Goud community to be particular, be made the excise minister. And so, the wait is on to see whether the if-you-want-a-transfer-visit- Koulas-fort belief will stand the test of time. FORESTS MINISTER LAYING LOW? It is not uncommon for people to wait for a visit by a minister to their village, or neighbourhood in case of a large town, hoping for some good tidings to follow. But in the case of the erstwhile Adilabad district, things appear a little different. It is not roads, parks, or the like but tigers and leopards that are on top of the minds of people here who have been wondering why forests minister Konda Surekha has not visited areas which recently witnessed conflicts between wild animals and humans, and even the death of a woman. Whether Surekha will actually visit the human-wildlife conflict areas is up in the air but the question of why she has not done so, other than expressing sympathy to families of victims of wild animal attacks through statements issued from Hyderabad, is increasingly doing the rounds. TEA STALL AWAITS FOR CM ENTHUSIASTICALLY For those familiar with the Chai Pe Charcha started by the BJP, here is an update. Apparently hoping to catch the governments eye, employees of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in Jangaon have decided that maybe a cup of tea, or a whole tea stall, will catch the eye of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and get redressal of their long-pending demands. And so, they ran a tea stall during their protest programme pointing out that while in the Opposition Revanth had assured them that he would address their issue of regularising their employment within the time it takes to sip a cuppa. And so went the explanation, the tea stall protested, but they were not certain if the aroma of the tea had reached the Chief Minister yet. BJP MLA FLAUNTS DOUBLE STANDARDS Wrong for some. Right for me. What is sauce for the goose may no longer be sauce for the gander. This appears to be a fairly accepted norm in politics on various issues, none more common than leaders jumping from one party to another. When Andhra Pradesh former minister Mutamsetti Srinivasa Rao, who in the past wore a clutch of different party caps, quit the YSRC after the general elections, it did not take long for BJP MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju to point out that it was unethical for political leaders to quit a party which lost an election, clearly pointing out that enjoying power and then quitting after a loss was just not the thing to do. But if they are joining BJP they are welcome, Raju told media persons in Visakhapatnam raising quite a few eyebrows. COMPETITION AMONG AP POLITICOS HEATS UP There is a certain sense of competition between APs Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and human resources minister Nara Lokesh in the who-is-the-more-efficient- minister stakes. All appeared to be going well on this front in general with folks quite happy being in one of the two camps, but recently home minister Anitha threw a proverbial wrench into the works. For her, it was neither Pawan nor Lokesh who was the most hardworking and efficient in the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet but water resources minister Nimmala Rama Naidu. The recent floods in Vijayawada proved that Rama Naidu was second only to Naidu when it came to work, she said, pointing out that Rama Naidu, within 36 hours, had many breaches to the Budameru canal filled. That, Anitha said, was the proof of the pudding. PAWAN MAVAYYA ON THE RISE Move over, Jagan Mavayya theres a new Mavayya (uncle) in town. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan seems to have taken a page out of AP former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys book, earning the affectionate nickname during his recent visit to a government school. The states parent-teacher meeting initiative brought Pawan to the Municipal Corporation High School in Kadapa, where he interacted with students, and won their hearts. One student even presented a hand-drawn sketch of Pawan, which he autographed and gifted back. Soon, videos of Pawan interacting with the school kids began doing the rounds on social media and netizens promptly crowned him Pawan Mavayya making him the new political uncle, a sort of an honour in the state. Contributions from K.M.P. Patnaik, Narender Pulloor, Vadrevu Srinivas, L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Pillalamarri Srinivas, Avinash P. Subramanyam, and Neeraj Kumar

GoM to Dwell on 1% State Calamity Cess Under GST Framework

Vijayawada : The 55th GST Council led by union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman will constitute a Group of Ministers (GoM) to consider permitting states to impose a calamity cess of one per cent on luxury goods under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework. The levy is aimed at providing financial relief to states in the aftermath of natural calamities. Andhra Pradesh finance minister Payyavula Keshav came up with the proposal of levying one per cent calamity cess on luxury goods, attracting over 5 per cent GST, being transported in a state. He recalled a precedent in Kerala when one per cent cess had been levied for flood rehabilitation in 2019. Later, speaking to media, Nirmala Sitaraman disclosed that APs move, along with other states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Telangana, on levying the calamity cess received unanimous support in the council. These states expressed their willingness to take part in the GoM. They assured that the group would deliberate on various aspects, including the nomenclature and applicability of this cess for different calamities. When Payyavula Keshav raised the matter, he received accolades from his counterparts from other states. The AP finance minister thanked Nirmala Sitaraman for agreeing to set up the GoM.

YSRC Leader criticises coalition government at former Chief Minister's birthday celebration

Vijayawada: Former MLA and YSRC Central Constituency coordinator Malladi Vishnu strongly criticised the current coalition government during the birthday celebrations of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday. At the event, he highlighted the achievements of the former Chief Minister, noting that Rs 2,83,866 crore had been distributed to poor and middle-class citizens through various welfare schemes. He particularly praised the establishment of village and ward secretariats, which generated 1.34 lakh jobs within six months of Jaganmohan Reddy assuming office. YS Jaganmohan Reddy is the only Chief Minister who not only understood people's problems through the Praja Sankalpa Yatra but also fulfilled 99 percent of his promises after coming to power, Vishnu stated. He commended reforms in education, healthcare, and agriculture under Jaganmohan Reddy's leadership. The YSRC leader accused the current coalition government of obstructing the birthday celebrations, describing this as unprecedented, given that events for leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and the late N.T.R. were never hindered.

CM Naidu Orders High Alert Amid Heavy Rains in Andhra

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to be on high alert and extend all necessary help to people in the wake of heavy rains lashing several parts in north coastal Andhra districts. Officials briefed the CM at the Chief Ministers Office with regard to the latest developments following the heavy rains. They informed the CM about the precautionary measures district collectors have initiated in their areas and their preparedness to meet any exigencies. Officials informed that schools have been closed in areas where the impact of rains has been severe. When officials told Chandrababu Naidu about the damage caused to crops in certain rain-hit areas, he directed them to extend all requisite help to the affected farmers and take up enumeration of damage. The Chief Minister directed officials to keep on alerting farmers with regard to heavy rains, so that they can take measures to protect their crops. Based on directives of the CM, AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has contacted the agricultural department, asking it to issue advisories to farmers on protecting their harvested paddy crop. Accordingly, the harvested paddy is being covered with tarpaulin sheets, so that it does not get drenched. APSDMA managing director Ronanki Kurmanath said, As per directives of the Chief Minister, we are keeping a close watch on the impact of rainfall mainly on agriculture crops. We have so far not received any reports of rainfall affecting infrastructure like roads and water bodies inundating agriculture fields.

6,000 Police Personnel Deployed, 1,900 CCTVs for Bhavani Deeksha Bandobast

Vijayawada: NTR District Commissioner of Police SV Raja Sekhara Babu announced the deployment of 6,000 police personnel and 1,900 CCTV cameras for Bhavani Deeksha relinquishment. Speaking from the Command Control Centre at Durga Ghat, he outlined measures to manage crowds and ensure smooth vehicular movement. Two Homa Gundas and multiple Irumudi stands have been set up to facilitate hassle-free darshan. Drone technology is being used to monitor traffic and prevent congestion. The police, in coordination with RTC and railway authorities, are tracking real-time arrivals and departures of devotees. Municipal Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra reported the installation of 150 interim toilets at eight locations and deployment of additional sanitation workers. Ten lakh water bottles and five lakh water packets are being distributed to devotees. The multi-department collaboration aims to streamline the event, ensuring devotees safety and convenience.

Allu Arjun Breaks Silence, Clarifies His Actions

Actor Allu Arjun claimed that he was shocked after the death of his fan, Revanthi, and about the severe injury to her son but he advised against visiting the deceased family. My hands were tied by the legal team and they told me that I should visit the family since they have filed a complaint against me, and I couldnt come out of the shock, he said at a press meet today. After getting to know about the unfortunate death of my fan, I was shell-shocked. I was allowed to put a video of a condolence message and nothing more, he adds. He claims that he has visited the families of deceased fans of Chiranjeevi Garu and he has no qualms about it. I had been to Vizag, Vijayawada, and the outskirts of Hyderabad when I got to know that fans of Chiranjeevi died. I went and consoled their families. So why wouldnt I go visit the family of my fan, who has suffered such an irreplaceable loss, he informs. He claims that they had canceled many special events in Bangalore or Chennai to celebrate the success of Pushpa The Rule since it wasnt the right thing to do after death. I cant keep quiet when somebody makes a character assassination and questions my honesty. I always kept track of the kid in the hospital and asked my father, uncle, and director to check out the status of his treatment and recovery of the kid.' He was disturbed when he was attacked during this low point in his life and he couldnt tolerate comments against his character. I have taken many such comments in my stride since I am a strong person, this time, I couldnt and so came out to express my anguish and pain due to an unfortunate mishap. People like me, do like to watch movies in theaters and that is inevitable for a movie buff, he explains. He further claims that he was discussing with director Sukumar and producers to arrange a decent sum and put it as a fixed deposit and also about advance treatment for the kid. I have also had a kid of the same age, so why wouldnt I think about the well-being of an ailing kid? Ill do my best whatever may come to support the bereaved family, he concludes

Tourism Boats on Godavari River Resume Operation to Papikondalu

Vijayawada: Tourism boats on the Godavari River from Gandi Pochamma Ferry Point to Papikondalu resumed operations on Saturday after a two-day suspension. Rampachodavaram Sub-Collector K.R. Kalpashree issued proceedings on Friday allowing the resumption of services from 21 December onwards. Operations had been halted on 19 December as a precaution due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Thousands of Bhavani devotees throng Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada as relinquishment of deeksha begins

An App has been created to explain devotees on the arrangements made for Bhavani Deeksha relinquishment, says the NTR District Collector

Tremors felt in Bapatla and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh

An earthquake of 3.1 magnitude struck Addanki in Bapatla district, says CSIR-NGRI Hyderabad; no loss of life or property reported

Kotha Madhu Murthy Appointed APSCHE Chairman

Vijayawada: The state government has appointed Dr Kotha Madhu Murthy, Professor (HAG) of Mechanical Engineering & Member (Board of Governors, NITW), National Institute of Technonology, Warangal as the chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education(APSCHE). He will be in the position for a period of three days.

World Bank approves 800 million dollars loan for Amaravati development

VIJAYAWADA: The World Bank has sanctioned an $800 million loan to support the development of Amaravati, the ambitious greenfield capital of Andhra Pradesh. The funding is part of the Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Programme, aimed at establishing the city as a sustainable, climate-resilient growth hub. The project prioritises building key trunk infrastructure, including a comprehensive road grid, efficient public transport systems, and advanced flood-mitigation measures. Additionally, water and wastewater management systems will be developed to meet the needs of the citys future residents while addressing environmental concerns. Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Banks Country Director for India, emphasised the projects significance. With its urban population projected to double by 2050, India seeks to create sustainable and liveable cities as engines of growth. Amaravati provides a unique opportunity to model this transformation, he said. The World Bank's involvement is also expected to attract private investments of over 600 million dollars, accelerating Amaravatis financial sustainability. The collaboration between the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the World Bank, and private stakeholders underscores the global commitment to building sustainable urban centres. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also pledged 788.8 million dollars towards Amaravatis development, alongside the World Banks contribution. Out of the total estimated loan of 15,000 crore for the project, the central government will provide the remaining share. By the end of this month, Rs 3,750 crore is set to be disbursed in advance, expediting the initial phases of construction. The 800 million dollars loan from the World Bank comes with a maturity period of 29 years, including a six-year grace period. This financial structure ensures steady support for Amaravatis transformation into a major economic and cultural hub. Amaravatis development, supported by international expertise and collaboration, is set to become a blueprint for sustainable urbanisation in India, showcasing a new era of growth and resilience.

AP Govt Forms Committee to Study Free Bus Travel for Women Scheme

Vijayawada: In a step closer to implementing free bus travel for women in the state, the government has constituted a Committee of group of ministers to study the Free Bus Travel for Women scheme, which has already been implemented in other states. The objective of the committee is to visit these states and examine the functioning of the scheme to develop a suitable model for Andhra Pradesh. The committee will be headed by the Minister for Transport, with the Ministers for Women and Child Welfare, Tribal Welfare, and Home serving as members. Additionally, the Principal Secretary to the Government in the Transport, Roads & Buildings (TR & B) Department will act as the Convener, responsible for coordinating the proceedings and meetings of the committee. The committee is tasked with submitting its findings and recommendations to the government at the earliest, aiming to formulate an effective model for implementing the free bus travel scheme for women in Andhra Pradesh.

Set up panel to prevent tree cutting: Andhra Pradesh HC

VIJAYAWADA: The High Court on Friday directed the State government to set up a committee to prevent indiscriminate tree cutting in the name of development, and explore the possibility of translocation of trees in unavoidable circumstances. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Asmad Mohammad Shaikh Sha, a medical student of Guntur, seeking HCs directions to the authorities on trees translocation, instead of cutting them for road widening and other development works, a bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi, directed Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad to come up with a policy on trees translocation, and opined that indiscriminate cutting of trees in the name of development had become a major threat. Officials told not to come up with excuses for not implementing its instructions citing non-availability of machinery and its prohibitive cost. Experts should be included in the panel, and the court will take the committees suggestions into consideration, the bench said. The matter was posted to March 12, 2025.

Minister Keshav seeks Central aid for river-linking projects in Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has urged the Centre to give priority to river linking projects in Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget 2025-26. Participating in a meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajasthan as part of the exercise to prepare the Union Budget for the next fiscal, he said nearly 2,000 TMC of Godavari flood water flows into the sea annually. On the other side, Rayalaseema region experiences low and erratic rainfall, and is perennially affected by drought. The AP government has envisioned to link Krishna, Penna and Vamsadhara to take the surplus water through a series of canals and reservoirs to the drought-prone and backward districts of Rayalaseema and South-Coastal districts, he explained. Mentioning that the Centre recently announced support to link 11 rivers in Rajasthan to transform it into a water-surplus region, Keshav urged the Centre to provide financial assistance to the river linking project of AP in the Union Budget 2025-26 on similar lines. He requested the Centre to adopt 90:10 funding pattern for all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Purvodaya States and provide viability gap funding for different PPP projects such as development of road infrastructure, airports, ports and metro rail projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. He sought sanction of five Textile Clusters for AP keeping in view the huge number of weavers in the State.

Zero tolerance to land grabbing: Andhra Pradesh CM

VIJAYAWADA: As many as 1,57,481 applications have been received so far at Revenue Sadassulu being held in the State, said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. He participated in a Revenue Sadassu held at Edupugallu village in Penamaluru constituency of Krishna district on Friday, and received petitions from people. Speaking at the Revenue Sadassu, the Chief Minister said of the total 1,57,481 applications received, 78,854 are related to the Record of Rights, 9,830 requests for house sites, and 9,528 complaints against land grabbing. Additionally, 8,366 applications are related to government land issues, 8,227 to encroachments, besides 8,000 complaints against authorities. The State government is determined to resolve all the long-standing land issues, and return the lands to rightful owners, he asserted. Highlighting the importance of land for the livelihood of people, he said, Whether its a yard, a cent or an acre, land is life. Naidu highlighted the States strong record keeping tradition from the British era, contrasting it with issues in Telangana due to historical disruptions. He slammed the previous Land Titling Act for complicating ownership rights, and reminded that his government repealed the Act in its first Cabinet meeting. Additionally, the government has come up with the Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2024 to impose strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for land grabbing offences. If anyone grabs even a cent of land, we will take serious action, he warned. A comprehensive land survey has been conducted in 6,698 of the States 16,816 villages so far. Complaints about errors in 2,79,148 cases have been received. All these grievances will be addressed transparently, including displaying revenue maps in villages, updating records, and resolving disputes related to survey numbers, heirs names, boundary issues, and prohibited lands. Once updated, landowners will get passbooks with QR code and geo-tagging for secure and accessible records, he said. Naidu underlined transparency in revenue records by making SLR, RR, 1B Register and 22A lists accessible to the public. The previous regime caused a chaos by placing photos of Jagan Mohan Reddy on survey stones in the guise of land survey, incurring a huge expenditure. The government has taken up measures to remove photos. Naidu reaffirmed his commitment to effective governance, stating, A day without a single petition means we have worked efficiently.

Andhra Pradesh govt signs MoUs with Physics Wallah & TBI

VIJAYAWADA: In a significant move to position Andhra Pradesh as a hub of technological innovation and educational excellence, the State government has entered into landmark agreements with Physics Wallah (PW) Edutech and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI). These collaborations are aimed at modernising the States higher education system, fostering advanced skills, and preparing students for global opportunities in emerging industries. The MoUs were signed at an event held at HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokeshs residence in Undavalli on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Lokesh highlighted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidus vision of making Andhra Pradesh a global leader in artificial intelligence and technological advancements. The State government is committed to equipping youth with next-generation skills, he asserted. Physics Wallah, in partnership with Amazon Web Services, will set up Andhra Pradeshs first AI-focused Institute of Eminence (IoE) and University of Innovation (UoI). Supported by Rs 1,000 crore investment from the US-based GSV Ventures and other global investors, the project will blend academic rigor with industry requirements. The university will adopt a hub-and-spoke model, combining online and in-person learning to offer students a hybrid education experience aligned with contemporary needs. Physics Wallah founder and CEO Alakh Pandey highlighted PWs mission to equip students with skills tailored to the evolving job market. Co-founder Prateek Boob emphasised PWs role in talent development and knowledge creation to meet the demands of emerging industries. Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Ventures, described the initiative as a groundbreaking model for integrating deep tech and artificial intelligence into education to bridge the gap between academia and industry. TBI signed an MoU to assist the AP government in aligning its higher education framework with global standards. TBI will provide expert advice on strategic policies, skill-gap analysis, and innovative solutions to enhance employment opportunities and foster sustainable economic growth. The initiative will focus on government-run universities and polytechnics to transform the tertiary education landscape. TBI representatives stated that the institutes efforts aim to prepare students for future economic challenges, and create a robust education ecosystem. Known for its expertise in working with political leaders worldwide, TBI operates across 40 countries, addressing pressing global challenges through policy, strategy, and technology solutions. These agreements reflect the proactive and visionary leadership of the State. Initiatives like the University of Innovation showcase bold thinking and decisive action, attracting global players to Andhra Pradesh, Lokesh said.

In report to CM Chandrababu Naidu, Health Ministry lists out achievements in first six months

VIJAYAWADA: The Ministry of Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education has submitted a six-month performance report to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, showcasing achievements under key health schemes. Launched on November 14, the universal cancer screening initiative under NCD 3.0 has reached 33.58 lakh individuals, detecting 29,469 suspected cancer cases for further treatment. The Rashtriya Bala Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) screened 70 lakh students for diseases and disabilities, leading to 488 surgeries, including 108 cleft lip corrections and 24 cochlear implants. Three City Diagnostic Centres in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati now offer 87 diagnostic tests, reducing costs for the urban and rural poor. Emergency care saw a boost with e-ICU facilities launched at Rampachodavaram and Parvathipuram area hospitals in partnership with Aster Ramesh Hospitals. The Gundeku Bharosa (STEMI) Programme expanded critical heart care to 22 hospitals and 234 CHCs, saving 971 lives with free Teneplex injections worth Rs 45,000 each. Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadavs 30-point action plan, announced in August, has enhanced patient care at General Government Hospitals (GGHs) through monthly reviews. The AYUSH budget saw a 400-fold hike to Rs 84 crore for 2024-25. Disaster readiness improved with a Rs 14 crore Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Medical Management Centre at Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences. Nearly 10 critical care blocks with 75 beds each were built at district hospitals for Rs 230 crore. A Metropolitan Surveillance Unit was set up at GGH-Guntur for Rs 20 crore to monitor disease outbreaks in Guntur and Vijayawada. Jan Aushadi Kendras were established in 25 hospitals, with plans for expansion. Government medical colleges are preparing for National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) participation to improve teaching standards. Officials said the report underscores APs commitment to accessible, quality healthcare.

Extortion gang busted, Rs 25.5L recovered in Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: Vijayawada Central Crime Station (CCS) police arrested four members of an extortion gang on Friday and recovered Rs 25.57 lakh in cash. The gang had impersonated police officers and extorted money from a jewellery shop worker on December 11. According to NTR District Commissioner of Police (CP) SV Rajashekhar Babu, the gang intercepted the victim, Ramakrishna, near Prabhas College. Ramakrishna, en route to Chennai for a gold purchase, had missed his train and opted for a cab. Dressed in police uniforms, they stopped his cab under the pretense of a check and fled with the money. Following the incident, he lost consciousness due to hypertension and was hospitalised. The accused were identified as Chegu Parthasai (32) of Seetharampuram, Pathan Subhani Khan (45) of Wynchipet, Pratipatti Shanthi (45) of Bhanunagar, and Shaik Hazaruddin (34) of Old RR Pet. Another accomplice, Gulluru Vamsi Krishnam Raju (32) of Ibrahimpatnam, is at large. Parthasai, had earlier worked in Jaggayyapet and was reportedly addicted to vices. He targeted Ramakrishna after learning about his travel plans. Parthasai, with Shanthi, plotted the crime and involved the others in the execution. Acting on victims complaint, police registered a case. With the help of CCTV footage, the CCS police tracked and arrested the gang.

Minister Lokesh inaugurates Vijay Digital showroom

VIJAYAWADA: Minister for Human Resource Development, IT, Electronics & Communications Nara Lokesh inaugurated a showroom of Vijay Digital in Mangalagiri on Friday. Lokesh lauded Vijay Digital for its four-decade legacy of excellence in providing quality home appliances and outstanding customer service through its showrooms in Guntur, Krishna, and Prakasam districts. He also commended showroom managers Javvadi Gangadhara Rao, Javvadi Usha Kiran, Javvadi Rahul, Javvadi Jayashree, and Javvadi Lohitha for their dedication to the companys growth and development. Vijay Digital Group Managing Director Javvadi Rahul highlighted that the new showroom in Mangalagiri offers a modern shopping experience, featuring appliances such as TVs, ACs, refrigerators, washing machines, laptops, kitchenware, and mobile phones at competitive prices. Founder Javvadi Gangadhara Rao reiterated that the groups focus is on delivering quality products rather than prioritising profits, a principle upheld for the past 40 years. Javvadi Usha Kiran announced special discounts and offers on all products for Christmas, New Year, and Sankranti. Padmasali Corporation Chairman Sadam Andaiah, Civil Supplies Director Thota Partha Saradhi, Mangalagiri TDP President Damarla Raju and attended the inauguration ceremony.

Woman receives dead body in parcel in West Godavari district

VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking incident, a woman in Yendagandi village of West Godavari district received a parcel containing the body of an unidentified person on Thursday night. The incident was reported at Yendagandi village in Undi mandal of West Godavari district. The parcel also contained a letter demanding the woman, identified as Naga Tulasi, Rs 1.3 crore. She immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and collected clues from the scene. The body was sent to Bhimavaram Government General Hospital for post-mortem. Elaborating on the case, West Godavari Superintendent of Police (SP) Adnan Nayeem Asmi told TNIE that Tulasi had sought financial aid from Kshatriya Seva Samithi for constructing her house. In response, the organisation had sent her two consignments containing tiles and paint a few months ago. When she asked for more help, representatives of the Samithi reportedly promised to send her electrical appliances, including lights, fans, and switchboards. They had confirmed the same through a WhatsApp message. Subsequently, a person delivered the box to the woman at her doorstep on Thursday night and even informed her that it contained electrical appliances. Special police teams formed to nab accused However, when she opened the box, she found the body. There was also a letter in the parcel, demanding Tulasi to pay Rs 1.30 crore or face consequences, the SP added. Stating that representatives of the Kshatriya Seva Samithi were summoned and questioned, the SP said, The body is of a man aged about 45 years. He may have died four days ago. All police stations have been alerted and instructed to check for missing cases so that the man can be identified. Suspecting a conspiracy, the police officer informed this newspaper that Tulasis family members were not cooperating with the investigation. We have questioned the family members is they had any disputes with relatives or other persons, he said. Further, special police teams have been formed to track the vehicle and the person who delivered the parcel. He asserted that the case will be solved soon.

Low visibility at Hyderabad airport forces diversion of six flights

According to RGIA authorities, two international flights and four domestic flights were redirected to airports in Chennai, Bangalore, and Vijayawada.

Swachha Andhra Corp chairman studies waste management practices in Pune

Revenue Sadassu Resolves 95,000 Land Grievances: CM Naidu

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday warned of imprisonment to those who resort to land grabbing. Beware, those who grab even a cent of land will face the consequences. If anyone resorts to land grabbing, cheating and blackmailing, he will be jailed immediately, Naidu said while addressing a Revenue Sadassu at Edupugallu of Penamaluru assembly segment in Krishna district. He promised to take necessary steps to resolve the land issues in an amicable manner and said the government will abide by the rules. Stating that the errors in resurvey will be corrected soon, Naidu said his government's motive is that justice should be done to all. You have elected the Telugu Desam-led alliance to form the government with 57 per cent of the votes. You reposed immense faith in us. We have been striving hard for the past six months to fulfil your aspirations, Naidu observed. Regretting that the previous government had completely destroyed all the systems, the chief minister felt that the YSRC government had created a worse situation with the Land Titling Act. He said over three lakh people attended the revenue Sadassulu through which 95,263 petitions have been received. Naidu promised to provide QRCode on passbooks and geotagging facility through which the land records can be examined anytime. A sum of `12 crore had to be spent to simply delete former CM Jagan Reddys photos on stones, he said. Revenue Sadassulus are being conducted at almost all the villages in the state beginning December 6 till January 8. Naidu promised to take personal responsibility to hand back all seized land to the real owners. The provisions of the land grabbing act are so severe that stringent action will be taken against those who resort to illegal land grabbers, he said. He also referenced the extensive complaints regarding inaccurate surveys and fraudulent land deals, saying that over 279,148 grievances have been reported. The Chief Minister said the government introduced the Land Grabbing Prohibition Act of 2024, which will enforce strict penalties on those attempting to illegally occupy someone else's land. For anyone unlawfully seizing land, the repercussions will be severe, including imprisonment and fines based on the value of the seized land, he warned.

CM Naidu warns jail to land grabbers

Vijayawada :Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday warned of imprisonment to those who resort to land grabbing. Beware, those who grab even a cent of land will face the consequences. If anyone resorts to land grabbing, cheating and blackmailing, he will be jailed immediately, Naidu said while addressing a Revenue Sadassu at Edupugallu of Penamaluru assembly segment in Krishna district. He promised to take necessary steps to resolve the land issues in an amicable manner and said the government will abide by the rules. Stating that the errors in resurvey will be corrected soon, Naidu said his government's motive is that justice should be done to all. You have elected the Telugu Desam-led alliance to form the government with 57 per cent of the votes. You reposed immense faith in us. We have been striving hard for the past six months to fulfil your aspirations, Naidu observed. Regretting that the previous government had completely destroyed all the systems, the chief minister felt that the YSRC government had created a worse situation with the Land Titling Act. He said over three lakh people attended the revenue Sadassulu through which 95,263 petitions have been received. Naidu promised to provide QRCode on passbooks and geotagging facility through which the land records can be examined anytime. A sum of `12 crore had to be spent to simply delete former CM Jagan Reddys photos on stones, he said. Revenue Sadassulus are being conducted at almost all the villages in the state beginning December 6 till January 8. Naidu promised to take personal responsibility to hand back all seized land to the real owners. The provisions of the land grabbing act are so severe that stringent action will be taken against those who resort to illegal land grabbers, he said. He also referenced the extensive complaints regarding inaccurate surveys and fraudulent land deals, saying that over 279,148 grievances have been reported. The Chief Minister said the government introduced the Land Grabbing Prohibition Act of 2024, which will enforce strict penalties on those attempting to illegally occupy someone else's land. For anyone unlawfully seizing land, the repercussions will be severe, including imprisonment and fines based on the value of the seized land, he warned.

NIRF initiative to improve teaching quality in AP medical colleges

Vijayawada: AP health department has directed government medical colleges in the state to participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to improve the quality of teaching in AP and compete with other leading medical colleges in the country. This is part of the 12 initiatives taken up by the health department in the last six months to improve medical care in the state. In this regard, the health department led by health minister Satya Kumar Yadav submitted a report of its performance during the last six months to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday. According to the report, the health department took up universal cancer screening and covered 33,58,347 persons. Of them, 29,469 women are suspected of having cancer and have been sent for further examination and treatment. Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), meant to screen 70 lakh students for various diseases and deformities, 488 surgeries have been performed and other interventions taken up. Action has been initiated to set up three city diagnostic centres at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. The department has taken up an e-ICU initiative for the benefit of people living in remote and tribal areas, while Gundeku Bharosa (STEMI) programme has been extended all over the state involving 22 big hospitals to provide critical heart care in the golden hour. Budget allocation has been enhanced to over 84 crore for AYUSH department, while there is a plan to set up chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medical management centre at the Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences. Ten critical care blocks with 75 beds each have been taken up in the state at a cost of 230 crore. A Metropolitan Surveillance Unit is being set up at an expenditure of 20 crore at the Guntur Government Hospital. Jan Aushadhi outlets will be set up at 25 teaching and district hospitals in the first phase.

All set for Bhavani Deeksha Viramana at Durga Temple

VIJAYAWADA: All is set for the five-day Bhavani Deeksha Viramana (relinquishment) from Saturday to Wednesday, December 25, at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam Temple atop the Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada. Temple authorities, in collaboration with city police, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and other departments, have made foolproof arrangements to avoid any inconvenience to Bhavani devotees visiting the temple for giving up their deeksha. Durga Temple executive officer K.S. Rama Rao said free darshan will be provided to all devotees during the five days. There will be no inconvenience for them, as all arjitha sevas have been cancelled during the deeksha relinquishment. The EO said devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the Goddess starting from 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. On the remaining days, devotees can have darshan from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. Over half a million devotees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are expected to visit the temple during the next five days for the Deeksha Viramana. Queue lines have been erected starting from the Vinayaka Swamy Temple, along with Irumudi stands. Elaborate arrangements have been made at Padmavathi, Bhavani and other ghats, along with installation of bath showers and changing rooms for men and women. Additionally, Keshakandana Shalas for Bhavani devotees have been set up at Seetamma Vari Padalu. About 20 lakh laddus will be made available to devotees at the prasadam counters. Police department has deployed 4,600 personnel to ensure security during the five-days.

Vijayawada MP Urges Inclusion of Anganwadis in PM Solar Scheme

Vijayawada: Vijayawada MP, Kesineni Sivanath alias Chinni, has sought inclusion of Anganwadi centres under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (solar project) in an address of the Lok Sabha on Friday. The issue was raised in the house under Rule 377. The MP highlighted the critical role of Anganwadi centres in ensuring a healthy environment for children in rural areas. He said, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has allocated Rs 75,021 crore to implement the PM Bijli Yojana across the country by the 2026-27 financial year. The initiative focuses on installing rooftop solar panels on government buildings by 2025. Sivanath said Andhra Pradesh has 55,607 Anganwadi centres but 8,455 of them lacked power connection. During the summer, power supply interruptions in rural areas severely affect these centres, causing significant inconvenience to children. This disruption has a negative impact on children's attendance and the quality of care they receive, he said.

Srisailam temple to publish book based on copper plates found in temple

Vijayawada: The Srisailam Devasthanam is publishing a book about the recently discovered copper plate charters found in Ghanta Mandapam at the Srisailam temple in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ASI discovered 78 leaves from 21 sets of copper plate charters in Ghanta Mandapam during 2022-23. These charters date back to the 12th to 16th centuries CE and were issued by various dynasties, including the Reddys, Ganapathis, and others. They are written in multiple languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Nagari (Sanskrit), and others. Upon the request of the Srisailam temple authorities, the ASI has deciphered all the copper plate charters and will publish a book initially in two languages: first in Telugu, followed by English. The book will include descriptions of the content found on the copper plates, as well as facsimiles of the relevant plates. When Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Srisailam temple recently, the copper plate charters were exhibited, and ASI authorities explained the inscriptions to him. ASI Director (Epigraphy) K. Munirathnam Reddy said, At the request of Srisailam Devasthanam, ASI is helping the temple authorities to publish a book titled Copper Plates Found in Srisailam, which will be released by February next year. Currently, a team from the Epigraphy Branch of ASI in Mysore is conducting the final documentation of the copper plates.

Tadipathri Municipality gets gold medal for saving electricity

Anantapur: Tadipathri Municipality received the gold medal at the State Energy Conservation Awards for saving electricity through planned usage. The award was presented during a ceremony at Taj Vivanta Hotel in Vijayawada, where Tadipathri Municipal commissioner S. Shivarama Krishna received the gold medal from energy special chief secretary K. Vijayanand, APGENCO managing director K. Chakradhar Babu, APCPDCL CMD Patha Shetty, State Energy Conservation Mission CEO Kumar Reddy, and other officials. The gold medal was awarded for energy savings in the operation and maintenance of streetlights and drinking water supply motors across the state. Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation received the silver medal, following Tadipathri Municipality. Tadipathri Municipal chairman J.C. Prabhakar Reddy and MLA J.C. Asmith Reddy praised the civic team for earning the gold medal in energy conservation, reinforcing Tadipathris position as a leading and model municipality in the state.

YSRC Demands Public Apology From CM, Pawan Over Ippatam Lands

Vijayawada: YSR Congress has demanded a public apology from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for spreading misinformation regarding Ippatam lands and drug-laden containers at Visakhapatnam Port. Speaking to media, former AP Trade Promotion Corporation chairman Kanumuri Ravichandra Reddy said the Supreme Court has dismissed the case over Ippatam lands and imposed a fine on petitioners, while CBI, after a thorough investigation, has denied that drugs had been found in the container at the Vizag port. Ravichandra Reddy underlined that Pawan Kalyan had falsely gone to town claiming that farmers houses had been demolished in Ippatam village during widening of roads. He pointed out that Supreme Court recently dismissed the farmers claims as baseless and imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on each petitioner. Likewise, the YSRC leader said Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that a drug-laden container had arrived in Visakhapatnam. He underlined that a thorough CBI investigation had found no evidence of drugs in the case. Condemning both Naidu and Pawan Kalyan for making defamatory statements, Reddy accused them of tarnishing APs image and maligning YSRC leaders, including MP Vijayasai Reddy, for political gains.

Minister calls for more research and publications on temples in A.P.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the English version book of authored by writer and historian MyNaa Swamy at Vijayawada

A 44-member team from Uttar Pradesh reaches Vijayawada as part of Centres youth exchange programme

Students participating in the five-day exposure trip were asked to make the best of the opportunity

My character in Yes Boss is dynamic, says Koneru Lakshman Havish

In an interaction with Deccan Chronicle, entrepreneur, actor, and producer Koneru Lakshman Havish talks about his upcoming movieYes Boss, and his business vision. Excerpts Tell us about your character from Yes Boss and how it stands out from your previous roles. My character in Yes Boss is dynamic and full of energy, tailored for a mass entertainer that blends comedy, action, and drama. Unlike my role in Seven, where I explored mystery and suspense, this character brings a new layer of charisma and relatability, offering a refreshing change for my audience. This is your first collaboration with director Ashok. How's the experience working with him? Its been an incredible journey working with Ashok sir. His vision and attention to detail are unmatched. Having seen his work in Bhaagamathie, I was excited to collaborate with him, and hes brought out the best in me as an actor. The production schedule for Yes Boss seems quite tight. How are you preparing for the challenges of completing the film within this timeline? The tight schedule is definitely challenging, but the entire team is highly motivated and organized. Ive been focusing on maintaining my energy levels through disciplined fitness and rehearsals. Collaboration and efficient time management are key to making it work. Your transition from a mystery thriller like Seven to a mass entertainer like Yes Boss is intriguing. How do you adapt to such diverse genres? Its all about immersing myself in the story and understanding the tone of the film. For a thriller like Seven, I had to channel a more intense, nuanced energy. With Yes Boss, Im exploring a lighter, larger-than-life vibe. I see every genre as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow as an actor. Balancing your roles as an actor and the Vice-President of KL Deemed to be University must be demanding. How do you manage your time and responsibilities across these two fields? Its certainly a balancing act, but I believe in giving 100% to everything I take on. I have an amazing team at KL Deemed to be University in Vijayawada and KLH campuses in Hyderabad that ensures smooth operations, and I dedicate specific time slots to focus on university work. Similarly, when Im on set, I give my complete attention to the craft of acting. Your education at Purdue University has undoubtedly influenced your work at the University. How has it shaped your approach to both education and cinema? Purdue taught me the value of a global perspective and innovative thinking. At KLH, I strive to integrate those learnings into our educational approach. In cinema, it has helped me understand storytelling as a powerful medium to connect with people. With a legacy in education and your passion for cinema, what motivates you to excel in these seemingly different domains? Both education and cinema are about creating an impact. Education builds a foundation for future generations, while cinema tells stories that can inspire and entertain. The ability to contribute meaningfully in both fields keeps me motivated. Your father, Koneru Satyanarayana, has been a significant influence in both your acting career and your educational contributions. How has his guidance shaped your journey? My father has always encouraged me to follow my passions while staying grounded in our familys values. His trust in my decisions and his guidance in both education and cinema have been invaluable. Hes taught me the importance of hard work, resilience, and giving back to society. Your family has a rich legacy in education through KL Deemed to be University. How do you see yourself expanding or evolving this legacy in the future? My vision is to take this University and its KLH Hyderabad campuses to new heights by integrating cutting-edge technology, global collaborations, and industry-relevant programs. At the same time, I aim to continue promoting our core values of excellence, ethics, and innovation. How does your experience as a producer influence your perspective as an actor, and vice versa? As a producer, I have learned to see the bigger picturehow all elements come together to make a film successful. This perspective helps me be a more collaborative and efficient actor. Conversely, as an actor, I bring a creative lens to production, ensuring the storytelling remains authentic and impactful.

Andhra woman receives mans body in box claiming to contain electrical appliances with letter demanding Rs 1.3 crore

VIJAYAWADA: In a shocking incident, a woman in Yendagandi village of West Godavari district received a parcel containing the body of an unidentified 45-year-old person on Thursday night. The parcel also contained a letter demanding the woman Naga Thulasi to arrange Rs 1.3 crore. Shocked over the body in the parcel, the woman informed the police who rushed to the spot and collected clues from the scene. Later, they sent the body to Bhimavaram government hospital for postmortem. Speaking to TNIE , West Godavari superintendent of police (SP) Adnan Nayeem Asmi said the parcel came from Kshatriya Seva Samithi, who sent appliances based on the woman's request for house construction. Thulasi had applied for financial aid with Kshatriya Seva Samithi earlier and also received two consignments containing tiles and paints some months ago. When she had applied for further help in construction, the Samithi representatives had reportedly promised to provide electricity appliances. Following her petition, the Samithi representatives sent a message on WhatsApp promising that she would be provided items like lights, fans, and switches. Subsequently, a person delivered a box to the woman at her doorstep on Thursday night and left after informing her that it contained electrical appliances. After opening the parcel, she noticed the body of a person and alerted police. The letter in the parcel demanded the woman to pay Rs 1.30 crore and warned the family of serious consequences if she failed to meet the demand. We questioned the family members about the disputes with their relatives if any and other rivalries with other persons, said the SP Asmi. The SP also said special teams were formed to track the vehicle used for delivering the parcel and also identifying the person who delivered the parcel. We also summoned and questioned representatives of the Kshatriya Seva Samithi pertaining to the incident. The deceased aged about 45 years and may have died 4 days ago. All the police stations were alerted to verify the deceased with the missing cases reported in the surrounding police stations in the district. Family members of the Thulasi are not cooperating with the police and the incident seems to have been a conspiracy behind. The case will be solved soon and the details of the deceased are yet to be ascertained he added. Conspiracy suspected Incidentally, Tulasi's husband went missing more than 10 years ago and never returned home, prompting her to live with her parents Asmi said Tulasi lived with her parents until her younger sister arrived and later she moved to a rented accommodation. Later, Tulasi started constructing a house about one km away from her parents' home and started receiving help from a philanthropist, who had sent her high quality tiles and paints in September. According to the police, the unidentified philanthropist told Tulasi that as they both belonged to the same caste and that she was a 'widow', he was helping her. A property dispute angle was also being suspected. We are checking up on all the missing people in the last three to four days. After post mortem (of the body) we will get more clarity, said the SP. Meanwhile, Asmi noted that the younger son-in-law of the family has been missing since yesterday. (With inputs from PTI)

TTD comes up with Tirumala Vision on lines of Swarna Andhra

VIJAYAWADA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced the initiation of formulating Tirumala Vision 2047 in line with the Swarna Andhra Vision-2047 document. The TTD Board, in its recent meeting, had approved the initiative to focus on planned development, environmental management, and heritage conservation in Tirumala. To advance this objective, the TTD has floated a Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting reputed agencies to contribute to this plan. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had emphasised on the need to balance traditional aesthetics with modern functionality in Tirumalas development. The TTD seeks to transform Tirumala into a globally recognised model of spiritual and sustainable development. The Vision Document will outline strategies for sustainable growth that respect Tirumalas religious sanctity while incorporating modern urban planning principles. The TTD has invited proposals from agencies with expertise in urban planning, architecture, heritage conservation, and environmental management. Interested agencies are required to submit their proposals within three weeks. The scope of work includes preparation of a long-term strategy for Tirumalas development, revising the zonal development plan to address current and future needs, formulating design strategies to enhance pilgrim facilities while preserving Tirumalas cultural ethos, and proposing actionable plans for priority infrastructure projects.

AP Government inks pact with Google to improve governance

VIJAYAWADA: The State government plans to utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance administrative efficiency, K Dinesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), announced at a workshop hosted by Google in New Delhi on Thursday. The event followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Google and RTGS to explore AI applications in governance. Speaking at the workshop, Kumar outlined Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidus vision for transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly governance powered by AI. The government aims to streamline public service delivery, removing bureaucratic obstacles through innovative technologies. A unified search platform for accessing government services and the development of an Andhra Pradesh-specific ChatGPT are key priorities. Blockchain technology is explored to digitise and simplify access to certificates like birth, caste, and income documents. These initiatives are led by IT and Education Minister N Lokesh, who stressed seamless service delivery as the ultimate goal. Google officials assured technical support for the States AI-driven objectives. Kumar emphasised AIs transformative potential in revolutionising governance.

CM Naidu expresses displeasure over Ministers' performance; hints at Cabinet reshuffle

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reportedly expressed his ire over a few Ministers who did not submit their self-appraisals on completing six months in office and some of the in-charge Ministers for not visiting their respective districts. He reportedly instructed underperforming Ministers to pull up their socks. According to sources, the Chief Minister was dissatisfied with some of the Ministers for not changing their attitude despite repeated suggestions. Naidu is believed to have informed the Ministers that their honeymoon period is over. Following the Cabinet meeting, he discussed the prevailing political conditions in the State, among other issues, with the Council of Ministers. He directed them to get a grip over their departments. Cabinet rejig on the cards? It has been learnt that the Chief Minister may affect a minor reshuffle to induct JSP general secretary K Naga Babu into the Cabinet. Though there is no clarity on when Naga Babu will take charge, Naidu has indicated that he is analysing the Ministers performance and may show the door to some of them. In such a scenario, new faces from TDP might also be inducted into the Cabinet along with the JSP leader, sources said.

Andhra CM Naidu lauds TDP cadre for record enrolment of 76.89 lakh new members

VIJAYAWADA: Asserting that the TDP created history with enrolling 76 lakh members, party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the fete was possible because of the involvement of entire cadre. Stating that 76.89 lakh people took party membership in the Telugu States so far, Naidu said that the people were taking membership due to their trust and faith in the Party. He said one in every four persons had opted to take the TDP membership in the State. During a teleconference on party membership drive with the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Parliament Party Presidents and village-level activists of the TDP on Thursday, Naidu said that the strength of the TDP activists was proved once again through the membership drive. Over Rs 135 crore was spent from the welfare fund of the activists, Naidu said that TDP is only the party to extend Rs 5 lakh insurance cover to activists taking membership with a fee of Rs 100. As many as 685 persons took permanent membership of the Party paying Rs 1 lakh each. The amount will be utilised for the welfare of the activists. Mangalagiri, GD Nellore and Pedakurapadu constituencies stood in top three places with 71, 38 and 37 permanent members respectively, Naidu said. The membership enrolment should be completed by December 30 and cards will be issued to the members soon, the Chief Minister said. Asserting that the TDP created history with enrolling 76 lakh members, party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the fete was possible because of the involvement of entire cadre. Stating that 76.89 lakh people took party membership in the Telugu States so far, Naidu said that the people were taking membership due to the trust and faith in the Party. He said one in every four persons had opted to take the TDP membership in the State. During a teleconference on party membership drive with the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Parliament Party Presidents and village level activists of the TDP on Thursday, Naidu said that the strength of the TDP activists was proved once again through the membership drive. Over Rs 135 crore was spent from the welfare fund of the activists, Naidu said that TDP is only the party to extend Rs 5 lakh insurance cover to activists taking membership with a fee of Rs 100. As many as 685 persons took permanent membership of the Party paying Rs 1 lakh each. The amount will be utilised for the welfare of the activists. Mangalagiri, GD Nellore and Pedakurapadu constituencies stood in top three places with 71, 38 and 37 permanent members respectively, Naidu said. The membership enrolment should be completed by December 30 and cards will be issued to the members soon, the Chief Minister said. Asserting that the TDP created history with enrolling 76 lakh members, party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the fete was possible because of the involvement of entire cadre. Stating that 76.89 lakh people took party membership in the Telugu States so far, Naidu said that the people were taking membership due to the trust and faith in the Party. He said one in every four persons had opted to take the TDP membership in the State. During a teleconference on party membership drive with the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Parliament Party Presidents and village level activists of the TDP on Thursday, Naidu said that the strength of the TDP activists was proved once again through the membership drive. Over Rs 135 crore was spent from the welfare fund of the activists, Naidu said that TDP is only the party to extend Rs 5 lakh insurance cover to activists taking membership with a fee of Rs 100. As many as 685 persons took permanent membership of the Party paying Rs 1 lakh each. The amount will be utilised for the welfare of the activists. Mangalagiri, GD Nellore and Pedakurapadu constituencies stood in top three places with 71, 38 and 37 permanent members respectively, Naidu said. The membership enrolment should be completed by December 30 and cards will be issued to the members soon, the Chief Minister said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy calls for YSRCP protests against TDP-led NDA government for power tariff hike

VIJAYAWADA: YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called upon the party cadre to be the voice of people by channelising their dissent against the TDP-led NDA government for its failures on various fronts into an agitation. Addressing the local body representatives of Anantapur district on Thursday, he said, The public discontent against the Chandrababu Naidu government is mounting within six months in an unprecedented manner, and it is time we took the coalition failures to the people. Jagan outlined the YSRCPs roadmap for public protests with emphasis on issue-based campaigns. On December 27, the YSRCP will stage a protest against the rising electricity charges, urging people to burn inflated power bills as a symbolic act of dissent. On January 3, the party will stage a protest on pending Rs 3,900 crore fee reimbursement and hostel grant dues, which have disrupted the education of students. The burden on people has increased under the TDP regime. An additional burden of Rs 15,000 crore has been imposed on them in the form of increased electricity charges. These protests are not about politics, they are about standing by the people, and amplifying their voices, Jagan stressed. Mentioning the plight of farmers, Jagan explained how the NDA government had dismantled essential agricultural initiatives, like the free crop insurance scheme and Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs). Jagan reminded YSRCP activists that challenges are part of a leaders journey. Injustice, court cases, and even jail time are inevitable in the fight for peoples cause. I was jailed for 16 months, but emerged stronger to become the Chief Minister, he said, instilling confidence among YSRCP activists.

Andhra Pradesh HC questions inaction on former intelligence chief

VIJAYAWADA: On Thursday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court questioned the police department as to why senior IPS officer and former intelligence chief PSR Anjaneyulu, the Accused Number 2 in the Kadambari Jathwani harassment case. The court pointed out that the police officer had not even filed an anticipatory bail plea and asked why he was not arrested. Citing government orders suspending him, the Court said it must have been mentioned in the suspension order that the officer should be available for the case investigation. Was he available or had he fled, the court questioned. In response, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas said that as Anjanyeulu was not arrested, the other accused could not seek bail. He maintained that it is the discretion of the investigating officer as to whom to arrest and there is no need for arresting the accused in serial order. He said as part of the investigation, the case investigating officer will take the call to whom to arrest based on the evidence at hand. If the IO feels that arresting certain accused can unravel the facts, the arrest will be made, he added.

BRS leader Srinivas Goud charges TTD with bias; TDP MLA refutes allegation

VIJAYAWADA: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) senior leader and former minister V Srinivas Goud made shocking comments on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, accusing the TTD of discriminating against devotees from Telangana State. Speaking to mediapersons after having darshan of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala on Thursday, he said, The discrimination is more visible in the case of peoples representatives from Telangana. It was not the case earlier, during either the TDP or YSRCP regime. However, the difference in treatment is quite evident now. All are equal before the God, and such discrimination is not acceptable. The BRS leader urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to take note of it, and set right the things. The TTD should continue the facilities and privileges provided to peoples representatives from Telangana like in the past, he said. Taking serious exception to the comments of Srinivas Goud, Madakasira TDP MLA MS Raju dismissed them as meaning less. Every day, 80,000 to 90,000 people come to Tirumala, and there is no discrimination based on caste, creed or region. Srinivas Gouds comments reflect his frustration, and he is making such comments for his and his partys survival and publicity, the MLA said. Asserting that there was never discrimination of any kind in Tirumala, which gets lakhs of devotees from across the world, the TDP legislator said only those who go by regionalism make such comments. Before the God, all are equal, and making such comments at the abode of Lord is improper, Raju observed. The TDP MLA also found fault with the BRS leader for violating the rule that no politics should be spoken in Tirumala.

CPI urges CM Naidu to cancel 7000 MW SECI deal over alleged Adani bribery claims

VIJAYAWADA: CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna, along with assistant secretary M Nageswara Rao, met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, and urged him to cancel the agreement for 7000 MW with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). According to the press release issued by CPI, the Chief Minister had told the CPI leaders that the government would take a legal opinion on how to proceed with the consequences that might arise and the burden that the government might have to bear if the SECI deal was cancelled. In the representation to the Chief Minister, Ramakrishna stated that when it was clear from the reports of intelligence agencies in the USA that Adani Group bribed former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with Rs 1,750 crore for the energy agreement, and the latter accepted it, the government needs to take action to ensure transparency and justice to the people of the State. He said the energy sector was pushed into the doldrums in the last five years under the YSRCP regime, which translated into a Rs 32,166 crore burden on power consumers. As solar energy is produced in Rajasthan for use in AP, that State gets Rs 8,000 crore in tax revenue and 14,000 jobs, but AP stands to lose due to the pact, he said.

CM Naidu backs Amit Shah over Ambedkar remarks

VIJAYAWADA: As the Congress intensifies its criticism of the BJP over Amit Shahs remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar, TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is reportedly backing the senior BJP leader and Union Minister of Home Affairs. During a Cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Naidu is said to have criticised the Congress, claiming that it had humiliated Ambedkar and played a role in his election defeat. Sources told TNIE that Naidu believes it was the Congress party that discredited the architect of the Indian Constitution. With tensions escalating between the NDA and the INDIA bloc in Parliament, Naidus remarks are significant, especially considering that the TDP is the second-largest party in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. While not dwelling too much on the issue, Naidu advised his Cabinet colleagues to exercise restraint when addressing sensitive matters and avoid any statements that could be misinterpreted, a Minister informed this newspaper. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal sent a letter to NDA allies Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and urged them to mull over the issue. Kejriwal writes to Naidu He said the comments of Amit Shah and the BJP leadership on Ambedkar have deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of people across the country. Kejriwal urged them to reflect on the matter , writing, People are beginning to feel that those who revere Babasaheb can no longer support the BJP. Babasaheb is not just a leader, but the soul of our nation. After the BJPs statement (Chanting Ambedkar-Ambedkar has become a fashion these days), people expect you to seriously consider this issue.

AP Zeroes in on AI for Governance and Developing Own ChatGPT

Vijayawada : The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) extensively to improve administrative efficiency. This was stated on Thursday by K Dinesh Kumar, CEO of Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), while attending an AI workshop at Googles office in New Delhi. Recently, Google and RTGS signed an agreement to collaborate on AI initiatives. As part of this, Google hosted a workshop in Delhi to explore AI opportunities, use cases, and its integration within government departments. Dinesh Kumar and his team discussed AI's global advancements with Google officials, emphasizing its potential for transforming governmental operations. He chief minister Chandrababu Naidu wanted to use AI to make governance more transparent, efficient and accessible to the people. The state government aims to simplify the delivery of public services through AI, eliminating complex bureaucratic hurdles, he stated. Dinesh Kumar said the state's IT and RTG minister, Nara Lokesh, envisions a unified search bar for citizens, offering seamless access to all government services in one place. Additionally, the state government is working towards developing its own ChatGPT and leveraging blockchain technology to simplify the delivery of essential certificates such as birth, death, caste, income, residence and educational qualification certificates through digital services. The IT department is actively advancing these initiatives, with the government seeking Googles support to help achieve these goals, Dinesh Kumar added. Kumar said AI will bring transformative changes to governance. Google officials expressed their happiness in collaborating with Andhra Pradesh, and assured the state their commitment to the successful implementation of AI in government departments.

Jagan Urges Cadres to Protest Against Government

Vijayawada: YSR Congress president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged party members to channel public dissent against the coalition government into an organised agitation, highlighting its failures and serving as the voice of the people. Addressing local representatives from the Anantapur district on Thursday, he remarked that public discontent with the Chandrababu Naidu-led government has reached unprecedented levels within six months, making it crucial to take these issues to the people. Outlining the YSRCs roadmap for public protests, Jagan emphasised issue-based campaigns. On December 27, the party plans to protest against rising electricity charges by urging citizens to burn inflated bills as a symbolic act of dissent. On January 3, attention will shift to the pending Rs.3,900 crore in fee reimbursement and hostel grant dues, which have disrupted students education. These protests are not about politics; they are about standing by the people and amplifying their voices, Jagan stressed. He criticised the Telugu Desams governance, citing an additional Rs.15,000 crore burden on citizens due to increased electricity charges. Jagan also reminded party workers that adversity is part of leadership. Injustice, court cases, and even jail time are inevitable in the fight for peoples rights. I was jailed for 16 months but emerged stronger to become Chief Minister, he said, inspiring confidence among party members. Jagan dismissed Naidus Vision 2047 as a hollow distraction, contrasting it with YSRCs initiatives. While Naidu spins colorful tales, we have brought meaningful changestransforming government schools to rival private institutions, introducing cutting-edge courses, and revolutionizing healthcare through programs like the Family Doctor system, he explained. Reiterating the need for collective action, Jagan called for resilience and determination. The publics dissatisfaction with the TD government is evident. We must channel this sentiment into meaningful resistance. Together, we can transform this opposition into support for the YSRC, he concluded.

AP Cabinets Nod for Plans to Make Amaravati Best Capital City

Vijayawada: The state cabinet meeting held on Thursday gave the green light to various plans and projects aimed at fashioning Amaravati as the Best Capital City. The weekly meeting discussed 21 agenda items. Information minister Kolusu Parthasarathy explained the decisions at a press briefing later in the day. The government has decided to develop Capital Amaravati on international standards. As part of this, funds have been sanctioned for AP by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Also, HUDCO would provide a loan of Rs 11,000 crore and German finance firm KFW Rs 1000 crore, he said. The cabinet has approved a proposal of the commissioner and APCRDA to raise Rs 5,000 crore now out of a total Rs 16,000 crore for Amaravati development. It granted permission to CRDA to undertake 45 engineering works worth Rs 33,137.98 crore for construction of quarters for IAS officers, gazetted officers and class IV employees, and for flood mitigation works, roads and infrastructure. On paddy procurement, the minister said payment is being made to farmers within six to seven hours of the paddy procurement. Chief minister Chandrababu has directed officials to examine the possibilities of paying the money immediately after the grain is procured from the farmers. The cabinet noted that 44,195 projects with Rs 11,400.80 crore worth of works have not been started under Jal Jeevan Mission. Hence, it approved the cancellation of their tenders and a decision for re-calling fresh tenders. Permission has been given for 33,717 projects that are in various stages. Nod was given for the sanctioning of 14 posts in the AP Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. The cabinet noted that 48,899 applications were received for mapping/ slitting of joint land parcels for sub-division. Approval has been given for the subdivision of these parcels within the stipulated time and without paying the fee of Rs 550. The cabinet has approved a proposal to transfer 50.21 acres of government land to Registrar of the Acharya NG Ranga agricultural University in Tammiganipalle of Shantipuram mandal of Chittoor district free of cost. It approved a proposal to transfer five acres of land in B Tandrapadu village, rural mandal, Kurnool district, to the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on payment of a market price of Rs 61,23,516 per acre. The cabinet has approved the orders for exemption of user charges, rescheduling of loans and sanction of new loans up to Rs 50,000 to farmers in the flood-affected Vizianagaram, ASR, Kakinada, Eluru, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu and NTR districts. Nod was given for the proposal to create a supernumerary post in AP to continue the service of executive engineer, marketing, GV Ramesh Kumar, who was transferred to Telangana state under the state bifurcation act. The cabinet agreed for approval of the tender process towards completion of the essential balance works of Package 6A of the left main canal of the Polavaram. Nod was given for administrative approval to spend Rs 480.22 crore for the Handreeniva Sujala Sravanti Phase 2, CC lining works from the available savings funds of Rs 1929 crore. The cabinet agreed to a proposal for formation of a joint venture with NTPC through the Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NREDCAP) for the development of clean energy projects. Approval was given to a proposal to implement the mid-day meal scheme in 475 government junior colleges from December 2024, for the present and next financial years. The cabinet gave its nod for purchase and supply of textbooks, professional textbooks, competitive examination material, record books and notebooks under the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra initiative, from the academic year 2025-26 to the first and second-year students of government junior colleges, as well as Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, AP Model Schools, residential educational institutions and high school Plus educational institutions in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 32.45 crore. The cabinet has approved a proposal to continue the 679 supernumerary posts of deputy tahsildar (re-survey) created for a period of two years. By another decision, it agreed to allot another 10 acres of land to AIIMS Mangalagiri.

AP Government to Extend Honorariums to Imams of Low-income Mosques

Vijayawada : Minority welfare minister N.M.D. Farook on Thursday announced that the AP government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, will pay honorariums to imams and muezzens of mosques, which do not have an income of up to 5,000. He disclosed that the government has issued a GO maintaining the honorarium of imams at 10,000 and that of muezzens at 5,000. He said continuation of the honorarium will be applicable from April this year, which will cost the government 90 crore annually. Farook underlined that the coalition government is providing the highest priority for welfare of minorities in Andhra Pradesh. The minister maintained that during the previous government's tenure, welfare of minorities remained disrupted, leaving it to the chance of individuals. On the day, Farook also reviewed the functioning of fast track and special courts in the state. He held detailed discussions with law secretary G. Pratibha Devi and other key officials in this regard.

CM Naidu unhappy with performance of some ministers

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his disappointment over the failure of several in-charge ministers to visit their allotted districts to oversee matters there in the last six months. Reliable sources said that after the cabinet meeting, a discussion was done on the controversial statement of home Affairs Amit Shah in Delhi. It is learnt that central minister Rammohan Naidu explained the developments in Parliament to minister Lokesh over the phone. On this, Chandrababu Naidu has pulled up his ministers, saying they were not using technology properly. I am monitoring the performance of all the ministers, he said. I know how long a file is pending with the ministers, he said. The chief minister expressed his disappointment that the in-charge ministers have not yet gone to the respective districts. He advised ministers to study the government policies in depth. Some ministers confessed that they have not studied these at all. Meanwhile, the cabinet rejected a proposal to reduce the tenure of local body chairmen from four years to two and a half years. Municipal minister Narayana said the tenure of the present members will, thus, be completed in 79 municipalities by March next year. Naidu said a total of `31,000 crore was ready for the capitals construction. Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar urged the CM to take appropriate precautions on the construction of the assembly. The CM advised the ministers to go and see how assembly buildings are fashioned in various states.

Singapore Red Cross aid to flood victims

Vijayawada :Recognising the hardships faced by victims of the recent floods in Andhra Pradesh, especially in Vijayawada, Krishna, and Eluru districts, the Singapore Red Cross has offered assistance to those who lost their belongings due to floodwaters that remained stagnant for 10 to 15 days. In consultation with the Andhra Pradesh state branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, the Singapore Red Cross has committed to providing blankets, mosquito nets, and towels to 3,000 families. Satyanarayana Mylavarapu, the representative of the Singapore Red Cross, visited flood-affected villages in the NTR, Krishna, and Eluru districts and distributed aid to the affected families. He noted that the Singapore Red Cross also provided a significant number of oxygen concentrators to India during the Covid-19 pandemic. B.V.S. Kumar, state coordinator for Red Cross Blood Banks and Projects in Andhra Pradesh, accompanied the Singapore team, explaining the damages caused by the recent floods and detailing the rescue and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the AP Red Cross. Annamma, Coordinator for Disaster Management, and Madhu Babu, in charge of Youth and Junior Red Cross, also participated in the efforts.

Andhra Pradesh HC questions CID's actions in Mumbai actress case

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court questioned the CID about why the second accused in the case, former intelligence chief PSR Anjaneyulu, had not been arrested, despite not seeking anticipatory bail to prevent his arrest. A single-judge bench, headed by Justice VRK Krupa Sagar, heard the case on Thursday. Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas, appearing for the CID, submitted to the court that it is the prerogative of the investigating officer (IO) in a case to arrest the accused. He explained that if the IO believes that arresting a particular accused would help uncover facts, the IO would proceed with the arrest. The AG informed the court that the investigation was at a crucial stage and argued that granting anticipatory bail to the accused would hinder the inquiry. He requested the court to dismiss the accused's petitions for pre-arrest bail. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its verdict.

Lokesh stresses AP's goal to create 2 million jobs for youths in five years

VIJAYAWADA : Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh has stressed the government's goal to create two million jobs for youths in the next five years. With this end in view, the Society for Employment Generation and Enterprise Development (SEEDAP) has signed agreements with three prominent entities. The signing was done in the presence of Minister Lokesh at Undavalli on Thursday. SEEDAP chairman Deepak Reddy led the initiative with 2COMS Group, the Food Processing Society and Centurion Enterprises. The minister said the agreements aimed at fostering enterprise development, self-employment and increased income for economically disadvantaged families. He stressed the government's goal to create 2 million jobs for youths in the next five years. He highlighted SEEDAPs large-scale skill development programmes in rural areas and its efforts to facilitate overseas employment. SEEDAP has partnered with 2COMS Group to offer employment abroad in sectors like healthcare. Plans are to employ 2,000 persons over the next two years. The agreement includes skill development training and visa support for various fields, including nursing and mechatronics, with opportunities in Germany and Qatar. Additionally, SEEDAP has signed an agreement with Centurion to promote food processing industries in the state. The aim is to establish 30,000 such units by 2029. This initiative will also offer training to 679 District Resource Persons (DRPs) and provide skill training for youths in rural areas, targeting industries such as garments, smart agriculture and drone technology. The goal is to provide employment to 30,000 youths in the next two years.

AP Launches Exclusive Kreeda App for Sports

Vijayawada: In a first of its kind, the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) has designed an exclusive App for sports, Kreeda App. Its release was done here on Thursday by sports minister Ramprasad Reddy, SAAP chairman Ravi Naidu, sports secretary Vinay Chand, archer Jyothi Surekha and sports association leaders. Ramprasad said the alliance government gave sports top priority in Andhra Pradesh. The minister also unveiled the state's sports policy and said the government is committed to introducing new innovations in the sports sector by embracing modern technology. The new sports app was designed to provide comprehensive information related to sports associations, athletes and sporting events, he said. Ramprasad said it was for the first time in the country that AP has introduced a comprehensive sports policy aimed at future generations. It aims to encourage athletes and provide employment opportunities. He said, The state is also taking steps to ensure national-level encouragement for athletes, with plans to host the National Sports Competition in Amaravati in 2027. The government has launched the sports app and policy within six months of its term. The government is also focusing on integrating the education and sports departments to provide sports training to students at the elementary school level in rural areas. Nara Lokesh being the education minister, the sports sector would receive ample support, he said. The government is also working towards eliminating fake certificates in sports by leveraging technology to implement significant reforms. SAAP chairman Ravi Naidu termed the introduction of the sports app a historic step and stressed that digital certificates for athletes marked the dawn of a new era. He said the sports policy would help transform the state into a Sports Andhra Pradesh. The app will help identify deserving athletes and prevent the use of fake certificates. Sports secretary Vinay Chand said the government's support for sports through the new app was a significant step forward. The app will benefit coaches and athletes alike, he said. SAAP VC, PS Girisha, said the new sports policy will be a major boost to sports in the state. The governments announcement of Rs 7 crore in rewards for Telugu athletes winning medals at the Olympics is a great encouragement for sports.

Police forces conduct mock drill at Vijayawada railway station

Zika scare: 20 blood samples to be sent to NIV, Pune

Vijayawada: The Health Department would send 20 blood samples of a six-year-old boy who is suspected to be infected with Zika virus, and of his parents and their contacts, to the National Institute of Virology in Pune on Friday for detailed analysis. The results from there are expected in two to three days, officials said. The boy hails from Venkatapuram village of Marripadu mandal in Nellore district. The health authorities there are carrying out a survey to ascertain if there were any more cases of such fever. The freshwater mosquito called aedes aegypti causes zika fever through its bite during the day time. The Nellore district administration has roped in personnel from the panchayat raj and rural water supply departments to take up anti-larval measures, fogging operation and anti-malaria drive to keep a check on the mosquitoes. Sanitation is being strictly maintained in the village. Health and medical camps are being held in the village. Meanwhile, the health department is keeping a close watch on the developments related to Zika in Nellore district and are planning to initiate steps to deal with the situation, with more emphasis on maintenance of sanitation and hygiene. State health director Dr K Padmavathi said, We are closely monitoring the developments at a village in Nellore district. Samples will be sent on Friday. We expect the test reports in a day or two. We are not giving any state-wide alert as of now. Meanwhile, the health authorities say the boy is facing neurological issues and unable to identify the people, but is stable and undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai. The boy developed fever three days ago and was admitted to a local hospital. When he was shifted to Narayana Medical College in Nellore, they sent the boys blood samples to a private lab. Its findings confirmed that he was infected with Zika virus. He was shifted to a hospital in Chennai where his blood test reports turned negative to the Zika virus.

Andhra Pradesh: Two-Day Talk on Breaking the Silence Held

Vijayawada: The two-day international conference on Breaking the Silence: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Gender Exploitation and Resistance offered multifaceted insights into the issues of gender exploitation and resistance. Organised by SRM University-AP, the conference concluded on Thursday. The event attracted a diverse audience of academicians, experts, research scholars, and students from across the country and abroad. It featured talks by eminent academicians such as Prof. Anita Singh, department of English, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Prof. Rajinder Dudrah, Professor of Cultural Studies and Creative Industries, Birmingham City University; Prof. Geetanjali Gangoli, department of sociology, Durham University; Prof. Nalini Iyer, department of English, Seattle University; and Prof. Priyanka Tripathi, department of humanities and social sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Patna. The sessions explored themes such as gender and resistance, intersectionality, trauma, and survival. With five guest speakers, over 70 research paper presentations, and more than 140 participants, the conference provided diverse perspectives on gender exploitation and resistance. In his address, Prof. Vishnupad, Dean of the Easwari School of Liberal Arts, stated, Notwithstanding over 60 years of feminist movements and scholarship, gender asymmetry and violence remain persistent. Patriarchal structures and gender violence continue to be as rampant as they always were. The discussions at the conference addressed the numerous barriers within the system, encouraging participants to discuss, debate, and break the silence surrounding gender exploitation.

Breeding season begins for spot-billed pelicans at Uppalapadu Bird Protection Centre in Andhra

Two Inter-State Thieves Arrested in Suryapet

Suryapet: Suryapet Town-II police arrested two inter-state thieves on Thursday, recovering two stolen cars and 16 motorcycles from their possession. The accused were identified as Korapati Narsingh Rao (44) from Indiramma Nagar, Secunderabad, and Batha Prasad (39) from Bandaluppi, Andhra Pradesh. Presenting the suspects at a media conference, superintendent of police Sunpreet Singh revealed their modus operandi. The duo, who met through their real estate dealings, would hire cars and flee with them after intoxicating the driver. They would stop at isolated locations, offer liquor to the driver, and steal the vehicle when he was incapacitated. They also used duplicate keys to steal motorcycles. The arrests followed a complaint on December 16 from Marru Venkateshwarlu, who reported that two men stole his car during a trip from Suryapet to Vijayawada. He had offered them a ride, but they sped away with his car when he stopped to buy sweets on Vijayawadas outskirts. The duo was caught during a vehicle check in Suryapet Town-II limits on December 18. They confessed to multiple thefts across various police jurisdictions. Prasad was also found to be involved in two vehicle theft cases in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh High Court Affirms Lesbian Couple's Right to Live Together

AMARAVATI : In a big ruling, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has upheld the right of a lesbian couple to live together, affirming their autonomy in choosing their partners. The Court issued this decision while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Kavitha (name changed), one of the women, who claimed that her partner Lalitha (name changed) was being detained by her father against her will in Narsipatnam. The bench, consisting of Justices R Raghunandan Rao and K Maheswara Rao, directed Lalitha's parents not to interfere in their relationship, emphasizing that their daughter is an adult and has the right to make her own decisions. The couple has been living together in Vijayawada for the past year. The case came to light after Kavitha filed a missing person report, alleging that Lalitha had been taken against her will by her father. The police located Lalitha at her father's home and rescued her, but she was placed in a welfare home for 15 days, despite her repeated requests to return to her partner. Lalitha insisted that she is an adult and wished to live with Kavitha. In September, Lalitha lodged a complaint against her parents, claiming they were harassing her over her relationship with Kavitha and other personal matters. After police intervention, Lalitha reportedly returned to Vijayawada and continued her work, often meeting her partner. However, in a further escalation, Lalithas father forcibly took her away from her home again. Kavitha alleged that her partner was unlawfully detained by her father. Lalitha's father also filed a complaint with the police, accusing Kavitha and her family of abducting his daughter. During the court proceedings, Kavitha's lawyer, Jada Sravan Kumar, cited previous Supreme Court rulings, arguing that Lalitha had clearly expressed her desire to live with Kavitha and had no intention of returning to her parents. Kumar also informed the court that Lalitha wanted to withdraw the complaint she had filed against her parents if she was allowed to stay with Kavitha. The police presented Lalitha before the High Court on Tuesday, following the Courts order. The Bench also stated that no criminal charges should be filed against Lalitha's family, given that she wished to withdraw her earlier complaint.

DCA officials raid two medical shops in Hyderabad for operating without license

Hyderabad: Officials of Drugs Control Administration (DCA) raided Sri Sai Bhavani Medical and General Stores at Vampuguda in Kapra, Medchal-Malkajgiri district and Banda Maisamma clinic at Banda Maisamma Nagar in Hyderabad for operating illegally without a valid drug license. During the two raids, the DCA officers detected unauthorized stocking of huge quantities of medicines for sale. A total of 76 varieties of medicines including antibiotics, steroids, antiulcer drugs, IV fluids, antihypertensive drugs, etc. were found stocked for sale at the two shops. The officials seized the stock worth Rs. 35,000 during the raids. The officers lifted the samples for analysis. Further investigation would be carried out for taking necessary action as per the law against all the offenders. Wholesalers and dealers, who supply medicines to such unlicensed entities stocking and selling drugs without a drug license, are also punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and stringent action would be taken against them. The wholesalers and dealers should mandatorily ensure that the recipient entities hold a valid drug license before supplying medicines to them. The DCA issues drug licenses for the stocking and selling of medicines in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Stocking drugs for sale without a drug license is punishable under the Act, with imprisonment for up to five years. The DCA officials of Khammam zone detected an ayurvedic medicine Kondapindi leaf powder, with a misleading claim on its label that it treats kidney stones which is a contravention of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The medicine was manufactured by Sri Amulya Herbals at Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada. Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act-1954 prohibits advertisement of certain drugs for treatment of certain diseases and disorders. No person should take part in publication of advertisement regarding the diseases/disorders indicated under the Act.

AP: Leopard Dies After Being Trapped in Krishna District

Vijayawada: A leopard was found dead in Metlapalli village of Gannavaram mandal in Krishna district, after being caught in a trap set for wild pigs to protect crops. A local farmer had first spotted the leopards movements over a month ago. However, when he informed fellow villagers, his concerns were dismissed as a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, the leopard succumbed to injuries after being trapped. Upon receiving information about the incident, forest and police department officials visited the site and began collecting details. The authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the animals death.

Five accused get bail in Paritala ravi murder case after 18 years

VIJAYAWADA: The AP High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to five accused in the sensational Paritala Ravindra murder case. The quintet include P Narayana Reddy (A 3), V Rekhamaiah (A4), Bhajana Ranganayakulu (A5), A Kondaiah (A6) and Medimi Obi Reddy (A8). The accused were granted bail after 18 years. The High Court directed the Anantapur district magistrate court to ensure that the five accused appear before the jurisdictional police station house officer on every Monday. The court made it clear that their bail will be cancelled if they commit any crimes or indulge in anti-social activities. It may be recalled that former minister and TDP MLA Paritala Ravindra alias Paritala Ravi was shot dead in broad daylight while he was coming out of the party office at Penukonda in Anantapur district on January 24, 2005. His gunman and one of his aides were also killed in the incident. The CBI investigated the case, and concluded that the age-old rivalry between the families of Paritala Ravi and Congress leader Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy (Maddelacheruvu Suri) led to the murder, and that the latter hatched a conspiracy while he was undergoing sentence in the Jubilee Hills bomb blast case of 1997. The probe further revealed that Julakanti Srinivas Reddy (known as Moddu Srinu), P Narayana Reddy and Rekhamaiah shot Paritala Ravindra. In August 2011, the Anantapur sessions court convicted eight persons in the murder case, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Cases against the three prime accused Suri, Moddu Srinu, and Tagarakunta Konda Reddy were abated as they were murdered in separate incidents during the case trial. Moddu Srinu was murdered in Anantapur jail on November 9, 2008. Suri was killed by his aide Bhanu Kiran on January 4, 2011 in Hyderabad over a property dispute.

Heavy rainfall likely in parts of State for next two days, officials on alert

VIJAYAWADA: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Nellore, Tirupati, Kakinada, Anakapalli, and Visakhapatnam, indicating the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Additionally, a yellow alert has been sounded for Krishna, NTR, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Vizianagaram districts, with forecast for moderate to heavy rainfall for the next two days. A low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal over southwest Bay of Bengal with the associated cyclonic circulation extending upto 5.8 km above mean sea level has become more marked and now lies over the same region. The IMD, in a report, stated that it is likely to move nearly northwestwards towards north of Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast during the next 24 hours. Under its influence, heavy rainfall is predicted in parts of AP on December 19 and 20. The department also issued a warning of strong winds, with speeds ranging from 35-45 km/hour, along the coast. According to the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) in-charge director KVS Srinivas, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to lash Vizag city and surrounding coastal regions starting from Thursday. The officials have further advised fishermen on the South Coast to refrain from venturing into the sea due to rough conditions. Vizianagaram Collector Dr BR Ambedkar instructed official machinery to take steps to mitigate crop loss. On Wednesday, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and other parts of Central Coastal AP experienced moderate to heavy rainfall.

AP seeks Rs 70,000 crore from Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission

VIJAYAWADA: Blaming the previous YSRCP dispensation for the tardy implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the State, Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan said though the Centre sanctioned Rs 4,787 crore works under the JJM for Andhra Pradesh, the previous government failed to make use of the funds because of the non-release of the matching grant. Stressing the need to focus on development of permanent water sources while taking up the JJM works, Pawan Kalyan said the previous government laid emphasis on depending on borewells, instead of supplying water from reservoirs and other sources to the people. People were complaining that though pipelines were laid, no water was flowing. The YSRCP regime had sent proposals worth Rs 26,000 under the JJM to the Centre, while Kerala, which is a small State, submitted proposals to the tune of Rs 45,000 crore, he pointed out. Revealing that a representation was made to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil seeking Rs 70,000 crore for the State under the JJM, he said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be submitted in January 2025. The Centre had found fault with the YSRCP government for neglecting the implementation of the JJM. Though it was designed to provide 95.44 lakh tap connections under 38 major reservoirs, the previous government took up the borewell digging works ignoring the JJM guidelines, the Deputy Chief Minister said. Though Rs 4,000 crore was spent on borewells, it yielded no result as it is not possible to supply continuous drinking water depending on them. Thus, Rs 4,000 crore was misused by the previous YSTCP regime, he explained. Revealing that he is receiving complaints from people about the drinking water shortage during his district visits, Pawan Kalyan said he is keen on providing safe drinking water to the people. Every individual in rural areas should be supplied 55 litres of water a day on an average. Hence, officials should work in this regard, he asserted.

Investment Tracker to monitor setting up of units

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad has revealed that efforts are being made to ensure the timely establishment of industries in the State through continuous monitoring via a digital platform called Investment Tracker. Reviewing the State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC) project monitoring mechanism at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Secretary assessed the steps being taken to monitor investment proposals after SIPC and State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meetings. He emphasised that since some departments lack district-level officers, the General Manager of the District Industries Centre should act as the nodal officer, with officials from relevant departments continuously monitoring projects. He stated that investment proposals for setting up various units should be presented to the District Industrial Promotion and Exports Committee (DIEPC), chaired by district collectors. Steps should be taken to obtain approvals and facilitate the timely establishment of industries. The Chief Secretary noted that the Investment Tracker is an effective tool for tracking projects from the DPR stage to their grounding. The platform allows departments to identify and address bottlenecks, provides project updates, and enables investors to check progress. The proposed project needs to be monitored from time to time through the Investment Tracker system and steps should be taken to ensure that the respective units are established in a timely manner after getting the approval of SIPC and SIPB. The Chief Secretary directed the line departments of 14 departments in the State, including I&I, IT&C, Food Processing, Nedcap, etc., to continuously monitor the Investment Tracker system and take steps to establish the respective units in a timely manner after the SIPB approval. He also directed them to submit reports on this once a week. Similarly, the Chief Secretary asked the district collectors at the district level to monitor the e-Tracker dashboard from time to time. Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayanand, NREDCAP MD KVN Chakradharababu, Director (Industries) Abhishikth Kishore and JD (Industries) Ramalingeswara Raju attended the meeting.

CM Naidu set to visit Krishna village on December 20

VIJAYAWADA: Krishna District Collector DK Balaji has directed officials to ensure seamless arrangements for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidus visit to Krishna district on Friday. The CM is scheduled to participate in multiple programmes at Ganguru village in Penamaluru mandal. His itinerary includes inspecting the paddy procurement process, attending a revenue conference, visiting the Rythu Seva Kendra, and inspecting Venkatadri Oils Private Limited Rice Mill. MLA Bode Prasad will accompany Naidu during the visit. The Collector held a preparatory meeting at the Rythu Seva Kendra on Wednesday with MLA Bode Prasad, Joint Collector Geetanjali Sharma, and officials from various departments, including Revenue, Civil Supplies, Agriculture, Panchayat Raj, and R&B. He emphasised the need for interactions with farmers to gather feedback on facilities at the Rythu Seva Kendra and the paddy procurement process. He instructed Panchayat Raj and R&B officials to repair roads along the CMs route and make arrangements for a helipad.

Lanka Dinakar seeks substantial budgetary aid for Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: Lanka Dinakar, Chairperson of the Twenty Points Programme Implementation for Viksit Bharat 2047 and Swarna Andhra 2047, has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging substantial allocations for Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget 2025-26. Dinakar proposed Rs 12.50-13 lakh crore for capital expenditure and Rs 2-2.5 lakh crore in long-term interest-free loans to enable the State to build revenue-generating assets aligned with national goals. He also sought special loans for irrigation projects in backward districts to ensure sustainable water use and economic growth. For MGNREGA, Dinakar suggested Rs 1 lakh crore allocation, Aadhaar-linked job cards, and integration with NFSA. He recommended scheme-specific identity cards for better beneficiary identification. Highlighting Andhra Pradeshs ongoing development, he requested funds for Amaravati and the Polavaram Project, citing previous allocations of Rs 15,000 crore and Rs 12,157 crore, respectively. Dinakar called for compensation for Prakasam district, declared backward in 2024, and urged expedited industrial corridor completion, including Donakonda, Machilipatnam, and Hindupur. Advocating renewable energy and manufacturing under the PLI scheme, he sought Rs 50,000 crore under Purvodaya for Eastern states, including AP. Dinakar reiterated his commitment to the vision of inclusive growth through Viksit Bharat 2047.

APSRTC to deploy more e-buses to cut running costs

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Chairman Konakalla Narayana announced plans to introduce more battery-operated buses to reduce vehicular pollution and cut operational costs. Speaking to mediapersons in Machilipatnam on Wednesday, he outlined the corporations strategy to replace all diesel-operated buses with electric ones by 2029. Currently, APSRTC operates over 10,000 buses, including 2,500 contract-hired vehicles. The State government is focused on transitioning to cleaner energy in transportation, with a target to completely phase out diesel buses for electric ones by 2029, Narayana said. He emphasised improving passenger amenities at bus stations, stating that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is keen on promoting electric buses in the State. With the Central governments support, we are confident that battery-operated buses will help the debt-ridden APSRTC turn profitable while significantly reducing pollution, he added. The chairman also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for introducing night-out allowances for crew members who halt at depots overnight. He highlighted the governments employee-friendly policies, including its decision not to increase bus fares, ensuring passengers are not burdened. Narayana reaffirmed the TDP-led NDA governments commitment to employee welfare and sustainable transportation development in the State.

Ultrasound centre inspection target far below

VIJAYAWADA: Tirupati district has emerged as a frontrunner in implementing the ban on prenatal sex determination, achieving 90% of its target, followed by YSR Kadapa and Kakinada districts at 89% and 88%, respectively. However, despite legal prohibitions, reports indicate that some centres continue to disclose the sex of fetuses, often leading to female feticide. Statewide performance in inspecting registered ultrasound scanning centres from April 2024 to till date has been dismal, with only 41% of the inspection target met. Officials revealed that against an Expected Level of Performance (ELOP) of 10,421 inspections, only 4,239 were conducted across the State. Currently, 3,908 ultrasound scanning centres are registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act across the State. To address these lapses, health officials have set stringent district-level inspection targets and stressed frequent monitoring of scanning centres. From April 1 to December 13, Tirupati district inspected 573 of its 640 centres. In stark contrast, Vizag inspected only 53 out of 1,032 centres, meeting a mere 5% of its target. Border areas remain particularly vulnerable to illegal practices, prompting focused interventions. A total of 91 inspections and 21 decoy operations were conducted across 92 border scanning centres by September 2024. Additionally, 489 decoy operations were carried out statewide between April and November 2024. Under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, determining and disclosing the sex of a fetus is a criminal offense punishable by up to three years of imprisonment and fines up to Rs 5 lakh. Licenses of centres violating the act are also revoked. Despite these provisions, AP ranks 10th nationally in filing cases against illegal disclosures, with 22 cases registered this year. Of these, 17 ended in acquittals, five are ongoing, and one led to a conviction. Dr KVNS Anil Kumar, Assistant Director of Health and Family Welfare, underscored the importance of stricter enforcement to combat illegal practices. He emphasised the implementation of quarterly performance reviews and issuing notices to underperforming officials. He noted staffing challenges, including vacancies for DMHOs and DEOs, but assured that measures are being taken to meet monthly targets.

CISF to take over security at Vijayawada International Airport

At present Special Protection Force is manning security and the Central Industrial Security Force will take over security of the airport soon, says Krishna SP R. Gangadhar Rao

DGP praises Krishna police for settling 4,436 cases in National Lok Adalat

State-of-the-art BC Study Circle coming up in Amaravati, says Minister Savitha

To enable youth from Backward Classes sections to aspire and crackthe Civil Services examinations, free coaching is being offered to 110 candidates in the first phase, says the Minister

YSRCP govt. misutilised 4,000 crore under Jal Jevan Mission, says Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh has urged the Centre to extend JJM for a year and sought 70,000 crore, Deputy CM says, adding that the DPR will be submitted by January 2025

Narayana Promises Petrol Bunks in all 123 Civic Bodies Through Deal with OMCs

Vijayawada: Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has promised petrol bunks in all 123 municipal bodies in the state through the signing of a pact with the oil marketing companies. The minister was inaugurating a petrol bunk set up at a cost of Rs.1.96 crore by the Rajamahendravaram municipal corporation (RMC) with support from Indian Oil in Rajamahendravaram. He called for a plan of action to set up petrol bunks in all municipal bodies, by drawing inspiration from RMC. RMC used to spend Rs.25.54 lakh per month on fuels for its vehicles. With the setting up of the petrol bunk now, it would help save some money. Expectations are that the new petrol bunk would have a turnover of `three lakh per day. The minister slammed the previous YSR Congress government for its failure to release Rs.3,200 crore to the municipal bodies, as the amount had been collected in the form of taxes. The present government, he said, has already released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission funds to the civic bodies and would release the second instalment shortly. The minister also took part in a meeting on the preparations for the Godavari Pushkaralu, 2027 in Rajamahendravaram. The meeting was attended by East Godavari Collector Prasanthi, other officials and local public representatives. Narayana reviewed the progress of the works related to drinking water, drainage system etc. He said the RMC made a plea for Rs.1,587.80 crore while Kovvur division sought Rs.280.90 crore for development works in connection with the Godavari Pushkaralu. The proposals would be discussed in the presence of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. The minister proposed a waste-to-wealth project, by generating power from municipal waste. The plant would be set up in between Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada. He promised to set up a similar project between Kadapa and Anantapur. We would call tenders for setting up a waste to energy plant between Nellore and Gudur in 15 days, he said. Waste to energy projects, he said, are running successfully in Guntur, Mangalagiri and Visakhapatnam. The minister said nearly 7,000 tonnes of waste was being collected from the states civic bodies every day.

AP police shine at 25th all India police lawn tennis meet

Vijayawada :The Andhra Pradesh Police have made their mark in the 25th All India Police Lawn Tennis Competition, securing a silver medal in performance across multiple categories. The competition, organised by the central industrial security force, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, over five days and featured 24 teams from across the country. An eight-member team from the AP Police, led by IG, KV Mohan Rao (sports), excelled in the tournament, achieving the second place in Open Singles, Open Doubles and Veteran Doubles categories. DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao praised their performance.

CM Naidu to attend Revenue Sadassu in Ganguru on Dec 20

Vijayawada :Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would participate in the Revenue Sadassu at Ganguru in Penamaluru mandal, Krishna district, on December 20. He would interact with the public and discuss the revenue issues at the programme. Revenue Sadassulus started on Dec 6 for all 17,404 villages in the state, which is attempting to redress revenue-related grievances like land encroachment. Naidu said these conferences would serve as a platform for citizens to file complaints. These can be registered online on the spot and receipts will be issued immediately. Each complaint will have a clear resolution timeline, ensuring timely action, he said. A total of 94,017 grievances were received from 26 districts till Wednesday. On Wednesday, 5859 complaints were received on Record Of Rights (RoR), 767 relating to revenue (mee seva), 670 for resurvey, 597 on assignment of government land, 175 on government lands encroachment, 162 on assignment of house sites, 161 on caste verification certificates, 136 complaints on land inclusion/removal from 22A prohibition on lands, 133 grievances on agency land problems and 1887 complaints relating to various other issues. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Visakhapatnam North MLA, participated in the Sadassu at Dondaparthi village of Seettammadhara mandal. Bojjala Venkata Sudhir, MLA from Srikalahasti participated in the Sadassu at Muchivolu village in Tirupati district. MLC Ramgopal Reddy participated in the Sadassu in Pulivendula village in Pulivendula village of Kadapa district. MLA Vara Prasad was in Sivakodu village of Razole mandal of BR Ambedkar Konaseema district. MLA Yanamala Divya from Tuni participated in the event at Valluru village of Tuni mandal of Kakinada district. MLA Kamineni Srinivasrao from Kaikaluru participated in the Sadassu at Vaivaka village of Mudinepalli mandal in Eluru district. Naidu will attend the Revenue Saddassu at Ganguru on Dec 20 and observe the ground situation. As part of his district tour, Naidu will also review the paddy procurement process at the Venkatadri Oils Rice Mill near the Rythu Seva Kendra. Collector Balaji said the chief minister would interact with farmers on paddy procurement and assess the facilities provided by Rythu Seva Kendras. The CM would visit the rice mill and then proceed to the revenue conference at Ganguru village.

Kakinada man caught attempting to steal gold using a dummy pistol

Vijayawada : A man was apprehended in Kakinada on Wednesday after attempting to steal gold ornaments from a jewellery shop using a dummy pistol. According to I Town police, the man entered a jewellery shop under the pretext of selecting ornaments for purchase. While pretending to browse, he grabbed some items, brandished a pistol to threaten the staff, and attempted to flee. However, shop employees, with the assistance of traffic police, managed to chase and capture him. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the police. The police have taken him into custody and are interrogating him to uncover details of his background and tThe police have taken him into custody and are interrogating him to uncover details of his background and the attempted theft, including the quantity of gold he tried to steal.he attempted theft, including the quantity of gold he tried to steal. The jewellery shop authorities are also reviewing records to ascertain the exact amount of gold involved in the incident. Interestingly, the pistol used by the culprit to intimidate staff was discovered to be a dummy. Man caught attempting to steal gold using a dummy pistol

AP launched civil services study circle for BC candidates

Vijayawada : In a significant move aimed at empowering youth from backward classes (BC), minister for BC welfare S. Savitha announced the launch of a free Civil Services coaching centre in conjunction with the BC Study Circle. This initiative, targeting the competitive civil services landscape, aims to provide quality training comparable to that offered by corporate coaching centres. On Wednesday, Minister Savitha, along with several MLAs and BC corporation chairpersons, inaugurated the BC civil services study circle at Gollapudi in Vijayawada Rural Mandal in NTR district. First, she paid a rich tribute to Mahatma Jyothiba Pule, followed by the inauguration of digital classrooms, a digital library, and group discussion rooms. Savitha stated that the state government had established the civil services study Circle for BC candidates, offering facilities comparable to corporate study circles. She encouraged aspiring civil servants to take full advantage of this initiative. The temporary study circle will be based at BC Bhavan, and later, a permanent building will be constructed in Amaravati with the support of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. She further highlighted that the study circle aims to provide equal opportunities to BC candidates, enabling them to compete effectively in civil service exams. A total of 100 candidates were shortlisted out of 600 applicants for the Civil Services Coaching. The state government is spending Rs 2 lakh per aspirant, she added. The Minister also announced the establishment of free DSC coaching centres in all 26 districts and revealed plans to start online DSC coaching soon. Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad, Tiruvuru MLA Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao, BC welfare department director Dr A. Mallikarjuna, secretary Pola Bhaskar, and various BC corporation chairpersons attended the event.

Kurnool Tops in Lok Adalat Case Disposal

Kurnool: District SP G. Bindu Madhav announced that Kurnool district police disposed of 7,913 cases in the National Mega Lok Adalat, ranking first in the state out of 17,138 cases resolved across Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted that cases eligible for Lok Adalat resolution were identified in advance at various police stations, with effective coordination between the complainants and involved parties. The initiative saved valuable court time and helped resolve minor disputes through mutual compromises. SP Madhav encouraged officers and personnel to continue this collaborative approach in the future. District SP Bindu Madhav and other officials received appreciation from the DGP on Wednesday. Additionally, Director General of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao presented the ABCD Award to Kurnool district police during a ceremony in Vijayawada. The award recognised the police's skillful investigation into the murder of a young man on July 28, 2024, in Chinna Hothuru village, Aspari mandal, Kurnool district. The Andhra Pradesh Police Department presents the ABCD Award quarterly to honour exceptional crime investigations across the state.

Bad Weather and Navy Ops Disrupt Flight Services in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Bad weather and Indian Navy operations caused major disruptions at Visakhapatnam Airport on Wednesday. Airport officials reported that three flights were delayed, while three others had to be diverted to different locations. Airport director S. Raja Reddy reported that the delayed flights included the Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad flight (6E307), which was delayed by 1 hour and 10 minutes; the Bangalore-Visakhapatnam-Bangalore flight (6E218), which was delayed by 1 hour; and the Chennai-Visakhapatnam-Chennai flight (6E845), which experienced a 45-minute delay. The Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam flight was diverted to Vijayawada due to unfavourable weather conditions, specifically cloud patches in the approach area. The Delhi-Visakhapatnam flight was redirected to Shamshabad Airport in Hyderabad for the same reason. Furthermore, the Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam flight was diverted to Hyderabad due to low visibility at Visakhapatnam Airport. Raja Reddy stated that, apart from weather-related issues, the delays were exacerbated by construction activities conducted by the Indian Navy at both ends of the runway. This situation has led to the unavailability of the Instrument Landing System, further complicating flight operations. Passengers have been advised to stay updated on flight schedules and plan accordingly to minimise disruptions. Raja Reddy said, We are working to address the issues and ensure smoother operations moving forward.

Telugu inscription of Bana King found at Pulivendula

Vijayawada : An inscription attributed to Bana king Devalayaraju, engraved on a slab depicting an image of Nandi, has been discovered at the site of an old sub-treasury office in Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district. The inscription, written in Telugu, features characters from the eighth-ninth century CE. According to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) director (epigraphy) K. Munirathnam Reddy, it records a gift of 100 marutars of paddy fields (pannasa), measured in rajamana, to an individual named Charikamaya by the Bana king. The discovery was made with the assistance of M. Ashok Kumar from Pulivendula and Vempalli Gangadhar from Kadapa.

Andhra Pradesh Govt. Prevented 780 Child Marriages, Says Minister Sandhyarani

Vijayawada: The TDP-led NDA alliance government has prevented 780 child marriages in special drives organised from July 2024 onwards, women, child and tribal welfare Minister Gummidi Sandhyarani has underlined. Reviewing the officials functioning of the women, child and tribal welfare departments on Wednesday, she pointed out that monitoring committees have been established to prohibit childhood marriages. The special drives similarly rescued 371 children from child labour and begging. The review meeting focused on achievements of the coalition government in AP since taking over power in June 2024. Sandhyarani highlighted several accomplishments. She underlined that Rs 52.68 crore have been allocated for constructing toilets in 9,246 Anganwadi centres (AWCs) and creating drinking water facilities at 11,403 buildings. Letters have been sent to CMDs of DISCOMs for providing electric connections to 7,387 AWCs. Rs 40.54 crore have been released to improve facilities at 8,853 Anganwadi centres, such as nutrition gardens, rainwater harvesting, RO water purifiers, play equipment and LED screens. The minister said 80,194 growth monitoring devices worth Rs 10.18 crore have been procured to track children's nutritional status. Under the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP), the AP cabinet has approved supply of efficient induction stoves and cookware for 11,000 AWCs through EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited). Rs 4.76 crore have been released for procuring 34,66,790 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) books, aimed at enhancing literacy and numeracy skills among children aged between 36 years. Sandhyarani said 139 new AWCs have been launched under PM JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) to improve living conditions of vulnerable tribal groups in districts like Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru, Manyam and Srikakulam. Total 5,98,632 community-based events have been organised at all Anganwadi centres to monitor children's growth. For anaemia prevention, nutritional supplements like moringa and curry leaf powders have been supplied to all AWCs and beneficiaries homes. The minister mentioned that Rs 6.14 crore has been allocated for providing relief and rehabilitation to 1,296 victims of violence. Secretary (Womens Development and Child Welfare) A. Surya Kumari and director M. Venugopal Reddy were among the officials who participated in the meeting.

AP introduces investment tracker to fast-track industrial projects

Vijayawada: To ensure timely establishment of industries in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has introduced a digital platform called Investment Tracker for continuous project monitoring. Chief secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad announced this during a review meeting of the State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC) project monitoring mechanism at the State Secretariat on Wednesday. The chief secretary emphasised that the general manager of the district industries centre will serve as the nodal officer in districts lacking field-level officers, ensuring continuous monitoring of investment proposals. All proposals will be presented to the District Industrial Promotion and Exports Committee (DIEPC), chaired by the district collectors, for swift approvals and timely establishment of industrial units. Neerabh Kumar Prasad highlighted the significance of the Investment Tracker, describing it as an effective tool to monitor projects from the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage to completion. The system allows officials to identify bottlenecks, update progress, and resolve issues efficiently. It also enables investors to track the status of their projects. The e-tracker system will integrate inputs from various departments, including I&I, IT&C, Food Processing, and Nedcap, and mandates weekly progress reports. District collectors are instructed to regularly monitor the eTracker dashboard. Special chief secretary energy K. Vijayanand, Nedcap MD K.V.N. Chakradharababu, Director of industries Abhishikth Kishore, JD Industries Ramalingeswara Raju, and other officials participated in the meeting, reinforcing the states commitment to fast-tracking industrial growth through data-driven monitoring.

Chittoor police bags award for best crime detection

Tirupati: The Chittoor district police have been honoured with the prestigious Award for Best Crime Detection (ABCD) by the Andhra Pradesh police for their swift investigation and resolution of a high-profile ATM theft case. The case, which occurred on July 7, 2024, in Gudipala Mandal, involved an inter-state criminal. Swift action and strategic use of modern technology by the Chittoor sub-division's West Circle Police led to the arrest of the suspect within a record time. This achievement secured them the first prize in the ABCD awards, which are presented every quarter to recognise outstanding crime detection across the state. The award ceremony took place at the DGP office in Vijayawada, where the director general of police, C.H. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, presented the honour in presence of additional DGP CID, Ravi Shankar, and IG law & order, Srikanth. Chittoor superintendent of police, V.N. Manikanta Chandolu, along with former West CI Ravishankar Reddy and technical team members Devarajulu (ASI), Gopi, and Naveen, received the award, which included a cash prize of 1 lakh. The DGP praised the efforts of the officials. He commended the Chittoor district police for their skill and dedication, emphasising their role as a model for crime detection in the state.

Plying of Tourism Boats to Papikondalu Suspended Due to Inclement Weather

Vijayawada: The operation of tourism boats on the Godavari river, from Gandi Pochamma ferry point to Papikondalu, has been suspended from December 19 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Rampachodavaram sub-collector K.R. Kalpashree issued a notice on Wednesday stating that, as the depression in the South Bay of Bengal was expected to intensify and the low pressure system was likely to move towards Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, there would be thunderstorms, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall in the Godavari river area from Thursday onwards. As a precautionary measure, all boating activities have been suspended. The sub-collector also called for close monitoring to ensure no boats are deployed on the Godavari river, as per the control room staff's directions. Meanwhile, boat operators have raised concerns, stating that according to the norms, they can operate boats unless the water level exceeds 30 metres with a discharge of five lakh cusecs at the Polavaram project. They noted that the current water discharge is less than one lakh cusecs and questioned why their boats are not allowed to operate, especially during the festive season. They argue that only heavy rainfall in the catchment areas would significantly raise the rivers water level, and short local rainfall would not cause alarming increases. Operators have expressed that the uncertainty surrounding boat operations on the Godavari to Papikondalu will negatively affect tourism and have called for state government intervention to properly assess weather forecasts and river conditions before imposing such restrictions.

Police Commissioner reviews arrangements for Bhavani Deeksha atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada

YSRC govt. misused Rs 4,000 crore in Jal Jeevan Mission: Pawan Kalyan

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan alleged that the previous government misused Rs 4,000 crore in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. The officials laid the pipelines without identifying from where the water would be sourced. Pawan Kalyan was speaking at the Jal Jeevan Mission state-level workshop held by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitary departments in Vijayawada. The Deputy CM said that their government had urged the Union Minister CR Patil to sanction Rs 70,000 crores for the Jal Jeevan Mission, after coming to power. The Union Minister asked officials to submit the detailed project report (DPR). The DPR would be submitted to the Union Minister by the end of January. The Jal Jeevan Mission would be strengthened. Priority would be given for resolving the drinking water problem. Modi has a dream to supply 55 lt of water on an average to every individual. The Mission was launched with an aim to supply water to every body continuously, Pawan Kalyan said.

4,000 Crore Misused in Jal Jeevan Mission during YSRC govt, alleges Pawan

Vijayawada : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has accused the YS Jagan led previous government of misusing Rs. 4,000 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He criticized the administration for laying water pipelines without first identifying the water sources. Speaking at a state-level workshop organized by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department on the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Vijayawada, Pawan Kalyan said the state government, after coming to power, had requested the Centre to sanction Rs. 70,000 crore for the mission. He mentioned that Union Minister CR Patil had been approached in this regard and advised to provide detailed proposals. We will finalize the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the end of January and submit the proposal to the Jal Shakti Minister. Strengthening the Jal Jeevan Mission and addressing the water problems faced by many people is our top priority. Prime Minister Modis vision is to provide every person with 55 liters of clean water per day. The Jal Jeevan Mission was initiated with the goal of ensuring uninterrupted water supply for everyone, Pawan Kalyan stated.

Kakinada rice millers approach HC to allow them to load parboiled rice onto Stella L Panama

VIJAYAWADA: Seeking permission from the Kakinada port authorities to allow them to load parboiled rice onto the West Africa bound Stella L Panama, several rice mill owners approached the High Court on Tuesday. They filed three different petitions, in which they sought the court intervention to allow them to load the parboiled rice from the barge onto the ship. Chitra Agri Exports MD KV Bhaskara Reddy, Padmasri Rice Mill MD Pothamsetti Gangi Reddy and Surya Rice Mill MD Pothamsetti Viswanath Reddy filed the petitions in the court. The petitioners counsel contended that the rice millers are incurring a loss of Rs 4.2 lakh a day due to the delay and the unilateral decisions of the port authorities. Hearing the petitions, Justice Nimmagadda Venkateswarlu directed the officials to furnish the details of export licence of millers, powers of the authorities in preventing the millers from loading the parboiled rice and other details. The court adjourned the hearing to December 19, directing the Additional Advocate General (AAG) Ivana Sambasiva Rao to furnish full details.