Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav requests GST Council to impose flood cess

Payyavula Keshav noted that the proposed cesswould not impact the poor and the middle class but help fund the relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-affected areas

Action plan to put Guntur on top in growth

GUNTUR: As per the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision, all required action will be taken to implement Central schemes effectively and put Guntur district on top in both welfare and development, said 20-Point Programme Chairman Lanka Dinakar. He along with Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, held a review meeting on Central schemes here on Saturday. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Viksit Bharat 2047 can only be achieved by realising CM Chandrababu Naidus Swarna Andhra Vision. He also mentioned that when the Centre allocated `540 crore for the Underground Drainage scheme in the Guntur Municipal Corporation in 2016, due to the negligence of the previous regime, the works came to a halt. An action plan with revised estimates will be prepared to resume the project. Under MGNREGA, over 1.50 lakh people are getting employment in the district against 90 lakh job card holders. As many as 53,214 Lakhpati Didis have been identified, and the target of one lakh will be achieved soon. Over `40 crore under AMRUT 1.0 was not properly spent, and construction of only 20,368 units was taken up out of 65,800 sanctioned under PMAY in the last five years, he explained. Pemmasani said the State government is implementing all the Central schemes effectively. District Collector S Nagalakshmi and other officials were present.

CM Siddaramaiah has left the wheel, DKS running show with vendetta politics: LoP Ashoka

BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka on Saturday accused Deputy CM D K Shivakumar of resorting to vendetta politics against Opposition parties. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is not bothered as he will be stepping down from his post, he said. Referring to the alleged attack on senior BJP leader C T Ravi and high-handedness by the police, Ashoka indirectly said this has happened at the behest of Shivakumar who wants to become the CM. As he (Siddaramaiah) was not the one who used to be, the ministers went out of his control. Shivakumar, in order to impress the Congress high command, has been snubbing the voice of the Opposition. In the Maharishi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam, B Nagendra resigned, and the next will be Siddaramaiah, he said at a joint press conference in the Vidhana Soudha. The Ravi episode is akin to the rakta charita movie -- an Andhra Pradesh model of governance. Congress worked to snub and confront the Opposition. The CM is not bothered about anything as whatever the ministers have done is the law. He is not the Siddaramaiah of the past now. It is all a game played by Shivakumar with the aim that if the BJP is snubbed, he will get the blessings of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and he may become the CM soon. Which was why he was doing all this, he alleged. He took strong exception to the police taking Ravi, who received threats from naxals, to sugarcane fields and stone quarries, on the pretext of his (Ravis) safety. Some people hide in forests and quarries for safety because there are animals there, and no one comes there. The commissioner said it was for his safety. Was it safe? Will the animals around take care of one. The police found a new way of safety. There is a place called Parappana Agrahara in Bengaluru that is safe, he said. He suggested that the CM and ministers should be taken to the sugarcane fields and quarries and leave them for their safety. Replying to Shivakumar that he would have taken action if his party leader had done something like Ravi, allegedly badmouthing minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, Ashoka hit back saying that there were umpteen cases, including rape charges, against Congress leaders. An MLA has been accused of bribery, policeman Parashuram committed suicide after being asked for money and many cases have been registered. Why was no action taken? he asked. LoP in the council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy also said Shivakumar has become the power centre in the government. He rued that the issue of multi-crore scam in the tenders called in the Raichur thermal power plant could not be discussed in length.

At 3.16 per cent in five years, Kerala's economic growth 4th lowest in country

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite topping the national charts on various human-development indices, Keralas economy has been limping for some time now. A recent central bank report further cemented the condition that the state finds itself in. In the Reserve Bank of Indias Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2023-24, Kerala took the 30th spot among select 33 states and Union territories (UTs) in terms of economic growth over a five-year period. Keralas average annual growth rate (AAGR) in gross state domestic product (GSDP, at constant prices) between 2018-19 and 2022-23 stood at 3.16%, with only Delhi (3.13%), Uttarakhand (2.16%) and Goa (0.70%) performing worse. Mizoram topped the chart with 6.75% growth, followed by Chhattisgarh (6.64%) and Gujarat (6.26%). Major south Indian states also registered commendable growth during the period. While Karnatakas economy grew by 5.62%, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh posted 5.61%, 5.27% and 5.19% expansions, respectively. The quick estimate for 2023-24 showed that Keralas GSDP improved to rs 6.35 lakh crore, posting a 6.52% year-on-year (YoY) growth, from the previous years Rs 5.96 lakh crore (+4.24% YoY). The handbook did not have data for all states/UTs for this year. Telanganas growth rate was pegged at 9.24%, followed by Tamil Nadu (8.23%), Andhra Pradesh (7.35%), and Karnataka (6.60%). There are various factors behind Keralas slow growth rate, economist Mary George said. The state is yet to be industry-friendly in the true sense and hence big investments are limited. Kerala continues to grapple with militant trade unionism, she said. The agriculture sector is facing a crisis due to price falls and human-wildlife conflicts. The drop in NRI remittances following the pandemic and outward remittances through migrant labourers have compounded the states woes, Mary added. Exponential increase in states expenditure on disaster relief The handbook showed that Kerala performed well in important social indicators like maternal mortality (MMR) and life expectancy. Kerala topped the chart in MMR with 19 deaths per one lakh births. At six deaths per 1,000, Keralas infant mortality rate was the fifth lowest in the country. The unemployment rate in rural Kerala was 76, fourth highest in the country. Unemployment in the urban areas saw a significant decline from 104 in 2019-20 to 67 in 2023-24, 19th position in the country. The report also threw light on the exponential increase in state governments expenditure on relief following natural calamities. Keralas expenditure rose by 232% from Rs 14,181 lakh in 2011-12 to Rs 47,060 lakh in 2023-24. At 3,13,376 lakh, the highest spending was in the flood-hit 2018-19. In the states finance sector, Keralas own tax revenue saw a quantum jump in 2022-23, from Rs 58,341 crore in the previous year to Rs 70,189 crore. The budget estimate for 2023-24 is Rs 81,039. The states own non-tax revenue too rose from Rs 10,463 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 15,355 crore in 2022-23. The estimate for 2023-24 is Rs 17,089 crore. Kerala had the fifth-highest pension expenditure in the country in 2023-24. The pension liability rose from Rs 26,689 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 28,240 crore in the current year.

Love-all start: Sindhu-Sai set for match close to heart

HYDERABAD: There is always a sprinkling of condiments to add flavour to a celebrity marriage. The brouhaha it generates is sometimes bewildering. When P V Sindhu announced her engagement and marriage to a Hyderabad entrepreneur, interest grew as date of marriage neared, especially surrounding the identity of her to-be-husband Venkata Datta Sai. As Udaipur gets decked up for the marriage on Sunday, Sindhu would be ready for a different match. Something close to her heart and soul. As the two went about inviting guests, the man who stole Sindhus heart was in the limelight as well. Sai is a Hyderabad-based IT professional and Executive Director at Posidex Technologies. His father G T Venkateshwar Rao is the managing director at the same company. The two families are friends and have known each other for a long time, Sindhus father P V Ramana told this newspaper over the phone from Udaipur. He explained that the pre-and-post wedding dates have been finalised keeping in mind the next season. He is an avid sports follower and an active supporter. Who doesnt follow sports these days? asked Ramana. Sais career has been equally dynamic and has a sporting touch too. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance and a Masters degree in Data Science and Machine Learning from the International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru. Sai began at JSW as an intern and later worked as an in-house consultant (2018-19). He then became the managing director of Sour Apple Asset Management while also contributing to Posidex since December 2019. Sai also managed the Delhi IPL team. Reflecting on the experience, Sai writes: My BBA in finance and economics pales in comparison to managing an IPL team... Match, court, love the words Sindhu would have grown up hearing will now be part of her life when she ties the knot in a royal wedding apparently with Rajasthani flavour in Udaipur the venue of many a high-profile destination weddings. A reception is slated in Hyderabad a couple of days later.

55th GST Council Meeting: Plan to formalise special cess for disaster relief

JAISALMER : The GST Council on Saturday decided to formalise a procedure for states to levy special cess to raise money for disaster relief. This was decided after Andhra Pradesh sought the Councils permission to levy a 1% cess on goods and services in the highest rate bracket of 28%. Andhra Pradesh request for a 1% cess will be referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) as was done previously for a similar request by Kerala in 2018. At a press conference after the GST Council meeting, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that since similar requests have been made earlier as well, we are of the view that there should be a laid-out procedure to deal with such requests in future. Besides floods, several states wanted drought to be brought under the definition of disaster, she added. Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav told the media that the state in August and September had faced unprecedented rains and flood, which caused severe financial loss to the state. we will need a sum of Rs 15,000 crore to come back to normalcy. Therefore, we requested the Council to allow us to levy a cess of 1%, said Keshav, adding that most states were supportive of the Andhras demand. Meanwhile, the 55th GST Council meeting ended without any major decisions being taken. The much-awaited decision on lowering GST rates on health and life insurance premium has been deferred as the Council was of the view that the issue needs more discussions. Among the changes in tax rates, the Council decided to increase the GST rate from 12% to 18% on sale of all old and used vehicles, including electric vehicles. Caramelised popcorn would attract 18% GST as it comes under sugar confectionery.

Purandeswari tells BJP leaders to complete mandal-level polls by December 27

Purandeswari called upon the party leaders to complete the mandal-level elections by December 27

Farmers in A.P. have no trust in YSRCP, says Water Resources Minister Rama Naidu

The victory of NDA candidates in Water Users Associations polls indicates that the YSRCPs anti-farmer policies had harmed the agriculture sector, says Nimmala Rama Naidu

A.P. government drops disciplinary proceedings against retired IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao

The inquiry held earlier established that no financial loss was caused to the A.P. government, says a Government Order

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.

Victim of body parcel case in Andhra Pradesh supected of being murdered

Post-mortem suggests that the victim might have been strangled to death

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.

Guntur senior divisional railway engineer receives Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar

18 gold, 14 silver medals awarded to best research papers at SRM-AP varsity summit

Rains destroy paddy over 400 hectares in N. Andhra; depression moves northeast

Visakhapatnam: Incessant rainfall over the past three days has inundated at least 400 hectares of paddy fields in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, causing distress among farmers. Stagnant water has discoloured both harvested and ready-to-harvest paddy even as rainfall continued in north Andhra region on Saturday, with the depression over west central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh coast moving east, north-eastwards on Saturday. An IMD Amaravati report said the system, located about 430 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 490 km east-northeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 580 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha), is weakening gradually. Light to moderate rains are likely at one or two places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on Sunday. The IMD forecast that thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning, will occur at isolated places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) on Monday. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over SCAP and Rayalaseema. Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning have been predicted at isolated places over SCAP and Rayalaseema from December 24 to December 26. As per the IMD, Bondapalle in Vizianagaram district received 9 cm rainfall from Friday morning to Saturday morning (8:30 am), followed by 8 cm each in Merakamudidam, Bobbili, Therlam and Mentada in Vizianagaram district and Bheemili in Vizag city, and 7 cm each in Nellimarla, Garividi, Cheepurupalli and Gajapathinagaram in Vizianagaram district. The remaining parts of north Andhra Pradesh recorded rainfall between 2 cm and 5 cm during the period. Owing to the rains, temperature has dropped at most places in Andhra Pradesh, with the highest fall of five degrees Celsius being at Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam, the temperature recorded being 21 degrees Celsius.

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal organises silver jubilee celebrations for Visakhapatnam Bench

Visakhapatnam Bench of ITAT was established in 1997 and has jurisdiction over seven districts of Andhra Pradesh

Bhavani Deeksha Viramana begins at Durga Temple

Vijayawada :The five-day Bhavani Deeksha Viramana, when devotees of Goddess Durga give up the annual deeksha vow that they take, began on a grand note at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop the Indrakeeladri Hill in Vijayawada on Saturday. The temple premises reverberated with chants of Jai Durga, Jai Bhavani, as tens of thousands of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states thronged the temple to relinquish their deeksha. The process began with the Suprabhata Seva and Harathi Nivedana to the presiding deity, Goddess Kanaka Durga, in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. This was followed by consecration of Agni Pratishtapana at the Homa Gundas at 5:45 a.m. at the Maha Mandapam Among those present included Durga Temple executive officer (EO) K.S. Rama Rao, deputy EO Rathna Raju, Vaidika committee members and priests of the shrine. Temple authorities opened the doors for devotees of Kanaka Durga at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. EO Rama Rao said devotees in all queue lines are having free darshan, which will continue on all the remaining four days. Temple authorities sold 1.20 lakh laddus by 6 p.m. on Saturday. From Sunday onwards, devotees will be allowed to have their darshan from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. The deeksha relinquishment will conclude at 10 a.m. on December 25 with the Maha Purnahuthi at the temple.

Revanth Reddy Slams BRS for Skyrocketing State Debt

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack on the previous BRS government for financial mismanagement during its decade-long tenure from 2014 to 2024. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday, the Chief Minister accused the BRS regime of pushing the state into a debt-trap of over rupees seven lakh crore and called for severe accountability measures. The financial mismanagement committed by the BRS government under former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is nothing short of a crime. BRS rulers should be hanged for this. They should be held accountable for driving Telangana into a financial abyss, he said, adding that such actions in other countries like Dubai would have led to public punishments such as stoning or hanging on the road. While international institutions like the World Bank and JICA provide loans at interest rates as low as 2-4 per cent, the BRS government secured loans from commercial banks at exorbitant 11.5 per cent rates. I visited Delhi 50 times to meet the union finance minister and senior officials seeking restructure of the debt or reduction of the interest rate. It is yet to materialise, the Chief Minister said. He revealed figures detailing the states rising debt over the past decade. When Telangana was formed in 2014, the states debt stood at 72,000 crore. However, by December 2023, this amount had ballooned to 7,11,911 crore. He noted that the debt repayment burden, which was 6,500 crore annually in 2014, had skyrocketed to 6,500 crore a month by 2023 due to indiscriminate borrowings and that at mindboggling interest rates. In comparison, the Congress governments efforts to rein in debt saw the administration increase the debt burden by only 11,000 crore, bringing the total to 7,22,788 crore as of December 18, 2024. Despite borrowing 52,000 crore over the past year, we repaid 66,000 crore of the loans taken during the BRS regime. This shows our commitment to restoring fiscal discipline, the Chief Minister stated. Revanth Reddy dismissed claims made by BRS member T. Harish Rao that the Congress government had borrowed 1.27 lakh crore last year. If that were true, the states debt burden would now stand at 8,38,911 crore. The actual figure of 7,22,788 crore proves that his claims are baseless and misleading, he countered. The Chief Minister also accused the BRS government of manipulating financial data to secure loans beyond its eligibility. He claimed that the BRS administration understated its liabilities and submitted false reports to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and commercial banks. They secured 1,29,243 crore through 19 corporations but showed only 39,867 crore in the budget books. This deliberate misrepresentation misled financial institutions and further deepened the states debt crisis, Reddy said. He said that the BRS governments financial mismanagement has left Telangana in a precarious state. In 60 years of combined Andhra Pradesh, 16 Chief Ministers together incurred 72,000 crore debts for Telangana. But one Chief Minister, Chandrasekhar Rao, single-handedly added 7,11,911 crore in less than 10 years, he stated.

US Court ruling on Pegasus: Here's its direct impact in India

The US court's decision on Friday (December 20) in favor of WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta, which holds Israeli spyware maker NSO Group directly liable for targeting around 1,400 users with its spyware, Pegasus, is expected to have ripple effects in India. In 2021, many reports in the media revealed that Pegasus spyware was used to target over 300 Indian mobile numbers, including those of two serving ministers, opposition leaders, journalists, and business people. Bringing much-needed context to the alleged spyware targeting WhatsApp users and the accountability for this privacy violation, a US court has, for the first time, ruled that the Israeli spyware maker NSO Group is liable for deploying Pegasus, stating that it violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California's Cybersecurity laws. This ruling could set a precedent for accountability, as NSO has long downplayed its involvement in targeting individuals worldwide, including senior officials, journalists, and human rights activists. The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied any involvement, calling the surveillance claims aseless, and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted that Indias surveillance laws prevent unauthorised surveillance. However, in the wake of the revelations, the country's Supreme Court formed a committee to investigate the allegations. Though the committee found no conclusive evidence, it noted the central governments lack of cooperation. The issue also gained attention in states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, where allegations of Pegasus use became political. West Bengals government set up a commission to investigate, claiming the state had been offered Pegasus spyware by NSO. In Andhra Pradesh, political tensions arose over suspicions that Pegasus was used to monitor rival political figures, with accusations directed at both the previous and current state governments. The controversy continues to unfold, highlighting the far-reaching implications of spyware use in India.

Excise officials, police out to trap drug peddlers and NY revellers

Hyderabad: Around 40 SIT teams formed by the state excise police, armed with 500 new drug detection kits, will maintain strict vigil on drug consumers, trafficking of banned substances and high-level sale across the state on New Year eve. The SIT teams are likely to make surprise checks in all areas under the GHMC jurisdiction till December 31. As part of this drive, they have been conducting checks on those coming from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. They are also conducting regular checks in trains coming from Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, sources in the excise department said. Strong cases will be registered against all those consuming NDPS drugs and non-duty paid liquor in private or public parties, said V. B. Kamalasan Reddy, director of enforcement prohibition and excise, TG. He said that they will be conducting narco tests on suspects using a special drug detection kit box, which will be the first time the TG excise department will be using such narco kits. Apart from this, the excise department is maintaining surveillance on vehicle movements to trap those transporting non-duty paid liquor and drugs from other states.

Bhatti seeks Centres nod for 1% cess on B2B deals

Hyderabad: Finance minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged the Centre to permit to levy one per cent cess on B2B transactions in the state under GST to meet the expenses for rehabilitation and reconstruction due to recent floods. He pointed out that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh also made a similar request. On the recommendation of the GST council, the matter has been referred to a group of ministers (GoM), in which Telangana has also been included. Taking part in the 55th meeting of the council chaired by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Bhatti Vikramarka proposed to set up a committee of officers. It was immediately constituted by the council to examine the issue of applicable rate of tax on delivery services by delivery partners, including the restaurant services, through electronic commerce operators. The officers of Telangana have also been included in the committee. It was proposed that aviation turbine fuel (ATF) be brought under the tax net of GST. It is being taxed by the states under the relevant State VAT Acts. Telangana has opposed the proposal, as the states presently have very limited sources of generation of revenue. Further, the ATF is derived from crude oil, which is presently taxed under VAT. Therefore, Bhatti Vikramarka requested the council to maintain the status quo on the issue, which was supported by several other states and agreed by the council.

APTF demands mid-day meal, transport facilities for Class 10 students

AP FiberNet serves notice to Ram Gopal Varma, four others over illegal payments made for Vyuham movie

Former MD and AGM of APSFL are accused of conniving with the film director and others and making exorbitant payments to them causing loss to the state-owned corporation

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Wins Hearts During Tribal District Tour Despite Rain

Visakhapatnam: Rain couldn't dampen the spirits of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan during his two-day tour of the tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh. The visit was marked by a blend of official engagements and heartfelt interactions with local communities. On Saturday, despite continuous rain and blocked roads, the deputy chief minister visited the ASR district to lay the foundation for several road development projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure in these underserved areas. A planned public meeting at Gummanthi village had to be relocated to Ballagoruvu village due to accessibility issues. Authorities ensured proper arrangements by laying a BT road at the new venue. During his visit, the Deputy CM engaged in everyday activities, purchasing local products, including turmeric, tamarind, and eco-friendly handmade plates and glasses from tribal vendors. A highlight of his visit was his spontaneous interaction with local children, where he personally fed them sweets and posed for photographs with women and their babies. The deputy chief minister's personable approach was also evident during his earlier visit to the Manyam district, where he joined tribal residents in dancing in the rain. In a lighter moment, he playfully requested his enthusiastic supporters, who were chanting OG and anna, to let him focus on his official duties.

Action sought to prevent air pollution along Kakinada coast

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

Engineering students will continue to have bright future, says former Ambedkar University V-C

Number of domestic migrants estimated to have lowered by 12% since 2011: EAC-PM

The report said Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are the States where the percentage share of total migrants has reduced

Annamayya Collector provides 1 lakh aid to Class 10 student suffering from kidney failure

The Class 10 student from Model School in K.V. Palle mandal meets Sridhar Chamakuri and discusses her medical condition

Farmer killed in elephant attack in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh

The elephant has been on the prowl in half a dozen mandals, say residents

Upgrade technological skills and do certificate courses, former Rajiv Gandhi University V-C tells students

Konaseema Sankranti festival to be held at Lolla irrigation lock

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

GoM to consider 1% calamity cess proposal by Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said that there was a consensus that a GoM be formed

GoM to consider 1% calamity cess proposal by AP

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said that there was a consensus that a GoM be formed

Port connectivity projects of Rs 52,000 crore completed

Chennai: Under the Sagarmala programme, port connectivity projects with a total cost of Rs 52,199 crore have been completed across 10 states. One of the objectives of Sagarmala Programme is to improve port connectivity, efficient cargo movement between ports and their respective hinterland to minimize overall logistics cost. The government has identified 266 projects of Rs 1,87,889 crore in 15 states under Port Connectivity Pillar of Sagarmala programme. These projects are either completed, are under implementation or are under development. These projects are to be implemented by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Ministry of Railways, major ports and other central and state agencies. Of these, 84 projects with a total cost of Rs 52,199 crore have been completed. Among the top states, Odisha has completed 11 projects costing Rs 13,800 crore. Sixteen projects in Andhra Pradesh have been completed for Rs 9312 crore. Gujarats eight projects has seen investment of Rs 8048 crore. Further, 54 projects costing Rs 66,994 crore are under implementation. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of projects under implementation 21 projects with a total investment of Rs 33340 crore. Tamil Nadu has 10 projects that cost Rs 10,956 crore, as per the government data. Another 128 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 68,696 crore are under development. Maharashtra tops the list with 24 projects costing Rs 24810 crore. Odisha has 8 projects for Rs 11744 crore, followed by Gujarat with 22 projects that need investment of Rs 11316 crore and Andhra Pradesh with 17 projects costing Rs 11116 crore. The government had made a report on Connectivity of Ports to Industrial Nodes to assess gap analysis of connectivity of the seaports vis-a-viz all the existing and upcoming nodes under different industrial corridors. The report has identified 62 new road and rail infrastructure gaps across all industrial nodes. According to the government, under the Sagarmala Programme, more than 800 projects at an estimated cost of around Rs 5.5 lakh crore have been identified for implementation. The projects are categorized into five pillars port modernization, port connectivity, port-led industrialization, coastal community development and coastal shipping and inland water transport. These projects are implemented by central ministries, Inland Waterways Authority, Indian Railways, NHAI, state governments and major ports.

Modi govt. favouring Adani Group despite allegations of misdeeds, alleges CPI(M) leader

Actress Ananya Nagalla Interview Glam Stills At Srikakulam Sherlockholmes Movie Interview - Social News XYZ

Actress Ananya Nagalla Interview Glam Stills At Srikakulam Sherlockholmes Movie Interview Social News XYZ

Learn new developments in chosen field to shine in career, Nayanta University CEO tells students

Serve the society as well as the nation after settling down in life since joy of giving will ensure more happiness

GST Council agrees to maintain status quo on taxing ATF by States: Bhatti

Hyderabad: Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council agreed to maintain the status quo on taxing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) under VAT, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu on Saturday. Bhatti, who was also the Finance Minister, attended the 55th meeting of the GST Council meeting chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Saturday. It was proposed in the meeting that Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) be brought under the tax net of GST. It is being taxed by the States under the relevant State VAT Acts. The Deputy Chief Minister opposed the proposal, as the States presently have very limited sources of generation of revenue. Further, the ATF is derived from crude oil, which is presently taxed under VAT. Therefore, he requested the Council to maintain the status quo on the issue, which was supported by several other States. This was agreed by the Council. The issue of the applicable rate of tax on delivery services by delivery partners, including the restaurant services, through electronic commerce operators was discussed in detail in the meeting. In view of the fact that these are intricate issues of taxation, and to ensure fairness in implementation etc., the Deputy Chief Minister suggested that the matter should be studied in further detail. Therefore, he proposed to set up a Committee of Officers to examine the issue, and to take a decision based on its report. The Council has accordingly constituted a Committee of Officers, of which the Officers of Telangana are also included, to examine the matter and to submit a report. On the issue of closure of Group of Ministers (GoM) on analysis of GST revenue constituted in the year 2019, Bhatti informed the Council that Telangana was in favour of recommending continuation of the Group of Ministers, by suitable reconstitution of the GoM as study of State wise and sector wise revenue is invaluable for taking informed policy decisions. Council agreed to the proposal put forth by the Deputy Chief Minister. On the subject of recovery of excess ad-hoc IGST apportionment made in earlier years, the Committee of Officers (CoO) presented different options for recovery of the same. Bhatti informed the Council that the ad-hoc apportionment was done to States as per base rate of revenues for the FY 2015-16, but over time negative balances have accrued in IGST due to which recovery is proposed from States. However, recovery is proposed based on revenues of the latest period which is not aligned with the formula of earlier distribution. The Deputy Chief Minister requested the Council that the recovery of excess ad-hoc apportionment done till now may be made based on the base rate of revenues for the FY 2015-16 which the Council agreed. He requested that the recoveries, if any, should be made only in the next financial year in order to prevent fiscal hardships to States at the fag end of the financial year. During the meeting, Andhra Pradesh made a request to permit them to levy one per cent cess on B2B transactions in the State under GST to meet the expenses for re-construction and rehabilitation due to recent floods. Bhatti also stated that Telangana also suffered extensive damages to the same calamity and requested for a similar arrangement to be extended to Telangana. On the recommendation of the GST Council, the matter has been referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM), in which Telangana has also been included.

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.

Where to eat what: 5 localities in Visakhapatnam and their famous foods! - Yo Vizag

Where to eat what: 5 localities in Visakhapatnam and their famous foods! Yo Vizag

Government forms GoM panel on free bus travel for women, Congress calls it delaying tactics

Committee formed to study free bus travel for women scheme in Andhra Pradesh, Congress criticises governments delay

PhysicsWallah signs 1,000 crore deal with Andhra Pradesh government to set up varsity of innovation

The purpose is to create an institution that combines academic learning with industry relevance, says Alakh Pandey, Founder and CEO of PhysicsWallah

Incessant rainfall continues as Depression moves over sea along north Andhra Pradesh coast

In Visakhapatnam, 5 mm of rainfall was received near Kailasagiri from 8.31 a.m. to 11 a.m. on December 21, 2024, while Srikakulam districts Gara received the States highest rainfall of 31.75 mm

Veteran actor Mohan Babu's personality rights protected

After Bollywood actors, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff, veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu obtained an interim order from the Delhi High Court on Friday protecting his personality and publicity rights. The Court has restrained various social media accounts, Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots as well as e-commerce websites from misusing the actors name, voice, or image. Justice Mini Pushkarna, who heard the case, noted that Mohan Babu had made a prima facie case for interim relief. The Court added that irreparable damage may ensue if an order is not passed to restrain others (defendants) from misusing Babu's personality rights. The defendants, their associates, servants, and other related persons are restrained from creating, publishing, and communicating to the public any content that infringes the personality rights of the plaintiff, the Court, therefore, ordered. Further, the defendants have been directed not to use AI, the Metaverse, or any other format or medium to infringe Mohan Babu's personality rights by using his voice, image, or likeness without authorization. The Court added that no goods can be sold using the actors personality rights without his authorization. Google has also been directed to take down any content that Mohan Babu has claimed to be violative of his personality rights. Mohan Babu is a veteran Indian actor, producer, and former politician. Born on March 19, 1952, as Manchu Bhaktavatsalam Naidu, he began his career as a school teacher before entering the film industry. Mohan Babu has appeared in over 500 films and has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2007 for his contributions to Indian cinema. Apart from acting, Mohan Babu also runs the Sree Vidyanikethan Educational Institutions in Andhra Pradesh.

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.

Hardik Pandya To Be Available For Baroda In Vijay Hazare Trophy Knockouts

The Baroda Cricket Association: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will return to Baroda's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches after not being named in the team for the first few rounds of the tournament that commenced on Saturday across different venues The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) announced that Pandya will join the squad during the knockout stages of the ongoing 50-over domestic tournament, provided the team qualifies. He will play from the knockouts; he has informed us, Kiran More, a member of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) of the BCA, was quoted saying by Cricbuzz. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, have emphasised that players must participate in domestic competitions unless explicitly exempted. Pandya recently competed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where Baroda reached the semifinals. Over seven matches, he scored 246 runs and took six wickets. The 31-year-old has not played a non-T20 match in over 14 months, with his last appearance being during the ODI World Cup on October 19 last year against Bangladesh in Pune. He suffered an ankle injury in that match, sidelining him for an extended period, and he has since stopped playing red-ball cricket altogether. His involvement in the one-day domestic tournament could be pivotal for his selection in next years Champions Trophy, especially as India evaluate options like Nitish Reddy, an all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh who has showcased impressive performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in Australia. Since his injury, Pandya has participated in 38 T20 matches across international, IPL, and domestic competitions but has not played in other formats. This has fueled speculation that he is focusing solely on T20 cricket. However, Kiran More dismissed such claims, stating, He participated in all the SMAT matches, and he will play in the 50-over games too. Baroda performed well in the SMAT, reaching the semifinals, which they lost due to wet conditions in Bengaluru. Hopefully, the team will make it to the knockouts of the VHT as well. His involvement in the one-day domestic tournament could be pivotal for his selection in next years Champions Trophy, especially as India evaluate options like Nitish Reddy, an all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh who has showcased impressive performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in Australia. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

AP Government Takes Key Step Towards Free Bus Scheme Implementation - ap7am

AP Government Takes Key Step Towards Free Bus Scheme Implementation ap7am

2 road accidents claim 7 lives in AP and Telangana

Hyderabad: Seven persons were killed in two separate road accidents in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Saturday. Four persons were killed and 10 others injured when a mini-van, in which they were travelling, rammed into a stationary truck on the national highway near Bullasamudram in Andhra Pradeshs Sri Sathya Sai district. Four persons died on Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu greets Jagan on birthday

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday conveyed his birthday greetings to YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Reddy turned 52 on Saturday. He was the chief minister of the southern state from 2019 to 2024. Warm birthday greetings to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Garu. May he be blessed with good health and long life, said Naidu in a post on X. The TDP-led alliance unseated YSRCP in the Assembly elections held in May, 2024.

Madhu Murthy Appointed as Chairman of AP Higher Education Council - ap7am

Madhu Murthy Appointed as Chairman of AP Higher Education Council ap7am

Four killed as van rams into stationary truck in Andhra Pradesh

MADAKASIRA: Four people, including a two-year-old girl, died and eight others were injured after their vehicle hit a stationary truck in Sri Satyasai district early on Saturday, police said. Penugonda sub-divisional police officer Venkateswarlu said the accident occurred on National Highway 544E around 5.30 am at Kodikonda Sira, about 5 km from Madakasira village. We suspect that the accident occurred because the driver dozed off at the wheel. The vehicle (tempo traveller) carrying 13 people veered from the left side of the road and rammed into the truck parked on the right side of the road, he said. According to police, a group of 13 pilgrims was returning from Tirumala and were near their hometown of Kummara Nagepalli village in Gudibanda mandal when the mishap happened.

Why Hyderabad could be Indias City of Love

In the old city of Hyderabad, there is a 446-year-old bridge called the Purana Pul (old bridge). Constructed in 1578 by Ibrahim Qutb Shah,1 the six hundred feet long and thirty-six feet wide bridge stands fifty-four feet above the riverbed and has twenty-two arches. This bridge, the first to be constructed in the area that later became Hyderabad, survived even the great Musi flood of 1908. However, by the middle to late twentieth century, it was dilapidated and crumbling, in need of urgent repair. A little more than two decades ago, on World Tourism Day in September 2002, construction workers swarmed the Purana Pul to restore it to its former glory. When it was safe for use again, G. Kishan Rao, director of the then Andhra Pradesh tourism department, hit upon an idea to raise local awareness about the newly repaired bridge. Drawing on the origin story of the Purana Pul, he organised a lovers day or couples day on the bridge. The idea was a grand success. Hyderabadis thronged the area and, for a while, the Purana Pul was even called the Pyarana Pul (lovers bridge). The new name did not last long, but perhaps it should be restored. The way Hyderabadis turned out for the event showed that the story behind the origins of the Purana Pul remains as cherished in the hearts of the citys newest generations as it was nearly five centuries ago when the bridge was under construction. This story is one Hyderabadis love to tell over and over again, one that resides in their hearts, one they choose to believe even though there is no historical evidence of its existence. It is the story of a love so powerful that it became the foundation for an entire city. It is the story of the love Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth Qutb Shahi ruler, had for a dancer named Bhagmati. The legend goes that Quli met and fell in love with Bhagmati at the age of fourteen. So enamoured was he that he remained with her for the rest of his life despite severe opposition, first from his father and later from his court and the keepers of his faith. Over time, Qulis father Ibrahim became perhaps the only person to understand that Qulis love for Bhagmati was deeper than mere infatuation. When Quli defied a fierce storm and rode across the raging Musi river, simply to check that Bhagmati was safe, Ibrahim acknowledged the depth of Qulis emotion and ordered the construction of a bridge across the river. This bridge, four hundred years later, came to be known as the Purana Pul. Later, after Ibrahims death and Qulis ascension to the throne of Golconda, the young sultan, it is said, married Bhagmati, made her his queen and built what is present-day Hyderabad, naming the new city Bhagnagar in her honour. Excerpted with permission from Bhagmati: Why Hyderabads Lost Queen Is the Soul of the City (Westland, 2024) Bhagmati By Moupia Basu Westland pp. 192; Rs 399

4 of a family killed, ten injured, in road mishap in Sri Sathya Sai district

Tragic road accident in Sri Sathya Sai district leaves four dead and ten critically injured, investigation underway

Chandrababu Naidu extends birthday wishes to Jagan Mohan Reddy - Deccan Herald

Chandrababu Naidu extends birthday wishes to Jagan Mohan Reddy Deccan Herald

Andhra CM congratulates skater Jessy Raj Mathrapu for being chosen for PM award

Amaravati : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday congratulated skater Jessy Raj Mathrapu for being chosen for the Prime Minister's National Child Award 2025 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in sports. The Chief Minister noted that Mathrapu will receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu. It is a moment of immense pride for Andhra Pradesh that Mangalagiri's talented skater, Jessy Raj Mathrapu, has been chosen for the Prime Minister's National Child Award 2025 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in sports, said Naidu in a post on X. According to Naidu, Mathrapu started her journey as a skater when she was just nine years old and her dedication brought great honour to the southern state and also inspired young athletes. Recently, she won a silver medal in Solo Dance at the 62nd National Roller Skating Championships, the CM added.

Rediscovering Gandikotas Grand Canyon to attract tourists and adventure lovers - South First

Rediscovering Gandikotas Grand Canyon to attract tourists and adventure lovers South First

Incessant rains cause untold miseries for paddy farmers in Andhra Pradeshs Vizianagaram district

The district received 2698 mm rainfall, across all the 27 mandals, as against the normal rainfall 99 mm in the last three days

17 days after earthquake in Telangana, now tremors felt in AP

Hyderabad: Residents of Shankarapuram, Polavaram, and Pasugugally in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, experienced a series of minor earthquakes today, sending tremors through the region and causing alarm among locals. The tremors were felt after the recent earthquake that touched parts of Telangana on December 4. The seismic activity was also felt in neighbouring areas, including Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Tirupati Balaji Jayanti 2024: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals Of The Appearance Day Of Lord Venkateswara Swamy - Jagran English

Tirupati Balaji Jayanti 2024: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals Of The Appearance Day Of Lord Venkateswara Swamy Jagran English

Andhra police freeze chole bhature vendors account over Rs 105 cyber fraud link

The Delhi High Court provided relief to a street vendor whose account had been frozen by the Andhra Pradesh police following suspected links to cyber criminals in a judgement delivered on Tuesday, December 17. The vendor had come under the radar of Andhra police after Rs 105 was sent to his account by an unknown Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

2.47L cases pending in AP High Court: Minister

VIJAYAWADA: As many as 2,47,097 cases are pending in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, and 9,04,462 cases in the District and Subordinate Courts of AP. Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal provided the information to the Rajya Sabha on December 19, in reply to a question raised by MP Parimal Nathwani. According to the Ministers statement tabled in the Rajya Sabha, 82,640 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, 61,80,878 cases in the High Courts and 4,62,34,646 cases in the District and Subordinate Courts. Further, eight posts of judges are vacant in the High Court of AP against the sanctioned strength of 37, while 59 posts of judges are vacant in the District and Subordinate Courts against the sanctioned strength of 623. Against the sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges, 368 posts are vacant in the High Courts of the country, the Union Minister informed.

Light to moderate rainfall likely in North Andhra on December 21

VISAKHAPATNAM: Several parts of the State are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall on Saturday, with thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated places in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) and Yanam. Squally winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are forecast for NCAP, Yanam, and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) for the same period. Rainfall is likely in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Manyam, and other districts, including Vizag, Anakapalli, and Tirupati, among others. Residents are advised to stay vigilant and take precautions. Meanwhile, continuous rainfall was recorded in several parts of the State on Friday due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the system was observed at 8.30 am on December 20, with an associated upper cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.

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.

Incessant rain inundates 200 ha of paddy fields in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram districts

SRIKAKULAM/VIZIANAGARAM: Continuous rains over the past 48 hours have inundated at least 200 hectares of paddy fields in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, causing severe distress to farmers. The stagnant water has discoloured both harvested and ready-to-harvest paddy, raising concerns among farmers about procurement. District Collectors Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar (Srikakulam) and BR Ambedkar (Vizianagaram) assured farmers that the government would procure all paddy, including the discoloured produce. They conducted video conferences with agriculture, civil supplies, and other officials, instructing them to assist farmers in salvaging their crops and securing them against further damage. The IMD has predicted moderate to heavy rains over the next 48 hours, prompting Collectors to direct officials to remain vigilant. In Srikakulam, which recorded 16.5 mm of rain on Thursday and additional downpours on Friday, Collector Pundkar instructed officials to distribute tarpaulins to farmers to protect their crops. In Vizianagaram, Collector Ambedkar reviewed the procurement status during a video conference. Officials reported that 1.83 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy out of the targeted 2.27 lakh MT for this Kharif season had been procured, leaving 40,000 MT to be collected. He directed officials to procure the remaining paddy, including damaged produce, and assured farmers of government support. The government will procure every kg of paddy, he said.

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.

Pilot project to speed up Srivari darshan

TIRUMALA: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has introduced a pilot project using facial recognition technology, which will enable common devotees to complete Lord Venkateswaras darshan within an hour. The initiative, led by TTD Chairman BR Naidu, will be tested for a week to assess its feasibility. The new system, integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI), generates time slots based on Aadhaar card details. Devotees will receive a face recognition slip specifying their darshan timing. On arrival at the queue, their identity will be verified using facial recognition software, allowing them seamless entry and ensuring darshan is completed within an hour. To implement the system, TTD is setting up 45 AI-monitored counters, eliminating the need for manual staff. Four international firms have expressed interest in providing AI software for the project. If successful, the proposal will be presented at the TTD Board meeting on December 24 for approval. Devotees faces will be scanned at 20 strategic locations, including the railway station, bus stand, and Alipiri. Time slots will then be allocated, enabling them to join the queue within an hour of their assigned time. The initiative, inspired by the Digi Yatra system used at airports, aims to streamline the darshan process and improve convenience for devotees. TTD also plans to regulate Very Important Person (VIP) access and curb black ticketing and tout interference. By leveraging technology, the temple administration seeks to provide a dignified and efficient experience for all devotees. If adopted, this innovative system promises to be a game-changer, significantly enhancing the management of darshan and benefiting lakhs of devotees visiting Tirumala every year.

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.

GMC council meeting focuses on major issues & development of city

GUNTUR: A general body meeting, chaired by Mayor Kavati Manohar Naidu, was held at the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) Council Hall on Saturday to address issues across the 57 divisions of the city. The agenda included 99 questions, 153 proposals, and 107 preambles. Key topics discussed included delays in constructing Road Under Bridges (RUBs) and Road Over Bridges (ROBs). Officials resolved to coordinate with MPs, MLAs, and the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department to expedite permissions from the Centre. Progress of the AMRUT water scheme in Gorantla, interruptions in water supply, sanitation in merged villages and slums, illegal hoardings, street lighting, TIDCO housing projects, and road repairs were also reviewed. Corporators suggested recruiting additional sanitation staff to launch special drives for preventing seasonal diseases. Mayor Naidu emphasised that city development must remain the priority, transcending caste and political differences. The Council announced that discussions on pending agenda items will continue on December 28. GMC chief P Srinivasulu, MLCs KS Lakshman Rao and Chandragiri Yesuratnam, Guntur East MLA Mohammad Nazeer, Guntur West MLA Galla Madhavi, Prathipadu MLA Burla Ramanjaneyulu, Deputy Mayors Shaik Sajeela and Diamond Babu, council members, and others were present.

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.

Government of Andhra Pradesh and PW partner to establish deep-tech AI-focussed first Institute of Eminence (IoE)

Andhra Pradesh Government and PhysicsWallah (PW) partnered to establish the University of Innovation (UoI), aiming to become the state's first Institute of Eminence. The university will focus on AI, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship, using a hub-and-spoke model for statewide access. PW, backed by GSV Ventures, plans to invest 1000 crores, collaborating with industry partners like AWS for market-relevant education.

Only 24.9 per cent of Andhras coastline stable, 31 per cent eroded

VISAKHAPATNAM: Thirty-one per cent of Andhra Pradeshs coastline is eroding, 44 per cent is accreting, and 24.9 per cent remains stable, according to a report by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). The report, titled Management of Coastal Erosion along Andhra Pradesh - Shoreline Change Atlas of Andhra Pradesh, provides a detailed analysis of erosion and accretion patterns along the States 1,027.5 km-long coastline. The study, covering the period from 1990 to 2022, indicates that 318.96 km of the States coastline have experienced erosion, 256.32 km remain stable, and 452.3 km are under accretion. While erosion means the land near the sea is being worn away by waves, currents, and storms, accretion means the opposite. An expert in the subject explained that accretion means the build up of sand and sediments, creating new land. However, this could be both good and bad. In Andhras case, accretion is not necessarily bad on its own, but must be carefully managed. If it leads to an imbalance, like worsening erosion elsewhere or affecting local livelihoods and ecosystems, it could become problematic. Sustainable coastal management can help balance the benefits and risks. The study, conducted using Resourcesat-2 and LISS-IV satellite data, excluded river and creek areas and focused on the shoreface length. Erosion along the shoreline at Varuns Children Park in Vizag Study lays emphasis on shoreline mapping It highlights that coastal erosion is a significant concern in certain districts. West Godavari recorded 52.5 per cent erosion, while Kakinada reported 52.8 per cent. Krishna district followed with 43.8 per cent erosion. On the other hand, accretion exceeded 50 per cent in Anakapalli (56.7 per cent) and Vizianagaram (54 per cent). Most coastal districts in the State have shown an accreting trend over the last 32 years. The study categorises the 1,027.5 km coastline into seven segments based on erosion and accretion levels. It noted that 91.96 km falls under high erosion, 39.64 km under moderate erosion, and 187.7 km under low erosion. Additionally, 256.31 km is considered stable, while 281.72 km falls under low accretion, 57.78 km under moderate accretion, and 112.8 km under high accretion. Hard structures such as seawalls and groynes have been widely used for protection, but their long-term impacts on sediment transport and beach morphology are raising concerns. Soft solutions like beach nourishment, which involves replenishing sand on eroding beaches, are gaining popularity as sustainable alternatives, the report stated. The study emphasised the importance of mapping shoreline changes regularly to develop precise measures for coastal protection and management. NCCR has been monitoring and analysing shoreline changes across India under the Coastal Processes and Shoreline Management (CPSM) project since 2013. This ongoing effort aims to provide updated and reliable data for effective coastal management, ensuring the safety and sustainability of coastal regions.

Panel to select software firm for maintaining school exam data

The firm will also be tasked with maintaining official website, Digilocker service and development of other web applications for 2024-25 academic year

MP Sivanath urges Centre to include Anganwadis under PM Surya Ghar scheme

Four Visakhapatnam students win U.S. fellowship for restoring coastal ecosystem with seagrass

Seagrasses play a vital role in combating climate change by absorbing more carbon dioxide than terrestrial plants, say the students

Governor Lauds PJTAU, Urges It to Gear Up for Fourth Industrial Revolution

Hyderabad: Governor Jishnu Dev Varma lauded the role of Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU), of which he is the chancellor, in sustaining farmers livelihood across the nation. He singled out its role in bringing in the sona masuri to drive home his point. Addressing a gathering of students and staff, he said, The varsity should raise standards to meet the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. There is a need to focus on harnessing the potential benefits of artificial intelligence by establishing an AI lab. It should endeavour to be a global leader in agricultural research and innovation by 2047. The decision to take up natural farming and its drone academy are good initiatives. Minister of agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao said, The university has grown as it has pursued the vision of eminent personalities. It should strive to improve its ranking among agricultural universities across India. A model agricultural farm should be in place at every college for the benefit of the farming community and students. Towards producing industry-ready products, the varsity should bring in changes to the curriculum. Later, speaking at the kisan mela inside the campus, he emphasized the importance of Telangana in rice production and sought the farmers to diversify with alternate crops like horticulture crops. In his welcome address, Prof. Aldas Janaiah, vice-chancellor of PJTSAU, presented the varsitys historical 60-year journey. He dwelt about their initiatives to make the university visible amongst the farming community. Prof. Ramesh Chand, delivering the keynote address, highlighted the role of agriculture in the national economy and the contribution of horticulture in agriculture. Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Nadendla Bhasker Rao, former agriculture minister D.K. Samarasimha Reddy, government agriculture adviser Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Telangana Planning Board vice-chairman Dr G. Chinna Reddy, agriculture and farmers commission chairman M. Kodanda Reddy, Rajendranagar MLA T. Prakash Goud spoke. Former VCs Dr. Padmaraju, Dr Raghava Reddy and Dr Prabhakar Rao were present at the event. Several farmers were feted for their innovative farming practices on the occasion.

Manipulated and Betrayed: How Andhra Pradesh Used Citizen Data to Deny Aid and Control Votes - IBTimes UK

Manipulated and Betrayed: How Andhra Pradesh Used Citizen Data to Deny Aid and Control Votes IBTimes UK

World Bank okays $800 million loan to develop Amaravati

The World Bank approved an $800 million loan to India for developing Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, as a sustainable and economically vibrant urban center. This funding aims to attract private investment, create jobs, and accommodate a projected population increase to 3.5 million by 2050. The loan has a 29-year maturity period with a six-year grace period.

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.

Rajendranagar Court Delivers Life Sentence in 2020 Gangrape Case

Karni, who was sentenced in a Cairo court this week, is among 115 defendants who were all given life sentences at the same time for crimes allegedly committed in early 2014. (Photo: Pixabay) Karni, who was sentenced in a Cairo court this week, is among 115 defendants who were all given life sentences at the same time for crimes allegedly committed in early 2014. (Photo: Pixabay) Rajendranagar Court Delivers Life Sentence in 2020 Gangrape Case Hyderabad :The Rajendranagar Pocso court on Friday convicted Shaik Zaffar and Shaik Nayeem to life imprisonment for kidnapping, raping and attempting to kill a 17-year-old girl in 2020. The incident occurred in what is now the Attapur police limits, According to the Attapur police, in 2020, the victim, who was from an economically weaker background, became acquainted with Zaffar. When Zaffar's cousin Nayeem learnt of it, he orchestrated a plan to gangrape her, police said. Zaffar took the victim her to an under-construction site in Rajendranagar, where Nayeem joined him and the two then gangraped her and pushed her from the first floor building. When she survived, they allegedly threw her near a hut near the RGIA police station while she was unconscious state. This spot turned out to be near her residence. Her parents spotted her and shifted her to the Osmania Hospital. A police case was registered. Two months later, when the girls condition stabilised, a district magistrate recorded her statement. Following this, using CCTV cameras, and the phone number of the accused that the victim possessed, the accused were traced out and arrested and convicted. Cyberabad Traffic Police X Account Hacked, Users Alert Hyderabad :The Cyberabad traffic police's X account was reportedly hacked on Friday. The hack became known after a couple of users spotted the handle reflecting the fake account of a company CEO. According to the users, the handle showed a profile picture and username of the CEO, which was mis-spelled. The account has still not been deleted by the handler. The traffic police acknowledged the issue, but did not admit that the account was hacked. An IT cell constable, responsible for handling the account told Deccan Chronicle, Yes, there has been some issue, but we do not know what it is about. We are working on analysing the problem and fixing it. We will surely detect the problem maker too. It is worth mentioning that this is the third hack after the Hawkeye app and the TS Cops hack. Besides, the websites of the three commissionerates had gone down briefly. Man Arrested for Robbing Relative's House in Balanagar Hyderabad :The Jagadgirigutta police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing from the house of his relative, Balanagar ACP Hanumantha Rao said on Friday. The accused has been identified as Nadgotti Bharath, 23, of Warangal. The arrest was based on a complaint lodged by Jangam Paramesh of Kukatpally. Police said Paramesh and his family locked the house on December 15 and returned at about noon on December 18 and found the window glass pane broken. On entering the house, Paramesh found the almirah broken and some gold ornaments missing. During the investigation, it was found that the accused was a distant relative of Paramesh. The accuseds parents had reportedly passed away when he was young, as a result, he grew up in an orphanage. He had since resorted to robbery and was jailed in 2020 and 2022. A total of 12.7 tolas of gold, worth `7 lakh was recovered from his possession pertaining to this case. Alwal Merchant Found Dead, Financial Issues Suspected in Suicide Hyderabad: An Andhra Pradesh native residing in the city allegedly died by suicide on Thursday night, Alwal police said. It was suspected that the victim, Janardhan, a merchant, was facing financial woes. Police said he was alone in the house at that time. His brother, who arrived after a while, found that Janardhan was not opening the door. He got the door broken open, and entered the house, only to find Janardhans body. The body was shifted to the Gandhi mortuary for postmortem examination. RTC Bus Hits 54-Year-Old Man Fatally in Dundigal Hyderabad: Fiftyfour-year-old Kummari Siddhaiah, a resident of Suraram, was fatally hit by an RTC bus on Friday morning, Dundigal police said. He was walking on the road at that time. Locals informed the police, who registered a case. The body was shifted to the mortuary for postmortem examination. KPHB Police Register Case After Youth Beaten in Hostel Mistakenly Hyderabad: The KPHB police registered a case against four persons for allegedly beating a youth up at a hostel on Friday in an alleged case of mis-identification. Gali Vara Prasad, 29, lodged a complaint that he was beaten up by Adli, Pushpa, Sumanth and another unidentified man. The victim told the police that after he was assaulted, the attackers realised that they beat the wrong person. They reportedly asked people at the hostel about Prasad. When they pointing to him, the four thought he was their target. A case was registered at the KPHB police station and further investigation is underway. The accused were absconding, police said. Kokapet Construction Blast Injures Five Hyderabad: Five persons were injured by stones raining down on them reportedly following a detonation at a construction site in Kokapet, Narsingi police said on Friday. It was stated the locals were not informed about the blasting at the site. According to reports, the mishap happened as a result of a real estate firm setting off a detonator at a construction site near the Neopolis area. Reports said locals ran for shelter when the stones started falling on them after a loud sound.

Minister Ponguleti Demands Probe Into False Land Transfers

Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said that there would be a forensic audit of land holdings that were falsely transferred after the previous BRS government brought in the Dharani portal. Speaking in the Assembly, he said the government was committed to taking action against the wrongdoings during the BRS regime. He cited the SIT probe into the ORR tendering process. Srinivas Reddy, speaking in the Assembly during the debate on the Bhu Bharati Bill, said: I request all the members to submit details of the land that were occupied. A decision on forming a SIT or ordering a sitting judge probe will be taken after a ministerial-level discussion. He said that the 1971 ROR Act had served the state well for 49 years. It was changed to serve the interests of one family. I expected the leader of the opposition K. Chandrashekar Rao in the House to give his suggestions on the Bhu Bharathi Bill. He has insulted the House by not attending the session. Earlier as the din continued in the house with the BRS members seeking a discussion on the FIR filed against party leader K.T. Rama Rao, BJP floor leader A. Maheshwara Reddy hinted at a probable collusion between the BRS and the Congress citing failure to constitute a probe into the dharani lands issue. He reminded that the Congress leaders had themselves said 2.5 lakh acres had changed hands using Dharani. Of the 24 lakh assigned lands only five lakh acres are left now. Around 60 per cent of Wakf, temple and other lands have been occupied. A CBI inquiry should be ordered on the issue, he said. He said that the state should implement the Land Titling Act which guarantees the rights on land from the government side. The details of lands alienated should be given out. A mere name change would not suffice, he said. Intervening in the debate, the revenue minister said that an SIT was being formed to probe the ORR issue. Contracts cannot be cancelled without a probe. Some members are trying to mislead the people by uttering lies. Rao has plundered the state. CPI member Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao said Our suggestions have been included in the Bhu Bharathi bill. The BRS lost power because of Dharani. Efforts should be made to take five villages among the seven mandals from Andhra Pradesh and solve the problems of the people there, he said adding that lands occupied by the poor should be regularised.

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.

Andhra Pradesh, EdTech signed MoU to establish University of Innovation in state - Deccan Herald

Andhra Pradesh, EdTech signed MoU to establish University of Innovation in state Deccan Herald