Haj applications from March 1 February 09, 2012 18:49
Application forms for Haj 2012 will be issued from March 1 to April 16. Pilgrims intending to go on Haj should pay Rs. 200 along with a self attested Photostat copy of the passport at the time of applying. Those selected through the ‘qurrah’ (draw of lots) will have to pay the first installment of Rs. 51,000 and submit their original passport which should be valid up to March 31, 2013. The balance amount has to be paid before July 19. This time round, there will be only two categories of accommodation at Makkah Green and Azizia. The White’ category has been done away with since there is not much of a difference distance wise between these accommodations. These decisions were taken at the meeting of executive officers of State Haj Committee held at Mumbai the other day. Haj flights from India are expected to be operated from September 19 to October 20. The standing at Arafa (Haj) will be on October 26 this year. According to S.A. Shukoor, Executive Officer, A.P. State Haj Committee, only those persons would be allowed to undertake the journey who are medically fit. Every pilgrim has to submit a fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Last year a number of persons who went on pilgrimage died in Saudi Arabia besides a number of women pilgrims who were in advance stage of pregnancy gave birth in the Kingdom resulting in lot of problems. The Haj Committee of India has also fixed the cutoff date for pilgrims above 70 years for direct selection without ‘qurrah’. Such persons should be of 70 years by February 29, a day before the applications are issued. Similarly the cutoff date for two year infants accompanying parents has been fixed. Children should be two years old by November 30, 2012. This was done as earlier many infants accompanying parents turned three years in Saudi Arabia and there was a problem of ticket in the return journey. Infants are not charged anything, it is said.
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GHMC to remove overhead cables February 07, 2012 17:32
Following the recent Lok Ayukta orders, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to remove all overhead cables in the city. In a meeting with representatives of Telecom and Cable Operators, GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu said that in view of traffic congestions and inconvenience to people at busy roads, underground cables would be laid by replacing the overhead cables. In the first phase, it was proposed to lay underground cables on the stretch of 170 km main road and 73 km on Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) route. The GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu mooted three proposals to lay underground cables. The first one is the operators can form a stake holders’ consortium and take up the works, while the second proposal is GHMC will take up the works and the operators pay money. The third one is the operators will award the works to an outsourcing agency. The operators and the Corporation will finalise one proposal among the three in the next meeting to be held on February 13. It is estimated that it will cost around Rs 5 crore to lay underground cables on 1 km stretch. Stating that all stake holders had already agreed to remove the cables, the official said during laying underground cables, foothpath and storm water drainage’s would also be laid to meet future needs. Referring to the collection of property tax in this financial year, Commissioner Krishna Babu said so far it had collected Rs 410 crore and it would achieve the target of Rs 600 crore by the end of March. He also said that the Corporation had prepared project proposals at the cost of Rs 800 crore for taking biodiversity projects and had sent a letter to the Centre seeking assistance.
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APFTA to continue agitation February 06, 2012 10:24
The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Textile Associations have decided to continue its agitation against the state government’s decision to implement five per cent VAT. The government is unrelenting even after nine days of hunger strike by the federation members.The federation will organise a “Chalo Hyderabad“ agitation when the Assembly is in Session. Meanwhile, the federation has condemned the state government’s proposal to enhance the VAT limit for a turnover from `5 lakh to `7.50 lakh as nil and one per cent VAT for turnover from `40 lakh to `50 lakh. The convener of the VAT JAC, Ammanabolu Prakash, pointed out that the increase of limit from `40 lakh to `50 lakh will attract only one per cent tax.
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Metro rail finalises 6-stage schedule February 04, 2012 11:58
Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail (L&THMR) have sealed a six stage schedule of construction for the elevated rail system to be built for a distance of 71.16 km. First two stages as announced earlier will be between Nagole and Mettuguda for which the first pier (pillar) work will begin this month while the second stage will be between Miyapur and Ameerpet. Other four stages of work will be between: Mettuguda to Ameerpet, Ameerpet to Shilparamam, Ameerpet to L.B.Nagar and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to Falaknuma, said HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy at Uppaldepot site on Friday. “We will reach the critical stage in 1820 months when we will be constructing in the city. We will be simultaneously constructing on precast girders, piers and stations at different locations,” said L&THMR Managing Director V.B.Gadgil The officials pointed out that works were going on round the clock at the 104 acre depot for levelling the ground to make way for the nerve communications centre, maintenance facilities and other offices. Precast segments Half of the 28,000 precast segments will be made here and the rest at Miyapur depot, another 100 acre site. Total number of piers will be 2,500 and 66 stations. The project is being built across three lines L.B.Nagar to Miyapur (28.87 km, 27 stations), Line two: JBS to Falaknuma (14.78 km, 16 stations) and Nagole to Shilparamam (27.51 km, 23 stations). Overhead stations are in two levels connected by staircases, escalators and elevators with span lengths varying between 43 ft (13 mts) to 56 ft (17 mts). Otherwise, normal span lengths vary from 92 ft (28 mts), 102 ft (31 mts) and 112 ft (34 mts). Overhead clearance will range from 5.5 mts to 8.5 mts and 11.5 mts when it crosses a flyover. Mr. Gadgil pointed out that so far the citizens were not affected by the work but within a few weeks they will be witnessing work on the roads. “We are going to cause some disturbance. Please bear with us,” he appealed. While the mandate is for five years every effort will be made to complete the project before, he said.
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Atempts to Solve Jr Doctors issue February 02, 2012 12:44
A team consisting of political representatives and members of student organizations, headed by MIX Prof K Nageshwar will give a representation to chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday on junior doctors’ demands, D Mnay, a Junior Doctors’ Association IAC member has said. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with members of political parties on Wednesday at the Gandhi Hospital, he said the team would also contain members of student organisations. “The team will submit a representation on the doctors, demands to Kiran Reddy on Thursday,” he added. Meanwhile, the junior doctors’ indefinite fast reached the eighth day on Wednesday. Doctors had shifted four fasting medicos to ICU on Tuesday evening and they were given intravenous iluids as they were re fusing to take food orally. The condition of others who are on hunger strike has also become critical. Another 12 members joined the indefinite fast on Wednesday evening to extend support to their colleagues. Earlier, the TJAC convener Prof M Kodandaram, Loksatta president and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan and other political leaders visited the hospital and extended their support. About 750 junior doctors are participating in the strike, where junior doctors from the Gandhi and Osmania medical colleges have been joined by colleagues trom other medical colleges in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Tirupati, Anantapur, Warangal and Kumool. The talks with government officials remain deadlocked with the government offering only a hike of Rs 5,000 in stipend against the doctor’s demand of increasing it to Rs 40.000.
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9OO Posts to Be Filled Up in Prisons Department February 02, 2012 12:36
The Prisons department has been trying to turn jails into rehabilitation centers for criminals to change their lifestyle before rejoining society, said CN Gopinatha Reddy, the director general of Prisons. Addressing the 4th All India Prison Duty Meet at the AP Police Academy here on Wednesday, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that police and prison administration are indispensable wings of the criminal justice system and should complement each other. He added that the meet is a great opportunity for state prison staff to improve their physical and mental fitness by competing with one another. Gopinatha Reddy said they would fill 900 various posts in the department this year against 520 posts last year. He requested the chief minister to arrange extra 30 days salary for all prison staff. Responding to his request, Kiran Reddy said he would put the proposal before the Finance department. The prison staff from 16 states will participate in the three day meet. 800 participants including 54 women, will take part in various competitions. Home minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy, staff of prisons were present.
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9-Day Textile Trade Bandh Ends February 01, 2012 13:37
Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu has assured textile traders that the 5 per cent value added tax on textiles will be rolled back if his party is voted to power. “We will include it in our manifesto if the government does not accept the demand of textile traders,” Naidu said ata dharna by textile traders at here. The nine day textile bandh ended on Tuesday. Naidu said that no other state imposed 5 per cent VAT on textiles. Ministers were speaking in different voices on VAT and the Kiran Reddy government was not considering the just demand of traders and weavers, Naidu alleged. “The VAT on clothes will burden 2.5 lakh shops and around 20 lakh persons depend on the industry. No new textile industry will come to the state if the government imposes VAT on textiles. Moreover, new industries will be shifted to other states. The government should see the danger and stop sucking the blood of the people in the name of taxes.” On the arrest of IAS officer BP Acharya, the leader of the opposition said the officer had won several awards during the TDP rule. ‘”Now the same officer, as home secretary, landed in jail in Congress rule.” Naidu said.
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Little Impact of Bandh in City January 31, 2012 15:49
The statewide bandh call given by OUJAC and other dalit organisations protesting desecration of Ambedkar statues had little impact in the city and pa d off peacefully barring a buming of a private bus at Secunderabad by suspected OU. IAC activists on Monday morning. A majority of edu cational institutions, particularly on outskirts of city announced holiday, on account of bandh. The only violence was reported at Chilkalguda where a private bus was set afire and badly burned. Around 6.30 a.m. locals noticed a parked private bus on fire and informed police and fire officials. The bus hired to Arabindo pharma was parked on Chilkalguda main road. OU students took out a rally from Arts College, but were prevented by police at NCC gate. At LB Nagar and elsewhere, protestors forced business establishments to close down. Leaders of various political parties were taken into preventive custody at some places for staging dharnas but were later let off.
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Andhra Bank launches loan scheme for professionals January 31, 2012 15:40
Andhra Bank has launched a new scheme, ‘AB Professional Loan’ to meet the credit needs of practising professionals like chartered accountants, company secretaries and architects for various purposes, including establishing/ renovating office premises. It will also cater to engineers, valuers, management/ financial consultants, cost accountants and advocates. Information Technology professionals who want to start their own enterprises would be provided the loan. Andhra Bank chairman and managing director, BA Prabhakar. said the product would be extended on a collateral-free basts and the borrower need not offer any security and without much documentation. Up to a maximum of Rs.10 lakhs, it could be availed of as a term loan payable in 60 months or overdraft or the combination of the both, depending upon the purpose of credit. He said the initiative was part of Andhra Bank’s commitment to encourage self-employed entrepreneurs,’ professionals and an amount of Rs.150 crore was targeted to be disbursed by the end of March this year. The bank would come out with more products to promote self-employment activities. Mr. Prabhakar said the interest rate would be floating at base 3.25 per cent. Concession was being extended by charging only 50 per cent of the normal fee for processing charges. He said the bank’s business had crossed Rs.1,77,000 crore during the year.
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Rajiv Gandhi statue vandalised January 30, 2012 15:57
Unidentified persons vandalised former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's statue at Chilkalguda crossroads on Sunday. While the police has launched a hunt to trace the offenders, some students of Osmania University claim responsibility for the incident stating they damaged the statue in protest against the desecration of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's statue in various parts of the State. Local Congress leaders noticed the damage caused to the statue and alerted the police. OU student owns up Activists later staged a demonstration at the spot demanding arrest of those involved in the crime. An OU student, Krishank, later called up and informed media persons that he was responsible for the incident. Police say efforts are on to verify the student's claim.
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Wild allegations trigger tension in old city January 28, 2012 12:30
Tempers ran high in old city on Friday with two communities expressing anger over alleged restrictions imposed by the police on tying of flags for coming Milad-un-Nabi and on banning of ringing of the bell in Bhagyalxmi temple, adjacent to the historic Charminar. The rumour that police were preventing the devout from ringing the bell surfaced apparently after a newspaper published a picture of two woman constables holding the bells in the temple in an attempt to prevent the devotees from ringing them during ‘Harati' time. The fact that the picture was published five days ago and the firm denial of police that such an order was issued, did not cut much ice. Police suspect that the picture was not shot recently, as one of the constables in it was currently attached to Nampally police station and not old city. The situation appeared to spiral out of control after Telugu Desam corporator Raja Singh known for his right-wing activities, announced that he would go to the temple to the ring the bell. Singh's supporters wanted to take out a rally to Charminar arguing that there was never any restriction on ringing of the bell in temples. Anticipating trouble, the police moved in and took the corporator into preventive custody on Thursday night and released him on Friday morning. “There is no such order prohibiting ringing of bell. Many devotees did ring the bell during Harati time. These reports are baseless,” the South zone DCP, Manish Kumar Sinha, said. Meanwhile, tension was also building up at several places in old city after people alleged that the police were preventing the tying of banners and flags for Milad-un-Nabi festival. However, Mr. Sinha refuted that restrictions were imposed on tying of banners and flags. “It is true that we're trying to streamline the ‘jalsa' (meeting), processions and decorations such as tying of flags organised during the festival by speaking to various sections,” Mr. Sinha said. While he claimed that organisers responded positively to police suggestions, some cried foul alleging that the police were detaining persons who tied flags on roads and grilling them. Procession routes The DCP said that elders of the community celebrating the festival were asked to confine decorations to February 4, 5 and 6. Details of the meeting venues, routes of processions and other celebrations were being collected to provide adequate security and ensure minimum traffic chaos. Keeping in view the violence that erupted after the festival two years ago, the police did not want to take any chances.
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SCR set to cross 100 MT cargo mark January 27, 2012 11:55
The South Central Railway will cross the 100-million-tonne cargo transport mark during the current financial year and is all set to join the elite club which comprises three zones at present. Addressing a gathering of senior railway officials and staff on the occasion of the 63rd Republic Day at the Railway Sports Complex Grounds in Secunderabad here on Thursday, SCR general manager GN Asthana said SCR’s three focus areas were ensuring safety in train operation, improving financial performance and providing passenger amenities, and showed a commendable performance on these fronts. He reaffirmed SCR’s commitment to ‘Zero-Compromise Policy on Safety’ and said security on 98 Express trains on sensitive routes had been strengthened by deploying 337 RPF personnel. To further strengthen the security apparatus, Integrated Security System would be established soon at three high passenger density stations _ Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Tirupati _ and Closed-Circuit Security Surveillance System at other major stations. He said SCR posted a healthy growth rate of 10 per cent in gross earnings and netted `5,837 crore.
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