Code in force in Ongole, Kandukur

                                 Code in force in Ongole, Kandukur 

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 25

The Prakasam district officials are initiating action for the smooth conduct of byelection for Ongole assembly constituency. District collector, Anita Rajendra during a convergence meeting with officials here on Wednesday said that no one will be allowed to conduct election meetings in religious places and directed officials to initiate actions in this issue. She mentioned that permission is compulsory to all rallies and public meetings and use of mikes hence political parties should follow the rules. She affirmed that electricity, potable water and toilets would be provided in polling stations at Ongole and Kandukur of the district.

Ms Anita said that police and excise departments are going to install check posts to curb illegal shifting of liquor and money to lure voters. She clarified that all works which were sanctioned but not grounded were stopped due to model code of conduct and further clarified that works which were under progress would be continued. She confirmed that all eligible people will be registered as voters during house-to-house visit programme. Ms Anita concluded that model code of conduct is in force in Ongole and Kandukur constituencies of the district.

The district joint collector, Mr P. Lakshminarsimham, district revenue officer, Mr J. Radhakrishnamurthy and others officials participated in the meeting.

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Chiranjeevi to begin campaign from Ongole

                                 Chiranjeevi to begin campaign from Ongole

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 25

Minister for rural development and Prakasam district incharge minister, Mr Dokka Manikyavaraprasad Rao said here on Wednesday that Congress was going to announce its candidate for Ongole assembly seat for the byelection in two or three days. He predicted that Congress will win all 18 assembly seats and one parliament seat in the byelections. The minister clarified that he had come to Ongole as election incharge and would stay here till the completion of polls to coordinate party cadre.

The minister announced that Congress leader and MP, Mr K. Chiranjeevi was going to participate in the byelection campaign in 18 constituencies and will launch campaign from Ongole soon.

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Circle, sub inspectors transferred in Prakasam

                                 Circle, sub inspectors transferred in Prakasam

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 25

Two circle inspectors and five sub-inspectors were transferred in the Prakasam district by police department on Wednesday in view of byelection. K. M. K. Reddy was shifted to central crime station circle inspector from Ongole rural. I. Srinivas was posted to Ongole rural as CI from CCS Nellore. Ongole I town sub-inspector, Md. Altaf Hussein, SI of Ongole rural M. Madhubabu and SI of II town, B. Srinivas Rao was posted to special branch. SI of Mundlamuru P. Vijaykumar was shifted to Nellore district and G. Hazrathababu was shifted to Prakasam district from Pedakakani of Guntur district.

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Code effect on works worries Congress

                                  Code effect on works worries Congress

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 25

Congress cadres are disappointed with the announcement of byelection schedule which has stopped all developmental works with the imposition of model code of conduct. State government sanctioned Rs 6 crore funds for various developmental works from general funds.  Minister for rural development and Prakasam incharge minister, Dokka Manikyavaraprasad Rao and Ongole MP,  Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy with other MLAs set the stones for various developmental works last week at Ongole.

Prajapatham was stopped in the Ongole assembly and Kandukur parliament constituencies with byelection notification. Congress had planned to resolve all public issues with the help of Pajapatham to get votes and expected time till August, but early notification has shattered these plans. Some senior leaders feel that Congress will face public ire for poor drinking water supply at once in five days and most colonies lack basic amenities. Besides this, Congress war far behind Telugu Desam and YSR Congress in the campaign due to non-selection of its candidate for byelection. Congress cadre demanded minister, Mr Manikyavaraprasad Rao announce during his visit to Ongole on Wednesday.

Similarly Congress is lagging behind in the campaign at Kandukur constituency which comes under Nellore parliament constituency. Minister for municipal administration and urban development, Mr Manugunta Mahidhar Reddy who was elected from Kandukur said that he would tour the constituency and the party would announce its Ongole candidate in a couple of days.

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Farmer dies, four injured in road mishap on highway

Farmer dies, four injured in road mishap on highway

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL 24

A tobacco farmer died on the spot and four others received serious injuries in a tractor accident at Pedobinipalli village on Nandyala-Ongole highway on Tuesday. Five tobacco farmers were going in a tractor with tobacco logs to Podili.  The driver of the tractor had applied sudden brakes to avoid collision with an auto rickshaw. As a result tractor overturned. M. Ramakrishna 25 got stuck beneath of tobacco bundles and died on the spot due to asphyxiation. K. Ramakrishna Reddy, K. Balakotaiah, K. Rajaiah and E. Ramanaiah received serious injures and were rushed to Cumbham government hospital through 108 ambulance for treatment. The Tarlupadu sub-inspector, M. Rambabu registered a case.

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Benefit with health scheme

 Benefit  with health scheme

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL 24

The Kanigiri MLA, Dr Mukku Ugnarasimha Reddy asked weavers to concentrate on their health with the aid of Weavers and Artisans Health Insurance Scheme during starting of a mega health camp at Kanigiri on Tuesday. The ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company which is managing the health insurance scheme for weavers and artisans had conducted the medical camp in which as many as 400 got treatments. The assistant director of handlooms and textiles, Mr S. Raghunatha explained about the scheme and said that weavers can keep their health fit with the health insurance scheme.

Mr Birendra Mohanty, vice president of ICICI financial inclusion group, said that the scheme covers pre and post hospitalization cost up to Rs 15000 for beneficiaries till 80 years of age. He added that beneficiaries are eligible for dental, eye and maternity benefits besides covering pre-existing diseases. Mr Ugranarsimha Reddy said that union government is implementing this scheme hence weavers should join the scheme with nominal pay of Rs 100 per annum which benefits four members of the family. General physicians, orthopaedics, gynaecologists; ophthalmologists and neurologists rendered services in the mega medical camp.

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Senior inter student tries to commit suicide

 Senior inter student tries to commit suicide

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL 24

A senior intermediate student Ch.  Sarath belonging to Palukuru of Kandukur mandal in Prakasam district tried to commit suicide as he failed in exam. He tried to consume pesticides near his house and noticing the same, some people informed it to police and 108 ambulance service. Sarath was undergoing treatment in a private hospital at Kandukur.

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312 PDS rice bags seized

312 PDS rice bags seized

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL 24

Revenue officials led by C. S. Puram mandal tahsildar, Mr K. Venkateswarlu conducted raids in a sweet lemon garden at Timmarajupalem on Tuesday and seized 312 bags meant for public distribution system rice. Mr Venkateswarlu said that they got information about the PDS rice on phone and conducted raids and started investigation about illegal PDS rice transportation after seizing the stocks.

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Prakasam got 12th state place in the senior intermediate results

Prakasam got 12^th state place in the senior intermediate results

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL 24

The Prakasam district fell to 12^th place from last year’s sixth in the senior intermediate results which were announced on Tuesday. As many as 18864 students appeared for exams in which 10389 were passed in Prakasam district.  Of them which 5657 are boys and 4733 are girls. The Tallur government junior college stood top with 100% pass in the district where all ten students had passed senior inter followed by Turimelle government junior college where 117 students passed against 127 appeared.  . 

As many as 2006 students appeared for inter exams from government junior colleges in which 1307 students were passed and district got state fifth place among government college’s pass percentages. 1044 students appeared from aided junior colleges and 462 passed exams giving eight place in state level to district in the aided colleges section. 343 students passed in the vocational courses against 412 in the district. Ongole RIO of Intermediate Board S. Arunakumari said that supplementary exams would be held from May 23 to 31 and said that board had started dispatching marks memos to colleges.
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TD to meet every voter in Ongole

TD to meet every voter in Ongole

DC CORRESONDENT

ONOGLE, APRIL  24

The Telugu Desam (TD) has intensified its efforts to attract voters to their party in the byelection for the Ongole assembly seat in view of byelection schedule announcement by the Election Commission. Polling for byelection would be held on June 12 and counting would be conducted on June 15. Election notification would be issued on May 18, nominations received till May 25 and scrutiny on 26.  
There are 197802 voters in the Ongole constituency according to latest voters’ list in which 96472 are men and rest of 101330 were women. Besides this, voters of Kandukur assembly constituency are going to cast their votes in the byelection as it comes under Nellore parliament constituency where byelection is inevitable due to resignation of Mr Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy who joined YSR Congress. There are 180150 voters in the Kandukur constituency in which 91055 are men and 89095 were women.
The TD has appointed 30 senior leaders including its Markapuram MLA, Mr Kandula Narayana Reddy and former MLAs at Ongole to mobiles voters.  The TD has divided the entire constituency into 19 sectors to reach every voter in all 233 polling booths of Ongole constituency. TD supremo, Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s proposed visit of April 25 was also postponed to May first week in view of election schedule announcement. Mr Naidu had directed Mr Narayana Reddy to look after Kothapatnam mandal where the YSR Congress was gaining popularity in the past few days.
The Telugu Rythu state president, Mr Karanam Balaramakrishnamurthy was appointed as party coordinator. Another former legislator, Mr E. Haribabu was directed to look after Ongole urban and other senior leaders for other sectors. Besides this, some state leaders are going to camp at Ongole to campaign TD candidate, Mr Damacharla Janardhan.
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Ongole doctor disappears at Gundlapalli

                                  Ongole doctor disappears at Gundlapalli

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

The Maddipadu police received a complaint about missing of a famous doctor of Ongole on Sunday. According to Maddipadu sub-inspector, P. Bhaktavatsala Reddy, Dr  A. Srikanth Reddy was going to Guntur in his car. Dr Srikanth Reddy asked the driver to stop the vehicle and stepped out for attending a call on his mobile at Gundlapalli of Maddipadu mandal on NH-5 on April 11. Dr Srikanth Reddy went far from car while talking phone. Car driver, P. Anilkumar waited return of Srikanth Reddy for some time but the doctor did not returned. He searched on the national highway for his owner but could not trace him. Hence he returned and informed it to family members who searched for the doctor for the past ten days. As they failed to trace out Dr Srikanth Reddy, Anilkumar lodged a complaint and police started investigation.

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One dies, 2 hurt in auto-bus collision

                                  One dies, 2 hurt in auto-bus collision

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

One person died and two others were injured in a bus-auto rickshaw collision at Markapuram on Sunday. P. Venkataramana 36 was returning to home in an auto rickshaw and APSRTC bus in the opposite direction dashed  it near Vemulakota. Venkataramana died on the spot and two auto rickshaw commuters received injuries. Markapuram rural sub-inspector, P. Ramulu Naik registered a case and shifted body to government hospital for autopsy.

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Villagers join TD from YSRC

                                 Villagers join TD from YSRC

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

As many as 30 Dalit families had joined Telugu Desam on Sunday from YSR Congress. These families of Throvagunta of Ongole rural said that they had joined TD as vexed with corruption of YSRC. TD Prakasam president, Damacharla Janardhan invited them by giving party membership at TD office at Ongole.

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Plant saplings to protect earth, students told

                                  Plant saplings to protect earth, students told

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

People were asked to protect earth from pollution during World Earth Day meet here on Sunday. Volunteer Environmental Organisation chairman, Mr G. Veerabhadrachari, asked students to plant saplings and further bring awareness about protection of our environment from pollution among their parents and common people. He asked people to shun plastic and use ecofriendly bags. Veerabhadrachari and others asked people to use bicycles as much as possible to curb vehicle pollution.

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Dalit samiti demands arrest of culprits

                                  Dalit samiti demands arrest of culprits

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

The Dalita Hakkula Parirakshana Samithi here on Sunday demanded speedy investigations of various Dalit people’s murder cases in the Prakasam district. The Samithi district president, Neelam Nagendram said that T. Lakshmaiah was murdered at Agraharam of Podili mandal, and D. Lenin was murdered at Karedu under Ulavapadu mandal in the past week days but police failed to arrest culprits behind the murders. He recalled that their organisation had taken the murders issue to the notice of higher police officials but in vain. He alleged that the culprits belong to forward castes hence police are showing laxity to arrest them and demanded speedy investigations in both the cases.

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Students told to adopt newer technologies

                                 Students told to adopt newer technologies

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

The students were told to adopt newer technologies to achieve top positions in their fields during an awareness programme for SSC students here on Sunday. Brilliant organisation conducted the awareness programme. While addressing students, personality development trainer, K. Ravikumar said that students should get knowledge about courses which were in demand and will provide good employment. He added that besides academic studies, good command over English language and adopt of latest technologies would help students towards brighten their careers. He asked students to make good use of summer vacations to acquire good skills which will turn their lives. Another trainer Ms D. Jhansi explained about various courses for SSC students. The Brilliant director, S. Nyamatulla Basha said that they are going to conduct awareness programmes for students every Sunday at Ongole. SSC students from various schools participated in the consciousness programme.

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Markapuram slate industry troubled by power cuts

 :                                 Markapuram slate industry troubled by power cuts

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 22

The slate industry at Markapuram was troubling with ongoing power cuts. The slump in the slate industry had led to nearly 20000 workers suffering. The Markapuram was famous for slates and it fulfills 80 percent slate and slate pencils demands of our country. There are 150 slate units but half of them are on the edge of closure with power cuts and the recent electricity tariff hike.

As many as 20000 people from Vemulakota, Kottalapalli, Vemulapeta, Jammanapalli, Kolabhimunipadu, Kottapalli, Tippayapalem, Nikarampalli, Ammavaripalli, Sivarampuram, Kondepalli, Rayavaram, Yachavaram, Moddulapalli, Ganugapenta, Darimadugu, Bodapadu, and Idupudu were working in the slate industries but many are now going to agriculture works like plucking chilli and national rural employment guarantee scheme works. Some migrated to Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore and other areas and are working in the construction field.  

Some workers of Yachavaram said that industries will get orders from December to May from educational institutions but entry of high tech methods like power point presentation, computers and erasable plastic notes has badly affected those orders due to adoption of computer technology by educational institutions. A leader of design slate units union, K. Nageswara Rao that their business mainly depends on export orders due to use of design slates by foreign countries hence government should supply electricity without power cuts, he demanded rollback of increased power tariffs for slate industries.

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Women’s protest over pay mars Prajapatham

                                 Women’s protest over pay mars Prajapatham

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 20

The Prajapatham programme attended by Prakasam collector, Anita Rajendra at Maddelakatta of Pedaravidu mandal witnessed noisy scenes when  women protested over payment of Rs 5 to Rs 20 per day per to the workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).  Ms Anita said that MGNREGS payments are given according to work hours and assured that officials will provide maximum work hours to increase payment.

Women spoke of their drinking water difficulties. Bhu Pampini beneficiaries said that officials had not showed their lands for which pattas were given. Ms Anita directed SC corporation officials to show the lands and assured supply of drinking water through the Sagar canal. People of Chatlamada, Pydipadu and other villages complained about poor sanitation and spread of epidemics. Some thrift women questioned about absence of bank loans and 25 paisa scheme. The meeting had to stopped for one hour. Police rushed to the spot and pacified protestors.

Earlier villagers of Chinadornala stopped collector’s car for some time with a road blockade in their village demanding drinking water supply. Later Ms Anita went to Karrolu where people are suffering from an epidemic. She interacted with villagers and asked to practice hygiene.

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House sites for poor sought

                                  House sites for poor sought

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 19

The Communist Party of India activists tried to barge into collectorate here seeking allocation of house sites to poor Indiramma beneficiaries of various colonies in Ongole town. CPI Ongole secretary, Mr U. Prakash Rao along with other leaders tried to enter collectorate forcibly amidst resistance from police. Protestors squatted on the floor raising slogans demanding resolution of their issues. The protestors called off their agitation after District Revenue Officer, Mr J. Radhakrishnamurthy assured them that the issues would be resolved with the cooperation of Ongole municipal officials.

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Women question MLA over poor water supply

                                  Women question MLA over poor water supply

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 19

The Markapuram MLA of Telugu Desam, Mr Kandula Narayana Reddy faced anger from women for the poor supply of drinking water on Thursday during the Prajapatham at Markapuram. During 27, 28 and 29 ward’s Prajapatham, they alleged that MLA had not tried to resolve their difficulties and never visited their colonies after winning election. They alleged that there was  no water supply in the taps for the past week, hand bore wells had dried and there were no water tankers.

Shocked at the ire, Mr Narayana Reddy immediately phoned municipal officials and asked them to come to the Prajapatham. Markapuram municipal commissioner, Mr P. Ravindra Reddy and assistant engineer Mr Srinivas Rao came to the meeting and assured immediate potable water supply through water tankers and repair of hand borewells.

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TD to highlight graft of Congress, YSRC campaign

                                 TD to highlight graft of  Congress, YSRC campaign 

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 19

The Telugu Desam byelection committee conducted a meeting here on Thursday to work unitedly in the Ongole assembly byelection. TD leaders asked party cadre to highlight corruption of YSR Congress and its candidate and former MLA, Mr Balineni Srinivas Reddy’s laxity towards development of Ongole during byelection campaign.

TD byelection incharge and former MLA, Mr Karanam Balaramakrishnamurthy predicted a TD victory if the various wings of party work together to bring about awareness about scams and failures of Congress and corruption of the YSR. He alleged that Mr Srinivas Reddy had won the last election due to 40000 bogus votes and Election Commission had recently removed them on TD’s complaint hence TD was going to win Ongole seat.

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Naidu bypoll tour in Ongole on April 25

                                 Naidu bypoll tour in Ongole on April 25

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 19

The Telugu Desam has formed a byelection committee to coordinate party cadre and leaders in the Ongole constituency. The TD high-command had appointed former MLA and senior leader, Mr Karanam Balaramakrishnamurthy as coordinator of the committee, TD MLA of Markapuram, Mr Kandula Narayana Reddy as byelection incharge for Kothapatnam mandal and ex-MLA, Mr E. Haribabu as joint coordinator. Besides this, five senior leaders were appointed for byelection planning committee and another committee for programmes implementation with another five senior leaders. Seven leaders from state party were appointed observers in the byelection monitoring cell.

The TD supremo, Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu is going to visit Ongole on April 25 for the election campaign. Party leaders said that Mr Naidu will concentrate on Ongole and will spend complete day in the party campaign in various wards with party leaders. The party is expecting a split in votes if Congress fields Ms Magunta Parvatamma as its candidate. The TD had conducted surveys on the byelection which revealed public support to TD in the Ongole rural areas and most areas of the Ongole urban. The survey further revealed public support to YSR Congress in the Kothapatnam mandal hence Mr Naidu is going to concentrate only on Ongole in the scheduled visit.

The TD leaders according to survey are expecting BC votes to their candidate and further traditional Kamma votes.

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100 suffer from viral fevers in Prakasam

                                                 100 suffer from viral fevers in Prakasam 

DC CORRESPONDENT

ONGOLE, APRIL 19

As many as 100 villagers were suffering from viral fevers in  Karrolu village of Pedaravidu of Prakasam district.  V#illagers alleged that poor sanitation and contaminated potable water was the cause of the epidemic. They said that N. Jayavish 40 of the village had died with viral fever on Wednesday and another 100 people were suffering from fever and diarrhea. Medical and health officials rushed to the village and started a medical camp.

Villagers said that there were no hospitals in the mandal hence they were forced to go Yerragondapalem for treatments. They alleged that water pumping motor had burnt out in the village but panchayat was supplying contaminated water without purification.

Speaking to this newspaper the district medical and health officer, Dr K. Sudhakarbabu said that medical staff was collecting blood serums for diagnosis. He added that staff was conducting house-to-house visits to bring about awareness among villagers about hygiene to curb epidemics and the department was probing death of a villager. He clarified that 20 villagers were suffering from viral fever and two with diarrhea; all were getting treatment in the camp which will be continued till improvement of health conditions in the village.

Dr Sudhakarbabu further said that department had started a camp at Veerannapalem village of Pullalachervu mandal on Thursday to treat villagers who were suffering from dengue fever. “There were no hospitals in that area except one government and another private hospital at Yerragondapalem hence department had installed a camp in the village “he said.

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Mega lok adalats on April 28, 29 in Prakasam