TELANGANA NEWS 24/7

The series will release on the streaming giant Netflix

After registering their marriage earlier this month, Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare hosted a lavish wedding party in Rajasthan’s Udaipur. 

Rashmika and Vijay co-starred in films like Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade

Varun danced to the song Filmon Ke Sare Hero from Swarg

Chandu Champion marks Kartik Aaryan's first collaboration with director Kabir Khan

Helmed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Shah, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya will hit the theatres on February 9.

Nick, with brothers Kevin and Joe, performed in India for the first time

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TSCSB) is warning people about a scam wherein fraudsters, impersonating as employees of reputed courier companies, extort money from the victim. Adding that a sharp increase in such cases has been witnessed every year, 64 such cases were registered in a span of 25 days. The total monetary loss incurred by the public amounts up to Rs 18,24,56,908 and the amount saved by TSCSB by collaborating with the NCRB totals up to Rs 4,77,01, 679.

In most cases, scammers were observed employing various tactics to induce fear among the victims. Some common methods include scammers posing as law enforcement or legal authorities, accusing the victim of being involved in a criminal activity. Falling prey to the hoax, the victim would attempt to avoid facing legal consequences and giving away the amount demanded by the impersonators.

Another common method was falsely asserting that a package addressed to the victim has been confiscated by law enforcement due to its alleged involvement in illegal activities such as containing drugs, foreign currency, money laundering etc.

For another set of victims, scammers use personal information obtained from social media or other sources to create a sense of vulnerability, making the victim believe the threats are credible.

Creating a sense of urgency, scammers often impose tight deadlines, demanding immediate action to resolve the fabricated issues. This pressure is designed to prevent victims from thinking rationally.

Scammers may advise victims to not discuss the situation with family or friends, isolating them and making it more likely for the scam to succeed.

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HYDERABAD: Putting all speculations to rest, the four BRS MLAs who met the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday clarified that they have no intention of changing their loyalties to the Congress.

Speaking to reporters at the Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, the BRS leaders said that they will take legal recourse if anyone indulges in spreading false propaganda against them.

The four MLAs — Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, G Mahipal Reddy and Manik Rao — said they met the CM only to request the government to extend protocol to them and to implement the assurances given by the Congress.

“We are not changing our loyalties. The BRS leadership has complete faith on us and we have faith in the leadership,” Sunitha said.

Stating that there was nothing wrong in meeting the CM to get some issues resolved, she said that they would fight against the “violation of protocol”.

She also exuded confidence that the BRS would win the Medak seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

‘Won’t leave BRS’

Prabhakar Reddy said that they met the CM only to discuss the problems related to their respective Assembly segments.

Stating that Revanth Reddy is the CM not just for the Congress, he said: “It is wrong to spread false propaganda stating that we are joining the Congress.”“Anyway, who will join the Congress?” he queried sarcastically.

Recalling that he also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, he said it should not be construed as showing interest in joining the BJP. “As long as I am in politics, I will be with the BRS,” he declared.

Mahipal Reddy, meanwhile, said that they brought the issues related to their Assembly segments to the notice of the district collector and to follow up on that, they also met the CM. “I will not leave BRS as long as I am alive,” he vowed.

“One should not come to the conclusion that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was going to join BJP as he met the Prime Minister to talk about state issues,” he remarked. Manik Rao said that they met the CM only to resolve the pending problems of the people.

“The Congress was trying to halt the Sangameswara and Baswesvara lift irrigation project works. I have requested the CM not to stop the construction of these lift projects. We also discussed security related issues with the CM,” he said.

“I owe my political career to the BRS. I prefer to die as a BRS worker than change my loyalities,” he said.

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HANAMKONDA: Subedari police on Tuesday registered a case against sub-inspector G Anil of the Kakatiya University Campus police station following a complaint by a government working in the irrigation department that he sexually harassed her.

Accompanied by her husband Bhargav Sallori, the victim lodged the complaint with the Subedari police station. According to the complaint, the SI first saw her on December 3, 2023, at the Enumamula Agriculture Market Yard where she was deputed for counting of votes for the Assembly elections. Anil then continued to contact her through WhatsApp messages.

Bhargav claimed that Anil followed his wife and insisted on introducing her to his sister and that she visit his residence. When the victim went to Anil’s home to meet his sister, she discovered there were no women present. She confronted the SI who got angry. In her complaint, the victim said that Anil threatened to assault her.

The victim said that she managed to escape from Anil’s residence and informed her husband. Realising the gravity of the situation, Bhargav and the victim reached the Subedari police station to formally lodge a complaint.

Subedari Inspector MA Shukur told reported that a case has been registered against Anil under Section 354 D of the IPC and provisions related to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act. “Investigation is underway and action will be taken as per the law,” the inspector said.

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SANGAREDDY: A tense situation prevailed for some time in Doulatabad of Hatnoora mandal in Sangareddy district late on Monday following clashes that erupted when a shoe was hurled at a religious procession.

Police managed to diffuse the situation by arresting two persons, including a minor, who allegedly threw the shoe.

Jinnaram Circle Inspector M Venukumar said that following the shoe-throwing incident, a group of people entered a nearby house suspecting it to be the residence of the culprit. They discovered a matching shoe in a washing machine and identified the accused by this. Soon after, the participants in the procession staged a dharna and vandalised a fruit shop owned by the suspect.

The police reached the spot and diffused tension by arresting two suspects involved in the incident. As a precautionary measure, the tenants of the building were relocated to a safe area.

The police have increased security across Hathnoora mandal to prevent any violence. Pickets have been posted in all areas of Hathnoora mandal to maintain order.

Elsewhere in Morgi village of Nagalgidda, a person insulted the flag of a particular community and shared a video of the act on social media. This enraged the villagers who thrashed the accused. The police arrested him, along with four others who allegedly helped him.

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HYDERABAD: The state government-appointed expert committee, formed to give suggestions on reforms in the Dharani portal, the integrated land records system, will soon start the process of collecting information on various problems being faced by the people.

The committee is also set to meet district collectors, divisional and mandal revenue officers as well as all the stakeholders, including agriculture and stamps & registrations department officials. As part of this endeavour, the committee is planning to invite the district collectors for a meeting on January 24.

The committee members — Congress Kisan Cell vice-president M Kodanda Reddy, former chief commissioner of land administration (CCLA) and retired IAS officer Raymond Peter, land rights activist M Sunil Kumar, and former bureaucrat B Madhusudan — addressed the media on Monday to divulge the details of their initial meetings. The committee held its first meeting to chalk out a strategy on how to approach the issue. During the second meeting, the officials made a detailed presentation and at the third meeting, the panel members tried to understand the 33 modules of Dharani.

“Any software should be able to capture all the transactions on the server. Not just the decisions, but every other detail. For instance, if one buys something from a merchant and makes a digital payment, he or she will get a confirmation message from the bank about the deducted amount,” noted Raymond Peter. “I am not aware if such a facility exists in the Dharani portal,” he added.

Interim report soon

The committee, meanwhile, said that given the seriousness of the issue, it will be submitting an interim report to the state government very soon. The panel members said that each of them has been receiving multiple calls from several people with complaints on Dharani.

They, however, made it clear that their role is only examining issues in the existing system and submitting a comprehensive report to the state government to create a robust system. They said that although they don’t have a time frame to give the report, they would expedite the consultation process.

Panel’s responsibility

The committee, however, made it clear that its role is only examining issues in the existing system and submitting a comprehensive report to the state government to create a robust system.

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HYDERABAD : As devotees celebrated the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by distributing sweets and food, and taking out Sobha Yatras, several Telangana state Congress leaders, including MLAs and ministers, on Monday refused to waste the opportunity to connect with the people.

While the grand old party decided to stay away from the Ayodhya event, the state Congress leaders offered special prayers at Ram temples across the state in a symbolic gesture. These temple visits were aimed at underscoring the party’s stance that its absence from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration was rooted in the belief that the event had been politicized.

Expressing his displeasure over the way the Ayodhya event was conducted, Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar criticized the BJP for “politicisation of the Ram Mandir.”

Prabhakar emphasized his personal commitment to religious practices and wanted to know if adherence to specific political narratives should define one’s identity as a Hindu.

“By birth, I am a Hindu... I have devotion, fear, and attention to God. Am I not a Hindu if I do not follow what you say...? Don’t do politics with pictures of God,” he posted on X platform.

He went on to challenge the BJP to explain the concrete measures initiated for the welfare of the people of Telangana in the past 10 years.

Sudarshan Narasimha Yagam in Mancherial

Congress MLA Kokkirala Premsagar Rao took a different approach by organizing a religious event titled “Ganda Bherunda Sudarshan Narasimha Yagam and Maha Purnaahuti” in Mancherial Assembly constituency. Rao garnered support from hundreds of devotees who attended the ceremony.

Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao offered prayers at the Sree Seetha Ramachandraswamy temple in Bhadracham.

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HYDERABAD: Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the revising committee and CBFC to reassess the certification process for the movie ‘Vyuham’ within three weeks, ensuring valid reasons are provided as specified in the Cinematograph Act. The High Court delivered the verdict on the certification process of the film responding to a writ petition filed by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the revising committee that recommended the release of the film for certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Senior counsel Unnam Muralidhar, appearing for petitioner TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, raised objections to the certification process, alleging procedural irregularities. The film, which delves into alleged corruption in Andhra Pradesh, is reported to contain defamatory remarks against former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, potentially leading to contempt of court.

Murlidhar argued that the certification was granted without proper consideration of relevant sections of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and film certification guidelines. The petitioner specifically invoked Section 5(B) 1 & 2 of the Cinematograph Act, emphasizing the need to avoid content against the sovereignty of the country or the security of the state.

In response, the senior counsel representing the film producer contended that the writ petition was not maintainable. He argued that the petitioner, as a political party representative, lacked standing to file such a petition without watching the film, and assumptions should not be the basis for legal action.

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HYDERABAD: Accusing the BRS of “dismantling” Panchayat Raj institutions by depriving them of funds and stripping powers of sarpanches when it was in power, Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday said that the Congress dispensation is committed to reviving the past glory of the Panchayat Raj system in line with the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts.

Addressing a series of meetings after inaugurating panchayat and anganwadi buildings in Huzurnagar constituency, he also said that the government would waive penalties on property tax and house tax arrears in gram panchayats, municipalities and corporations across the state as promised in the Congress election manifesto.

Criticising the previous government, Uttam said that the BRS government had diverted the revenues of gram panchayats for other purposes under the guise of reforms by introducing the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. He said that several sarpanches had to undertake developmental works using their own funds or borrowed money, resulting in unpaid bills amounting to over thousands of crores.

Funds diverted

He said that the diversion of funds had pushed the sarpanches into huge debts. The sarpanches had to raise funds on their own to pay salaries of sanitation staff in villages, undertake development activities such as Haritha Haram, Prakruthi Vanam, road laying and maintenance, and sanitation activities in thousands of gram panchayats, he added.

“Almost all sarpanches in Telangana fell into a debt trap as they raised funds through private lenders and mortgaged their properties to undertake village development activities. When the Centre credited the Finance Commission grants directly into the bank accounts of gram panchayats, the BRS government fraudulently diverted the amount into its accounts without their notice instead of clearing pending bills,” he alleged.

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Three persons were arrested by the Hyderabad police on Saturday, for screeing Ram ke Naam- a documentary on the Babri Masjid demolition by Anand Patwardhan.

According to the sources, the screeing was organised by a movie enthusiats group- Hyderabad Cinephiles at a cafe in the city.

The arrests were made based on the complaint from a member of Vishva Hindu Parishad ( VHP).

The Neredmet police halted the screening of the film and picked up Anand Singh and Parag Varma, two members of the group, and the cafe owner Srujan.

The police have registered a case against Anand, Parag and others under section 290 (Public nuisance), 295A (Outraging the religious feelings) read with Section 34 (When a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

Several social media users have come in support of the Cinephiles group demanding release of the arrested members.

Taking to Instagram, Hyderabad Cinephiles condemned the police action against its members.

"The screening of the move hadn't even reached the midpoint, when police and members of VHP stormed into the cafe and started yelling that the screening was illegal, " they said.

When the movie club members tried to explain that the film is not banned and that it is available on YouTube, the police refused to listen to them and took the three into custody, they added.

Ram ke Naam is a 1992 documentary by Indian filmmaker Anand Patwardhan. The film explores the campaign waged by the right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad to build a temple to the Hindu deity Ram at the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, as well as the communal violence that it triggered.

The documentary has been subject to censorship multiple times even though there has been no restrictions placed legally.

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HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is likely to expand his Cabinet within a fortnight or before the next Budget session. The ruling Congress appears to be preparing the ground to make the Cabinet more inclusive ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

With the General Elections on the horizon, the party is wary of being criticised for the lack of representation of several communities in the Cabinet. For instance, Mudhiraj and Yadav groups are in sizable numbers in the BC community but are not represented in the Cabinet. Likewise, the current Cabinet does not have representatives of some major communities.

Sources said that the party will accommodate representatives from SC, ST, BC and Reddy communities in the expansion. The present composition of the Cabinet includes four Reddys and representation from predominant Mala (SC), Madiga (SC), Koya (ST), Goud (BC), Padmashali/Munnurukapu (BC), Kamma, Velama and Brahmin.

The sources said that MLAs G Vivek (SC), N Balu Naik (ST), Malreddy Ranga Reddy (Reddy), Sudharshan Reddy (Reddy), Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy (Reddy) and K Premsagar Rao (Velama) are among the front runners for a Cabinet post. When it comes to BCs, the party is learnt to have three options — MLAs Veerlapally Shankar and V Srihari (Mudhiraj), and MLC nominee Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud.

Among the BC MLAs, the Congress has already appointed Beerla Ailaiah and Adi Srinivas as party whips and the chances of them being shortlisted are understandably bleak.

There is also no Muslim representing the Congress in either House of the Legislature. At this juncture, it is unclear whether the party would induct a Muslim leader, despite elections being around the corner.

Speaking to TNIE, a senior Congress leader said: “The party high command has decided not to include those who have contested in the elections but were defeated.”

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Congress is considering the option of nominating senior leaders who have served the party with positions of Cabinet rank.

Revanth, Owaisi UK visit

The bonhomie between arch political rivals Congress and AIMIM was on full display during Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s visit to the United Kingdom.

A photo of AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in conversation with Revanth Reddy in London has triggered speculations of both the parties burying the hatchet and making peace, which seemed a distant reality not very long ago.

The State government has released a photograph of Revanth and Akbaruddin visiting London Shard, an high altitude of 309 meters, to understand how a “life-filled river Thames connects the northern-side of London”.

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HYDERABAD : Justice B Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court has issued notices in two contempt of court cases against C Muralidhar, engineer in chief (general), and seven other officials to show cause either in person or through a duly instructed advocate on January 22.

The contempt cases were filed based on a complaint by M/s Navayuga-IVRCL-SEW (joint venture) over alleged “willful and deliberate disobedience of high court orders” related to pending bills for completed works.

The works are valued at Rs 76,53,43,801 at the Sripada Sagar Project in Yellampalli village in Ramagundam mandal of erstwhile Karimnagar district and Rs 28,97,47,265 at the Jonnala Boguda balancing reservoir under the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme.

The high court had previously pointed out on December 14 and 15, 2023, that bills had been raised for the completed work, and there was no dispute regarding payment. Consequently, the high court had issued interim directions to the respondents, instructing them to process the bills within ten days.

However, it has been alleged that the officials concerned failed to comply with the high court’s directives.

The high court said that if the authorities fail to appear or provide a satisfactory explanation, the cases will be heard and determined ex-parte.

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HYDERABAD: Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court has granted permission to former MP YS Chowdary to travel abroad from January 20 to June 20. The high court, after considering the facts presented in a writ petition filed by the former MP and referring to Supreme Court orders in similar cases, imposed certain conditions for the overseas travel.

YS Chowdary had filed a writ petition seeking the high court’s direction to permit him to travel to the USA, Dubai, and some European and ASEAN countries, including the UK and Singapore. The purpose of his visit was stated as “exploring opportunities in the healthcare sector and investigating possibilities for technological collaboration and transfer.”

In his order, Justice Nanda directed the former MP to submit an undertaking to the CBI, the respondent in this case. The undertaking requires Chowdary to inform the CBI about his travel details, including departure and arrival dates, mobile numbers and email addresses. Additionally, if required, he is obligated to be available for further investigation and cooperate with the investigating officer (IO).

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She said that her visit to Delhi is apolitical and only to attend the celebrations which reflect the culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu in Delhi.

HYDERABAD: Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, along with Raj Bhavan staff, celebrated the Sankranti festival at the Raj Bhavan and extended greetings to the people on Saturday. The Governor personally prepared the traditional Pongal dish and offered prayers for the health, prosperity and well-being of all the people of the state and the nation.

After the ‘Pongal’ was prepared, the Governor offered the dish to Lord Surya as per tradition. She said that the traditional Pongal dish, meaning ‘spilling over” or “boiling over,” signifies abundance and prosperity and is offered to the Sun as a thanksgiving gesture for keeping all healthy.“It is our tradition to express gratitude to Mother Nature for all the abundance, health and prosperity that we have during this festival which is essentially linked to nature.

Tamilisai also thanked farmers for the bumper harvest achieved through their hard work. “I extend my heartiest wishes and greetings to you all on the auspicious occasion of the Bhogi and Sankranti festivals. I wish Bhogi and Sankranti, which are the Festivals of Harvest, may bring abundant happiness, prosperity and health to you all,” she wished.

Answering a question, the Governor said that she would be travelling to Delhi to attend the Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr L Murugan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending the celebrations. She said that her visit to Delhi was apolitical and only to attend the celebrations which reflect the culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu in Delhi.

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Revanth yet to take a call but officials find it ideally located and having all facilities required

HYDERABAD: The Paigah Palace, a notified heritage building located at Chiran Fort Lane in Begumpet, is likely to be used by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy as his camp office if well-placed sources in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) are to be believed.

The Paigah Palace served as the US Consulate General office in Hyderabad for almost 15 years — from October 24, 2008, to March 2022, and the HMDA head office before that. Vacant presently, the Paigah Palace is under the control of the HMDA. The heritage building is spread over 4.15 acres and has a built-up area of 60,000 to 65,000 sq. ft.

On Saturday, rumours started doing rounds that the General Administration Department (GAD) has identified the Paigah Palace for the chief minister’s camp office. The speculation gained weight when it emerged that a team of senior officials from GAD, the CMO and the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) had been inspecting the heritage building over the past few days.

The sources said that the officials are of the view that the Paigah Palace has all the required infrastructure for making it the chief minister’s camp office. Also, it is situated close to the Begumpet airport, the Secretariat and nearby government offices. However, the chief minister is yet to decide in this regard, the sources said.

MCR HRD too considered

The chief minister’s visit to the MCR HRD in Jubilee Hills last month sparked speculations that the Vivekananda Block in its premises was likely to be made the new camp office. Revanth even held a few meetings at the MCR HRD. However, unlike the Vivekananda block in the MCR HRD, which will need quite a few modifications, Paigah Palace is said to be equipped with all the facilities to commence serving as the CM’s camp office immediately. Besides, the MCR HRD is far away from the Secretariat.  

Officials, wishing to remain unnamed, told TNIE that after inspecting the building, they found it suitable as it has all the facilities and does not require much renovation. The previous BRS government had planned to lease the palace to private individuals for setting up a hotel on the lines of Taj Falaknuma Palace in the Old City. The US Consulate General in Hyderabad operated from Paigah Palace for almost 15 years before shifting to its new facility at Nanakramguda. The palace was handed over to the HMDA on April 17, 2023.

Between 1975 and 2007, the palace housed the head office of HMDA.

A beautiful edifice

It is a large two-storeyed neoclassical building with a portico, semicircular arches, unfluted Corinthian columns, projected and pedimented windows, and deep arcaded verandahs on all four sides. In 1999, a multi-storeyed annexe was added towards the rear side of the palace for office purposes. In 2008, the building was temporarily leased to house the US Consulate General.

Presently, there is no permanent camp office for the chief minister. Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao used Pragathi Bhavan in Begumpet as the camp office. However, when the Congress came to power, it was renamed Praja Bhavan and allocated as the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. The Paigah Palace was built in 1900 by Sir Vicar ul Umra after he gifted the Falaknuma Palace to his brother-in-law, Nizam VI Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.

Power centre

The Paigah Palace served as the US Consulate General office in Hyderabad for almost 15 years — from October 2008 to March 2022.

The Paigah Palace was built in 1900 by Sir Vicar ul Umra after he gifted the Falaknuma Palace to his brother-in-law, Nizam VI.

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The case was registered based on a complaint filed by TPCC senior vice president Dr Mallu Ravi.

HYDERABAD: An FIR was filed against Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Narayanaswamy Kalathuru in Hyderabad on Saturday for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Sonia Gandhi during a public meeting which was organised as part of the ‘Samajika Sadhikara Yatra’ at Hukuru mandal of the neighbouring state. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by TPCC senior vice president Dr Mallu Ravi.

The case was booked under Sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes) read with 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC with Begumbazar police station.

Speaking to the media, Ravi said that the AP deputy chief minister made objectionable statements against Sonia Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, by stating that she was responsible for the untimely death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. He said that such statements were deplorable and had no space in healthy politics. He also said that he had filed another case with the cybercrime police against a conman who created a fake website to attract donations under ‘Donation for the nation’.

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The chief minister also asked Goyal to accord greenfield status to the Mega Textile Park in Warangal under the PM Mitra scheme.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday requested Union Minister for Industries and Commerce Piyush Goyal to approve the establishment of a new Industrial Corridor connecting Hyderabad to Vijayawada via Miryalaguda.

The Chief Minister also urged the Union minister to reconsider the proposal of establishing a Pharma City between Hyderabad and Warangal. This proposal was made by the previous BRS government. Revanth asked Goyal to instead endorse the forthcoming proposals for a Pharma City by the current state government.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Revanth submitted proposals for various projects to Goyal. The chief minister pointed out the significance of clearances for the proposed Hyderabad-Nagpur industrial corridor while stressing that the state would get Rs 2,300 crore after the approvals.

Stating that the National Institute of Design (NID), which was initially allocated to Telangana, was shifted to Vijayawada from Hyderabad after bifurcation, Revanth asked the Union minister to sanction a new NID for the state. He also recalled that the Centre sanctioned a leather park to Nellore before the state’s bifurcation and urged the Union minister to sanction a leather park in Karimnagar and Jangaon districts, which have suitable lands.

Revanth said that the state government would immediately allocate land for a leather park in the state. The Chief Minister also asked Goyal to accord greenfield status to the Mega Textile Park in Warangal under the PM Mitra scheme. He spoke of the potential for accelerated industrial development, noting that the conversion from brownfield to greenfield would attract an additional Rs 300 crore in funds.

Highlighting the state’s readiness to establish industries related to technical textiles, such as bulletproof jackets, conveyor belts and airbags, the chief minister urged Goyal to grant a Centre of Excellence for Technical Textiles/Testing Centre.

Revanth also requested the allocation of a National Handloom Technology Center to Telangana. The Chief Minister said that this would have a positive impact on training weavers in modern technology and enhance their income levels, especially with seven handloom clusters already established in the state.

Union Industries Department Joint Secretary Balaji, Union Textiles Department Additional Secretary Rohit Kansal, State Textiles and Handlooms Department Director Alugu Varshini, TSIIC CEO Madhusudan, Delhi Telangana Bhavan OSD Sanjay Jaju, Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal and others were also present at the meeting.

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The duo were also carrying one lakh Indian currency and foreign exchange worth Rs 9,83,509, cops added.

HYDERABAD: Diamonds worth Rs 6 crore hidden in chocolate wrappers were seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from two passengers bound for Dubai at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here Friday.

“Upon checking the baggage of the two passengers, we found precious stones concealed in zipped plastic pouches wrapped in white papers which were sealed in chocolate packets. The 5569.64 carats of diamonds are worth Rs 6,03,51,017,” police said. The duo were also carrying one lakh Indian currency and foreign exchange worth Rs 9,83,509, cops added. The two were arrested and further investigation is in progress.

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While it was initially said that the deaths were caused by territorial fights, official sources said poachers laced the carcass of cattle with pesticide to hunt the big cats.

ADILABAD: Six persons were arrested from Daregaon and other surrounding villages on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the deaths of two tigers in the Kagaznagar division of Kumurambheem Asifabad district.

Additionally, the district forest officials have deployed 70 staffers to trace the missing big cats.  In the last 10 days, two tigers were killed and at least another two, suspected to be poisoned, have gone missing. While it was initially said that the deaths were caused by territorial fights, official sources said poachers laced the carcass of cattle with pesticide to hunt the big cats.

Whether the two missing tigers have died of suspected poisoning or crossed the division via the Pranahitha river into the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) remains to be seen, officials said, adding that they are coordinating with forest authorities from Maharashtra.

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Parigi to be 2nd facility after INS Kattabomman; works would not cause any harm to 400-year-old temple: Revanth

HYDERABAD: The 15-year-long wait for the Indian Navy may end now as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, on Wednesday, gave his nod to start the works on setting up a very low frequency (VLF) radar station in Pudur mandal from February onwards.The chief minister said that the works would start in the forest area near the 400-year-old Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in Damagundam without causing any harm to the religious structure.     

Parigi MLA T Rammohan Reddy and a team led by Navy Commander Karthik Shankar met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Wednesday.Karthik Shankar briefed the chief minister about the radar station. He said that the Parigi area would be developed by establishing a radar station with heavy equipment.

The Navy Commander explained to the Chief Minister that job opportunities would also be provided at the radar station. The chief minister asked the Parigi MLA to coordinate with Navy officials to begin the work. Colonel Himvant Reddy, Navy Staff- Sandeep Das, Raj Bir Singh, Mani Sharma, Manoj Sharma and others were present.

The backdrop

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) had requested the State government to allot around 2,730 acres in Pudur and Damagundam villages in Vikarabad district, 90 km from Hyderabad, to set up a very low frequency radar station. The process to acquire land and allot it to the Navy was started way back in 2008. Later, the Telangana government even issued a GO for the same in 2017.Though Rammohan Reddy led the Navy delegation several times to the government in the last ten years, the locals opposed the setting up of the radar station.

The objections raised by the locals included damage to the temple, environment and alleged health problems to the people due to the radar station. Protestors even formed a joint  action committee and wrote postcards to the Supreme Court in 2020. In the same year, the high court directed the officials to maintain status quo on radar station and not to fell a single tree in the reserve forest of Damagundam village.

In 2014, Navy officials assured the state government that they would maintain the 400-year-old Shiva temple, as villagers opposed relocation of the historical temple for the radar station. The allocation of around 2,730 acres of land includes 32.19 acres belonging to the temple. A large number of people would visit this temple during Shivaratri.

Road access to villagers

The Navy even agreed to provide access by road to the villagers through Defence areas to the temple for conducting daily rituals.However, after 2014 there was not much progress on the proposed radar station.
The Navy proposed two VLF stations in the country. The INS Kattabomman, a VLF-transmission facility, was started at Vijayanarayanam in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. However, the second station proposed in Telangana did not take off due to various reasons. In the meantime, the state government had requested the defence ministry to allot Bison Polo lands for the construction of the Secretariat.

As the Centre did not allot the lands, the then BRS government too did not respond to the Centre’s request to allot lands to the Navy in Parigi. The case in the high court too delayed the project.The Navy selected Pudur mandal as a strategic location, as it could communicate with deployed units in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.The VLF radar station is intended to communicate with ships and submarines using low frequency radio waves.

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It may be recalled that Kodanda Reddy opposed the Dharani portal and advocate Sunil made several recommendations on the land records.

HYDERABAD: The Telangana state government on Tuesday constituted a five-member committee to make recommendations for restructuring of the Dharani portal. Congress leader M Kodanda Reddy, retired IAS officer Raymond Peter, advocate Sunil, and retired special grade deputy collector B Madhusudhan are the panel members.

The Chief Commissioner of Land Administration will be the member-convenor. District Collectors /Revenue Officers may be co-opted, a GO said. The committee will examine the matter and make its recommendations to the government, at the earliest.

It may be recalled that Kodanda Reddy opposed the Dharani portal and advocate Sunil made several recommendations on the land records. The Congress has said it would replace Dharani with the Bhumatha portal.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recently held a meeting with Kodanda Reddy, Sunil, and officials on Dharani. They suggested decentralizing the system and allowing farmers to represent their problems in the village itself. At present, farmers are forced to come to Hyderabad for any rectification or correction in land records uploaded on Dharani.

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After the formation of the Congress government, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that the government would order a judicial probe into it.

HYDERABAD: The officials of the Telangana Vigilance and Enforcement department on Tuesday carried out searches in about 10 irrigation offices to find evidence of irregularities in the construction of the Medigadda barrage and seized some files. The officials swung into action after the state government ordered the vigilance department to probe the reasons for the sinking of the piers of the barrage in the third week of October last year.

After the formation of the Congress government, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that the government would order a judicial probe into it. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the government also ordered a probe into the sinking of Medigadda piers by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department.

The V&E officials carried out searches at Jala Soudha, Hyderabad, the irrigation chief engineer office located at LMD Colony of Thimmapur mandal in Karimnagar district, Mahadevpur irrigation divisional engineer office, and the Kannepalli pump house office.

The vigilance officials locked the offices of the irrigation department before carrying out searches.
A team of ministers led by Uttam Kumar Reddy recently visited the Medigadda Barrage and gave a PowerPoint presentation at the project site on the alleged irregularities that had taken place in its construction. The Cabinet also resolved to conduct the judicial probe into it and wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court to allot a single judge for the probe.

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The syllabus is being developed based on the latest technological advancements, skills, and knowledge that would help job seekers and also job creators.

HYDERABAD: The Telangana state government is mulling over the idea of designating the final year of degree courses as a research and development (R&D) year. The syllabus is being developed based on the latest technological advancements, skills, and knowledge that would help job seekers and also job creators.

IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu on Tuesday announced that the state government is planning to host the Global AI summit in the coming days, aiming to make Hyderabad an Artificial Intelligence Hub. The government will invite top technology professionals from around the globe to participate in the summit. The goal is to generate AI beyond just Generic AI.

The government will also facilitate innovation and fortify an ecosystem that propels the development of next-generation products and novel business models. It will extend the establishment of incubators to encompass even rural areas in the state. Sridhar Babu participated in an interaction session with IT associations and prominent personalities at the Infosys campus in Gachibowli on Tuesday.

During the interaction, the minister said that the government would harness the potential of the IT industry in the future through strategic planning and added that in 2024, the IT industry’s key areas of expansion would revolve around digital transformation, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI. He pointed out that the focus should be on digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, 5G technology, remote work technology, sustainability, and emerging technologies and opportunities in the next decade.

To make the Telangana IT sector compete globally, the state government is also planning to focus on investment and infrastructure, skill development initiatives, research and development (R&D), global collaborations, policy reforms, startup ecosystem, and also take initiatives for digital transformation. The government will also focus on the promotion of green technologies, talent retention strategies, industry-academia collaboration, brand building, and marketing.

Govt plans to host Global AI summit

The state government is planning to host the Global AI summit in the coming days, aiming to make Hyderabad an Artificial Intelligence Hub, announced Sridhar Babu, IT and Industries Minister.

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Addressing a press conference, the deputy CM said the bipartite agreement was executed in violation of the Secretariat business rules, lacking approval from the minister concerned or the Cabinet.

HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikaramarka on Tuesday declared that the Telangana state government would pursue legal action concerning the bipartite agreement between the MA&UD department and Ace Next Gen, the official promoter of the Formula E Race in India, in collaboration with Formula E.

Addressing a press conference, the deputy CM said the bipartite agreement was executed in violation of the Secretariat business rules, lacking approval from the minister concerned or the Cabinet. The former MA&UD Special Chief Secretary, Arvind Kumar, initiated an agreement on October 30, 2023, committing to a total payment of Rs 110 crore and sanctioning an initial sum of Rs 55 crore. The Formula E company has served notice to settle the outstanding Rs 55 crore, he said, adding that the MA&UD department incurred additional expenses for infrastructure development.

This was carried out while the MCC for the Assembly polls were in place. Vikramarka also pointed out that instead of the original three parties, only two parties took part in the October 30 meeting, raising allegations of improper conduct.

“First and foremost, in the initial tripartite agreement, there was nothing for the state. Moreover, they proceeded to enter into a bipartite agreement in which the MA&UD Special Chief Secretary committed to paying Rs 110 crore. These agreements offer no benefits to the people. Why undertake all this? Is it merely for the Formula E people to have a glimpse of the state for Rs 110 crore,” Vikramarka said.

Hitting out at the erstwhile BRS government, the deputy CM accused them of putting the state up for sale to fulfill their desires and then crying foul over Formula E leaving the city. He questioned the actions of the then MA&UD minister (KT Rama Rao), who attended the inauguration function as a chief guest, but allegedly failed to monitor activities in his department.

“You have put the state up for mortgage to satisfy your (BRS leaders) greed and personal interests,” he criticized. The finance minister highlighted the absence of income for the state under the tripartite agreement, while Ace Next Gen and Formula E benefited financially from the agreement.  “The official concerned at the time gave oral instructions and the HMDA entered into an agreement with the private entities flouting the Secretariat business rules,” he said.

He said that Ace Nxt Gen made money by selling tickets while Formula E has received its rightful share for organizing the race. Meanwhile, the state government, being a party to the agreement, lacks information on the amount Ace Next Gen has generated, Vikramarka said, instructing officials to gather these details.

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As part of the investigation, the police are checking CCTV cameras in the area to detect any suspicious movement of a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler.

HYDERABAD: The charred body of an unidentified woman was found lying on a road in Bakaram village of Moinabad on Monday. 

“The victim had sustained 80-85% burns on her body and we couldn’t identify her. She must have been aged around 20-25 years,” Moinabad Inspector G Pavan Kumar Reddy told TNIE.

According to the police, two bikers noticed the body on the Bakaram-Murtuzaguda village road around 2 pm on Monday. They alerted the field workers, who informed the locals. Subsequently, the villagers alerted the Moinabad police.

“There were not many clues left on the crime scene except a half-burnt phone,” the inspector said. “We are trying to retrieve information from the phone, although it is very difficult,” he added.

As part of the investigation, the police are checking CCTV cameras in the area to detect any suspicious movement of a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler. 

The police registered a case under Sections 302 and 204 of the IPC (murder and tampering with the evidence, respectively). Further investigation is underway.

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The announcement was made by B Satyamma, the TOMCOM district employment officer, in a press release on Sunday.

JAGTIAL: The Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Ltd (TOMCOM), a recruitment agency under the Labour, Employment Training and Factories department, will be organising a special enrolment drive at Subhamastu Convention Hall in Jagtial on Tuesday, extending an invitation to workers for employment opportunities in Israel.

The announcement was made by B Satyamma, the TOMCOM district employment officer, in a press release on Sunday. According to the officer, individuals with experience in shuttering carpentry, tiling, plastering, and iron bending works are encouraged to enrol. Candidates should possess at least Class 10 or SSC qualification and fall within the age bracket of 21 to 45 years. Selected candidates can expect a monthly remuneration ranging from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 1.38 lakh.

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She was found hanging from the ceiling fan at her dormitory by her classmates.

SANGAREDDY: A first-year Intermediate student allegedly died by suicide in the Government Scheduled Castes (SC) Gurukulam College in Ranjole village under Kohir mandal of Sangareddy district on Sunday.  The motive was yet to be ascertained, said cops.

According to the police, the victim, Swapna, 17, had lunch with her friends in the dining area in the afternoon, after which she returned to her dormitory. Later, she was found hanging from the ceiling fan at her dormitory by her classmates, who then brought her body down. Subsequently, Sapna was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

The body was sent to the Zaheerabad government hospital for autopsy. Police have registered a case in this regard and begun the investigation. Just days ago, a first-year BTech student of Gitam University ended her life by jumping from the fifth floor of the college building.

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In this connection, Managing Director, Amrapali Kata along with MRDCL officials visited the Sabarmati Riverfront project and Yamuna project and interacted with the project officials.

HYDERABAD: The state government has drawn plans for the beautification of River Musi on the lines of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development (SRFD) project. In this connection, Musi River Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), Managing Director, Amrapali Kata along with MRDCL officials visited the Sabarmati Riverfront project and Yamuna project and interacted with the project officials.

A few days ago, Chief Minister, Anumula Revanth Reddy held a review meeting on the Musi riverfront project and asked the officials to study the Sabarmati and Yamuna model for replicating the model for River Musi. 

On the orders of the chief minister, a team of officers led by Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), Managing Director, Amrapali Kata along with other officials visited the Sabarmati Riverfront project and Yamuna River and studied the project.

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The youth took the extreme step two day ago at his residence. Though he was taken to a hospital, he could not be saved.

HYDERABAD: A college student allegedly ended his life here by hanging, police said on Saturday.

The youth took the extreme step two day ago at his residence. Though he was taken to a hospital, he could not be saved.

No suicide note was found and his mother too did not express any specific reason for his suicide, they said.

His father had passed away earlier.

Asked about reports that he was addicted to a video game which led him to suicide, police said no suicide note was found and that his mother or friends did not cite any particular reason though he used to play video games.

He had not been attending classes in college for about a week.

(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

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The councillors, who gave a notice of no confidence to the collector a few days ago, reached the municipal council hall from a camp to remove the chairman and vice chairman on Friday.

HYDERABAD/ADILABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)  Councillors in several municipalities are up in arms against their party chairpersons and vice-chairpersons. The ULBs where no-confidence motions were moved include Mahabubnagar,  Narayankhed, Narsapur, Khanapur, Adibatla, Kosgi, Wanaparthy Narsampet and a few other ULBs. The councillors have sent notices to the district collectors concerned expressing their intention to remove chairpersons and vice chairpersons as they have lost faith in them.

Municipal councillors at several places have switched their loyalty to the Congress after it came to power, leading to the situation. The district collectors and additional collectors (local bodies) are yet to decide on the issue.In the days to come, councillors of other municipalities are likely to move a no-confidence motion against  chairpersons and vice-chairpersons. They have expressed their disappointment with the style of functioning of the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

High drama in Khanapur

Meanwhile, high drama prevailed in Khanapur in Nirmal district on Friday when the revenue divisional officer (RDO) denied permission to municipal councillors to move a no-confidence motion against chairman A Rajender and vice chairman Abdul Khalil citing a high court order against the proceedings.

Irked over the decision, the Khanapur municipal councillor, belonging to the BRS, gheraoed RDO Rathna Kalyani who left the municipal council hall after calling a halt to the no-confidence move. They alleged that the RDO was involved in irregularities in the administration of the civic body and she was not impartial in dealing with the situation.

The councillors, who gave a notice of no confidence to the collector a few days ago, reached the municipal council hall from a camp to remove the chairman and vice chairman on Friday.The councillors said they will file a writ petition in the HC urging the court to vacate the stay on no-confidence motion against the two.

Meanwhile, Bellampally municipal councillors in Mancherial district also moved a no-confidence motion against the chairman. They hold a special session of the municipal council on January 12 to discuss the motion against the chairman.

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The ministers ridiculed the erstwhile BRS government for not being able to put its act together for two months after it was elected to power in the 2018 Assembly election.

HYDERABAD: Ministers D Sridhar Babu and Dansari Anasuya alias Seethakka on Thursday said that the BRS, which had developed cold feet in facing the Lok Sabha elections, was trying to put up a brave front by releasing a booklet with malafide intentions, containing 420 promises made by the Congress to the people of Telangana.

Speaking to the media at the Gandhi Bhavan, the two ministers said that the people had reposed faith in the Congress and would continue to do so in the future. “This is because the Congress had begun in earnest redeeming its six guarantees immediately after assuming power in the state,” the duo said.

The ministers ridiculed the erstwhile BRS government for not being able to put its act together for two months after it was elected to power in the 2018 Assembly election. But it was now targeting the Congress government which hardly is one month old and was implementing the six guarantees.The ministers also challenged the BRS leaders to oppose free ride to women on RTC buses since the pink party was provoking auto drivers to stage protests to derail the scheme meant for the empowerment of women.

‘BRS unable to come to grips with the reality’

Sridhar Babu came down on the BRS for calling the Congress promises a “420 assurances package” at a time when the pink party, which was in power for 10 years, was guilty of not implementing hundreds of promises made to the people. Notable among them is the promise to make a Dalit the chief minister of the state, allotment of three acres of land to each Dalit family, 12 per cent reservation to the Muslims in education and employment, and KG to PG free education to children among others, he said.

Seethakka said that the people have given a clear verdict against ‘gadeela paalana’. “The BRS government has failed to waive crop loans to farmers up to Rs 1 lakh as promised. The BRS leaders, who received the Rythu Bandhu money for the lands they owned, cheated the people by promising to create a Bangaru Telangana. It is the BRS which is the 420 party in the country,” she said.

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Gajula Kumar learnt about the incident through information provided by villagers and located the dismembered body parts and skin of the cow on the outskirts of the village.

KARIMNAGAR: A case has been registered under the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act of 1977 against three persons for allegedly stealing and slaughtering a pregnant cow and selling its flesh in Molanguru village of Shankarapatnam Mandal on the night of December 31.

Huzurabad ACP L Jeevan Reddy on Wednesday said that the cow, owned by Gajula Kumar, was targeted around midnight when the accused — Saddam, Shaik Taj, and More Manoj — knocked on the main door. Upon receiving no response, they stole the cow, which was tethered in the cattle shed at the rear of Kumar’s residence. Gajula Kumar learnt about the incident through information provided by villagers and located the dismembered body parts and skin of the cow on the outskirts of the village. Upon filing a complaint, we arrested the three accused, the ACP added.

During the investigation, the police recovered a two-wheeler, the skin, and tools used in the killing of the cow. The trio was subsequently sent to judicial custody at Huzurabad sub-jail.In light of the incident, BJP activists staged a protest on NH 563 between Karimnagar and Warangal.

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Some farmers utilised water from canals, while others relied on borewells for crop cultivation.

NALGONDA: Owing to the unavailability of Godavari waters from the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), the land in Suryapet district has become unsuitable for seed sowing. Previously, farmers grew many crops, including paddy, with the help of Godavari waters, but this time, the region faced scarcity due to damages to the KLIS’s Medigadda barrage and other associated projects.

Approximately 2 lakh acres of agricultural land under the project are affected as farmers are unable to cultivate even 50% of the land during the Yasangi season. Over the past few years, Godavari waters were diverted into canals through the KLIS, due to which groundwater levels increased. Some farmers utilised water from canals, while others relied on borewells for crop cultivation.

Due to lack of KLIS waters, canals in several villages within the Suryapet district have dried up. Approximately 30% of the farmers in the district are grappling with depleted groundwater, resulting in a lack of water in their borewells.

N Danunjaiah, a farmer from Vempati village in Tungathurthi mandal, told TNIE that he used to cultivate crops two to three times a year on his four acres of agricultural land with canal water. This time, however, he finds it challenging to grow even one crop on a one-acre portion. Another farmer expressed concerns about sowing crops with the expectation of canal water, only to find that water is now scarce, forcing him to resort to water tankers to save the crops.

Under the Nagarjuna Sagar project (NSP), the agriculture department anticipates limited cultivation during Yasangi due to water scarcity. District agriculture officials estimate that out of the projected 5,81,000 acres of crops in Yasangi, including 5 lakh acres for paddy and the remaining for commercial crops, only 90,330 acres have been sown two months into the season. Paddy cultivation covers 72,836 acres.

Farmers are eager to plant paddy on an additional 1,50,000 acres, but concerns persist as there is insufficient water in the NSP canal, and crops sown are at risk of drying up due to the lack of water in borewells.

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Leaders who suffered defeat in recent Assembly elections are now striving to influence the survey by actively engaging in ground-level activities, conducting meetings with cadres, etc.

HYDERABAD: Telangana BJP leaders are tense these days, following a recent announcement by Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah that ticket allocations will be determined based on survey reports, even for sitting Members of Parliament.

Union Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy echoed this statement, making it clear that Lok sabha ticket allocation would be purely survey-based, causing unrest among the Lok Sabha members from Telangana.

Leaders who suffered defeat in recent Assembly elections are now striving to influence the survey by actively engaging in ground-level activities, conducting meetings with cadres and interacting with the public to secure a favourable position in the upcoming survey.

State of anxiety

Sitting MPs, who took renominations for granted, are now in a state of anxiety, fearing that a negative survey outcome could jeopardise their political future. The MPs — Kishan, Bandi Sanjay, Dharmapuri Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao — have intensified their tours and local engagements post-Assembly elections. There is speculation that the survey may adversely affect two MPs engaged in internal conflicts, with senior leaders also expressing interest in contesting the upcoming polls.

A former minister eyeing the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat is quite optimistic as his supporters are actively promoting his candidacy, even though the seat is represented by senior leader Bandi Sanjay. Party sources said that leaders like Muralidhar Rao, Sugunakar Rao and others are lobbying for an opportunity to contest as MPs.

In Adilabad, senior leaders, citing their two-decade-long party service, are seeking tickets, and are hopeful that their names will feature positively in the survey report. Meanwhile, sitting MPs are concerned about the reaction of the voters and party cadre to their performance over the last five years, even as dissident leaders have become active.

Dissident leaders become active

Sitting MPs are concerned about the reaction of the voters and party cadre to their performance over the last five years, even as dissident leaders have become active.

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The chief minister highlighted the state's developmental priorities and key areas that require special attention.

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Tuesday requested the NITI Aayog team led by its vice chairman Suman Kumar Bery to ensure the release of pending funds of Rs 1,800 crore under the Backward Districts Development Grant.

An official release from the state government said the NITI Aayog team called on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy who held in-depth discussions on key developmental issues, policy initiatives, and collaborative strategies aimed at fostering the overall progress of the state.

The meeting underscored the significance of cooperative federalism as a guiding principle for effective governance.

Both NITI Aayog and the state government expressed their commitment to working in tandem to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing the state, it said.

The chief minister highlighted the state's developmental priorities and key areas that require special attention.

NITI Aayog officials actively engaged in discussions to understand the specific needs of Telangana and explore avenues for comprehensive development.

Discussions included the fair allocation of Central funds and resources to the state for various development projects and CM Reddy also requested the team to consider the increased state allocations by the 16th Finance Commission, besides seeking funds for developing infrastructure facilities in the health and education sectors.

NITI Aayog requested the state's participation in Governing Council Meetings for better collaborations and achieving shared vision and the chief minister has assured constructive support and cooperation for all the initiatives of the premier policy think-tank of the Central government, the release added.

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Registered in the name of two inventors from the eye institute, the patent is valid for a period of 20 years

HYDERABAD:  The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad has been granted a patent for a novel cell therapy that can be used to repair damaged corneas from a variety of corneal diseases. The patented therapy uses a unique composition of stem cells derived from the eye’s surface and two clotting factors, layered together. Granted by the Patent Office, Government of India, the patent is valid for a period of 20 years. It is registered in the name of two inventors from LVPEI, Dr Sayan Basu and Dr Vivek Singh. Currently under clinical trials, this new therapy uses either the person’s own, or donor corneal stem cells, to repopulate the corneal surface with healthy, clear cells.

It has the potential to offer a viable alternative to corneal transplants. “The potential impact of this patent extends beyond just scientific research to meet the needs of the broader public,” says Dr Sayan Basu, a corneal surgeon and a clinician-scientist at LVPEI. If the clinical trials are successful, this cell- based therapy could revolutionize the treatment of various corneal pathologies, he said.

Another example of the therapy’s potential impact is in treating Keratoconus, a chronic condition where the cornea thins out and changes shape, distorting vision. By deploying this patented therapy, there is potential to replenish corneal collagen, the connective protein that holds the shape of the cornea. Replenished collagen as a result of this technique can result in a strengthened cornea, offering a potential treatment to keratoconus.

Dr Vivek Singh is a scientist at the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE), LVPEI. “This patent is testament to the world-class research that is rooted in India, and in solving India’s and the world’s burden due to corneal disease. This therapy has the potential to improve lives and I hope to see this become a reality soon,” said Dr Vivek Singh, a scientist.

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All of them will be produced before a court in due course of time after filing chargesheets, police said.

HYDERABAD: A total of 3,001 people were booked for drunk driving as part of the special drive taken up during the new year celebrations under three police commissionerates covering Hyderabad city and the suburbs, police said on Monday.

The drive was conducted from 8 pm on December 31, 2023, to morning on January 1 to prevent road accidents and other untoward incidents, police said.

While 1,243 people were caught and booked for drunk driving under the Hyderabad police commissionerate, 1,241 cases were booked under the Cyberabad police commissionerate and 517 cases were registered under the Rachakonda police commissionerate, they said.

All of them will be produced before a court in due course of time after filing chargesheets, police said.

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