Deccan Chronicle brings you the latest news

DGP urges citizens to utilise mega lok adalat

Vijayawada: Director General of Police (DGP) CH Dwaraka Tirumala Rao has urged citizens to take advantage of the upcoming ‘Mega Lok Adalat’ on Saturday. During a teleconference with SPs and CPs, the DGP instructed officials to resolve as many pending cases as possible through compromise at police stations during the event.

Reddy alleges Jagan conspired to collapse Prakasam Barrage

Kakinada: Anaparthi MLA Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy criticised former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for disparaging the NDA government during the floods. Speaking to the media on Friday, Reddy accused Jagan of having time to console prisoners in jail but failing to inquire about the plight of flood victims. He claimed that during his tenure as Chief Minister, Jagan did not leave his Tadepalli residence to visit flood-affected areas or respond to national calamities.

Magician Samala Venu to Perform in Mexico

Hyderabad:Magician Samala Venu said he had been invited to perform at the 19th World Summit of Nobel Laureates for Peace in Mexico, beginning September 18. Venu said he was the first Indian magician invited to the summit.

He holds two Guiness World Records, and has performed 7,000 shows in a 43-year career.

“I was thrilled when I received the invitation. This will be my first performance in Mexico, and I consider it a lifetime achievement. Not everyone gets the chance to perform at the 19th World Summit of Nobel Laureates for Peace in Mexico,” Venu told Deccan Chronicle.

Damodar for Strengthening Medical Infra

Hyderabad:Health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha on Friday emphasised the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen medical infrastructure, during various meetings in Sangareddy on Friday. He inspected the construction of a nursing college in Jogipet and directed officials to ensure that the building was ready to conduct classes for the upcoming academic year. He also reviewed the arrangements for hostel facilities at the local RDO office.

At a review meeting with representatives from large enterprises, Rajanarsimha urged them to allocate 2 per cent of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for medical infrastructure development in Sangareddy. He advised the representatives to take responsibility for completing projects.

Later in the day, the minister attended the constituency-level best teacher awards ceremony in Andole, Medak district, to felicitate outstanding teachers from nine mandals. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to healthcare and education, announcing the construction of a ₹50-crore modern hospital in Andole. He assured that health cards would be provided to teachers, reinforcing the government’s focus on both sectors.

Biden to Host 4th Quad Summit

New Delhi:The United States will host the Quad Summit on September 21, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware, marking a key diplomatic gathering of leaders from the US, Australia, Japan, and India. The White House announcement on Thursday confirmed President Joe Biden will lead the event, with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. Australia also confirmed that India will host next year’s Quad Summit in 2025.

The Quad, a strategic partnership aimed at promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific, has taken on greater significance amid rising Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea. Without directly naming China, Prime Minister Albanese emphasised that the four nations share a vision for a region governed by international rules and norms, where countries can cooperate and thrive.

Reports suggest the choice of Wilmington, President Biden's hometown, may reflect a symbolic farewell for both Biden and Kishida, who are expected to step down from office soon.

Originally, India was slated to host the 2024 summit, but scheduling conflicts and national elections delayed those plans, allowing the US to step in.

Australia praised the Quad’s efforts, noting the partnership’s focus on key regional priorities, including clean energy, maritime security, health security, and infrastructure development. Albanese highlighted the importance of acting together with trusted partners to shape the future of the Indo-Pacific.

The upcoming summit will be the fourth in-person meeting of the Quad leaders, further solidifying cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, climate change, and regional security.

BJP to Launch 'Sewa Pakhwada' on PM Modi's Birthday

New Delhi:The BJP will be launching "sewa pakhwada" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17. For the fortnight-long campaign that will end on October 2, the party has constituted a nine-member committee, headed by national general secretary Sunil Bansal to oversee the sewa pakhwada.

During the campaign, the BJP central leadership plans to organise events like blood donation camps, plantation drives, cleanliness drives in and around schools, free health camps for elderly women, events for children and also events to felicitate the participants of the recently concluded paralympics in Paris. The party has been holding sewa pakhwada to celebrate Mr Modi’s birthday every year since 2014.

An exhibition showcasing Mr Modi’s achievements, along with various competitions on themes like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, have also been asked to include in the 15-day-long celebrations. The BJP leaders have also been asked to hold the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign to encourage plantations. These events will be organised in all districts around the country.

Besides, the BJP has asked its leaders and cadres to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on September 25 by engaging in booth-level events to recruit new members. The BJP launched a nation-wide membership drive on September 2. Mr Modi was the first member to renew his membership.

The BJP leaders have also been asked to promote the purchase of Khadi products. On October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the BJP leaders and workers have been asked to conduct cleanliness drives at statues, temples, parks, and public spaces.

The BJP leadership has asked its leaders and cadre to upload pictures and details of all the programmes on social media and the NaMo app, as well as send them to the party’s national headquarters.�

YSRC Jaggayyapet Municipal Chairman, Councilors Join TD

Vijayawada:Telugu Desam (TD) wrested control of the Jaggayyapet municipality from the YSR Congress (YSRC) after the municipal chairman Rangapuram Raghavendra, along with his father Rangapuram Narasimha Rao and several YSRC councilors, joined the TD in the presence of TD general secretary and human resources development minister Nara Lokesh at his residence in Undavalli on Friday.

Lokesh welcomed them into the party and urged them to work together to address public issues and strive for the overall development of Jaggayyapet municipality. The councilors who switched their loyalties include 7th ward councilor Pusapati Seetharavamma, 31st ward councilor Ginjupalli Venkatrao and 23rd ward councilor D. Rama Devi and their family members.

Speaking on the occasion, Jaggayyapet MLA Sreeram Tataiah said the chairman and councilors had switched sides and joined the TD as they were frustrated with the YSRC's politics and for the development of the municipality. He also said former MLA and YSRC leader Samineni Uday Bhanu is considering resigning from YSRC.

Municipal chairman Raghavendra Rao alleged that no development took place in the municipality in the last five years under the YSRC regime. The YSRC, which had won the municipality with 17 councilors, lost power to the TD after four of its councilors switched their loyalties on Friday. Following the defections, the TD's strength stands at 18, while the YSRC now has 13.

No HC relief for HYDRAA actions at Ameenpur lake

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court was not inclined to give relief to the family members of YSRC former MLA Katasani Rambhoopal Reddy of Panyam constituency of Kurnool district, in relation to the action initiated by the HYDRAA over their properties near the Ameenpur lake.

Justice T. Vinod Kumar was hearing a plea moved by Uma Maheswaramma, wife of Rambhoopal Reddy, questioning the HYDRAA demolishing the compound wall and sheds in their nine-acre agricultural land at Ameenpur.

Stating that their land did not fall under the FTL of the lake, the owner approached the High Court and furnished earlier orders of the High Court which had which quashed a criminal case against them and a report of the irrigation officials that had put their land outside the FTL of the lake. They also submitted that the structures were not for residential purposes and it is was a farm land with a variety of fruit plantations.

The judge directed the irrigation officials to furnish to the court the lake memoir prepared in 1970. The judge also refused to accord permission to Rambhoopal Reddy’s wife to reconstruct the demolished wall. The case was adjourned to October 3.

Insurance Claims Centre for Flood Victims to Be Open Over Weekend: NTR District Collector

Vijayawada:The Insurance (Floods) Claim Facilitation Centre set up at the Vijayawada Sub-Collectorate Office for flood victims will remain open on Saturday and Sunday to receive claims, announced NTR District Collector Dr G. Srijana.

In a release on Friday, Dr Srijana said the district administration had made arrangements to ensure the centre remains operational over the weekend to avoid inconveniencing victims. The centre will continue to function as usual after Sunday, and victims are encouraged to take advantage of the facility.

Following instructions from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the district administration opened the facilitation centre to assist those whose vehicles, shops, and homes were damaged by the floods, ensuring a smoother process for filing insurance claims. Special counters with insurance company representatives have been set up at the centre to facilitate faster settlements.

Telangana govt gets HC notices over HYDRAA

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday issued notices to the state government, HYDRAA and other authorities, directing them to file their contentions by September 30 in a petition challenging the delegation of essential statutory functions to the newly-established authority through GO Ms. No. 99 under Article 162.

Justice K. Lakshman of the High Court was dealing with a petition filed by D. Lakshmi, a resident of Aliapur of Ameenpur mandal in Rangareddy district, who challenged GO 99, which issued by the state government for the establishment of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) for the Telangana core urban region for the purpose of disaster management and asset protection.

Senior counsel Dr J. Vijayalakshmi appearing for the petitioner, submitted to the court GO 99 was issued under the executive powers of Article 162 of the Constitution. She said the state`s executive power was subject to the provisions of the Constitution. When the Legislature existed to frame laws, the state must not issue executive orders such as the one for establishing bodies HYDRAA with unbridled powers.

Senoir counsel argued that executive action must align with the statutory provisions. Vijayalakshmi also argued that the GO empowering HYDRAA with GHMC`s powers despite the field being occupied by the GHMC Act which does not permit the government to delegate its statutory powers to another authority.

During the hearing, the court criticised the HYDRAA for its functioning and observed that it was working in a different way to what it was saying was its duties about asset protection and disaster management.

INCOIS Launches Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas

Hyderabad: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (Incois) here has launched the integrated ocean energy atlas, highlighting the vast renewable energy potential within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The atlas encompasses marine meteorological energy sources like solar and wind, and hydrological energy forms such as waves, tides, currents, ocean thermal, and salinity gradients. It identifies areas with high energy generation potential, serving as a vital resource for policymakers, industries, and researchers.

We have nothing against Andhras in Telangana: BRS

Kaushik Reddy-Arekapudi issue develops into slugfest

Lokesh Forms Team to Rescue AP Devotees in Kedarnath

Vijayawada:Following distress calls from pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh stuck in Kedarnath, minister Nara Lokesh has constituted a special team to facilitate their rescue and return.

The issue was brought to Lokesh's attention by a Telugu Desam social media worker, who tagged him on X, stating that around 20 pilgrims from the state were stranded in extremely wet weather, with heavy rains lashing Uttarakhand. The pilgrims were reportedly facing difficulties as they lacked the supplies of food and water.

In response to the plea, Lokesh formed a special team to ensure the safe return of the devotees from Andhra Pradesh stuck in Kedarnath. “I will personally monitor and ensure their safe return,” Lokesh added.

Andhra Pradesh Floods: CM announces release of Rs 476cr for repair of roads

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has announced the release of Rs 186 crore for repairing roads damaged by heavy rains and floods. Additionally, a sum of Rs 290 crore has been sanctioned to fill potholes on the roads across the state.

During a review on the overall condition of roads, particularly in the flood-hit areas, Naidu asked the officials to begin the repair works immediately after completing the tendering process.

Naidu promised to sanction Rs 42 crore towards land acquisition for erecting Road Over Bridges (ROBs). Speed up the work on the highway constructions that is being taken up with a fund of Rs 65,000 crore in coordination with the central government, he told the officials.

Minister BC Janardhan and the officials of the Roads and Buildings were present.

Naidu directed the officials to assess the damage of the roads with the help of drones and LiDARs and take up the repair works. The work on ROBs taken up under the central schemes like Sethu Bandhan and Gathi Sakthi should be completed at a fast pace, he said.

He felt that some contractors who have taken up the NH works were not working properly. Action would be initiated against the guilty.

Naidu asked the officials to take up the works of the Amaravathi Outer Ring Road, the Visakhapatnam to Mulapet road, the Vijayawada East Bypass, the widening of the Vijayawada-Hyderabad, the Hyderabad-Bengaluru roads.

They must also pursue the plans for the Greenfield Corridor from Hyderabad to to Amaravathi through the National Highway Authority.