Hyderabad

Paddy procurement: Realisation of targets unlikely in Telangana

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Despite meticulous preparations ahead of the Rabi marketing season for paddy procurement, achieving the set targets seems improbable.

Updated On – 12 April 2024, 09:19 PM


Paddy procurement: Realisation of targets unlikely in Telangana

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Hyderabad: Even as the procurement of paddy for the Rabi marketing season commenced with elaborate arrangements made in advance, the realisation of targets appear to be unlikely. The arrivals continued to be poor at a majority of the paddy purchase centres. It may not cross 50 lakh metric tonnes in the season, though the official machinery has been tasked with an ambitious target of 75.40 lakh metric tonnes. The situation owed largely to twin factors.

The growers of the grade A varieties moving paddy to the purchase centres are not many. They are turning to the private traders who have been offering much higher prices compared to the minimum support price. According to reports reaching from districts, at places such as Nelakondapalli and Madhira, grade -A varieties were offered at Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,800 per quintal.

The bulk of the stocks with the farmers had already been purchased by the traders and millers.

Paddy production is likely register a substantial drop because of the drought conditions in the command of a majority of the irrigation projects. The farmers who sunk new bore wells to raise paddy in different districts under the Nagarjuna Sagar project, despite an officially declared crop holiday, suffered huge losses, with a big drop in the ground water table too. Under other projects such as Sriramsagar and Nizamsagar, irrigation support could not be extended because of the poor storage levels in the projects.

The overall Rabi projects for paddy output would be 14 to 15 lakh tonnes less compared to the 1.20 crore metric tonnes achieved during Rabi-2023. Many Rabi farmers have abandoned their crops failing to ensure last single wetting that would have helped bail out in a big way. Officials are also of the view that many of the paddy purchase centres being opened in the state may draw a blank. Though the state government had decided to open 7,149 purchase centers, the requirement could be far less.

Hyderabad

KTR challenges CM Revanth, Kishan Reddy to undergo lie detector test in phone tapping case

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The BRS working president said phone tapping is part of many surveillance methods adopted by the police to avert threats from terrorists and extremists.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 10:50 PM


KTR challenges CM Revanth, Kishan Reddy to undergo lie detector test in phone tapping case


Hyderabad: In a strong counter to allegations against him, BRS working president KT Rama Rao offered to undergo a polygraph test (lie detector) or a narcoanalysis test to prove his innocence in the alleged phone tapping case. However, he dared Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and union Minister G Kishan Reddy to undergo similar tests to prove that their respective governments were not tapping the phones of their Cabinet colleagues and political rivals.

“I am ready for a polygraph or a narcoanalysis test to prove my innocence in the phone tapping case before the media or any other public platform. But will Revanth Reddy undergo the same tests to prove that he is not having tapped the phones of his Cabinet colleagues Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy among others. Can Kishan Reddy prove that the Centre is not tapping the phones of the opposition leaders and other political rivals,” he questioned, during an interview with a vernacular news channel on Friday.

The BRS working president said phone tapping is part of many surveillance methods adopted by the police to avert threats from terrorists and extremists. He cited the public acknowledgement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasising the need for phone tapping.

Rama Rao reiterated that he was not involved in any phone tapping and the allegations made by the Congress, was part of a conspiracy to damage his reputation which he will continue to fight legally. He challenged the State government to give an official statement on the ongoing investigation into the phone tapping case, rather than giving select leaks through media, to mislead people of the State and divert their attention from the State government’s failure to implement its promises. “If the government has any concrete evidence, it should be made public,” he added.

Further, the former Minister asserted the Delhi excise policy case against BRS MLC K Kavitha was only a pressure tactic being used by the BJP against the BRS to concede. He said the BJP was misusing the Central agencies to target the opposition leaders and soon after these accused join the party, they are being presented as if all their sins have been washed and purified. “Kavitha has done nothing wrong and she will come out unscathed. This is a conspiracy by the BJP and people have already realised it,” he said.

On some leaders deserting the party, the BRS working president stated that the party was already overcrowded and some leaders leaving it, will not have any impact as the party cadre was intact. While many people betrayed BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, he said none was a match for Kadiyam Srihari. However, he declared that the BRS which successfully performed its role as the leader of Telangana agitation and the ruling party, will now play the role of a constructive opposition in the State. He exuded confidence that the party will play a decisive role in the national politics.

Hyderabad

Telangana set for relief from heatwave until April 25

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Maximum temperatures in certain parts of the State soared between 42 degree Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius during this period.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 10:40 PM


Telangana set for relief from heatwave until April 25

Umbrellas were set up at the MJ Market to give respite to customers. Meanwhile, as per the IMD’s
forecast, isolated light to moderate rainfall is likely in the State capital. — Photo: Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has brought a sigh of relief to Telangana, including Hyderabad, with its latest extended range outlook predicting no heatwave for the State until April 25. During the initial 10 days of April, the IMD reported the season’s first spell of heatwave conditions prevailing over Telangana, primarily from April 5 to 7.

Maximum temperatures in certain parts of the State soared between 42 degree Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius during this period. However, favourable synoptic conditions subsequently led to isolated hailstorms reported in the State on April 9.

As per the IMD’s forecast, the weather department anticipates isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in Telangana until April 15.

Additionally, the State is likely to experience rainfall between April 18 and April 25, attributed to various atmospheric conditions. Contributing factors include a cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan, a trough extending to Coastal Karnataka, and another cyclonic circulation over east Bihar. These conditions are expected to bring down temperatures.

Meanwhile, IMD-Hyderabad expects below-normal maximum temperatures in Hyderabad over the next five days, ranging from 36 degree Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies.

On Friday, Hyderabad, which was subjected to harsh weather in last fortnight with mercury going up, had a much more pleasant weather prevailing for most part of the day. The morning which took off with clouds and dipped mercury levels stayed the same till noon when the temperatures rose a bit. Friendly winds added to the evening weather which had many venturing out in more comfort than they could during

Hyderabad

Telangana: Lakhs of families miss subsided LPG failing to give accurate information

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Many of the applicants could not provide the required documents like copies of the Aadhar card and ration card, while submitting Praja Palana forms.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 08:54 PM


Telangana: Lakhs of families miss subsided LPG failing to give accurate information


Hyderabad: Failure to furnish accurate and adequate information has turned out to be a barrier preventing many households from accessing to the benefit of LPG refill at a subsidised price of Rs 500 provided by the State, according to officials tasked with monitoring of the scheme implementation. The provision of LPG refills on subsidy under the Mahalaxhmi scheme, is one of the six guarantees of the Congress party and much importance has been attached to it.

The Civil Supplies Corporations has planned to reach out to some 65 lakh beneficiaries initially, as against 89 lakh white ration card holders expected to merit consideration for benefit. Many of the applicants could not provide the required documents like copies of the Aadhar card and ration card, while submitting Praja Palana forms. Adequate arrangements were made for receiving the forms from the applicants at the gram panchayts and in municipal wards before January 6, 2024.

More lapses were observed even during the verification process. Many applicants missed the opportunity for failing to provide even their own phone numbers or mobile numbers besides important information while filling out the six sections of the Praja Palana forms. In some cases, the department could retrieve information pertaining to the applicants from alternate sources. But they proved helpless, in the case of those who gave eight digit mobile numbers.

Approvals were given promptly in the case of all the genuine applications upon successful verification of the application forms. In the case of those who failed to provide accurate information, the government is yet to take a decision. The government has to review such issues, as the initiative is aimed at making clean cooking gas more accessible and affordable for BPL families while empowering women.

Even though the government was keen on reviewing the Praja Palana exercise to give an opportunity to the families that did not figure in the final list , it did not happen as the code of conduct for the MLC polls came into force, they stressed.

Hyderabad

CM Revanth calls for strong action against unfair practices in paddy procurement

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Reviewing the paddy procurement process in the state in the wake of farmers staging protests at Jangaon, he directed officials to cancel the licenses of the millers and traders indulging in unfair practices in purchasing paddy.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 09:06 PM


CM Revanth calls for strong action against unfair practices in paddy procurement

File Photo

Hyderabad: Taking a firm stance against the elements depriving paddy farmers of their due, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday wanted stringent against millers deceiving them in the markets. Reviewing the paddy procurement process in the state in the wake of farmers staging protests at Jangaon, he directed officials to cancel the licenses of the millers and traders indulging in unfair practices in purchasing paddy.

He also directed the officials to blacklist the millers and bar them from custom milling if needed. The Minister for Civil Supplies, N Uttam Kumar Reddy and the Minister for Revenue, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and officialS of the civil supplies department were among those present at the review. He called for steps to raise awareness levels among the farmers so that they would take precautions to meet the specifications for purchase of paddy.

Officials maintained that the moisture level in the paddy moved directly from the farms to the purchase centres was above the permissible limits. Chief Minister suggested that arrangements be made enabling farmers to dry up their paddy stocks and cut down the moisture levels in the grain stocks.

Suitable arrangements must be made in the market yards for drying grain, and CC TV cameras should be installed and steps should be taken to prevent grain thefts in the yards. The Chief Minister directed the collectors of all the districts to inspect the markets and grain purchase centers and ensure that paddy purchases were made without any inconvenience to the farmers. It is suggested that the minimum support price should be ensured and the complaints from the farmers should always be resolved promptly.

He also wanted the process of grain procurement to be monitored closely at the state level. Officials of the departments concerned are advised to go to districts and examine the procurement process at the field level. The Chief Minister said that the senior IAS officers tasked with monitoring drinking water supply in the districts, should also look into the procurement of grain. Tarpaulins should be made adequately available in all market yards and purchase centers without any problem, even in the event of hailstorms.

Hyderabad

Healthcare under Modi govt fared poorly: Report

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Says govt failed to deliver quality services

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 10:02 PM


Healthcare under Modi govt fared poorly: Report


Hyderabad: In a scathing attack, the premier medical science journal, The Lancet, on Friday criticised the Modi government for poor handling and the sorry state of affairs of public healthcare in India. The science journal censured the Centre for failing to deliver quality healthcare services to people most in need.

“Healthcare under Modi has fared poorly, as described in this week’s World Report. Overall, government spending on health has fallen and now hovers around an abysmal 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product, out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare remains extremely high, and flagship initiatives on primary healthcare and universal health coverage have so far failed to deliver services to people most in need,” it said.

Titled ‘India’s elections: Why data transparency matter’, The Lancet highlighted the Centre’s reluctance to conduct major surveys that measure critical healthcare indicators and provide accurate and up-todate data, which is essential for health policy, planning and management.

“The collection and publication of such data in India have undergone serious setbacks. The 2021 census was delayed due to Covid, and for the first time in 150 years, a whole decade has gone by with no official comprehensive data on India or its people. The census is also the basis for all national and state-level health surveys,” it said.

“The periodic measurement of morbidity and out-ofpocket expenditure by the National Sample Survey Organisation is overdue, and there are no plans to conduct it. No reasons have been given for why the Sample Registration System survey report for 2021, which is India’s most reliable source of data on births and deaths, is delayed, or for why completed poverty surveys are not in the public domain,” the Lancet said.

Why is the Government so afraid of showing the real state of health? And more importantly, how does the government intend to measure progress when there are no data? Without access to recent and reliable data, democratic choices are impoverished, it said. The government’s key policy, Viksit Bharat 2047, will be driven by people and services. India must therefore focus attention and investment on health and education. And this can only be done with far more robust and open data. “The systematic attempt to obscure through the lack of data means that the Indian people are not being fully informed,” the Lancet said.

Hyderabad

Sunflower procurement centres reopened

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The Markfed had initially opened the procurement centres on February 23, aiming to purchase 2,209 metric tonnes, which they have announced as Centre’s pool.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 09:52 PM


Sunflower procurement centres reopened

Sunflower procurement centres reopened at Gajwel market yard in Siddipet district on Friday.

Hyderabad: Telangana State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (Markfed) has reopened the Sunflower procurement at seven procurement centres across the district on Friday following the demand of the farmers and Bharata Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

The Markfed had initially opened the procurement centres on February 23, aiming to purchase 2,209 metric tonnes, which they have announced as Centre’s pool. However, Markfed closed down a few procurement centres saying that the Centre’s pool has been completed.

Meanwhile, the farmers have brought a large amount of sunflower produce to Gajwel and Siddipet market yards. They have staged protests demanding that the government reopen the procurement centres.

After learning about farmers’ struggles, Former Minister T Harish Rao wrote a letter to the State government seeking the opening of procurement centres, following which the Markfed opened them, bringing smiles back on the farmer’s faces.

However, the officials told Telangana Today, they were ordered to procure only 3,000 metric tonnes of Sunflower under the State government’s quota. The farmers in the district had cultivated sunflower this Yasangi in 9,278 acres.

Hyderabad

CM Revanth directs officials to address water scarcity with sustainable solutions

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Reviewing the drinking water situation in the State, he directed the officials to be ready to draw water even from the dead storage levels in the Nagarjuna Sagar project if needed to address the situation.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 09:23 PM


CM Revanth directs officials to address water scarcity with sustainable solutions

File photo of CM Revanth Reddy

Hyderabad: Calling for steps for actively addressing water scarcity concerns with sustainable solutions in the State, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday directed the officials to explore the option of seeking water from Narayanpur dam. He suggested that a formal request be made to the Karnataka government to this effect.

Reviewing the drinking water situation in the State, he directed the officials to be ready to draw water even from the dead storage levels in the Nagarjuna Sagar project if needed to address the situation. He also wanted them to be prepared to augment supplies by drawing water from the Singur project as well.

He directed the special officers appointed to monitor the situation in the districts to visit the places facing the scarcity conditions as part of the stock- taking exercise and help initiate special measures to address the problem. He wanted special attention paid to the drinking water supply in Hyderabad.

As the water levels in Krishna river projects were touching dead storage levels, the Chief Minister advised the officials to talk to the officials of Karnataka government to get drinking water from the Narayanapur reservoir, an upstream project in the Krishna basin.

He ordered immediate removal from service if any employee was found to have intentionally obstructed the drinking water supply in a bid to bring a bad name to the government.

Hyderabad

MRPS appeals community not to vote for Congress

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Despite a few constituencies being reserved for the community, the Congress had not offered a single seat to the community leaders, slammed MRPS Founder Manda Krishna Madiga

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 09:32 PM


MRPS appeals community not to vote for Congress

Manda Krishna Madiga

Hyderabad: The Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) has appealed to the madiga community not to vote for Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in protest against its raw deal towards its leaders.

The Congress party has been discriminative against the Madiga community. Despite a few constituencies being reserved for the community, the Congress had not offered a single seat to the community leaders, slammed MRPS Founder Manda Krishna Madiga here on Friday.

He said the Congress would be given an opportunity till Tuesday to allot seats, failing which “Congress Go Back” campaign would be conducted across the State. Coming down heavily on the Congress for its attitude towards the community, he asked as to why Madiga leaders were not being an opportunity to fight the elections on Congress ticket.

“Congress does not offer one seat to Madiga community but offers six seats to Reddy community leaders. Is this not humiliation to Madigas,” asked Manda Krishna Madiga.

He also pointed out that despite repeated attempts, former Minister Mothukupally Narsimhulu was denied appointment by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

Responding to Advisor to Government Mohd Ali Shabbir’s remarks that Revanth Reddy would continue as the Chief Minister for next 10 years, the MRPS founder said not a single Muslim leader was given berth in the State cabinet. This was even after majority of the Muslims cast their vote in favour of the Congress in the Assembly elections, he said.

“In former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s cabinet, Mohd Mahmood Ali served as Deputy Chief Minister,” Manda Krishna Madiga reminded, asking Shabbir Ali whether he was prepared to support the Congress for 10 years despite no representation from the community in the State cabinet. EOM

Hyderabad

Bengaluru and Hyderabad solidify their positions as major GCC hubs

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Following closely behind are Delhi (15 percent), Mumbai (12 percent), Pune (10 percent), and Chennai (9 percent). GCCs have a presence in 15 plus locations apart from these six tier-1 hubs.

Published Date – 12 April 2024, 09:24 PM


Bengaluru and Hyderabad solidify their positions as major GCC hubs

Following closely behind are Delhi (15 percent), Mumbai (12 percent), Pune (10 percent), and Chennai (9 percent). GCCs have a presence in 15 plus locations apart from these six tier-1 hubs.

Hyderabad: The ANSR, which is involved in establishing and operating Global Capability Centers (GCC) for global enterprises, in its quarterly report said Bengaluru and Hyderabad had solidified their positions as major GCC hubs, boasting over 30 percent and 19 percent GCC presence, respectively.

Following closely behind are Delhi (15 percent), Mumbai (12 percent), Pune (10 percent), and Chennai (9 percent).

GCCs have a presence in 15 plus locations apart from these six tier-1 hubs.

The ANSR report said India commands over 50 percent of the global GCC market, with an estimated 5,000 global leadership roles situated in Indian GCCs.

Given its mix of abundant tech talent, robust start-up ecosystem, and continuous government support, India remains the most-preferred destination of choice to setup a GCC, it said.

As businesses aim to leverage India’s skilled work force and favourable economic conditions, the GCC sector, presently valued at $46 billion, is forecasted to surge to $110 billion by 2030. This growth trajectory was expected to employ over 4.5 million professionals across 2400 GCCs, the report added.