Hyderabad, March 7 (INN): Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao informed that the Andhra Pradesh Government has designed a user friendly Website, to adopt Smart Village and Smart Ward programme.

The Chief Secretary on Saturday chaired a review meeting at the A.P. Secretariat with all the Secretaries, Head of Departments and through Video Conference with the District Collectors. Mandal level Workshops are to be organized, to explain the advantage of “Smart Village and Smart Ward” programme and mass awareness campaign through Kalajatas for the same, the Chief Secretary said.

Krishna Rao has interacted with A. Srikanth, Addl. Commissioner A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi, about issues pending with the Government of India and requested him to obtain remaining Grants of 13th Finance Commission under Central financed schemes for each Department.

Reviewing on “Road Accidents”, the Chief Secretary directed the concerned, to form Joint Enforcement Teams (JET) on permanent basis by Police and Transport Departments, to monitor and to control road accidents and to check condition of the roads, condition of the vehicles in regular intervals. He has also issued instructions to prepare guidelines as per Motor Vehicle Act with some modifications of the guidelines of Kerala State.

In the meeting, the Chief Secretary in detail, reviewed on ‘Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)’ with the Officials concerned.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has taken step forward in strengthening the Mother Child Tracking System (MCTS) software to help us analyze the data in much more effective ways. To implement healthcare programmes faster and with transparent accountability, the Chief Secretary has ordered the healthcare authorities to upload all the health related data to computers and make every aspect of healthcare computerized.

The District Collectors have been asked to review all the Maternal Deaths in the district once in a month, since there are going to be 3 to 4 deaths in a month. The cause of death needs to be carefully analyzed for taking necessary corrective actions. Any preventable death, identified must be highlighted to prevent similar deaths in future. Action plans can be shared with state authorities to bring down the Maternal Mortality Ratio.

Apportionment of assets and liabilities, Institutions, Corporations listed under Schedule – IX, X of A.P. Re-organization Act, Sand reaches, e-Pass Books, Neeru-Chettu, Drinking Water, other programme and schemes were also reviewed by the Chief Secretary at the meeting.

Hyderabad, March 7 (INN): Heavy rains have disrupted the normal life in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad on Saturday evening.

Several roads and low-lying areas were submerged due to the spell of heavy rains that lashed the city on Saturday evening. Water logging was reported from many areas including Koti, Abids, Nampally, Basheerbagh, Kukatpally, Jubilee HIlls, Banjara Hills, Khairtabad, Secunderabad, Panjagutta, Erragadda, Somajiguda, Narayanaguda, Saidabad, Dilsukhnagar, Vijayanagar Colony, Tarnaka and other areas. No loss to human life or property has been reported from the city.

The water logging has thrown the traffic was thrown out of gear on many busy stretches. Vehicles, especially cars, have broken down on many roads. Rain water has entered houses in many low lying areas, especially in the Old City. Power supply also affected for almost two hours in several localities.

The Met Department has predicted heavy rainfall in many districts of Telangana. “Hailstorm may occur at isolated places in the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Ranga Reddy, Warangal, Hyderabad, Medak and Nalgonda,” the Met Department said in its warning on Saturday.

Hyderabad, March 7 (INN): MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has expressed satisfaction over the growth figures of Telangana State which were disclosed by Governor ESL Narasimhan in his address to the Telangana Legislatures on Saturday.

“Though we would know the real state of State’s finances when the State Budget is presented to the Legislature on 11th March, we have been provided reassuring figures about the State’s economic growth during the current financial year. We are told that the GSDP growth for fiscal 2014-015 would be around 5.3 percent, with momentum in industrial and service sector. The per capita income has crossed the Rs one lakh mark and is likely to be Rs 1,03,889 in the current financial year. This is a matter of satisfaction,” Akbaruddin Owaisi said.

Speaking about Minorities’ Welfare, he said that the Governor has assured that the government would earmark Rs 1,000 crore every year for their welfare. The Shaadi Mubarak scheme has been introduced to provide Rs 51,000 assistance to minority girls for their marriage. “Although the government has released over Rs 437 crore for minorities’ welfare so far, there are some issues with regard to the various schemes meant for the minorities. The budgetary releases for fees reimbursement and scholarship schemes so far are sufficient to clear the arrears of fees reimbursement and post-matric scholarships to minority students for the last academic year (2013-14). The government is yet to invite the applications for fresh scholarships and fees reimbursement and renewals for the current academic and financial year, though both these are coming to a close,” he said.

Similarly, the MIM leader said that the sanction of subsidy on bankable loans for minorities for the current financial year has not been done so far since guidelines have not been formulated nor fresh applications are invited. The budgetary releases are sufficient to clear the pending sanctioned applications of last financial year 2013-14. The target under Shaadi Mubarak will also remain unachieved since tough conditions are causing problems to the applicants.

Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the Governor did not mention anything about the constitution of a Commission to study the condition of minorities in the State. “The TRS Government must ensure that the existing four percent reservations for Muslims under BC “E” category are implemented in letter and spirit both in admissions to professional courses and in recruitment in the government departments,” he said.

Further, he said that nothing has been mentioned about the milestones for completion of Outer Ring Road project, Metro Rail project, MMTS Phase II, Krishna Water Supply Phase III and Godavari Water Supply project, Old City package and Charminar pedestrianisation project.

“It is also a welcome step that the Governor has assured that, in tune with the spirit of the Constitution of India, every resident of Telangana would be extended equal treatment without any prejudice. No discrimination would be shown to the residents who hail from Seemandhra but are settled in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana,” Akbaruddin Owaisi said.

Hyderabad, March 7 (INN): The Andhra Pradesh Government is still waiting for the favourable support from the Central Government to overcome the financial crisis that it has been facing since bifurcation of the State, said Governor ESL Narasimhan in his customary address to the joint session of AP Legislative Assembly and Council here on Saturday.

“The decision to bifurcate the State without taking all the stakeholders on board and finalising the capital city has caused avoidable hardship. The post bifurcation issues, especially the huge financial deficits continue to affect the new State of Andhra Pradesh, which is home for 58.32% of the population of erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh State,” the Governor said.

Narasimhan said that despite inheriting various kind of deficits and the twin effect of Hudhud cyclone and drought, the State Government took all measures during the last nine months not only to overcome the difficulties, but to convert the crisis into opportunity and also lay solid foundation for “Sunrise Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that the Union Government had assured the State of Andhra Pradesh in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 and in the speech of the then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha to support AP in bridging revenue deficit, industry incentives, special development package for the backward areas in seven districts, assistance to State Capital development, railway zone for the State and special category status. “During these few months, the State had anticipated a more favourable support from the Centre. A more favourable response is still awaited,” he said.

The Governor said that the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission have not provided any special preference to the State despite requests for handholding support. “Our expectations for the State in the Union Budget 2015-16 did not fructify,” he said.

“Andhra Pradesh has lost significant resource base after division and is at a disadvantage to compete with its revenue surplus neighbouring States. To compete with developed cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad of neighbouring States, the Centre should give required assistance to stand on a level playing field vis-a-vis its neighbouring States,” he said.

The Governor also listed out the achievements in the last nine months and short-term and long-term goals of the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Pedestrian killed in road accident

Hyderabad, March 4 (INN): A 30-year-old man succumbed to the grievous injuries which he sustained after he was hit and run by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road.

The victim, Satyanarayana, met with the accident near his residence in Bhudevi Nagar in Alwal police limits on Tuesday night. He was immediately rushed to the Gandhi Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Home Guard among two killed in road accidents

A 30-year-old man died on the spot when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a DCM van in Shankarpally police limits on Wednesday.

The deceased was later identified as Ramulu, an employee of a private firm and resident of Sheriguda in Shankarpally of Ranga Reddy district. He met with the accident near his residence while he was proceedings towards the city.

In another case, 39-year-old Kumar, a Home Guard, succumbed to the injuries which he sustained on February 27 when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by an unidentified car near his residence in Kismatpur. He was admitted to the Osmania General Hospital where he died on Tuesday night.

Techie among three killed in train accidents

A 31-year-old software engineer died on the spot after falling down from a running MMTS train.

The incident occurred between Chandanagar and Lingampally Railway Stations on Tuesday evening. The deceased, K Venkata Reddy, was a software engineer with Worldwide Services India at Nanakramguda and resident of Parvati Colony in Manikonda.

In another case, 40-year-old B Sai Baba died on the spot after he was hit by a train between Lalaguda and Malkajgiri railway stations on Wednesday morning. He was a resident of Gopal Nagar in Malkajgiri and an employee of a private firm, according to Secunderabad Railway Police.

In a different case, a 55-year-old man died instantaneously after he was hit by a train between Kachiguda and Malakpet railway stations on Tuesday night. The Kachiguda Railway Police later identified the deceased as K Bashu, an auto-rickshaw driver and resident of Sriram Nagar Colony in Saroornagar.

Carpenter succumbs to injuries

A 42-year-old carpenter succumbed to the injuries which he sustained while cutting a wood at his workplace.

According to Gopalapuram police, the victim, P Mallesh, was engaged in some work at Mahesh Lodge along with his colleagues Rajiv and Satyanarayana. Meanwhile, their supervisor Narsing directed Mallesh to cut some wood using a machine. Since Mallesh had no prior experience, he amputated his left leg while trying to cut a wooden piece. He was immediately rushed to Gandhi Hospital where he died today while undergoing treatment.

Police registered a case of negligence under Section 304 B against supervisor Narsing and began investigations.

Centering worker dies of electrocution

A 28-year-old centering worker after getting electrocuted at his workplace in Kukatpally police limits.

The deceased, G Saraiah, came in contact with a live hi-tension wire while carrying iron rods in an under-construction building near his residence in Rakshapuram. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, according to Kukatpally police.

Financial problems drive man to suicide

A 30-year-old man committed suicide allegedly due to financial problems.

The deceased, Md Muneer, took the extreme step by consuming some unknown poison at his residence in Bhagat Singh Nagar on Tuesday. He was admitted to Gandhi Hospital where he died on Wednesday, according to Jeedimetla police.

Hyderabad, March 4 (INN): The Screening Test fo the posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division) will be conducted on March 8 from 10 am to 12 noon at Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupathi and Warangal centres.

The High Court Registrar (Recruitment) has informed that no candidate would be permitted to enter into the examination hall after 11 AM and leave the examination hall before 11 AM on the examination day.

Hyderabad, March 4 (INN): Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has set up city-wise Task Forces for drawing up concrete Action Plans for development of Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities.

These Committees have representatives of the Ministries of Urban Development and External Affairs, respective state governments and cities and the United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA).

Setting up of these Task Forces is in pursuance of the decision taken at a recent meeting between Venkaiah Naidu and the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in New Delhi. USTDA and the three respective state governments signed Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation in developing Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities on January 25 this year.

During the last visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the USA and the strategic and commercial dialogue with President Barack Obama, the US offered to assist in the development of these three cities as smart cities.

The Task Force for Visakhapatnam will be headed by Secretary (Town and Country Planning), Government of AP, Secretary(Municipal Affairs), District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Vice-Chairman, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Mayor of the city, Joint Secretary(Urban Development), Government of India and representatives of Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy and USTDA.

Hyderabad, March 4 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be addressing Japanese delegates on Thursday between 10 am and 12 am at a seminar on “Expanding Technology Cooperation for Smart Community in Andhra Pradesh” organized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI), government of Japan.

The Chief Minister will elaborate on the investments opportunities in the capital region apart from the government’s single-desk, 21-day clearance system. That apart, he will also talk about the smart technologies and the scope for establishing smart communities.

Given that Andhra Pradesh has great potential to attract investments in the renewable energy sector, the Chief Minister will highlight the opportunities for Japanese firms in solar, wind energy and other sectors.

Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, Executive Director of NEDO and Ken Sasaji, Executive Director, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Government of Japan will deliver the welcome address.

Later, Akio Isomata, Minister, Embassy of Japan in India will address the gathering following which the Chief Minister will make a presentation and interact with Japanese delegation.

The Chief Minister will also be explained about the smart community activities in Japan and will listen to case studies where smart community projects have been implemented in Japan.

Dr. Hiroyuki Ishida, visiting Fellow, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan(IEEJ), Junichi Sono, Deputy Director of Kitakyushu city, Misaki Kaneko, Toyota city, Satoshi Kurimoto, Energy Specialist, South Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and representatives from Fuji Electric, Hitachi, NEC Corporation, NTT Communications, THE Power Grid Solution, Toshiba, Bank of Tokyo, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, ITOCHU Corporation, NGK Insulators, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Shimizu Corporation and Toyota will be part of the seminar.