The availability of land is at the centre of a new row which is snowballing between the Congress leadership and that of the BJP over the proposed Dugarajapatnam port. Several thousand acres were proposed to be acquired for the port with the main port being located at Tupilipalem. But now, at this location, foundation stone was laid for National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). which needs land between 200 acres to 500 acres. Congress leaders are afraid that if this institute comes up, it will reduce the chances of developing the Dugarajapatnam port .
Hard rooting for
Neeru-Chettu
Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu’s pet water conservation programme Neeru Chettu got a big push in Prakasam district last week that ended with the district administration taking up desilting works in 120 village water tanks to arrest depletion of groundwater levels. Mr. Naidu, who himself operated an earth mover at Polavaram village, near Mundlamuru, enlisted the participation of farmers and agricultural workers saying that they could happily take the fertile silt from the village tanks to their farms. “The government plans to rejuvenate 45,000 village water tanks through community participation,” Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said.
Law is in
the book
Nearly 300 families, which migrated from East Godavari district to Manganiapudi beach area, were evacuated following a fire in which 205 houses were gutted on Friday. Krishna Collector Babu A. promised them new houses as they need to vacate the area falling under Coastal Regulatory Zone where no construction activity is allowed. The Collector was clueless about how the authorities had sanctioned power and other infrastructure facilities which should not be allowed in the CRZ area without clearances.
Bishop in
troubled water
A 14-year-old girl, an inmate of an orphanage, lodged a complaint against Bishop J. Parishuddha Babu, alleging sexual harassment by the Bishop. The victim, a tribal girl belonging to Guntur district, is pursuing class IX in a missionary school-cum-orphanage in Machilipatnam.
The Chilakalapudi police, who registered a case, would soon record her statement, before a bench of local court would hear the case. However, the Bishop is absconding till date.
(With inputs from
G. Ravikiran,
S.Murali and
T. Appala Naidu)
