Ranga Reddy to be agriculture zone

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Monday, announced the setting up of a special agriculture zone (SAZ) in Ranga Reddy district to promote vegetable cultivation to meet the needs of the citizens the twin cities.

A blueprint giving details of SAZ will be announced soon.

Mr Rosaiah made the announcement while inaugurating farmer awareness tours, an annual feature taken up by the government before every kharif season, at Yacharam village in Bantawaram mandal in the district.

Mr Rosaiah said that SAZ was conceived to encourage farmers grow more vegetables for the city at affordable rates.

Mr Rosaiah said incentives would be given to vegetable growers in a big way while announcing the setting up of a special agriculture zone (SAZ) in Ranga Reddy district.

Responding to the request of the Vikarabad MLA, Mr Prasad Kumar, he announced survey for a lift irrigation scheme from Jurala project to meet the irrigation needs of the mandal.

In an oblique reference to the former chief minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, Mr Rosaiah said some politicians had ignored farmers’ problems and were engaged in advising people to go for computers but are now criticising his farmer-friendly government, showering crocodile tears.

There was a brief commotion during the Chief Minister’s speech, when a group of Telangana activists who raised slogans for T cause clashed with local Congress workers forcing the Chief Minister to stop his speech for a while. Police immediately swung into action and three persons were taken into custody.

The Union minister for urban affairs, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, who also took part in the meeting said the Central government had recently sanctioned a satellite township for Vikarabad and steps had been taken by the railways to run trains to Vikarabad on hourly basis. He said there is greater need to develop the agriculture sector further in the country.

He said the country is unable to cater to the food needs of population which had multiplied four times in the 60 years after independence. He also made an indirect reference to TD leader Mr Chadrababu Naidu and said it is good at least some people have realised the importance of the agriculture sector after they are in opposition.

The agriculture minister, Mr Raghuveera Reddy, the irrigation minister, Mr P. Laxmaiah, and the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, were also present.

T men stall Balayya’s film shoot

A group of Telangana activists disrupted the shooting of actor Balakrishna’s film at Kesara in Ranga Reddy district on Monday.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti activists raised “Jai Telangana” slogans and disrupted the shooting at about 11 am at Rampallidayara village. The movie titled Simha, featuring Balakrishna and Sneha Ullal, is slated to hit the screens next month. Both Balakrishna and Sneha were not present on the sets when the activists raised slogans.

The TRS activists said they will not allow Balakrishna to shoot in the Telangana region if he did not pledge his support to the demand for Telangana state.

“After the shooting of the film had ended, we needed a village backdrop for some scenes. Hence, we had chosen a nearby village. However, the TRS workers came here and began shouting slogans. We had to call off the shooting,” said Mr Boyapati Sreenu, the director.

Meanwhile, police said that the film unit did not take permission for the shooting. “The film unit did not inform us or take our permission. However, when we got to know of the incident, we got there and dispersed the activists,” said Mr Bhadreshwar, inspector.