he state government is in a dilemma over subsidising further the price of LPG cylinders, the price of which was recently hiked by Rs 35.
Though the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, is keen on providing some relief to consumers, the quantum of relief is not decided. The government already subsidises each cylinder by Rs 25.
In discussions with the CM, officials laid out the figures. The state had been paying Rs 16 crore every month towards the previous subsidy of Rs 25 on each cylinder. Mr Rosaiah decided to discuss the issue threadbare in the cabinet meet scheduled for July 1.
The government had earlier considered waiving Value Added Tax on the increased price of diesel.
Sources said the officials told the Chief Minister that the net benefit to the customer would be 40 paise on each litre but the revenue loss to the state could be Rs 350 crore per year.
“While individual customers will not feel any benefit and acknowledge the government gesture, the state will lose heavily,” a senior minister pointed out.
The Chief Minister also heard the recommendations of members of the Group of Ministers on fee reimbursement to tighten the scheme. The suggestions included requiring 75 per cent attendance and passing every year in order to qualify, and withdrawal of the facility for students whose family income crosses Rs 1 lakh and who possess a car.
Showing posts with label state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
German firm insults AP, won’t sell guns
Stating that the Andhra Pradesh state police have a bad human rights record, the German firm Heckler & Koch, which manufactures small arms and assault guns, has decided not to supply 9mm pistols and MP5 submachine guns to the state police.
The German firm took into account complaints by human rights organisations and groups who alleged that the Andhra Pradesh police had staged fake encounters while dealing with Maoist groups.
Sources at the state police headquarters told this newspaper that the state had put in an order for 9mm pistols for VIP security for the Intelligence security wing and other assault weapons for Octopus, a commando unit that was formed to deal with the terror groups. Since the AP police were branded as “rights violators”, the Germany firm has declined to supply the arms.
Heckler & Koch is one of the leading manufacturer and exporter of small arms, self-loading pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and 40mm grenade machine guns to military and police forces in various countries.
A senior police official said, “We have earlier purchased weapons from Heckler & Koch. We import weapons with the permission of the ministry of home affairs. Now, since the order for 9mm pistols has been denied, there is a serious discussion going in the department to see that a protest is lodged with them.”
The move to deny selling arms is seen as a big setback for VIP security and anti-Naxal and anti-terror operations in the state.
An IG-level official of the state police said, “The anti-Maoists Greyhounds have imported enough weapons over the past few years. There is, however, a need for procurement for the anti-terror force Octopus.”
When contacted. the director-general of police Mr R.R. Girish Kumar said, “I haven’t seen their letter. We don’t know their considerations. I can’t comment off-hand on that. We were working on arming the Octopus.”
The German firm took into account complaints by human rights organisations and groups who alleged that the Andhra Pradesh police had staged fake encounters while dealing with Maoist groups.
Sources at the state police headquarters told this newspaper that the state had put in an order for 9mm pistols for VIP security for the Intelligence security wing and other assault weapons for Octopus, a commando unit that was formed to deal with the terror groups. Since the AP police were branded as “rights violators”, the Germany firm has declined to supply the arms.
Heckler & Koch is one of the leading manufacturer and exporter of small arms, self-loading pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and 40mm grenade machine guns to military and police forces in various countries.
A senior police official said, “We have earlier purchased weapons from Heckler & Koch. We import weapons with the permission of the ministry of home affairs. Now, since the order for 9mm pistols has been denied, there is a serious discussion going in the department to see that a protest is lodged with them.”
The move to deny selling arms is seen as a big setback for VIP security and anti-Naxal and anti-terror operations in the state.
An IG-level official of the state police said, “The anti-Maoists Greyhounds have imported enough weapons over the past few years. There is, however, a need for procurement for the anti-terror force Octopus.”
When contacted. the director-general of police Mr R.R. Girish Kumar said, “I haven’t seen their letter. We don’t know their considerations. I can’t comment off-hand on that. We were working on arming the Octopus.”
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Telangana developed in all spheres: TGV
The Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika convenor and Kurnool MLA, Mr T.G. Venkatesh, said that Telangana had developed better than Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in the state.
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he said that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) demanded a separate Telangana state by citing backwardness in the region but official figures indicated that development in the region was better off than in the Rayalaseema and An-dhra regions.
He said that districts surrounding Hyderabad had witnessed development and Telangana stood first in the state in the education, health, and irrigation sectors and in per capita income.
Mr Venkatesh said that the TRS leaders were making baseless allegations against Rayalaseema and Andhra leaders as they had realised that a Telangana state was not possible on the pretext of backwardness in the region. He alleged that there was support for the unified state principle in Hyderabad as TRS leaders had not contested the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, as they knew that they would lose even their deposits.
He said that people were aware of the minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana’s comments and they would teach him a lesson. He said the Praja Rajyam and the Telugu Desam had changed their stand after seeing pro-unified state movement.
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he said that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) demanded a separate Telangana state by citing backwardness in the region but official figures indicated that development in the region was better off than in the Rayalaseema and An-dhra regions.
He said that districts surrounding Hyderabad had witnessed development and Telangana stood first in the state in the education, health, and irrigation sectors and in per capita income.
Mr Venkatesh said that the TRS leaders were making baseless allegations against Rayalaseema and Andhra leaders as they had realised that a Telangana state was not possible on the pretext of backwardness in the region. He alleged that there was support for the unified state principle in Hyderabad as TRS leaders had not contested the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, as they knew that they would lose even their deposits.
He said that people were aware of the minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana’s comments and they would teach him a lesson. He said the Praja Rajyam and the Telugu Desam had changed their stand after seeing pro-unified state movement.
