Collector, officials trek 22 km to reach hilltop hamlet

Pattas, road and extension of ayacut area to the 12 families residing in Ijjaluru promised

Two young IAS officers along with forest and police officials trekked about 22 km in the hot sun on Saturday to reach a hamlet which had not been visited by any IAS officer in the recent past. The hamlet Ijjaluru in Maredumilli mandal of East Godavari does not have accessibility and no basic amenities too.

The village has 12 families belonging to the primitive tribal group — Konda Reddy — and in the last five to six Assembly elections they exercised their franchise only through mobile ballot and they know only Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Collector Karthikeya Mishra who took charge recently visited the village along with ITDA Project Officer A.S. Dinesh Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer Nandini, ASP Nayeem and other officials by trekking from the Bhadrachalam-Maredumilli road.

After reaching Ijjaluru, he inquired about the education, health and the distribution of ration. He appealed to the 12 families to shift their homes near the main road adding the government would construct houses and extend them special package.

But the families refused to come out of the village saying they had two to three acres of podu land and their livelihood was making broomsticks. They asked the Collector to give them pattas for hill slope cultivation, construct school-cum-anganwadi centre and lay road.

The Collector told them that a resident, Nageswara Reddy, will be appointed as the Resource Contract Teacher and a class five student Sadala Kumari as anganwadi worker. An Asha worker would also appointed.

He presented four litre water filters to all the families and said steps would be taken to extend the ayacut area through solar system after studying the possibility of lift irrigation scheme.

He assured that steps would be taken to lay road by meeting the forest department’s objections. He maintained that loan to the tune of Rs. 15,000 would be sanctioned for each woman by restoring dwacra group and called upon the villagers to enhance their living standards by making use of it.

After enquiring about the crop being cultivated, he assured them that pattas would be issued to hill slope land according to guidelines. When the officials asked the villagers about medical facilities, the ANMs said there were three pregnant women and it was very tough for them to reach the nearest PHC at Maredumilli, which was about 11 km. Immediately, the Collector ordered the women be brought to the PHC two weeks before delivery and the families be given Rs. 200 per day with free meal.

ONGC draws up ambitious plan

ONGC draws up ambitious plan

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

  However, frequent instances of leakage are a cause for concern

  Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been facing certain problems in the operational areas of the Krishna-Godavari (KG Basin) from quite some time.
  Nevertheless, it has drawn up an action plan to produce 2.18 million metric tonne of oil and 6.46173 billion cubic metres of gas in the next five years from its onshore wells.
  The ONGC Rajahmundry Asset would be investing U.S. $ 750 million at Nagayalanka in Krishna district alone. It plans to invest Rs.760 crore on new Type III rigs for drilling, production, pipelines, and other surface facilities.
  Asset Manager and Executive Director of ONGC, Rajahmundry, Debasish Sanyal, says that the 707-km of pipeline network, spread over East and West Godavari, and Krishna districts, connects 260 active wells to the Gas Collecting Stations and Group Gathering Stations in the three districts.
  Though the oil major has fast-tracked work on laying new pipelines, frequent instances of leakage in some parts of East Godavari are a cause for worry both for the people in the vicinity and the ONGC.
  Eight such instances have been reported in the last three months, causing anguish among the villagers, particularly those in the Antarvedi and Sakhinetipalli areas of the Konaseema region.
  Mr. Sanyal says that the 4-inch diameter and 7.9 mm thick pipes have developed minor leaks only in the Mori area near Antarvedi in East Godavari district.
  “The company has taken a serious note of it,” says Mr. Sanyal, adding that the company has three well-trained teams to attend to pipeline leakages. This apart, it has a 24x7 toll-free helpline.
  It is learnt that the ONGC is facing problems in Right of Use (RoU) in the region to replace the pipelines.
  Landowners are paid compensation as per the government norms and they are bound by certain conditions. But ignoring the lease agreement terms, the landowners are said to be developing fish ponds and excavating sand and mud over the pipelines, which is rendering the pipelines weak.
  This apart, the two-crop farming activity allows little working window for the company to replace the pipelines.
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Historic building at Tanuku on the brink

Historic building at Tanuku on the brink:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

• Greats such as Gandhi and Kanchi Paramacharya had stayed there for a while

  

  Symbol of neglect:A view of the building that was constructed by Yerramilli Ramanatham. —Photo: B.V.S. Bhaskar
  : Sri Yerramilli Ramanatham building, which had virtually become a second home for freedom fighters during the struggle for independence, is on the verge of collapse. The building has become an outlet for drainage water of an adjacent building housing a bank. With people relieving themselves, it presents a revolting sight.

  Yerrammili Ramanatham, a follower of the Mahatma, had constructed the building with the intention of providing free meal to freedom fighters. When Gandhiji visited Tanuku on April 27, 1929, during a campaign to boycott foreign clothes and wear khadi ones only, Ramanatham urged him to stay in the building to which the latter readily agreed. During his visit, Gandhiji formally launched the common meal initiative. “The Mahatma again visited the building on December 26, 1933, and asked us to launch the Harijan movement,” said Konda Venkatappaiah, also a freedom fighter, in one of his books. Ramanatham, who was given the title of “karmayogi,” got an opportunity to provide accommodation to the Kanchi Paramacharya in 1938. The seer stayed for three days in the building with his entire “parivaram” and other paraphernalia, a devotee said.

  Freedom fighters from the Godavari districts and north Andhra, including Konda Venkatappaiah, Mangipudi Purushothama Sarma, Mudiganti Jagganna Sastry, Bandha Viyyanna, and Sanivarapu Subbarao, would regularly meet in the building and discuss strategies.

  But unfortunately, after the country gained Independence, the sacrifices made by Ramanatham and his family were forgotten.

  “Ramanatham’s son Narasimha Rao, a Sarvodaya worker, was asked to write a book on Alluri Seetharama Raju’s life and his wife Parameswari also undertook some research,” said Vadrevu Sundarrao, a lecturer at the SCIM Government Degree College here.

  He said it was unfortunate that successive governments had neglected such a great building.

Ghanapatis’ children in search of their roots

Ghanapatis’ children in search of their roots:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

• Delta areas in East and West Godavari districts known for the rich Vedic tradition

  

  A view of Agraharam at Peruru in Amalapuram rural mandal.
  “Kramapati”, “Ghanapati”, “Somayaji” and “Vajapayee” are some of the highest degrees in Vedic education and those who have achieved them will be honoured by adding the tag to their name. Delta areas in East and West Godavari districts are not only popular for paddy production, but also for the rich Vedic tradition for more than 500 years.

  The Vedic scholars settled down mostly in Agraharams (specially designed lanes) like Peruru in Amalapuram rural mandal, Nandampudi, Vyaghreswaram, Vakkalanka, Gangalakurru and Tondavaram villages in Ambajipeta mandal of Konaseema region in East Godavari and the most popular village Iragavaram in West Godavari. Ganti Lakshmana Somayajulu, Ganti Purushothama Somayajulu, Nemani Somasekhara Avadhanulu and Nemani Jwala Narasimha Avadhanulu are popular in Peruru and Amabjipeta mandals.

  According to Nemani Sriramachandra Murthy, Head of HDFC Bank, Raichur, many of their families have settled in Nagpur, Mumbai and Chennai about two generations ago for livelihood, particularly in Railways, though they had learnt conducting Yagnas and Homams and were well-versed in Vedic sastras.

  This happened in the 1950s and then in my generation youngsters started going to Bengaluru and Chennai for software jobs as Vedic rituals would not earn bread and butter, he added.

  “But, there was a sea change since the last one decade as the youngsters started looking back to their roots. They are coming to Agraharams. Every year during the summer they are coming with families and spending almost a month here to learn daily rituals like ‘Sandhya Vandanam’ from their grandfathers,” Mr. Murthy added. Pidaparthi Sivarama Sarma of Sri Dattatreya Veda Vidya Gurukulam, Rajamahendravaram, said though the youth were getting attracted to Vedic culture and learning rituals, many scholars were not encouraging them to enter their own profession or learn the Vedas.

  Dr. Gullapalli Dattatreya Ghanapati, who had done research in Vedic literature and head of the Gurukulam, said once the number of institutions went up, the next generations would automatically carry the torch of the Vedas to the masses.

  Like Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, the young generation of the Agraharams wants to preserve the Vedic culture in these districts, says Nukala Bapanna Somayajulu.

  Maha Mahopadhyaya and Vedic adviser to Sringeri Peetam Sri Sri Viswanatha Gopalakrishna said the East and West Godavari districts were the only places which would continue to produce hundreds and thousands of Vedic scholars.

‘Koya’ youth climbs Everest, creates record

‘Koya’ youth climbs Everest, creates record

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

• He is the first from the State to achieve the feat after bifurcation

  

  Summit of achievement:Doodi Bhadraiah was part of Transcend Adventures International Mount Everest, Hyderabad. —PHoto: By Arrangement
  Doodi Bhadraiah, a tribal youth, has created a record of sorts by climbing world’s highest mount — the Everest — on Friday, and he is first tribal lad from Andhra Pradesh to achieve the feat — after bifurcation.

  He is part of the Transcend Adventures International Mount Everest, Hyderabad, a professional unit led by Arjun awardee Sekhar Babu Bachinepally. This year, Mr. Babu took eight others along with Bhadraiah to the expedition. The ‘Koya’ lad is from of Kothapalli village in Chinturu mandal, which was merged into East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh from Khammam district in Telangana.

  His arduous journey started on April 8. After reaching Kathmandu (Nepal), he completed documentation work and flew to Lhasa with his team. He stayed for three days there to get acclimatised to the weather.

  The team started climbing Mt. Everest from April 20 and reached the North Base camp (5,200m height) and later reached 8,300m on May 19 to set up a summit camp.

  “It was so exiting leaving the Summit Camp — world’s highest elevated camp — around 9 p.m. on Thursday night. I climbed for entire night to reach the 8,848m mark on Friday morning along with my team. It is my life’s goal to climb the Everest. I have achieved it,” said Bhadraiah who called Integrated Tribal Development Agency Project Officer KVN Chakradharababu over satellite phone from the base camp, who incidentally supported him financially for this adventurous trip.

  The road to become part of team was not easy for Bhadraiah. Last year, he visited the rock-climbing school at Bhuvanagiri in Nalgonda district and met the coach Mr. Sekhar Babu who responded favourably to his plea to admit him in the team.

  After a training session at Bhuvanagiri Fort, Mr. Bhadraiah emerged as one of the two persons selected for the expedition.

  After completing an industrial training programme from Kothagudem College, he worked for the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation plant near Mothugudem on contract basis. “My parents are farm labourers,” he said.
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Water pollution a perennial problem in Konaseema region

Water pollution a perennial problem in Konaseema region

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

• Drains are connected to main canal in Kothapeta, Ravulapalem, and Amalapuram

  

  The Central Delta canal near Tatipaka in Konaseema region where water gets polluted.
  Water from a septic tank is being let out into irrigation canal and the same is being supplied as drinking water after a little treatment. If a farmer needs water for his field, the nearby canal is filled with drain water. It may sound strange. But, it’s true and the practice has been going on for the last two decades in the Konaseema region with or without the knowledge of the public.

  Though the officials are aware of it, they express their inability to address the issue.

  The water pollution is a perennial problem in Konaseema and now it has assumed alarming proportions. As a result, people of this fertile region are made to drink polluted water. Lack of awareness among farmers, political pressure and negligence on the part of officials have resulted in the situation turning from bad to worse.

  The main source for irrigation in East Godavari district is the Godavari. The canal which flows through Central Delta is known as Amalapuram main canal and it first touches Lolla lakula in Konaseema. The Central Delta canal caters to the irrigation and drinking water needs of 19 mandals of the region. It irrigates 1.80 lakh acres of paddy and one lakh acres of crops, including coconut. The canal water is used for drinking purpose after being treated. But at Kothapeta, Ravulapalem, and Amalapuram the major drains are connected to Central Delta main canal.

  In Amalapuram, hospital waste, water from restaurants, hotels and households are let out in huge quantities into the main canal.

  Important drains in Gandhinagar, Vittanalavaripalem, Abbireddyvari Veedhi are being connected to the main canal.

  At places there are outlets from municipal dumping yards and burial grounds.

  Dr. Anil, a doctor in Amalapuram, says that water-born diseases are increasing every year due to irrigation canal being polluted as a result of linking it with septic tank water.

  Gopinath, Deputy Engineer of Irrigation Department, says that from 2009 to 2014 the irrigation authorities tried to close drains in consultation with farmers, but in vain.

  Turbidity levels

  Former RDO of Amalapuram P. Sampath Kumar has prepared a report to completely close all the drains that lead to the Central Delta Canal from Lolla Lakula Junction. He has suggested all MPDOs, panchayat officials and village secretaries and municipal officials to check turbidity levels in the water that is being supplied to the public through CPW schemes.

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Women SHG members turn entrepreneurs

Women SHG members turn entrepreneurs:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

  Chief Minister to launch ‘Swashakthi Note Book Industry’ through Internet today

  

  Scripting success:SHG women at their unit in Amalapuram. —Photo: B.V.S. Bhaskar
  On your next visit to a book store, you may find notebooks with attractive cover page design and titled ‘Amaravati,’ ‘Godavari’, and ‘Konaseema.’

  “What’s so special!” one may wonder.

  They are special in that they are products of an industry established by women self-help groups of East Godavari district.

  The thrift groups, inspired by the Central Government’s ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ initiative, launched a notebook manufacturing unit— Swashakthi Note Book Industry— which is first of its kind in the State.

  Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally inaugurate it through the Internet on Wednesday. He will also interact with the members through the video link.

  The unit is located on the premises of the GMC Balayogi Training and Technology Development Centre (DRDA Training Centre) here.

  The SHG federations —zilla samakhyas, mandal samakhyas, village organisations, and Sand Mining Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies— with profits/earnings from ‘Anna Deevena,’ paddy procurement centres, and sale of sand, mobilised the share capital.

  The group, comprising 14 women and led by N. Durga Devi as managing partner, invested Rs. 94.72 lakh, besides obtaining a bank loan of Rs.1 crore.

  Ms. Durga Devi has invested Rs. 20 lakh as representative from the zilla samakhya (district body of all SHGs). The other members who represent various groups have invested amounts ranging from Rs.1.99 lakh to Rs.10 lakh.

  Working capital

  Out of Rs.1.94 crore thus mobilised, they purchased machinery worth Rs. 89.42 lakh. The balance amount is kept as working capital.

  District Collector H. Arun Kumar has extended all support in the establishment of the industry, and DRDA Project Director S. Mallibabu has been the guiding force, say the members.

  “We are sourcing paper from A.P. Paper Mills, Rajamahendravaram. Till date, we have sourced 80 tonnes of paper. We are manufacturing about 40,000 to 50,000 172-page notebooks and 50,000 to 90,000 84-page notebooks every day,” says Jayakrishna Kakarala, general manager of the unit. Mr. Mallibabu says that all the SHG women in the district have been instructed to promote the sale of the notebooks, both white and ruled.

  “The brand names will help sell the products like hot cakes. We are confident of reaching breakeven in one year,” says G. Varalakshmi, another partner.
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