Three LNG terminals vie to fuel economic development of State - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Three LNG terminals vie to fuel economic development of State -  The Hindu

Three LNG terminals vie to fuel economic development of State

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

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Three Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, one in public private partnership mode and other two by private investors, are going to compete with each other in East Coast to fuel economic development of the State and also parts of Telangana and Tamil Nadu.First PPP in India

An agreement was signed between the Andhra Pradesh Gas Development Corporation (APGDC), a joint venture company between the State government and the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), GDF SUEZ and Shell companies to construct a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) at a cost of Rs. 1,800 crore. This agreement and MoUs were made in September 2015 after public hearing was conducted twice in Kakinada by the GAIL and the APGDC. The APGDC, GAIL and Shell companies agreed to produce gas in 2018. But, this consortium has not sent report on public hearing, MoUs and other required documents to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) till date. “We only received soft copy, but we want hard copies of DPR (Detailed Project Report) to circulate among the screening committee members,” said a top official in the MoEF on condition of anonymity.

According to GAIL sources, it will take at least six months to get environment clearance after submission of designs to the MoEF and construction of terminal and agreements will take another one year.

KG LNG Terminal

The Krishna Godavari LNG terminal, the first private terminal in Kakinada Deep Water Port, completed public hearing in November. “The company has conducted public hearing without any memo or GO from the State government and every thing was stage-managed. We have asked the District Collector about the GO copies through the RTI and also the names of investors and their credentials and source of investment, guarantors, funding and other details,” said Muppalla Subba Rao, A.P. Bar Council member and head of Samachara Hakku Vedika.

When contacted, M.V.S. Kamesam, Director (operations) of KGLNG, said that they had conducted public hearing on the directions of the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary of Energy to the District Collector and the allegations on the company and investors were false. He said that the present estimate of the project cost was $442 million and they will start construction within three months of getting environmental clearance from the MoEF.

LNG Bharath Tolling Terminal

On the other hand, the second private project is LNG Bharat Tolling Terminal which is going to come up at Krishnapatnam Port, Nellore, to address the industrial needs of Rayalaseema districts of the State, Tamil Nadu and also parts of Telangana. LNG Bharat Limited terminal is promoted by Rajahmundry based KEI-RSOS Petroleum & Energy Ltd group, jointly owned by Lieutenant Murthy Jasti of the River Bay group of Rajahmundry and the KEI group owned by Anil, Shobana Kamineni of the Apollo Hospitals family.

The chairman of this tolling terminal Lieutenant Murthy is hopeful of vetting from the IDBI Capital and also achieving financial closure within four months.

In addition, he is expecting Chinese and Japanese investors who have approached the group for equity participation in both the special purpose companies which incidentally are in the sectors which permit 100% FDI in automatic route.

Flexi culture claiming lives of youth in twin Godavari districts - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Flexi culture claiming lives of youth in twin Godavari districts - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Flexi culture claiming lives of youth in twin Godavari districts

B.V.S. BHASKAR

.

The culture of putting flexis for some or other occasion came to big towns like Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Bheemavaram, Tanuku, Palkol, Amalapuram and Mandapeta. The cost of flex boards has come down from Rs.200 per foot to Rs.10 and the youth started putting up flexis for each and every occasion.

“It was very costly during 2005 as we are importing from Bengaluru. The numbers of flexi printing units have gradually increased and now it came to Rs.8 to Rs.10 per foot according to size and width of the flexi,” said Mr. Veerabhadram of VR3 Flex Printers in Rajahmundry, who brought this culture to the city.

Putting up flexi culture has spread to rural areas year after year and the competition among the printers has brought down the prices drastically. “Initially the youth brought this culture of putting up flex boards for some important occasions like political meetings, elections and release of films of their favourite film heroes,” said Prof. P.V.B. Sanjeeva Rao, Lecturer and head of Youth Affairs in SKVT College. Slowly this ‘culture’ spread to personal functions like birthdays of actors and political leaders, birth and death anniversaries of State and national leaders and legends.

“I have seen many clashes in putting up flex boards in front of many theatres for the last 10 years and several youth sustained serious injuries,” said Challa Sankar Rao, a leading film distributor and Chairman of Aryapuram Cooperative Bank.

Fans of actors also perform ‘puja’ and ‘abhishekams’ with milk to the flex boards.

“We don’t encourage such type of actions and my hero wants distribution of milk to orphans or the poor in government hospitals,” said Srinivas, district president of Hero Chiranjeevi Fans Association.

In Ravulapalem, Amalapuram, Ramachandrapuram and Mandapeta police stations, there are a number of police cases on youth who clashed with each other in the name of fans’ associations. According to L. Ankaiah, DSP, Amalapuram and Ambika Prasad, DSP of District Crime Records Bureau, about 10 youth died in clashes between these associations in the last 8 to 9 years in East Godavari district.

In West Godavari, the situation is same and particularly, Bheemavaram, Palkol, Naraspuram, Tanuku and other towns are most sensitive areas where the youth clash with each other on the release of their favourite heroes’ films. “They first concentrate on flex boards and tore others or burn them. Automatically the trouble starts and then we have to chase them to restore normalcy,” said P. Soumyalatha, East Zone DSP, Rajahmundry, who came here a month ago after working in Narasapuram and Bheemavaram.

Trouble in tourist paradise - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Trouble in tourist paradise - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

With private operators calling the shots, visitors to Papikondalu a harried lot

A tale of neglect:APTDC operates only two boats between Purushothapatnam and Papikondalu. —PHOTO: S. RAMBABU

: Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), which is still operating from Hyderabad, is failing to tap the potential in East and West Godavari districts, particularly the scenic beauty of Papikondalu.

The number of tourists is coming down drastically as there is no control over the private boat operators who outnumber APTDC. According to statistics, the number of foreign tourists was around 400 in 2009-10 and in 2014-15 it has come down to 150.

Papikondalu, where the river Godavari meanders between two hills, is a place where hundreds of endangered spices can be spotted all along the journey.

Eighteen boats are operated between Purushothapatnam, starting village of West Godavari district, and Papikondalu. APTDC runs only two and about 50 per cent of the tickets of the APTDC boats are being sold by private operators.

All the operators, who are having own boats, are the members of The Launch Operators’ Association and every year they renew their licences by paying the annual fee with Divisional Engineer, Head Works of Irrigation Department at Dowleswaram. They also take fitness certificates from the boat superintendent.

“We will only renew the licence after our junior engineer certifies the fitness of the boats. We are not concerned about passenger amenities or any other issue,” said Ratnarajkumar, DE, Irrigation Head Works.

On several occasions many passengers were stuck in the waters while returning from Papikondalu when the engines of the boats failed.

But, revenue and police personnel hold the Irrigation Department responsible for the situation. “It is the responsibility of operators to provide life jackets, walkie-talkies as the area is out of mobile network covergae,” said Rajahmundry Urban SP S. Harikrishna.

The boat operators collector Rs.700 per head from Rajahmundry and take the passengers from Pushkarala Revu near Uma Markandeya Swami temple on Godavari river bund to the Purushothapatnam boat point, which is about 35 km. “The transport vehicles are too congested and the 40-minute journey is terrifying,” said Radhe Syam, a Hare Krishna devotee from Pineland in the U.S.

Most of the passengers complain about non-availability of life jackets even in APTDC boats. “There is no control over the non-stop sound system which is affecting the ears. If some one wants to enjoy the nature, it is not possible,” said Sekhar, Vasuprada from Mumbai.

Tribal chicken recipe becomes a rage among Andhra Pradesh foodies - NATIONAL - The Hindu

Tribal chicken recipe becomes a rage among Andhra Pradesh foodies

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

A tribal youth cleaning bamboo stuffed with chicken after heating on fire in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.— Photo: B.V.S. Bhaskar

Bamboo chicken, a popular tribal recipe of Maredumilli agency area in East Godavari district, has become a much sought-after dish in many multi-cuisine restaurants and hotels in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

In Andhra Pradesh, people from Tada to Itcchapuram, particularly youth from different professional colleges, visit Papikondalu and Maredumilli as part of their botanical tour or academic project and make the best of their visit.

The jungle destination is 85 km from Rajahmundry, on the way to Chinturu and Bhadrachalam.

“This place became popular mainly because of bamboo chicken, a local delicacy and the beautiful streams nearby. Between 2012 and 2014, there was a drastic decline in the number of tourists visiting this place due to the prolonged agitation that preceded the State’s bifurcation,” says senior advocate and local tribal rights activist Mokkapati Prakash.

Most vehicles passing by the Rampachodavaram road pause at the Maredumilli police station where signboards outside thatched roofs greet the travellers with the announcement Bamboo chicken sold here .

This special variety of chicken is prepared by stuffing marinated chicken pieces into bamboo stems. The stems are then placed on coal fire. The entire cooking is done without using oil and the chicken gets cooked with the moisture inside the bamboo. Varieties like bamboo shoot curry and bamboo chutney are other highlights.

“In the last one year, the price of chicken has gone up. One kg chicken is enough to sell six plates (of bamboo chicken) and we charge Rs. 70 per plate,” says Ramu, a tribal youth famous for serving the delicacy for the last 15 years.

His father Satyanarayana gathers bamboo stems from a nearby forest once in a fortnight or a month and wife Rani assists him in cooking.

Local sources indicate that fascinated by the popularity of this delicacy, representatives of a multi-national company recently descended on Maredumilli forest and stayed put at a local guest house for a couple of days and gathered a detailed information along with video clippings of processing bamboo chicken and aloo dum .

John Fredrick, who worked as a General Manager (Food and Beverages) Taj Vivanta in Goa some time ago, has decided to launch a chain of traditional food centres across the country with the support of a few NRIs. Bamboo chicken and vegetarian delicacies cooked in bamboo would comprise the menu.

Polavaram: survey for R

Polavaram: survey for R

Polavaram: survey for R&R yet to be taken up in 4 mandals

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• B.V.S. BHASKAR

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Bifurcation blues:Survey being conducted by NGOs in Yetapaka, Kunavaram and Chinturu mandals on submergence areas of the Polavaram major irrigation project before the government survey teams take up work. —Photo: B.V.S. Bhaskar

Bifurcation blues are haunting tribal people of four mandals that have been carved out of Telangana and merged into East Godavari . As a result of bifurcation, no survey for relief and rehabilitation package under Polavaram project was taken up in the newly formed Yetapaka revenue division which includes Yetapaka, Kunavaram, Vara Ramachandra (V.R.) Puram and Chinturu mandals.

According to Yetapaka Revenue Divisional Officer K. Narasimha Murthy, “in Devipatnam mandal of Rampachodavaram Agency area, revenue officials have completed implementation of R&R package in 41 habitation/villages out of 44 except Kondamodalu, Devipatnam and Ganugulagondi villages. We have given agriculture ‘land to land’, paid compensation and completed all the stipulated rules as per the new R&R Act”.

However, due to bifurcation, the Revenue officials of Telangana government have not taken up R&R works in the four mandals. “We have to start every thing afresh. There are 27 heads under the new Act which we have to comply and settle one after another. It may take at least six to seven months or more,” Mr. Murthy added.

According to the old records (2005) of the government about 1.07 lakh tribal are going to be affected in four mandals.

“This figure might increase by this year and I filed a petition before the Ministry of Environment and Forests for implementation of new R&R package to tribal of four mandals,” said Pentapati Pulla Rao, head of an NGO fighting for tribal rights.

According to official figures, around one lakh acres of agricultural lands would get submerged in as many as 276 villages in both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A total of 121 villages would be submerged in Bhadrachalam division and 84 villages in Palwancha division in Khammam district. In East Godavari and West Godavari districts, the total number of affected villages will be 71. The Relief and Rehabilitation Policy states that the tribal people, who lose their fertile lands under any project, should be compensated with lands only.

However, the Revenue authorities are stating that the State government has instructed them to give compensation of Rs.5 lakh, per acre under land acquisition, but tribal farmers are demanding Rs. 7.5 lakh. Some NGOs in Chinturu and Yetapaka have started movement in all the villages in these mandals by organising awareness meeting on R&R package and its benefits.

Vehicle owners bear the brunt as stationery blues haunt RTOs - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Vehicle owners bear the brunt as stationery blues haunt RTOs - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Vehicle owners bear the brunt as stationery blues haunt RTOs

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

• 10,000 applications pending in East Godavari district

  
  For no fault of theirs, owners of new vehicles, especially heavy vehicles such as lorries, are forced to pay heavy penalty at various traffic junctions for not having their Registration Certificates or Driving Licence (DL) in form of smart cards.

  For the last four to five months, the vehicle owners have been bearing the brunt of the dearth of office stationery needed for making the smart cards at the respective regional transport offices such as smart cards, toners, ribbon and other equipment.

  Deputy Transport Commissioner’s (DTC) offices in all 13 districts have software to prepare the RC and DL smart cards for which the IT wing of the Road Transport Authority (RTA) supplies the needed stationery every month as per the indent made by the regional offices.

  Highly placed sources in the Transport Department say that the office stationery has been short in supply from June this year, after the contractor who is supplying the material to both Andhra and Telangana States asked for a revision of prices of the material.

  He also demanded that to the arrears pending from November last year be cleared, the officials say.

  According to A. Mohan, DTC (Kakinada), as many as 10,000 applications seeking RCs, DLs are pending with Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and Kakinada RTOs at present. Admitting that the authorities are very much aware of the woes of the vehicle owners, he said: “We are receiving the printing material once in a fortnight, that too, in a little quantity and it is not sufficient. Whenever we are getting the material, we are dispatching 1,000 to 2,000 DLs and RCs at one go.”
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Morampudi mishap: officials under fire - The Hindu

Morampudi mishap: officials under fire - The Hindu

Morampudi mishap: officials under fire

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

Authorities accused of not taking precautionary measures to curb accidents

The National Highway authorities and the local units of road transport and traffic police have come under fire, after three people, including a child, died in an accident when a school bus carrying the YSRC activists hit a car and three motorcycles at Morampudi junction on the NH5 on the outskirts of Rajahmundry.

Morampudi junction is privy to many ghastly accidents in the past. A similar trend is seen at two more junctions between Kakinada and Rajahmundry. According to the records available with the traffic police, 26 major accidents occurred at Morampudi junction, killing 8 people in 2012. Sources hint at another 10 unregistered deaths too. In 2013, 11 persons lost their lives in 39 road mishaps there. Last year, the number of deaths, however, came down to nine in 24 accidents (data till October).

In various instances, motorists blame it on the faulty design of the road here. “Morampudi is considered a dangerous stretch as the construction of the Highway is faulty. The road from Bommuru (Vijayawada side) near Horlicks factory is laid at a higher level and then it plunges to a very low point till Morampudi Junction; visa vis at the other side from Lalacheruvu (Visakhapatnam side). Heavy vehicles coming at a high speed can’t see other vehicles and the there are no barricades too,” says Goli Ramarao, a medical practitioner.

A car dealer and industrialist Kantipudi Sarvarayudu, had installed CCTV cameras at the junction by spending from his own pocket, besides spending Rs.5 lakh more to donate steel barricades to traffic police. “One of the CCTV cameras installed at the junction captured the sequence of the accident. Traffic police are not using the barricades which I gave them three years ago. The RTA, traffic police and National Highways authorities must own responsibility for the accident as they have failed in taking precautionary measures at this junction,” said Mr. Sarvarayudu.

Meanwhile, Gorantla Butchaih Chowdary, who rushed to the spot, said that he would convene a meeting with the National Highway authorities, R&B officials and the Commissioner of Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation to find out a permanent solution to the problem. He favours construction of four flyovers and four more under-bridges to address the traffic bottlenecks on this stretch.