Rope-way for two hill-top temples

Devotees visiting the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada and Anjaneya Swami temple at Kondagattu in Karimnagar district can look forward to a quick, comfortable and exciting journey to the hill-top abodes. Three minutes is all it is going to take a devotee to reach the Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri from Seetammavari Paadalu on the banks of Krishna while having a picturesque aerial view of the river and the surroundings in a cable car.For the first time in the state, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APDTC) has decided to install rope-ways to attract more tourists and devotees to the temples while preventing stampedes and the rush on the trekking paths. The project report for installing the passenger rope-way system at the two temples at a cost of Rs 13.5 crore under Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) has been finalised, Manohar, Assistant General Manager of the APTDC, told Express.“The proposed projects will help reduce heavy rush and stampedes during festive seasons while providing the devotees an exhilarating ride on the ropeways,” he said.Damodar Rope-ways and Construction Corporation Pvt Ltd has submitted a comprehensive project report to the APTDC, which is expected to issue tender notifications for the projects in a couple of days.For the Kanaka Durga temple, the rope-way would be installed under the mono-cable fixed grip system with a 520-metre up and down service. The journey time would be three minutes in one direction.“As many as eight cabins will operate, each carrying at least six passengers with a speed of 14.4 kmph. Two rescue rope cars will also be provided,” Manohar said.In Kondagattu, lower and upper stations would be installed each for a length of 690 metres carrying 16 cabins and 8 cabins of six-seater capacity each taking due care for those suffering from hypertension,” Manohar said.

By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com

12 autos show up for meter testing

Has the hike in petrol prices and extra charges made auto drivers stay away from the ongoing meter re-calibration tests? At least that is the indication going by the poor response at venues of the Legal Meteorology Department’s road and time tests. Thousands of auto drivers were expected to attend these tests but only 12 autos showed up on Thursday. The department set up two centres at Singareni Colony, Dilsukhnagar and Attapur near Mehdipatnam. PSRNT Swami, assistant legal controller said to Express that even after sending necessary intimations to auto drivers and unions, the response has been very poor. Recently, the state government hiked the minimum auto fares from Rs12 to Rs 14. The per km charge has also been increased to Rs 8, with waiting charges becoming 50 paise per two minutes from 25 paise. As part of meter re-calibration, the legal metrology department had asked about 80,000 odd auto-rickshaws plying on city streets to attend the road and time tests. The government had instructed authorities to complete the process within 90 days from December 20. Swami said the department would continue the tests for all auto-rickshaws till February 20. “We will intimate all auto unions to attend the road and time tests. If they fail to turn up, we will take stringent action,’’ he warned. Auto unions, however, are hesitant to attend meter re-calibrations, with petrol prices being hiked twice in a month. “If we have to install new tariff software into digital meters, we will run into heavy losses under current circumstances. While petrol prices have increased again, our meter tariffs are still according to the old rate of petrol,” said A Ravi Shanker, state general secretary, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. He also alleged that digital meter manufacturers such as Gold Tech, Right and Sansui were charging heavy fees to install ‘chips’ into digital meters. 

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Hyderabad becoming a haven for illegal firearms

The choice of guns is huge and varied. From a 9 mm pistol or a 5-shot mini-revolver with 2- inch heavy barrel or a 6-shot mini revolver or 3.2 pistol to a one-shot pistol or 7.65 bore pistols or countrymade guns or even assembled guns? Hyderabad is quickly becoming a thriving market for supplying illegal weapons.For most denizens, buying a gun is not a big deal.Whether it be passion to possess a gun or to defend oneself, most prominent personalities and businessmen are keen to own a gun. What’s more is that illegal countrymade tapanchas and guns from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar are available for anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000, depending on the model.Reportedly, a few dealers hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been selling arms through their agents in the city. During the last one year, it is estimated that at least 500 illegal weapons have been sold. According to sources, customers have to to pay at least five per cent of the total cost as initial payment and only then the illegal weapon is requisitioned and delivered to him within ten days. With the recent murder of factionist Maddelacheruvu Suri, city police are concentrating on illegal firearms supply to the city.VB Kamalasan Reddy, deputy commissioner of police, Task Force told Express that it is a cause of concern that the number of crimes committed with illegal weapons are on the rise. He said, “Most individuals, who come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are involved in the racket.They had come to the city for their livelihood but have started the illegal weapons supply business. We have already set up a few teams to inquire into illegal weapon sales in the twin cities.” City police nabbed a notorious inter-state fire arms supplier Vinod Kumar Sahu for supplying arms to terror operator Viqaruddin and others in November. Police also recovered two country-made fire arms along with six live rounds of ammunition. In another case, a four-member gang, Aseen, Arshadullah, Lateef Khan and Imran Khan were arrested for trying to sell four country-made guns. Police caught them during their regular frisking operations held at Lakshminagar crossroads under Saidabad police limits.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Doctors told to stop selling miracle cures

Doctors and hospitals giving advertisements on TV channels, newspapers or hoardings claiming to provide treatment for diseases, including Aids are under scanner. The Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) is planning to take stern action against them for publicising schemes or offers to attract patients as per the Indian Medical Council (professional conduct, etiquette and ethics) Regulation Act.Notices have been already served to many hospitals seeking explanations for advertisements appearing in various media, mostly hoardings coming up in every nook and corner in the city. “Advertisements appearing in electronic, print media and hoardings are unethical and amount to violation of code of ethics,” Dr E Ravindra Reddy, chairman, Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) told Express.In a recent meeting, the council took a serious view of nearly 11 such instances and awarded punishments to three doctors.Ravindra Reddy said among the three d o c t o r s , D r Koutharapu Ravindra of Vijaywada was suspended for five years for fake advertising and administering unauthenticated vaccine which he claimed cured AIDS.“Such behaviour was unbecoming of a doctor of modern medicine,’’ added Dr Ravindra Reddy. Dr Pabba Kylas, cardiologist, Karimnagar has been suspended for two years for misusing the name of APMC and printing pamphlets in name of the registrar with a malafide intention to defame another medical practitioner.Dr Reddy said the primary responsibility of the Council is to register eligible medical graduates, postgraduates and all eligible candidates of modern scientific medicine, maintain professional standards and discharge other functions as provided in the Indian Medical Council Act 1956.If any patient died due to negligence of the doctor or found any doctor giving treatment possessing fake certificates, the patient’s kin could directly approach the APMC office and lodge a complaint, added Dr Reddy. “We will take stern action if any doctor fails in giving proper treatment,’’ he said.“We only consider MBBS certificates to get registration for practice from candidates from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A number of candidates pursued their medical courses and obtain certificates as MD (physician) from different countries. We consider such certificates as only MBBS qualified and they can put only MBBS in their name boards,’’ Reddy said.A few days ago, APMC suspended B Jagadish of Medi-Kid Children’s Hospital, Ameerpet for three months for practicing as a pediatrician with unrecognised post-graduate diploma DCH (Vienna) and deleting display of his basic degree- MBBS.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com

Prajavani leaves complainants high and dry

“Are you not taking government’s salary? Why are you refusing to give a complaint form?” fumed 65-year-old N Chalapathi Rao, holding photocopies of representation of problems in his water meter. Staffers at the Prajavani of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) had refused to give him an application form saying the time was over when it was only 12.30 p.m. Customers were given time for obtaining forms till 1 p.m.Though Water Board officials claim their Prajavani is a ‘big success’ and they solve customer’s problems ‘on the spot’, the situation at the Board office on Monday indicated otherwise.In another case, Dattu, a resident of Alwal had come to the Prajavani to get his name changed, which had been printed wrongly in the bill. But he too went back disappointed.Though about 200 customers were present at the Prajavani with their complaints, most of them returned empty-handed alleging lack of response from officials. Some had lodged their complaints in previous Prajavani programmes but in vain. The Prajavani programme is held in all Board offices on all Mondays from 10 am to 1 pm. On Monday, heated arguments between customers and officials was the order of the day.N Chalapathi Rao from Malakpet told Express that he had lodged complaints twice (ID No. 021205804) at the Prajavani. He added that the meter at his house was giving wrong readings and alleged he was forced to pay more than the normal readings. “It is a small mistake and can be rectified in a short time. I am chasing all officials at Malakpet, Goshamahal and even complained earlier in the Prajavani at the Khairatabad office but my problem has not been addressed,’’ he complained.Holding a young baby, a 30-year-old Sanathnagar resident, Sri Lakshmi was seen standing in corner of the hall, where Prajavani proceedings were going on. Even as she sent her complaint form for irregular water supply, officials failed to accept it. She had to walk away disappointed. J Narender Yadav from Rajnagar in Borabanda said he had obtained a water connection (062316079) in 2000. “Since then, there was no water supply till 2009. Only in 2010, water supply started but I received a bill of `19, 049. I met officials but they only reduced my bill by `3,033 and asked me to pay `16,016.” On an average, a customer pays about `1500 towards water bill but surprisingly for Narender, the bill was abnormally high. 22-year-old Asif, resident of Asifnagar said, “They issued a bill (033138767) with an excess amount of `13,798. When I asked about it, they threatened to impose a fine or file a police case if I failed to pay it by due date.’’ The most common complaints were abnormally high bills received by customers followed by faulty meter readings and no water supply.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com