Environment report says no to four lane roads in Tiger reserve

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
 Ministry of Forest and Environment has rejected the proposal for making Srisailam road into four lanes and a national highway stating that it would spell a doom for the big cat. It also recommends curbs against undesired growth of town ship in Sundipenta in the Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger reserve.

There are two state highways passing through the tiger reserve. One is 140 km stretch from Mannanur to Dornala and other is 50 km stretch from Nallaguntala to Bairlutty. It said that Mannanur-Dornala Road is a serious concern as the presence of breeding tigress with cubs has been well documented close to this road. The proposed conversion of state highway from Hyderabad to Nandyal via Srisailam, Dornala and Atmakur, of 354 km to national highway will be stalled.

"The proposed four lane will pose a big threat to sanctuary. State government should take immediate steps to divert the traffic to alternate highway for Guntur-Kurnool state highway which divides NTSR and Gundla Brahmeswara Sanctuary. This involves only additional distance of 25 kilometre. All nigh traffic shall be stopped. the irrigation township of Sundipenta in the NSTR is expanding rapidly and it must be contained," Ministry and Wild Life Institute of India report suggested.

It also said that are several encroachments in Nagarjunasagar side of North East part where the tiger reserves damaged to large extent. Ministry suggested State not to yield to pressure of removal fo speed
breakers on Doranala road for VIp movement and also not ease nigh traffic.
In the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of tiger projects in red corridor Centre rated NSTR as 'good'. NSTR is spread over 3568 square kilometres and there are around 200 villages including 24 in core area.
Centre asked State government to take measures to notify 1140 square kilometre Gundla Brahmeswaram Sanctuary as part of the tiger reserve core.
It also suggested to work on removing the bottle neck that exists at Siddavatam to ensure connectivity to Srivenkateswara Wild Life Sanctuary.



ends..sudha..9 35pm

Tigers of Nallamalais - Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve- Big Cat caught on camera traps

Hyderabad Jail follows Tihar Jail, products get 'Sudhar' brand name

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
 On the lines of Tihar Jail Charlapally prison and other jails in the State are going all out to market their products made by the prisoners and to establish their brand name 'sudhar'. Jails officials are selling bedsheets, towels, bread, biscuits, jellies, computer tables, office furniture and several other products.
Jails department Director General Mr C N Gopinath Reddy said ,"We want to promote the brand name Sudhar of the products made by the prisoners. This is aimed at not only increasing the revenues of the jails
department but also to improve the skill of the prisoners as well as give
them some more incentives for their work,"
As part of the promotion Charlapally prison will be setting up a stall at
secretariat on AP formation day on Tuesday with the products. "We are aiming at getting a revenue of Rs 30 crore per year from all the jails. This helps us to meet all expenses except the salaries of the jail
staff. Apart from this we are setting up four petrol pumps at  Charlapally,. Chanchalaguda, Warangal and Rajhumundry. We are aiming at the turnover of Rs 120 crore and a profit of Rs 10 to Rs 15 crore can be earned on it,"
He added that quality products are being brought out from the jails. "the bakery in the jail produces bread, biscuit, cookies with Sudhar brand name. In Anantapur we are setting up an exclusive outlet for james. jellies and pickles,"
He added a tractor repair centre is also being set up at Anantapur jail where the prisoners will be trained to work on them. Charlapally jail superintenet Mr K Srinivasa Rao said ,"we are even going to sell the organic vegetables. In the exhibition prisoners will be salesmen and in on day stall the staff will sell the products,"



Maoists movements curtailed in Andhra region of AOB

By U Sudhakar Reddy
Maoist activity has taken a backseat in the Andhra area of the Andhra Odisha border (AOB) and the movements of left wing extremists have been curtailed to the Orissa side of the border.

The last encounter between them and the security forces was in January and later on not much movement was detected from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army dalams in the villages in the Andhra area of the AOB.
According to the inspector general of police (east zone-Andhra), Mr Vinay Kumar Singh, police are helping villagers in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Godavari to form Jana Samithis to form solutions for civil and petty cases.
These Jana Samithis will be a counter to the Praja Courts of Maoists where they settle the issues. Cops are also monitoring whether the government officials particularly doctors are reaching remote villages and sending reports to the district administration.
“After three consecutive encounters there was no movement of Naxals in these districts. Jana Samithis are formed with an aim to see that villagers solve their problems without interference of cops in civil issues and cases of non cognisable nature.
“This period of inactivity by the Maoists has come in handy for the police who are able to reach remote areas and are trying to develop a network with the tribals in the area,” Mr Singh told this correspondent.
The phone numbers of the district SPs and of the IGP were given to all political representatives from the sarpanch to MLA in these districts for receiving complaints via phone.
Serious action will be initiated against the police inspector including suspension if they fail to file FIRs in the police stations, he added.

Fake papers for US visa

By U. Sudhakar Reddy
.The number of cases of visa consultants, travel agents and visa applicants booked by the police for producing fake papers in order to get US visas from the consulate in Hyderabad is increasing.
At least one case is booked every month. The most recent case, on April 1, is of a 37-year-old man from Warangal who was arrested for producing forged bank statements and income-tax returns.
In the past two years, 20 such cases have been booked against various individuals who applied for US visas using fake financial documents, educational certificates, employment service certificates and sponsor letters.
On October 21, 2010, a case was registered against B. Raju, who paid Rs.20,000 initially and was to pay Rs.2 lakh subsequently for fake employment documents.
M. Srinivas claimed to be a software engineer and applied for a visa by producing a fake certificate from the University of Mysore and also a fake employment certificate which he had bought from an agent for Rs.15,000.
There is a case pending against four women from Gujarat who paid Rs.20 lakh for fake documents and applied for B1/B2 visas.
The people desperate to get to the US range from Mr Srinivasa Rao, who produced a fake employment certificate and a fake MCA certificate from Brilliant Tutorials, which he bought for Rs.60,000, to Ms I.
Rajeswari of Warangal who applied for a visa so that she can work as a maid for $800-$1500.
What is delaying matters in court is that the regional security officer of the US consulate has change twice so far and is not available for deposing in the court as a witness.
“Most of the cases booked in 2009 and 2010 are based on the complaint lodged by Mr Nathan Kim, the assistant regional security officer of the US consulate in the city,” said an officer from the North Zone. “One case was booked as per the complaint lodged by Mr Zack Kendell and the latest one, on April 1, on the complaint of Mr Michael Diamond.”