Telangana: Railway penalty goes off-track; consumer forum backs passengers

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A dentist couple that had the mortification of being dubbed ticketless travellers despite having valid tickets, and was forced to pay penalty under police watch by the railways, has been awarded compensation by the consumer forum of Hyderabad.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-2 has ordered the railways to return the penalty and pay compensation to Dr Ayaz Ahmed, a research associate in Goa, and Dr Iffatunnisa, a dentist and resident of Attapur in the city.

The issue dates back to December 16, 2011. Dr Ahmed’s brother Tanveer Ahmed had booked AC III tier tickets under Tatkal at Thrissur, Kerala, for the couple on Sabari Express for travel to Hyderabad the next day.

He was asked for ID proof — the norm had been introduced 12 days previously. Mr Tanveer Ahmed provided his own ID proof. The booking clerk accepted it, and did not inform him that the ID papers of the passengers was required as per the regulations. The couple noticed that their age was wrongly entered in the reservation chart.

They went to the staff and obtained an endorsement on the reverse of the ticket. On the train, the TTE said the ID proof they provided did not match with the data on the chart.

At Shornoor Junction, the station master turned up with the railway police. The couple were forced to pay `3,430. They did that under protest and filed a case against the Thrissur station master U. Unni Krishnan at the forum in Hyderabad.

The railways argued that the forum had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on the complaint. It said Section 15 of the Railway Claims Trib-unal Act, 1987 barred any court or authority from exercising jurisdiction vested in the Rail-way Claims Tribunal.

To this, the forum said the destination was Hyderabad and it had jurisdiction to try the complaint. The forum said the Act covered goods transport while this case was regarding passengers who had purchased tickets.

The forum noted that the only mistake was that the ID proof of Dr Ayaz Ahmed’s brother had been provided, instead of that of the passenger. No one had claimed the berths that had been allotted to the couple on the train, the family noted.

The forum ruled that demanding penalty may be legal but it was unfair as the couple had purchased tickets and were forced to pay the penalty even after they produced their ID cards. The forum ordered the railways to repay the penalty of Rs 3,430 and pay compensation of Rs 5,000 and costs of Rs 2000 to Dr Ayaz Ahmed and Dr Iffatunnisa.

Single track Approach

• Railways asks a couple travelling to Hyderabad to pay penalty — under police watch — for “ticketless travel.” The couple had tickets but their ID proof did not match with that on record.

• The ticket was booked by the couple’s relative, who had provided his own ID proof and not that of the passsenger.
• The ID proof norm was 12 days old at that time; the booking clerk had accepted the ID proof
• Consumer forum penalises railways, asks it to return penalty

4 more Trimex firms figure in Panama list

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has revealed in the Panama Papers that UAE-based NRI Madhu Koneru is a shareholder of Trimex Limited and Trimex Bahamas, which are registered in the Bahamas.

It was earlier reported that Mr Koneru was named in the Panama Papers twice for having offshore companies floated, using Mossack Fonseca as an agent. The offshore database revea-led that Trimex Limited and Trimex Bahamas of Bahamas, Kingsbridge Global of UAE, Minerals Energy and Commodities Holdings of Malaysia and MEC Resources were all offshore companies linked to Mr Koneru.ICIJ has issued disclaimers that there are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts.

Mr Koneru had earlier brushed aside the allegations stating that he was an NRI and to have foreign transactions and offshore companies was legal. He was earlier chargesheeted by the CBI in the Emaar scam in Hyderabad. Trimex Sands, owned by Mr Koneru’s family, was recently in thick of controversy regarding mining in Srikakulam which the legislative committee had found fault with.

The Public Accounts Committee of the AP Legislative Assembly had alleged that Trimex Sands had been violating norms in its beach sand mining activity in Vatsavalaa area in Srikakulam district. PAC members had observed that the company had resorted to illegal mining of beach sand on 387.72 acre of disputed land.

Panama Papers: Companies genuine, says Industralist Prasad’s son --- It is a British Virgin Islands company and has nothing to do with Panama, says Prasad's son.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Panama Papers mentions the name of industrialist Motaparti Siva Rama Vara Prasad thrice, for having offshore companies in Ghana and Togo in Africa.

Mr Prasad’s son Sunil Motaparti of Bitchemy Ventures, said: “All the offshore companies are genuine. I don’t know about other companies except Bitchemy. It is a British Virgin Islands company and has nothing to do with Panama. Bitchemy is a vehicle company for investments in firms based in the US and Malaysia. It is more of a holding company.”

ICIJ, while put the Panama Papers database for public view, had stated: “There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. We do not intend to suggest or imply that any persons, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly. Many people and entities have the same or similar names.”

The ICIJ stated: “Explore a searchable database that strips away the secrecy of nearly 214,000 offshore entities created in 21 jurisdictions, from Nevada to Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.”

Nearly 2,000 Indian firms offshore in latest edition of Panama Papers

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Nearly 2,000 individuals, entities and addresses with links to India figure in the latest edition of Panama Papers, that give information on offshore holding of companies in tax havens.

A random check of the database for India displays about 22 offshore entities, 1,046 officers or individual links, 42 intermediaries and as many as 828 addresses within the country.

“The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists publishes today a searchable database that strips away the secrecy of nearly 2,14,000 offshore entities created in 21 jurisdictions, from Nevada to Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands,” the ICIJ said.

“The data, part of the Panama Papers investigation, is the largest ever release of information about offshore companies and the people behind them. This includes, when available, the names of the real owners of those opaque structures,” the consortium said.


The global body that brought out last month the first edition of the ‘Panama Papers’, by way of secret offshore data sourced from a Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, said the information about a particular country could have “duplicates” as it reiterated that “there are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts.”

“We do not intend to suggest or imply that any persons, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly,” the body said on its web portal as part of the disclaimer on the release of the offshore “leaks” database.

Names and addresses put up on the website of the body not only shows identities of some individuals and addresses along with description of the companies held but also specifies the date of incorporation of the firms in some cases. The database has around 30,000 documents listed with India links.

ICIJ said it was releasing the additional details on names and addresses in “public interest” and also to “find out who’s behind almost 3,20,000 offshore companies and trusts from the Panama Papers and the offshore leaks investigations.”

The group said the “new data that ICIJ is now making public represents a fraction of the Panama Papers, a trove of more than 11.5 million leaked files from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the worlds top creators of hard-to-trace companies, trusts and foundations.

“ICIJ is not publishing the totality of the leak, and it is not disclosing raw documents or personal information en masse. The database contains a great deal of information about company owners, proxies and intermediaries in secrecy jurisdictions, but it doesn’t disclose bank accounts, email exchanges and financial transactions contained in the documents.

Elsewhere, 65 Lankans, including Nissanka Senadhipathi, a businessman having links to the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa figured in the new edition of Panama Papers.

World leaders, NGOs and financial institutions gather in London on Thursday for an anti-corruption summit that host Prime Minister David Cameron has said will spur new global action in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks.

About 40 countries have been invited alongside the World Bank and the IMF, with the presidents of Afghanistan, Colombia and Nigeria and US Secretary of State John Kerry among those due to attend.

Campaigners are hoping for action in response to public outrage over the revelations in the Panama Papers of how the rich hide their money.

They want governments to expose the beneficiaries of anonymous companies used to move money without detection, and take action to reduce the secrecy of offshore tax havens where they are incorporated.

Naidu family's Heritage Foods director named thrice in Panama Papers

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Panama Papers mentions the name of industrialist Motaparti Siva Rama Vara Prasad thrice, for having offshore companies in Ghana and Togo in Africa.

Mr Prasad has been linked with entities called MP Holdings Associates Limited, Ballyward Limit-ed and Bitchemy Ventures Limited. Several companies wherein he is a beneficiary are registered or have jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man, Ecuador, Ghana and Panama.

Mr Prasad is an NRI who owns a vast business empire and is director of several companies based in Hyderabad. He is also a director of Heritage Foods, which is run by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s family.

Asked about his name figuring in the Panama Papers, Mr Prasad told this paper: “I am an NRI based in Ghana. I have been living outside India for 30 years. I do have companies in Panama. I started business in 1985 and I own several companies, mostly cement factories, including in Ghana and Togo. I have companies in the US too. They are all holding companies and are genuine. I am an engineer and a professional.”

Asked whether Mossack Fonseca were his agents, he said, “I don’t know. Usually the process of formation of companies is dealt with by accountants and lawyers. I don’t know which agent they retained. We establish companies wherever the cost is less. There is nothing new in setting up offshore companies.”

He added that he was only an independent director with Heritage Foods. Mr Prasad’s son Sunil Motaparti of Bitchemy Ventures invested $6 million in start-ups based in Hyderabad and the US.

No mechanism to keep track of medicines in Telangana, AP

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh do not have any real time mechanism to track and trace drugs that are manufactured, distributed and sold in their markets.

Lack of proper IT supported infrastructure is making the job of the Drug Control Administration tedious and it has to depend on manufacturers, distributors and retail pharmacists for information.

During the recent recall of 344 banned recombination drugs, it had become a herculean task for the drug control authorities of both states. AP Drug Control Authority (DCA) is now thinking of developing a software to track and trace drugs based on their batch numbers and brand names, from place manufacture to the point of retail sales.

Director general of AP DCA A. Ravi Shankar said, “When we or any other monitoring agency find any drug that has gone wrong we need to immediately recall them with the help of the batch numbers and name. However, it is an uphill task to track down these drugs. We are now developing a software and a central server that will store details of all drugs. Tracking can be done on real time basis so that it is easy to withdraw the drug from the market quickly.”

He added the software could be useful for all drug control administrations across the country. An AP DCA official said, “Dealers are already uploading the purchases made for paying sales tax to the server of the Commercial Taxes department. But the value of the drugs will not help us track them. Now they need to upload batch numbers, quantity and brand names on the servers of DCA so that they can be tracked and traced. This will be tedious for the dealers but in view of public health, it is necessary.”

Andhra Pradesh DCA officials said have instructions been given to all field officers whenever something goes wrong regarding a drug. “Our staff literally works along with the distributors and makers to trace the defective batch. Now the instructions can be given to specific field officers to recall a drug.”

Many Pharma companies win stay orders
Many pharma companies have obtained stay orders regarding 230 of the 344 banned recombination drugs. The Delhi High Court has granted stay to companies that approached it. Drug control authorities of AP and TS are withdrawing the remaining drugs from the market and also of those companies who didn’t get stay orders.

A drug control administration official said, “The India Drug Manufacturers Association approa-ched the court seeking a stay on the ban on recombination drugs produced by other companies. However, the High Court refused to grant a blanket stay. So it is very complex. There is neither a blanket stay nor a status quo. The stay is applicable only to those companies who approached court regarding specific drugs. If a company that is manufacturing the same recombination drug hasn't got stay then we recall the drug. The stay for companies is extended on a weekly basis.”

India’s iconic lost diamonds --- Stones found in the vast mines of AP and TS now adorn crowns and museums worldwide

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

It’s not just the Kohinoor, around 20 world famous diamonds were mined from Kollur-Paritala of Guntur, Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh (popularly called Golconda diamonds). These gems are now in museums worldwide or are part of various crown jewels — far away from home.

Archaeologists and historians from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are now demanding that both the Centre and the state government should push ahead for the return of the diamonds.

Besides the Kohinoor, which is on the crown of the British monarch, the Pitt or Regent Diamond from Pritala is housed in the Louvre in Paris and the Orloff (Eye of Brahma) is in Moscow. Then there are the Hope diamond (recently auctioned), the Darya-i-Nur, the Taj-e-Mah diamond and the Great Table diamond in the Iranian crown jewels in Tehran, the Dresden Green diamond in the Green Vaults in Poland and others in Vienna.

According to the Geological Survey of India: “Along the banks of Krishna River, aptly termed as the Diamond River, for the length of 300 km between Sangam, the confluence of the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, and Vijayawada in AP, particularly Kolluru-Paritala belt, was the scene of intense mining activity, producing a galaxy of stunning diamonds such as Kohinoor, The Great Mogul, The Pitt or Regent, The Orloff, The Nizam and the Hope… Historical accounts though differ on the authenticity of the period of their recovery, and their weights, but all point to the Krishna Valley as the source.”



GSI says the famous conglomerate mines were at Ramallkota, Banganapalle, Vajragiri and Munimadugu in Kurnool district and Kolluru in the vast Guntur district.

Large diamonds were not only recovered from the Krishna gravels but also from the mines of Wajrakarur area known for Kimberlite bodies under the Vijaynagar kingdom.

Researcher Ms Sangam Pushpa Sambi Reddy of Guntur, who has written the book, Telugunata Vajrala Ganulu, says: “Andhra, Rayalaseema were the sources of precious and rare diamonds and those were delivered not only to the state and country but to the world.

“Monarchs around the world, from France, German, Portugal, Russia, Britain and Iran placed on their crowns diamonds that originated from Andhra and Rayalaseema. Around 38 diamond mines existed in Andhra and Rayalaseema during the 16th to 18th centuries,” she adds.

Kollur has been referred to as Gani or Coulour during the Moghul period and Ralconda near Kurnool of Rayalaseema has been mapped as diamond mines in the 1600s.

According to Ms Pushpa there are records that show the Ramallkota diamond mine in Kurnool region had about 30,000 labourers working each day.
Paritala, which now falls in Kanchikacharla mandal of Krishna district, was part of Jujjur Khanan during Nizam’s rule till 1946.

Archaeologist Mr E. Sivanagi Reddy says, “The diamonds mined from Andhra are the property of India. The state government should take up this issue with the Centre and work to get them back.”

Dr Krishnasagarapu Upendra, a researcher from the Dravidian University and author of 1947 Nati Paritala Republic Palana, says that Nizam Hisamul Mulk Khan had handed over Jujjur Khanan and other regions of coastal district to the British on May 14, 1759 while retaining Paritala and six other villages which had diamond mines.

“The Regent diamond that originated from Paritala was found by a slave who was later murdered. A suicide followed and then the Regent was sold to Governor Thomas Pitt of Fort George in Madras. It was purchased by the Regent of France, owned by French kings and then by Napoleon Bonaparte. Finally, after France became a republic, it was kept in the museum.”

In the book Diamond Pitt, Ann Wardlaw writes: “From an obscure mine in Golconda, India, the Regents diamond had travelled a memorable distance, surviving revolution, native insurrections and unspeakable violence to now rest in a filthy shaking hand spattered with blood — a 426-carat evidence of man’s madness and greed… once transformed, it would reclaim its place of honour and its beauty and perfection would… be admired by thousands at the Louvre Museum, who would never know or believe the magical and tragic history that surround Thomas Pitt and his precious stone.”

Most of these mines were active till 1830 and slowly, yield fell... only to be abandoned later. But even to this day, during the wettest months, people still search the mud for diamonds, in both Kollur and Paritala.

Centre orders curbs on usage of lead in paints --- Studies find majority of samples have high toxic levels

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

With research showing excessive use of lead in paints used in households, Ministry of Environment and Forest has issued orders regulating it to 90 parts per million.

It was found that most of small and medium scale manufactures having 30 per cent of paint market use high quantity of lead in paintings particularly enamel paintings. Studies in Telangana, AP and Maharasthra found a majority of samples have high toxic levels of lead.

According to MoEF joint secretary Mr Bishwanath Sinha, draft rules have been issued to regulate the manufacture, trade, use, import and export of lead contents in household and decorative paints. The rules are called Regulation on Lead Contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016.

Rules that prohibit the use of metallic lead state that any manufacture, trade, import and export of household and decorative paints hereinafter referred to as product containing metallic lead exceeding 90 parts per million is hereby prohibited.

The Bureau of Indian Standards will be the nodal agency for the purposes of these rules and will implement the provisions of these rules. The manufacturer or importer of the product is required to label its product stating that the lead content does not exceed 90 ppm and such labelling shall be durable and legible. Manufacturers are also required to submit samples to the nodal agency at regular intervals for testing.

A study conducted by researchers Abhay Kumar and Perry Gottesfeld, titled “Lead content in household paints in India”and published in Pubmed revealed that lead and its compounds are used in paints not only to impart colour but also to make it durable, corrosion resistant and to improve drying.

Adverse health impacts of lead especially on children have prompted countries to restrict or ban its use in paints. While U.S. and other developed countries have instituted measures to limit the use of lead in paints, some developing countries including India have failed to regulate their lead content. A total of 69 paint samples (38 latex and 31 enamel samples) from six of the most popular brands were analysed for lead concentrations, the study said.

While all latex paint samples contained low levels of lead, enamel paint samples of all but one brand contained significant concentrations of lead, ranging up to 140,000 ppm. In fact 84 per cent of enamel paints tested exceeded 600 ppm whereas only 38 percent of all samples (including latex and enamel types) exceeded this regulatory level.

Another study “National Report: Lead in Enamel Household Paints in India in 2015” says a total of 101 cans of new enamel decorative paints were purchased in Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, AP and Gujarat in India and analysed for their lead content.

Very high lead concentrations above 10,000 ppm were found in 14 of the 31 paints analysed (45 percent of the paints); 26 of the paints contained lead levels above 600 ppm (84 percent of the paints) and 29 of the paints contained concentrations above 90 ppm (94percent of the paints). Only two of the 31 paints would qualify for sale on the international market, this study said.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana people opt for private hospitals most

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Based on the 71st round of a national sample survey, ‘Health in India’ has that AP and Telangana state have the highest number of people (around 78 per cent) approaching private hospitals for treatment.

The two states also have the highest number of families living below the poverty line who still approach private hospitals for medical treatment that costs them a bomb. Savings and income are spent by these BPL families who in most cases are forced to burrow for medical expenses.

According to the report, AP, Gujarat, Karnataka, TS, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh showed a high degree of reliance on private sector hospitals. More than 78 per cent in urban areas in both AP and TS were treated in the private sector consisting of private doctors, nursing homes, private hospitals and charitable institutions.

Higher preference towards allopathy treatment was prevalent (around 90 per cent), in both urban and rural areas. Highest proportion for hospitalisation (excluding childbirth) were reported for ‘infection’ inclusive of all types of fever, jaundice, tuberculosis, tetanus, diarrhoeas, dysentery and other infection.

Lacking cash, elderly women vulnerable

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

While combined AP has an ageing population of 9.8 per cent of total population, more than the national average of 8.6 per cent, economic dependence in old age is more among females than males making them vulnerable to be disowned by family.

According to ‘Elderly in India-2016’ report by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, old age dependency ratio is more in AP. In AP, 73 per cent of females above 60 years are fully dependant on others and 11 per cent are partially dependent on others and only 15 per cent are economically independent. Among males 49 per cent are not dependant on others.

According to the report the old-age dependency ratio has increased over time for all these states but the rate of increase was relatively higher in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as compared to 2001.

The percentage of illness is 39 in AP among males and 42 per cent among females which is less than in states like Goa and Kerala. However, life expectancy and remaining length of period of life after 60 years is more in females.


The report revealed that among elderly persons it is observed that despite illness more men seemed to be feeling that they had better health condition compared to women. In urban areas, more elderly men and women felt they had good/ fair health as compared to their counterparts in rural areas.

Whooping cough, ulcer, problem of joints, hypertension, heart disease, urinary problem, diabetes and cancer are the most common illnesses among elderly above 60 years. In united AP around 8.5 per cent of the total elderly population are living alone as against the national average of 5.2 per cent. Rest are staying with children, spouses, relatives and with others.

However, only 19.2 per cent of elderly are living in the same building in which their child/grandchild and sibling are living and 44.6 per cent in the same town or village and 26.8 per cent outside the village or town of their kin.

Mr T.C.A. Anant, chief statistician at the Ministry of Statistics, said, “The phenomenon of population ageing is becoming a major concern for policy makers all over the world, both for developed and developing countries. Our country too is not immune to this demographic change - the concept of nuclear family, as a result of which a section of the family, primarily the elders, are confronting the problems of financial and physical support.”

AP is one of the states that has formulated all rules for The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007. Mr Chelikani Rao, president of the Federation of Senior Citizens Organisations, said, “Faulty planning by the couple during their younger days leaves elderly women vulnerable. There should be a pension scheme for both men and women.”

He said the awareness was absent in the past. He said pre-retirement planning should be done early, and post-retirement pensions should be arranged for both and advocated me-dical coverage for the aged. Depending on misguided government welfare schemes like pensions was a big mistake, he said.

He said the federation had persuaded the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India to direct certain insurance companies to accept insurance policies from persons who are older.

“Even a 60-year-old person can contribute to a pension scheme. After paying for five years, they can avail a monthly pension. There are other many mechanisms to which give insurance for senior citizens,” he said.

Mr Amarjeet Kaur, director-general of CSO, said, “Elder persons face a number of problems due to the absence of assured and sufficient income to support themselves for their healthcare and social security. Loss of social role and recognition, and non-availability of opportunities for creative and effective use of free time are also becoming a matter of great concern for elderly persons.”

“The trend clearly reveals that ageing will emerge as a major social challenge in the future; and vast resources will be required towards the support, service, care and treatment of elderly persons," he said

Why hospital bills kill you

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Bypassing the standard protocol of visiting general practitioners or physicians, patients are lured into approaching corporate and super speciality hospitals only to pay huge medical bills, sometimes running into lakhs, for ailments that could otherwise be treated by spending a few thousands of rupees.

For instance in the prestigious Nims the consultation fee is only Rs 50 for a visit to a doctor, whereas in private clinics it would range around Rs 200 to Rs 300.

But the consultation fee in the corporate sector is Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 depending on the specialist who attends the patient. Most places also collect hospital charges and registration fees that may be another Rs 500. Corporate hospitals do not stop the consultation with one specialist and the patient is referred to as many specialists as possible to jack up the bill.

It doesn’t stop with the consultations. Patients then have to undergo several unnecessary investigations and surgeries. Despite the Medical Council of India Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002 clearly stating that referring to pathologists /radiologists or asking for any other diagnostic lab investigation should be done judiciously and not in a routine manner, corporate hospitals prescribe many tests including total body check ups and master check ups, leading to instant bills of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.
Patients, when shifted to Intensive Care Units, in many cases unnecessarily, have to spend Rs 3,500 to Rs 20,000 per day depending on the type of super speciality hospital. If it is a specialised ICU like NICU (neuro related), patients have to pay more.

Also, elderly patients with terminal illnesses are put on ventilators for days together only to increase the bills despite the fact that the chances of survival are bleak. If medications and investigations are added, the bills go up to Rs 20,000 — Rs 40,000 per day.

Under the false notion that expensive hospitals and costly medicines are the best, people under the influence of the “shopping mall” culture, directly approach specialists and super specialists in corporate hospitals.

Dr E. Gowtham Reddy of Hyderabad, who is into bioinformatics and ethical practise said, “Around 60 to 70 per cent cases are not emergencies. They can be dealt by general practitioners. Due to being misguided by different segments like PROs, brokers and RMPs, patients visit specialists.

For instance, for a simple headache they go directly to a neurologist. For non-emergencies, the first point of contact should be a general practitioner. Even chronic diseases like diabetes can be managed by the general practitioner and patients need not go to endocrinologists.”

Forget IPL, teach farmers better: Agriculture experts

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Is blaming IPL matches and the government for the ongoing water crisis and barring water usage for cricket pitches a solution for the huge drinking and irrigation water crisis in Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other parts of the country?

Agricultural experts and farmer’s federations say there is much more to be done in the battle against drought and the water crisis – caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon and excessive exploitation.

Helping farmers to produce more with less water and conservation of water at individual household level hold key to the solution. Neither the government nor the farming community acted on it.

Water-consuming paddy and sugarcane are being cultivated despite being discouraged as there is no penalisation or enforcement by the government. The water-use efficiency in high-value crops such as flowers, vegetables and chickpea, is high compared to paddy and sugarcane.

Farmers also dig borewells indiscriminately and the government has control over neither crop pattern nor water resources. While in Maharasthra, sugarcane is cultivated in a large area, in Andhra and Telangana paddy is cultivated on large scale. Free power is fuelling excessive exploitation of water.

Mr P Chengal Reddy of Consortium of Indian Farmers Association says, “Majority of farmers have no knowledge on alternate crops and their markets. Paddy needs 13 to 15 wettings. But groundnut, cotton and other crops need four to five wettings.”

Majority of water is consumed for high water intensity crops. Even if 20 per cent of high water consuming paddy crop is brought down in whole country there will still be no problem for grains as high yielding varieties — like it is happening in China — will help offset the loss.

For sugarcane, drip irrigation is a good solution. He added that there should be a state level agriculture advisory committee comprising of scientists and experts to ensure that there is cohesive crop patterning.

The World Resources Institute in its report said, “Farmers in arid areas, or areas with irregular rainfall, depend heavily on groundwater for irrigation. The Indian government subsidises the farmers’ electric pumps and places no limit on the volume of groundwater they extract, creating a widespread pattern of excessive water use and strained electrical grids.”

ICRISAT, in one of its reports, mentioned that evidence from field surveys in some selected districts of Andhra Pradesh showed that water requirement is growing at an alarming pace.

“Agriculture in the state is confronting three main water-related problems. A declining water table due to increasing number of wells, waterlogging and soil salinity due to mismanagement of surface irrigation and land degradation due to aquaculture,” a report said. The water table in the state has been consistently falling due to expansion of area irrigated through groundwater.

“Though the irrigated area marginally increased from 35 per cent in the early 1980s to 42 per cent in 2000, the increase largely came from groundwater irrigation (bore-wells). The shift to groundwater has led to over-exploitation of water resources and depletion of water table in several areas. As production from dry lands has become highly uncertain, farmers seek to manage the risk of drought by digging new wells/bore-wells at an exorbitant cost and at a considerable risk of failure,” the ICRISAT report said.

AP and TS governments’ agriculture plans also speak about several measures on promoting low water consuming crops but it is not followed on the ground. The ground reality is very different. The TS Agriculture Department action plan 2015-16 has efficient water management as one of its focus areas.

Mr. N Eswara Reddy, Hydro Geologist, said, “Rainfall pattern has been changing due to climate change both in terms of space and time but quantum of rainfall hasn’t changed much.

There is more utilisation of water than recharge annually and majority of water is used for irrigation purpose. The attitude of farmers will be that if they have water they want to go for assured crop in view of their own food security and fodder for cattle.”

Hyderabad in red zone for groundwater --- The city has been placed with Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and large areas of Rajasthan and Punjab.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Hyderabad city has been placed in the ‘Extreme’ Red Zone of water stress by the World Resources Institute. The city has been placed with Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and large areas of Rajasthan and Punjab.

The WRI has developed a database that reveals surface and ground water, current status and future prospects. West Godavari district in AP has been placed in very high stress category.

Interestingly, all other parts of AP and TS except Hyderabad and West Godavari are placed in the normal category but the projections show that the situation will worsen in other areas by 2025.

According to WRI’s Andrew Maddocks and his team, around 54 per cent of India faces high to extremely high water stress. WRI has said that northwest India including Haryana and Punjab that produces 85 per cent of the wheat and 50 per cent of the rice procured by government, are extr-emely highly stressed.

Hyderabad to go bone dry soon 
Indiawatertool, the database developed by Water Resources Institute says that in terms of ground water, Hyderabad, Siddipet in Telangana, parts of Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda in TS, Eluru, Hindupur, Tadiparti and parts of Prakasam in AP have been placed in ‘overexploited’ category.

AP and Telangana states have critical and semi critical patches too. Coastal cities and towns of Krishna, East and West Godavari like Machilipatnam, Kakinada are placed under saline category as regards ground water.

While almost entire Andhra and Telangna has been placed under ‘low’ category of surface water availability, areas like Anantapur, Proddutur and Nandyal are placed under very low category by WRI.

Respect us, Hyderabad police tell Tollywood filmmakers --- We are happy that there are producers who show the police as heroes, says Gopi Reddy

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Usually film titles are registered with the AP Film Chamber to avoid duplication. The Censor Board takes a final call on whether to allow them.

Polisodu was cleared by TN board and dubbed into Telugu. However, CBFC Hyderabad didn’t object as it was cleared by the TN board. Following objections and a legal notice from the TS Police Officers’ Association, the film’s title was changed.

Earlier too, the Censor Board rejected the title I Love You Teacher, and the film was subsequently named Sorry Teacher, Film-makers also changed the title, Women in Brahminism.

TS Police Officers Association president Y. Gopi Reddy warned film-makers that if the police was abused, they would be punishable. He also demanded that film-makers use the TS Police logo.

“It is unfortunate that film titles are abusing the police. Many cops have laid down their lives. The title Polisodu was disrespectful. Regarding Mental Police we have served notice to director Babji and the producer. There is no reply from them,” Mr Gopi Reddy said.

 We are happy that there are producers who show the police as heroes but we will stop their films if they show police as comedians,” said Mr Gopi Reddy.

Pawan Kalyan plans yatra, speaks of financial issues --- Pawan Kalyan has decided to launch a mass contact programme in Telugu states

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

 Jana Sena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan has decided to launch a mass contact programme in Telugu states, particularly Andhra Pradesh. He is yet to decide whether he would take up a padayatra, go on a bus yatra or organise public meetings in order to stay connected with people ahead of the 2019 elections.

Sources from the actor’s camp said that the schedule had not yet been finalised but an in-principle decision has been taken to do the yatra in Andhra Pradesh. The actor had stated as much during a series of interviews following the release of his film Sardaar Gabbar Singh.  He clarified that he would not merge his party with the BJP. He wants to build a mass base before building the party structure.

Pawan Kalyan has categorically stated that Jana Sena would remain an independent entity. He also denied joining hands with his brother on a political platform but has thrown hints saying that he is open for a multi-party system.
Political pundits say that though the Jana Sena chief has clarified several issues, there is a lot of ambiguity in several answers he had given during his interviews to print and electronic media.

Asked about his party emerging as an alternative he said he was not sure and spoke about financial constraints he was facing. On several issues like Kapu reservations, the Dalit issue at the University of Hyderabad, Pawan Kalyan did not express his opinion strongly and his answers were rather wavering and superficial, observers said.

TS spending less on mental health

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

While the number of mental illness patients from across Telangana treated at the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda in the city has increased to 1.3 lakh per year, the state government spends only `3.6 crore per annum on the tertiary hospital.
These funds are used not only for dietary charges of inpatients, medicines, sanitation, diagnosis and repairs, but also for wages of the employees. Only `52 is spent on every in-patient’s diet each day though NHRC guidelines have specified that the nutritive value of food should be around 3,000 kilo calories for men and 2,500 kilo calories for women.
 In 2010, around `28 was spent on each patient per day. Now, due to rising prices and inflation, hospital authorities have written to the government to increase the budget. An RTI application filed by this correspondent with the IMH has revealed several facts pertaining to expenditure and patient treatment. Around `41.53 lakh was spent on diet charges in the 2014-15 budget and around 4,112 in patients were treated in the hospital in 2015.

Ironically IMH has no EEG (Electro Encephalogram), the key equipment for a brain scan. IMH superintendent Dr V. Pramod said, “We have written to the government seeking a hike in budget and diet charges. We get the medicines separately from the central drug stores. Apart from that, we also spent `15.9 lakh last year... We have all other required equipment except EEG. We didn’t purchase it as we don’t have a sanctioned post of technician.” Around 10 per cent of the patients are referred by the judiciary after police produce them in courts. In reply to the RTI query, the IMH superintendent stated:

 “The most common psychiatric diseases reported are psychosis like schizophrenia, mania and alcohol related illness. We are equipped to treat all kinds of patients. For voluntary admissions,
the patients require an attendant throughout the treatment period. For involuntary admissions,
the patients are referred from courts with reception orders. The patients are also referred from
jails. After treatment, patients will be discharged by the discharge committee of this hospital.”

He added that only 70 per cent of manpower was currently available at the hospital.
Interestingly, the hospital has 600 beds but the current occupancy ratio is only 390. Earlier, the
NHRC had found that the average occupancy ratio was around 45 per cent to 49 per cent. The  average stay of in-patients is around two to three weeks.

AP, TS WEBSITES ON ASSETS DECLARATION UNDER REPAIR

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Legislative Assembly websites continue to show the page of
“Members and Assets Liabilities” as “Under construction” since the election of new members. Most ministers and MLAs of AP and TS are not declaring their assets to the Speaker every year.
According to Rule 364 of Procedure and Conduct of Business, every member has to declare his or her
assets to the Speaker within 30 days of taking oath and update the same every year before July 31;
the declaration shall be treated as a “public document”.
 In 2015, AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu’s assets were declared by his son Mr Nara Lokesh who als asked all ministers and MLAs to declare their assets. But most of them did not do so.

Chandrababu Naidu keeps door open on fourth seat --- It is not confirmed whether or not the TD has decided to field a fourth candidate

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

While YSRC MLAs are camping in Kerala and Goa, ahead of the June 11 Rajya Sabha polls in AP, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s discussions with defected YSRC MLAs in Vijayawada on fielding a fourth candidate has heated up the political scene.It is not confirmed whether or not the TD has decided to field a fourth candidate.

The YSRC has stepped up its criticism and said that TD had indulged in horse-trading to “buy” MLAs for the fourth candidate though it doesn’t have the numbers.

Though the YSRC is expressing confidence over party general secretary Vijay Sai Reddy winning the RS seat, the party is now tense over the moves in the TD camp. On Monday, Mr Vijay Sai Reddy and senior leader Ummareddy Venkates-warlu met Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwaralal and sought some clarifications.

“We had some doubts over forms and had sought clarification. We have fielded Mr Vijay Sai Reddy as we have enough strength. On the other hand the TD has no numbers for the fourth candidate that they are trying to field,” he said.

YSRC MLA A. Ramakris-hna Reddy alleged that the TD had conspired to spend Rs 40 crore to buy MLAs for the fourth seat. “They even bought a mandal parishad leader for Rs 3 crore. We have evidence and we will release it at an appropriate time," he said.

A TD source said about 20 YSRC MLAs in two batches had gone to Kerala and Goa. “Those who had announced that they would stand by the party and its leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are still in town. Only those who were vulnerable were taken to the camps,” he said.

The TD move on the fourth candidate is said to be to keep the Opposition YSRC on tenterhooks. About 17 MLAs who had defected from the YSRC met Mr Naidu in Vijayawada and discussed strategy. Sources said he asked them whether they would get more MLAs into the party.

Drugs licensed with cosmetic rules

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The expert committee report of the CDSCO which revealed the ill-effects of combination drugs was chaired by C.K. Kokate, VC of KLE University, Belgaum, and with experts on internal medicine and
each field of pharmacology as members. The committee evaluated replies, clarifications received by CDSCO in response to the showcause notices issued to the pharma companies in respect to FDCs considered as irrational by the committee.
The committee noted that products were available in the market which had been licensed by state level authorities without following due procedures
as laid down under drugs and cosmetics rules. These had not been evaluated by the state drug
administration which exposed patients to unnecessary risks of adverse drug reactions, and injudicious
use of antibiotics could lead to resistance.
For instance, the committee found that Alex P syrup of Glen Pharma containing fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphon hydrobromide, Paracetamol, Phenylephrine, Chlorophenaramine
maleate dosing schedule had incompatible ingredients and would have adverse affects of sedation and drowsiness and would interfere with the reflexes and centrally acting anti-tussive (drug that suppresses cough), and should not be combined with anti histamine (allergic) drugs.
Likewise, the anti diabetic drug combination of Glimepiride + Metformin HCL SR 4mg + 100 mg,
widely used by several combinations, would lead to confusion, prescription error, dispensing error and increase risk of hypoglycemia (less sugar levels).
Regarding the Vicks Action 500 containing Paracetamol, Phenylephrine and caffeine, the committee
said this was “pharmaco dynamically” irrelevant, made misuse and overuse of one of the ingredients of FDC in case it was not indicated. In case of Kofcure syrup that use the FDC of Dextromethorphon,
Phenylephrine and Guaiphenesin, the committee said that it was pharmaco dynamically irrelevant and Guaiphenesin was a mucolytic which increased mucus secretion and should not be given in combination with anti histaminic with anti cholinergic properties that causes the mucus secretions are dried up.
It also said Detromethrophon decreased the cough impulses, so expulsion of secretions would
be hampered. It said in this drug, patients may need only one ingredient and FDC may lead to misuse.

Cocktail drugs are dangerous --- Experts studied drugs considered as irrational.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The expert committee report of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation, a copy of which is with DC, revealed that the ill-effects of the fixed combination drugs (FDCs) were devastating.

Safety concerns for kids, drug-to-drug reactions, hepatotoxic (liver toxic), antibiotic resistance and emergence of drug resistance from the fixed combination drugs were the major findings of the expert committee.

Therapeutically inconsistent and pharmaco-dynamically irrelevant combinations were also named.

The Centre has recently banned 344 combination drugs based on the report by the committee constituted for examination of FDCs permitted for manufacture for sale without due approval by the Drug Controller General of India. The committee also evaluated data in connection with FDCs and found huge health aberrations.

Top politicos perform poorly on providing basic facilities to Andhra Pradesh --- CM’s constituency ranked 114, Pulivendula 63 in drinking water availability.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s Kuppam Legislative Assembly constituency was ranked 114 in availability of drinking water and 147 in latrine facilities in the state.

The constituency-wise study was conducted by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies and was commissioned and funded by Unicef and aided by the AP government.

Analysis of the data showed that constituencies held by political bigwigs including the Leader of Opposition, deputy Chief Ministers and ministers were lagging behind on water availability and sanitation.

In Mr Naidu’s constituency Santhipuram, Gudipalle and Kuppam mandals did not fare well. The constituency has been held by Mr Naidu for 25 years, since 1989.

The analysis was based on the 2011 census. AP Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Pulivendula constituency was ranked 63 and 86 in water availability and toilet facilities respectively. The Assembly constitue-ncy was held by his fath-er, the then Chief Minis-ter late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy for six terms.

AP Speaker Kodela Siv-aprasada Rao’s constituency Sattenapally was ranked at 118 and 80. Mr Rao, who had been representing Narsarao-pet for years, has been elected for the first time at Sattenapally. After getting elected he achieved the target of 100 per cent toilet facilities in his new constituency. His previous constituency Narasa-raopet ranked 69 and 52.

Commenting on the report, the Speaker said, “The analytical data in the report would help AP legislators to work with attention on the issues.”

Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinara-jappa’s Peddapuram constituency in East Goda-vari ranked 51. The other deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy’s constituency Pattikonda in Kurnool was ranked at 144 in water availability and latrine facility.

Overall in AP, only 35.8 per cent households have drinking water available within the premises. The worst off are the households in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

There are around 670 revenue mandals with 1.2 crore households and 175 Assembly constituencies. Only 47.5 per cent houses in AP have toilets in the premises. Krishna and West Godavari districts are faring better than other districts.

The tourism area Araku Valley is the worst constituency ranking 175th while the Vijayawada Ea-st constituency is on the top.

The report says that availability of latrine facilities in households is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The Visakhapatnam urban co-nstituencies were ranked from nine to 12 whereas Vijayawada urban constituencies ranked from one to three. Rajah-mundry ranked at five.

Tenali, Guntur town and Tirupati too ranked high.

Hyderabad: 82-year-old wins power bill case --- Complainant alleged discom was trying to harass him.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

An octogenarian from Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, has won his six-year fight against the power distribution company with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-3 of Hyderabad awarding him a Rs 2 lakh compensation.

Eighty-two-year old B. Ramdass of Mirzalaguda in Malkajgiri filed a case in 2010 December and the Forum ruled in his favour on March 17 in 2016.

He owns two houses with four electricity connections. In the complaint he alleged that APCPDCL official used to visit his house in odd hours on the pretext of inspection, which was brought to the notice of Malkajgiri police.

“When police questioned, the official stated that I tampered with the meter. However the SI of police, in the probe, found that the meter was intact," Ramdass said.

“In 2010 the officials illegally disconnected power supply. I was forced to stay in the other house with my unmarried daughters. The power supply was restored only after interim order of Forum in December,” he alleged.

APCPDCL argued that bills to the tune of Rs 15,236 were pending against the connections. A malpractice case against the said service connection was booked on September 30 2010. Disconnection was made on December 1 for non-payment of arrears existing on other service connections.

On September 29, the official visited the house of the complainant for booking of the malpractice case and not for any harassment as alleged by the complainant.

APCPDCL claimed that the connection was from 1973 onward. Mr Ramdass produced 31 exhibits that included bills, inspection reports, RTI replies, consumption statements, sale deed and building permissions as evidences. He produced evidence showing that he got building permission in 2002 from Municipal Corporation and started construction in 2003.

Construction on two floors was completed in 2006. APCPDCL failed to provide evidence regarding connection existing from 1973. They were also disproved on allegation that Mr Ramdass used his household connections for commercial purposes.

Mr Ramdass also produced evidence showing that he was very prompt in paying the consumption charges to the four service connections. The forum observed that the evidence showed that the department was intentionally creating reason to harass him.

Wild boars in Telangana to be culled --- Sharpshooters roped in from Rifle Association

 By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Established shooters who are members of the National Rifles Association of India and a few former members of the ‘Indians for Guns’ forum have been roped in by the Telangana state government to cull wild boars damaging agriculture crops.

Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden of TS A.K. Srivastava has issued orders asking divisional forest officers to utilise the services of the panel of marksmen from Hyderabad.  The services of E. Chandan, E. Chetan Reddy, A. Anirudh, Keshav Kamineni Rao, P. Raja Gopal Reddy, N. Vamsee Chakaravarthy, Shafath Ali Khan and Marcus G. Campos have been enlisted by the forest department.

The order stated: “Applications have been received from certain arms licence holders who are renowned shooters and they have offered voluntary service without any cost involved to shoot wild boars damaging agriculture crops on specific request of DFOs. Based on the applications a panel of persons who qualify as renowned shooters and who have valid arms licences has been prepared.”

Experts say they have experience in culling
District Forest Officers (DFOs) have been asked to providing logistics to the shooters at the nearest forest rest house and provide local transport. Wildlife experts say that the shooters shall be given training in wildlife identification and scientific methods of culling .

Mr Chandan said, “All of us have participated in culling operations in Africa and have got credentials. We have also done trophy hunting abroad and have enough experience in the wild. We have never come into the picture all these days as we run our own businesses. We are doing this voluntarily. The issue of wildlife training is being raised by certain vested interest elements who have a revenue model and have been charging the government all these days.”

Mr Rajagopal Reddy said, “Last July and November, I had gone to Bihar on the invitation of the government and culled blue bulls. We are all renowned shooters and we will not enter the forest. We will only do it in agriculture fields, that too on the request of DFOs and in the presence of forest officials. It is not necessary to have wildlife training. Identi-fication is done by fores-ters. Forest department is using our expertise to cull the wild boars.”

Mr N. Chakravarthy said, “I was a member of ‘Indians for Guns’ forum but I am not active any more. I have experience in culling in South Africa and Namibia. It would not be a problem as we have experience abroad.”

The wild boar menace is rampant in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Karimnagar.

Mr Shafath Ali Khan said that he had experience in culling across India and also had written books on wildlife and had trained several foresters in tranquilisation and culling.

Illegal cigarettes Telangana, Andhra Pradesh’s cancer --- Flood of fake, spurious cigarettes hit local farmers and states’ economies.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The increasing smuggling of cigarettes into the country is not only robbing the government of taxes, but is also funding hawala rackets and leading to suicides by tobacco farmers.

An ITC report says: “The unprecedented fall in the sales volumes of legal cigarette and the reduction in the utilisation of Indian flue cured Virginia tobacco is having a devastating impact on tobacco farmers in the country. The sharp decline in domestic demand has led to a significant drop in tobacco prices in the ongoing auctions in AP causing deep distress to thousands of tobacco farmers.”

Sources in the Customs department said that Indian cigarette makers including ITC have complained to law enforcement agencies that their revenues are dropping due to the grey market. It is estimated that the share of the illegal cigarette industry is around 20 to 25 per cent of the total market in the two Telugu states.

According to the ITC report on the financial results for the quarter ending December 31, 2015  the share of legal cigarettes in the country declined from 21 per cent in 1981-82 to 11 per cent in 2014-15 despite tobacco consumption increasing in India.

At least 22 tobacco farmers committed suicide in 2015 in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka due to te fall in production and low prices.

Despite the recent DRI probe leading to the arrest of Begum Bazaar kingpin Mohammed Hasnuddin, the wholesale cigarette dealer of SS Traders, and several cases of confiscation of cigarettes at airports and seaports by Customs and Commercial Taxes departments, the smuggling continues.

DC had earlier reported how Indonesian cigarettes without pictorial warnings were smuggled and sold in Hyderabad.

In October 2015 DRI officials had arrested six persons involved in the smuggling of foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 1.4 crore via the Air Cargo Complex at RGI Airport. Investigations had led to the arrest of Hasnuddin from Begum Bazaar. He was later released on bail.

Law enforcement agencies suspect that there are several other racketeers operating from Begum Bazaar.

Meanwhile, the Commercial Taxes departments of AP and TS continue to show increased tax revenues on cigarettes due to increased consumption. AP has shown 30.86 per cent growth this year (Rs 616 crore) though Telangana took the brunt of illegal smuggling with only 3.36 per cent growth.

Vijayawada-2 division Commercial Taxes deputy commissioner S. Sekhar said, “Cheap, spurious cigarettes, imitating international brands, are coming from Bangladesh via Kolkata on rail. We have confiscated such goods.”

ITC said in its report that over the last three and a half years, excise duty and VAT on cigarettes have gone up by 98 per cent and 124 per cent respectively, which is exerting severe pressure on the legal industry volumes even as illegal trade was growing unabated and without any checks.

Smugglers exploit Rs 20 lakh rule
Foreign cigarette smugglers who are frequent flyers to Gulf countries escape arrest from Customs officials as they bring in less than `20 lakh worth of cigarettes each time.

As per rules no arrests can be made for undeclared or under-declared baggage worth below RS 20 lakh. Hyderabad Customs booked 199 cases this year against cigarette smugglers from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah and Muscat but not even one person was arrested.

The number of cigarettes confiscated in 2015-16 was 18.5 lakh, worth around Rs 95 lakh. “After gold, cigarette smuggling is the big thing,” said an official.
In AP too, the districts of Krishna, East and West Godavari are witnessing illegal sales of foreign cigarette brands.

Hyderabad: Sewerage failure ups nitrate levels --- Alarming levels of contamination in city.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Lack of sewerage systems in merged municipalities of GHMC has resulted in high nitrate levels in groundwater that may pose a risk of Methemoglobinemia (lack of oxygen in blood) and Blue Baby Syndrome among those depending on borewells or tankers that use unfiltered water.

A Central Ground Water Board sampling found that nitrate levels are higher than the permissible limit of 45mg per litre and can pose health risks as at least 20 per cent of the people are living in the city’s non-core area and depend on groundwater.

CGWB’s latest data reveals groundwater at Chandrayangutta, Attapur and Nizam College area has nitrates beyond permissible limits.

According to the Telangana State Ground Water Department’s data, in Ranga Reddy, Balanagar, Hayatnagar, Uppal, Serilingampally and Gachibowli are the worst-affected due to  presence of nitrates in groundwater.

Bantwaram, Basheer-abad, Keesara, Mar-palle, Mominpet, Quth-bullapur and Ibrahimpatnam also have high nitrate levels.

CGWB regional director Mr A.D. Rao said, “Non-core areas that include merged municipalities have alarming levels of nitrates due to decayed vegetable water, effluents, industrial discharge etc. Drinking water contaminated with nitrates may cause Blue Baby Syndrome.”

HMWS&SB director (Revenue) Mr P.S. Suryanarayana said, “In the core area, 98 per cent of the network gets protected water. In surrounding municipalities it would range from 60 per cent to 80 per cent. So the rest of the population would be depending on other sources of water but we can’t say how many of themdepend on borewells.”

Groundwater scientist of CGWB Mr P. Nageswara Rao said, “In other urban areas too nitrate levels are high. Not just Methemoglo-binemia, it is also carcinogenic to consume nitrate polluted water.”

Doctors say though there are studies that link nitrates with Methemoglobinemia, no city cases have been reported.  Dr Girish Warrior, a pediatric surgeon, said, “Methemo-globinemia is low oxygen in blood. It has nothing to do with heart. We haven’t seen any cases so far.”

Hyderabad: Cops, Army top water users --- Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, beer units consume most quantity.

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Army and Air Force establishments, police, beer manufacturing units on the city’s outskirts, five-star hotels in Banjara and Jubilee Hills and resorts in the city are the top users of drinking water supplied by the Water Board.

The city has about 30,000 commercial and industrial connections that use 8.4 per cent of the 355 million gallons a day of water. DC’s investigation into water use patterns revealed that of the 20 divisions in the city, SR Nagar, which includes the upmarket but relatively less densely populated Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills areas, and Asmangarh, densely populated and where most illegal tappings take place, were the highest consumers.

The SR Nagar division consumes 39 MGD — 10.9 per cent of the city’s supply — and Asmangarh, 52 MGD or 14.6 per cent. Malkajgiri, one of the biggest areas, has 56,556 water connections even though not all localities are covered, while SR Nagar has 80,058. The consumption at Malkajgiri is 14 MGD with 56,556 connections. It falls under Division 13. LB Nagar, which has the highest number of connections — 98177 — consumes only 27 MGD. Kukatpally with 72,634 connections consumes only 21 MGD. Each division is divided into sub-divisions and then into sections. SR Nagar division has many sections and so does Asmangarh.

Chandanagar needs more tankers
Even as Army and Air Force establishments, police, beer manufacturing units on the city’s outskirts apart from five-star hotels and resorts in the city are the top users of drinking water, a Water Board official at SR Nagar division said Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills consume the most water in the city — 10 to 12 MGD — due to large pipelines.

Usually houses have half-inch pipelines, but many houses in these areas have one-inch or 1.5-inch pipes and consume more water, said the official. Revenue director P.S. Suryanarayana said, “The water supplied to the Army includes the Military Engineering Services, MES (Mud Fort), all sectors in AOC, Bolaram and Golconda. He said the water supplied by the board to the Army is also used for the golf course and other purposes. Five-star hotels also use the water for other purposes.

Trimulgherry resident Chandra Sankaran of ‘Open Secunderabad Cantonment Board Roads’ said, “Firstly because of the golf course the gates were closed in the AOC area. Now, precious water is being used to maintain it. The golf course is used by Army personnel and civilians.”

Slum dwellers pay only Rs 7 per KL while domestic users pay between Rs 10 and Rs 40 depending on the amount. The cost incurred by the board to draw, filter, transmit and supply is Rs 45 per KL. Water Board director, revenue, P.S. Suryanarayana said water supplied through tankers in the city was only 4 MGD per day. There is more demand for tankers from Chandanagar that includes Madhapur.

Andhra Pradesh: Farmers take on seed firm, reap reward

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

In a significant case, 26 farmers from Kurnool have won a major battle against seed giant Syngenta India Limited and local distributors in consumer forum.

The Kurnool district consumer forum has asked the seed companies to pay compensation to farmers for failure of crop based on the witness of agriculture scientists who testified that the seeds have poor fertility rate.

The case also highlights lack of DNA lab in AP to test quality of seeds.
T. Salanna a resident of Mandlam in Jupadu Bungalow mandal in Kurnool district, one of the 26 complainants, filed the case against Syngenta India Limited, Sainath Seeds, Pallavai Hybrid seeds of Nandikotkur demanding compensation of Rs 1.11 lakh plus interest.

“I own 2.4 acres fertile land, suitable for sunflower crop. All necessary precautions for sowing, and for proper growth of crop were taken applying necessary fertiliser and necessary pesticide.

I spent of Rs15,000  per acre for raising the sunflower crop. But there was no grain filling in the flower heads and thus no yield from the crop,” alleged Salanna.

He lodged a complaint with department of agriculture and a team of scientists from Regional Agriculture Research Station, Nandyal, inspected the field of Subbanna Goud as a sample field.

Their finding clearly established that the seed supplied was defective.
Syngenta and others argued that  raising of crop and getting good yield was not dependent only on seeds, but also on other factors like agricultural practises and procedure, environment etc.

The company claimed that after conducting germination test and genetic purity, it was satisfied that there was no fault in genetic purity and germination of the seeds. The company also said that no DNA test reports were produced by the complainant.

However, the consumer forum ruled in favour of farmer after being convinced with the evidence and directed the seed defendants to Rs 51,660 to Salanna with interest of 9 per cent and Rs 5,000 towards deficiency and Rs 2,000 towards costs. Other farmers also got compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh depending on the extent of acres.

Forum admits success rate of IVF is 40 pc in Hyderabad

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Accepting the claim of an infertility centre that the success rate of IVF is only 40 per cent and the “take home baby” rate is 25 per cent, the Kadapa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has rejected compensation claims filed by four women. The women had filed complaints against the centre stating that each of them had paid Rs 3.2 lakh for IVF but the procedure had failed due to negligence. However, the forum ruled in favour of the infertility centre as the women could not produce proper documentation.

Velpula Jshvina Kumari, Pasala Nagamani, J. Subbalakshmi and P. Lalitha had lodged separate complaints against the Padma Test Tube Center at Proddutur, represented by Dr Y. Padmalatha. All the allegations were of a similar nature.

One of the complainants, P. Nagamani, a resident of Railway Quarters in Kadapa city, said that she had been childless despite being married for eight years. After seeing an advertisement of Padama Test Tube Centre in 2012, she had approached the centre and was assured 99 per cent success rate. Her counsel argued: “There were around 12 other persons who underwent the same treatment on the date when the petitioner took treatment and all the cases failed. After few days of starting treatment, the respondent stated that the eggs would be transmitted from unmarried people from Tamil Nadu to the petitioner and the same would cost Rs 80,000. After two months, semen from the petitioner’s husband was collected and there were periodical tests and medicine was being prescribed till about February 2013. The amounts collected were Rs 1,50,000 towards fees, medicines of Rs 80,000 and Rs 80,000 to the unmarried people. For HIV tests an additional Rs 30,000 was collected. Despite investing money the procedure failed due to negligence of the centre.”

The counsel for Padma Test Tube Centre refuted the allegations and stated: “It is false that the respondent doctor had given wide publicity in newspapers and TV. The allegations of the amounts collected are also false. The eggs are not collected from unmarried people but from married people. The respondent doctor never assured that there would be 100 per cent success. IVF success rate is 40 per cent and take home baby rate is 25 per cent...The complainant became pregnant. It was a missed abortion.”

The forum dismissed the arguments of the complainants as for most of the allegations they failed to produce documents whereas the responding party produced medical records to prove them wrong.

UAE deports ISIS recruiter--- TS police helped Dubai nab Adnan who drafted city youths

Three ISIS sympathisers including one Adnan Damudi, a native of Bhatkal in Karnataka who was detained in November last year in Dubai based on the information provided by the Telangana
police, were deported by the UAE on Friday.
Two others, Mohammed Farhan and Sheikh Azhar
Al Islam of Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir, respectively, were also deported. They were taken
into custody at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi by the National Investigation
Agency. It has also been alleged that the trio, from the Abu Dhabi module of ISIS, was planning to carry out terror attacks in the country.
The NIA, after registering a case, is questioning the suspects and a formal arrest is expected soon. Damudi, 33, was an online recruiter for the ISIS who had played a key role in radicalising several youths from Hyderabad and had motivated them towards jihadi terrorism. Adnan was an assistant delivery coordinator at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. Police said he had got radicalised and funded the four engineering college dropouts, including Abdul Basith of Chandrayan-gutta, to travel to Syria.
The TS police had detain-ed them near Malda in West Bengal and brought them back to Hyderabad in August 2014. Damudi had instigated the youths to get in touch with one Sultan Armar who had directed them to travel to Bangladesh.

Suicide for toilet: Probe into Rekha’s suicide

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Telangana government has asked the Nalgonda district administration to conduct a detailed inquiry into the suicide of K. Rekha and the issue of lack of toilets in Gundala.
Bhongir RDO N. Madhusudhan and deputy SP visited the family of K. Rekha on Wednesday. Rekha ended her life as her dad refused to construct a toilet due to financial problems. The officials were also asked to chalk out an action plan to construct Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL).

Bhongir RDO N. Madhusudhan said, “After the report appeared in DC senior IAS official Radha asked collector Satyanarayana Reddy to conduct an enquiry and file a report. As the collector
instructed us we visited the village. It is true that Rekha committed suicide as they don’t have a
toilet. However, her father Sattaiah has no place to construct a toilet. His name is there in
the eligibility list for IHHL.
 But as he has no space he didn’t approach us.” Mr Madhusudhan added, “We have sanctioned 90 toilets in the same village. Now we are going to ensure that all houses get individual toilets. The collector asked us to send proposals to provide ex-gratia to Rekha’s family  treating it as a special case.”

Little impact of Swachh Bharat in Gundala

By Udumula  Sudhakar Reddy

What they know about Swachh Bharat is only from TV ads. Ironically the Swachh Bharat toilet
scheme has little impact in Gundala mandal in fact in the entire Aleru constituency.
TRS local MLA and chief whip G. Sunita has selected Seetharampuram, the village she adopted for the Swachh Bharat scheme. While Gundala mandal has 20 villages only two villages are selected including Seetharamapur. The Gundala village where the suicide of Rekha took place, the panchayat is ruled by an opposition Congress sarpanch.
Gundala Mandal Parishat Development Officer, J. Ravinder said, “Two villages Seetarampur and Gangapur are selected under Swachh Bharat individual household latrine scheme. We have proposed a total of six villages and two are selected for now. In the next phases other villages will be covered. While in Gangapur that has been adopted by the MRO around 30 units of IHHL are sanctioned in Seetarampur around 245 is the target and we have sanctioned 80 so far. The construction is in progress in both villages.
Likewise, under MNREGA scheme, Gundala village sarpanch M. Sunita said, “We have been trying to educate the villagers and most of them do not come forward due to illiteracy and lack of  awareness.”
 Interestingly both Swachh Bharat and MNREGA under which IHHL are constructed are central government funded schemes. The money that is being sanctioned under the scheme is `12,000 which is not sufficient as it would cost anywhere around `20,000 to `25,000.
Mr Ravinder said, “It is true that the money is not sufficient. The beneficiaries have to bear it from their pocket so they don’t come forward.  Though poverty is the reason in some cases there is negligence, lack of awareness and unwillingness is also a cause for this situation.” In each mandal government has selected two to three villages under Swacch Bharat scheme in a total of 59 mandals in Nalgonda district in the first phase. 

Parents feel toilets dispensable --- Families in villages are unaware of adverse impact of open defecation

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

While in college student K. Rekha’s case the parents had no money and enough space to build a toilet as their asbestos sheet house itself is in a 60 square yard plot, but in several other cases lack of health and social consciousness leads to ignorance about such  facility.

For instance, in the case of illiterate Ravula Venkanna a farmer belonging to the Yadava community, who built a house spending `3 lakh, but did not want to construct a toilet though his two daughters a degree student and a class X girl have been asking for it.  In some cases toilets are built but used as a godown of sorts. Though poverty is one of the prime reasons there is another side to the coin too like that of Venkanna.
   
 R. Mounika, studying in the final year of Bachelor of Zoology in Sairam degree college said, “My father has toiled in the fields to build the house. Though as a student of Zoology I know there are health issues apart from the shame in going out in the open, I shall also consider his financial situation.”

Venkanna said the government gave him `70,000 and he had spent `2.5 lakh extra to construct
the house so he cannot spend `20,000 more to construct the toilet. A ward member of the locality K. Bhaskar said Venkanna’s issue is definitely not poverty but ‘a cultural one’ where he does not want
to spend more money. While there are a few cases among upper  castes too having the issue of no toilet, the Dalits and backward class families face serious problems. In one case a Dalit couple got
their son married to a girl and built a house with the help of a government housing scheme for the BPL, but he did not build a toilet and is using a torn flex banner of a political party as a bathroom and they go out in the dark for answering nature’s call.

Pandula Komaraiah a resident of Pasilla who belongs to SC Madiga community said, “I have taken a loan to construct a house apart from what the government gave me under a housing scheme. I have a loan of `2 lakh to  repay. We have not been sanctioned a latrine under  any government scheme.” Siripuram Paramesh a resident of Pasilla who works as a driver said, “During the rainy season it is a big problem.” The entire Madiga colony in Palisala village has no toilets. Foxes, hyenas and snakes in the fields pose a threat when they go out to answer nature’s calls. Though there are no instances of molestations and rapes like in Uttar Pradesh, rainy season, health issues and snake bites are reported.

P. Ramakka a 70 year-old woman who belongs to Golla community said, “My son left me and migrated to Nizamabad. I live in this dilapidated house. I have no space to construct a toilet. We have encountered foxes and hyenas in the fields.”

Suicide for toilet: 'I feel ashamed daddy,' Rekha had pleaded --- Inter student had said she felt ashamed of going out in the open

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

"Izzat Pothondhi Nanna (I am feeling ashamed, daddy),” is what 17-year-old K. Rekha, an intermediate  student of Jagruthi College in Gundala of Nalgonda district, has been been telling her father for the past seven months.

She had been insisting that her father construct a toilet as she had to walk with a water jug to the ‘jungle like grove’ near her house to attend nature’s call.
Even the place where she bathed was open with torn saris hung to cover one side.

Depressed because her parents could not build a toilet at home, Rekha committed suicide by immolating herself on Monday. The predicament of several other college and schoolgoing young girls and women is no different from that of Rekha as at least every two of four households in Gundala of Nalgonda do not have toilet facility.

The villages in other mandals in Nalgonda face a similar situation. In fact, 48 per cent of Telangana state households face a similar problem. Narrating the pain that her daughter suffered Rekha’s mother K. Lalamma recalled that her daughter always showed the Unicef sanitation advertisement where actress Vidya Balan stresses on the need to have a toilet in every household.
She used to tell her parents: “Idanna chusi nerchukondi (learn from at least this TV ad)”.

While the nation celebrated Republic Day, Rekha’s family grieved a day after she immolated herself as her father expressed his inability due to lack of space and money to construct a toilet.

Many girls are fighting for a toilet

Breaking into tears Lalamma said, “Bathroom kavali, bathroom kavali (need a bathroom) she used to tell us each and every day.

Rekha use to say ‘Nenu chaduvkune ammaini” (I am a college-going educated girl) I need to have self-respect. She stopped going to college after the Sankranti holidays stating that she is ashamed. On attaining puberty she was more vocal.”

Belonging to BCA (washerman) community Lalamma and her husband K. Sattaih residents of Chakalivada eke out a living on daily wages and monthly labour in Gundala.

They funded the education of two daughters and a son. Rekha’s sister, 12 year-old Maheswari studying in Class VII in a local government school, said, “Akka used to weep on the toilet issue. She used to tell me at least by the time I grow up the family will have one toilet.”

Gundala mandal revenue officer T. Jangaiah, who conducted an inquiry said, “I inquired about the case. There is no individual household latrine. The girl requested her parents several times but they told her they don’t have the money".

"She insisted and tried to explain that lessons she learnt in college stated that open defecation is not good. On Monday, she argued with her father and as there was no positive response she took her life.”

College-going girls of Rekha’s age held similar views. B. Sravanthi, daughter of Bayya Bishkapati studying in second year intermediate, said, “I knew Rekha and the issue on which she ended her life. I have been asking my father for the past two years to construct a toilet".

"He has been promising. He has now constructed a new house and I will now ask him to have a toilet there.” She added, “We have a latrine in the government college, we use that. We don’t have one in the house. Several of my friends in the college have similar problem.”

Telangana counter intelligence sleuths crack ultras command chain

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The counter intelligence sleuths of TS who busted the ISIS' Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (Army of the Caliph in India) network along with the National Investigation Agency has deciphered the chain of command and communication methods of the terror group.

The group had built its terror structure with a bomb-maker, an electric specialist and an information security analyst who can hack into systems and foot soldiers. This structure is similar to that of the Indian Mujahideen, police officials said.

Abu Anas, who hails from Rajasthan and was staying in Hyderabad, was the information security analyst, akin to IM’s Mansoor Peerboy. Mohammed Nafees Khan was the bomb-maker and local commander and Shareef Moinuddin the electrician.

A senior IPS official said, “They followed ranks not only in hierarchy but had built their group to execute the attacks and bomb blasts by making IEDs.

"There were several instances earlier where the bombs failed to go off due to circuit problems. That’s why they had an expert in electric circuits as well as an information security analyst who is also a trainer. The ISIS was planning to use his services as a trainer.”

Sources said the suspects were in “constant touch” with top commanders perceived to be close to ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh was the 'ameer' of the Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind. Mudabbir was getting instructions from Shafi Armar alias Yousuf.

Mudabbir was working as the manager of a sports company and had received huge amounts routed from Turkey and Syria through hawala and other modes.
Rizwan Ali, a resident of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, was its naib ameer (deputy chief).

Mangalore resident Najmul Huda was appointed ameer-e-askari (battalion commander) and Mohammed Nafees Khan of Tolichowki, Hyderabad, was the group’s ameer-e-wyulat (head of finance) and head of operations in Hyderabad.

They purchased 42 mobile phones with SIM cards. It is also believed that the groups visited several places and photographed important installations.

Investigators found that the ISIS suspects used to contact each other in FB and Twitter with the code “Doctor Medicine Leak Karega.”

Terror crackdown: Karnataka’s Yousuf plotted hits in India

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The operations of the ISIS terrorists, who were arrested on Friday, were directed by the chief of ‘Warriors of the Caliph in India’ Shafi Armar alias Yousuf, who is waging a war for the terror group in Syria.

Yousuf passed on instructions to the three terror commanders including Mohammed Nafees Khan of Tolichowki, arrested in Hyderabad, and elsewhere in the country.

Yousuf is among the top three leaders of ‘Janood ul Khalifa e Hind’ (Army of the Caliph of India), the Indian arm of the ISIS.

Top sources in the police said that Nafees Khan had left his job recently to become a full-time chief of the terror group in Hyderabad and took the alias of Abu Zarrar.

Nafees had prepared the suspects to take part in a training camp in a forest in Karnataka. Apart from carrying out terror attacks, their aim was to secure the release of Indian Mujahideen former operative Yasin Bhatkal by carrying out a jail attack.

Suspect stabbed TS policeman
A constable of the Telangana counter-intelligence was stabbed while overpowering terror suspect Asghar of the erstwhile Indian Mujahideen in Bengaluru on Saturday.

He was the prime suspect in the 2008 Ahmedabad blast that resulted in the death of 56 people. He was also linked to the Surat blasts and conspiracies in Chennai and other places.

“We found a rifle and a map of the Republic Day celebrations in the city, while searching his house. Though this is not connected with the NIA crackdown on ISIS terrorists, it is learnt that Asghar was also in touch with Yousuf alias Shafi Armar, the ISIS head of India in Syria. Ashgar was assigned missions in south India,” the officer said.

A top official of the Bengaluru police said, “Asghar was living with his wife in Parappana Agrahara. The couple resisted arrest. The constable who was injured is out of danger and is in hospital.”

Bengaluru police commissioner Megharikh said “A cop from Telangana  was attacked in Parappana Agrahara. But We have not received any complaint so far.”

Four held for plot to ‘pipe bomb’ Hyderabad, Paris style attacks averted

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Major pipe bomb blasts and Paris style attacks were averted in the city as the NIA took four terror suspects linked to the ISIS module into custody in Hyderabad and seized explosives, gunpowder and ammonium nitrate.

The NIA officially arrested Mohammed Nafees Khan alias Fatima Khan alias Abu Zarrar alias Akram, 24 and Mohammed Shareef Moinuddin Khan, 54, an electricity worker. Both are residents of Tolichowki in Hyderabad.

Two other suspects identified as Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, 33, a resident of Tolichowki, and Abu Anas, 27, a native of Rajasthan, were arrested.

The NIA sleuths seized gunpowder, ammonium nitrate weighing 2 kg, a pipe (possibly to be used for making pipe bombs), timer and a booklet and videos on “making explosive devices” and Jihadi literature from them.

NIA grills Obaidullah, Abu Anas in custody
Telangana state Director General of Police Anurag Sharma confirmed to this newspaper that the NIA has taken four suspected terrorists linked to ISIS conspiracy case into custody.

NIA is still grilling Obaidullah and Abu Anas in custody and their arrest is not formalised yet.

Another police official said, “Though overall NIA had taken 14 suspects into custody only five have been arrested so far. Improvised Explosive Device making material, mobile phones, laptops, cash and videos have been seized. They were working on procuring more explosives, weapons, identifying locations to organise training camps, including training of firearms, motivating new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of the country.”

Police said they had not procured fire arms so far. The NIA had launched a nationwide crackdown in connection with a conspiracy case booked with them RC-14/2015 /NIA/DLI with the Delhi branch. The case was registered on December 9, 2015, according to the ministry of home affairs orders by the Delhi NIA. Arrests were made in three to four other states. A CI cell official said, “They are looking for more suspects in Hyderabad.”

NIA said, “Credible information has been received by the Central government that the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Dawlah-al Islamiyah fil-Iraq wash Sham (DAISH), an international terrorist organisation has been engaged in radicalisation of Indian youths and motivating them to join the terrorist organization as a result of which some Indian nationals have already joined it or are in the process of joining it for committing terrorist acts in the conflict zone of Iraq, Syria and Libya.”

HCU suicide: No names in suicide note may not be helpful for accused

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

University of Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemula not naming anyone in his suicide note will not help the accused in the case, which include Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya and vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile.

Legal experts say that in abetment to suicide cases a ‘suicide note’ is not the conclusive proof and corroborative evidence and circumstances have to be considered as per several High Court judgements.

Experts say that the claim of HRD minister Smriti Irani that Rohith’s suicide note exonerated the accused is not valid and if police investigation finds evidence linking that the circumstances created by the accused including alleged social boycotting, expulsion and other troubles have led to the suicide then the accused have to be prosecuted.

More importantly in Rohith’s case his first letter written to Prof. Appa Rao on December 18, 2015, will be the first piece of evidence to nail the accused. In that note, Rohith had written: “I request your highness to make preparations for the facility ‘euthanasia’ for students like me.”

Senior advocate C. Mallesh Rao said, “All the circumstances have to be taken into consideration in this case. How many letters he wrote prior to his suicide and their content? In the letter he wrote to the vice-chancellor he had clearly mentioned about his intention to end his life and blamed the vice-chancellor.

This letter shall be read with the last suicide note. They are part of a series and not a separate thing. The culprits shall not claim innocence based on the last note.”

Rohit had asked to serve 10 mg of Sodium Azide to all Dalit students at the time of admission with direction to use when they fell reading Ambedkar.

He also asked the vice-chancellor to supply rope to the rooms of all Dalit students.

Senior advocate Mr C. Mallesh Rao said, “Serious steps taken by authorities like ‘expelling students from public places in groups’ which is nothing but social boycott and solitary confinement; a previous letter written by Rohit to vice-chancell or which had clearly blaming him for troubling Dalit students; no response from vice-chancellor on it; other alternative pressure from Union Minister Dattatreya writing a letter to Srmit Irani and in turn she sending series of reminders.”

“Notices given to Rohit and other Dalit students and fake assault case by ABVP, all these aspects have to be considered as circumstances that forced him to end his life,” he elaborated.

Mr Rao added, “In the later suicide note he wrote about system and society deficiencies and not against any individuals.”

“So the people at the helm of affairs who caused these deficiencies in the system in this specific case of him leading to his suicide have to be booked as abettors.”

“The omission of the vice-chancellor and other accused in addressing the issues troubling Dalit students are to be considered.”