Hyderabad: A 70-year-old resident of Hyderabad was duped of Rs 10.50 lakh by individuals posing as officials from the Telecom Department.
According to reports, the victim received a phone call from a fraudster impersonating a Telecom Department official. During the call, the scammer accused the victim of being involved in illegal activities and claimed that his involvement in money laundering needed to be investigated.
To substantiate their claims, the fraudster initiated a video call, during which they instructed the victim to verify currency notes supposedly seized in Mumbai. The scammer coerced the victim into transferring money into a bank account provided by the fraudster, assuring him that the funds would be refunded once the verification process was completed.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad experienced heavy rainfall on Friday, August 16, leading to waterlogging and overflowing drains in several areas. Residents reported issues with overflowing drains and flooded roads, particularly in Secunderabad and Cyberabad.
Following heavy rainfall in the city on Thursday, August 15, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Hyderabad had forecasted light to moderate rain and thundershowers with occasional intense spells for Friday, August 17.
RED WARNING FOR HYDERABAD ⚠️ Dear Hyderabadis… Massive cumulonimbus outburst happening again. Already Cyberabad area getting MASSIVE RAIN, this will cover entire Hyderabad next 1-2hrs. STAY ALERT, it's just repeat of yesterday. STAY HOME, STAY SAFE pic.twitter.com/7AeG8eJrm1
According to IMD’s prediction on X, “The weather will feature generally cloudy sky with periods of light to moderate rain or thundershowers, including intense spells, accompanied by gusty winds reaching up to 30–40 kmph.”
The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to range between 21.2 degrees Celsius and 33.4 degrees Celsius.
In addition to light to moderate rainfall and thundershowers, the weather department forecasts that all zones, including Charminar, Khairatabad, Kukatpally, LB Nagar, Secunderabad, and Serilingampally, are likely to experience a cloudy sky for the next five days, starting today.
While IMD Hyderabad forecasted thunderstorms, weather enthusiast T Balaji, renowned for his accurate weather predictions, predicted very humid conditions until the afternoon, followed by sudden cumulonimbus storms.
Hyderabad residents have been advised to call the GHMC helpline numbers 040-21111111 or 9000113667 for assistance from the Disaster Response Force during the rainfall.
IMD predicts five more days of rainfall across Telangana
Over the next five days, rainfall is expected across numerous districts in Telangana. These include Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagital, Peddapalli, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal. Additional districts such as Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Rajanna Sirsilla, Karimnagar, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Suryapet, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Siddipet, Medak, Kamareddy, and Ranga Reddy are also likely to experience rain
IMD issues yellow alert in Hyderabad amid rainfall
The department has also issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad due to the anticipated rainfall
The alert is valid for Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem, Mancherial, Jagtial, J. Bhupalpally, Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Medak, Hanamkonda, Mulugu, M. Malkajgiri, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, B. Kothagudem, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Jogulamba Gadwal, and Hyderabad.
However, the department has not issued a warning for any other districts of Telangana
Hyderabad: Junior doctors and healthcare staff in government and private hospitals across Hyderabad and Telangana have announced a boycott of out-patient (OP) and non-emergency services for 24 hours beginning at 6 am on Saturday, August 17.
Medical colleges and hospitals across the state, following the announcement of protest by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), have declared that the OP and non-emergency services would be shut down for 24 hours starting 6 am on Saturday till 6 am on Sunday.
Doctors across hospitals in Hyderabad and the state have been demanding justice for the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata earlier this week.
Some of the private hospitals in Hyderabad that have pitched into the day-long shutdown of services are Apollo Hospitals, Yashoda Hospitals, KIMS, and Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital, among others.
On Friday, junior doctors, nurses and other support staff shut down their OP and non-emergency services, at the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
The protesting staff said that the rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College was not only related to the doctors, and contended that every woman deserved protection in the country. They said that they would continue the protests till the central government enacted strict security laws.
Doctors and medical students across hospitals in Hyderabad and Telangana organized various protests on Friday.
Around a thousand junior doctors collaborated with those at the ESI Medical College and held a rally, followed by a road blockade at Sanathnagar in Hyderabad.
Medical students from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) held a bike rally, while those from Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) staged a protest at the district collector’s office in Warangal.
Doctors at Gandhi Medical College and Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad continued their protests for a third consecutive day on Friday, and junior doctors from Osmania Medical College organized a rally. In Nizamabad, medical students staged a road blockade.
Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporations’ (TGSRTC) intercity ‘Lahari’ bus, travelling from Tirupati to Hyderabad, lost control and was overturned in Addanki mandal in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh, during the early hours of Friday, August 16.
Ten people were injured, after a #TGSRTC bus traveling from #Tirupati to #Hyderabad, ferrying 26 passengers lost control and overturned in Addanki mandal in Bapatla district.
The TGSRTC bus was carrying 26 passengers from the temple town to Hyderabad. 10 passengers were reportedly injured and were shifted to the Ongole government hospital.
Hyderabad: The EducationUSA Fair 2024 on Friday, August 16, launched its eight-city tour from the city, announced the US consulate in Hyderabad.
More than 80 universities and colleges from the United States took part in the fair hosted by the consulate in Hyderabad at the ITC Kohenur in Hitech City.
The fair was a part of a series of eight events organized by EducationUSA, between August 16 to 25 in various Indian cities. Aside from Hyderabad, the schedule includes fairs hosted by consulates in Chennai on August 17, Bengaluru on August 18, Kolkata on August 19, Ahmedabad on August 21, Pune on August 22, Mumbai on August 24, and New Delhi on August 25.
This annual event opens doors to opportunities for Indian students by connecting them with representatives from top US universities, EducationUSA advisors, and US visa processing officials.
“This fair is not just an event; it’s a gateway to world-class education, cultural exchange, and lifelong success!” the US Consulate in Hyderabad said announcing the launch of the tour on X.
The EducationUSA Fair 2024 launched its eight-city India tour in Hyderabad today! This annual event opens doors to endless opportunities for Indian students by connecting them with representatives from top U.S. universities, EducationUSA advisors, and U.S. visa processing… pic.twitter.com/gTcWkRdxHw
— U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad (@USAndHyderabad) August 16, 2024
EducationUSA, a network created by the US Department of State, features over 500 trained advisers dedicated to offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about studying in the US.
Students seeking admission to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from accredited universities and colleges. They can also gain insight into the US education system and the student visa process.
As the United States remains the top international study destination for Indian students, these fairs across India are crucial in offering students and parents authentic and unbiased information.
Hyderabad: ABVP cadre of University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Thursday, August 15, vandalised a mural of the Palestinian flag created in solidarity with the Palestinian cause on the walls of the University near the School of Social Sciences.
The incident took place during the right wing student outfit’s Independence day rally at the UoH campus. They raised slogans alleging lack of patriotism towards India among the citizens who sympathise with the Palestinian cause.
Other student organisations at UoH have condemned the act, alleging the lack of ‘real Indian spirit’ missing from the nationalist students outfit. The students’ union of the University condemned the incident in their stating that it “highlights their (ABVP’s) ignorance of, and selective blindness toward the shared anti-imperialist history between India and Palestine.”
“This vandalism is not just an attack on a symbol; it is an attack on freedom of expression within our campus and the very idea of campus democracy,” the union added in their statement.
Activists of the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) at UoH, who had made the mural, reacted to the incident, calling it a blatant display of cowardice and ignorance. They questioned the pathetic mindset of the ABVP workers of destroying the symbol of another struggle for freedom and independence, thinking it elevates Indian nationalism.
“The red they (ABVP) painted over the flag is as tainted as the blood Israel spills on Palestinian soil,” said the SIO in a statement.
Another student organisation on the UoH campus, Muslim Students Federation (MSF), while condemning the act, quoted former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “We do not accept that an aggressor should benefit from invasion. Therefore, the principles that apply to us must also apply to others,” stated MSF quoting Vajpayee.
“Unfortunately, expecting sanity from ABVP, a collective of mindless thuggery, is a mistake. However, one cannot help but sympathise with their ignorant tendency to be violent at anything related to Muslims,” read a statement by the MSF HCU unit.
Students Federation of India (SFI) UoH condemned the act of ABVP’s vandalism by reiterating its solidarity with the Palestinian people who are resisting the settler colonisation from Israel.
“The ABVP with its internalised Islamophobia is unable to see the anti-colonial nature of the struggle and is among the first to stand with the Israeli settlers in the oppression of the people of Palestine,” stated the SFI.
Hyderabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Hyderabad has predicted thunderstorms and lightning today and tomorrow across almost all districts of Telangana.
For Hyderabad, it has forecasted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers with occasional intense spells accompanied by gusty winds.
IMD Hyderabad issues yellow alert
The weather department has issued a yellow alert in view of the anticipated thunderstorms, lightning, squalls, and other severe weather conditions.
A similar forecast was also made by weather enthusiast T. Balaji, renowned for his accurate predictions. According to him, Hyderabad is expected to experience a thunderstorm this afternoon or night. Additionally, he has forecasted powerful thunderstorms for West and Central Telangana.
THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN AHEAD
Get ready for more T-storms today, again hot & humid followed by powerful thunderstorms in West, Central Telangana during afternoon – night. Severe storms ahead at few parts ⚠️
Hyderabad will get a thunderstorm this afternoon – night, plan accordingly
Yesterday, Hyderabad received significant rainfall, with the highest recorded amount being 42.8 mm in Golkonda.
In Telangana as a whole, the highest rainfall was recorded in Karimnagar district at 172 mm.
The anticipated rainfall predicted by IMD Hyderabad is likely to further increase the total rainfall received during the current Southwest Monsoon season.
Hyderabad: Chandanagar police arrested two burglars who were involved in 64 cases including 11 break-ins, and recovered valuables including gold, silver, and vehicles worth a total of Rs 25 lakhs. The police also arrested two receivers of the stolen items.
The arrested burglars have been identified as D Nehemaiah alias Bruce Lee, 27, native of Hubli in Karnataka, and K Nagesh, native of Medchal.
A third member of this gang is currently absconding. Police also arrested two receivers, Gimkalolu and Suresh. Valuables including 25 tolas of gold, 400 grams silver, 2 bikes and cash of Rupees 29,750 were recovered from them.
The arrest was made following an investigation of a break-in robbery complaint from Naidu Venkateswara Rao, a resident of Chandanagar.
According to the police, on August 11, Venkata Rao’s house was broken into and a scooter was stolen. The police, while checking the CCTV footage in the area, identified Nehemaiah, and efforts to nab him began. Nehemaiah and his accomplice were arrested while travelling on this scooter in Suraram near Quthbullapur, Hyderabad.
The probe revealed there are multiple cases against the accused in various police stations in Hyderabad city, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The police added that the efforts to arrest the absconding third member of the gang are underway.
Hyderabad: A class 10 student died on August 17, Saturday after the auto she was travelling in was hit by a truck thrice from behind and crashed into an RTC bus.
The incident occurred at the Uppal signal at 7:45 am when an auto rickshaw with a student of Gowtham Model School on board was on its way to Habsiguda.
The truck driver drove rashly when he lost control and hit the auto-rickshaw. The victim was identified as 16-year-old Ranga Saathvika, a resident of Tarnaka. The truck driver hit the auto thrice from behind following which the auto was crushed under the RTC bus.
The student and the auto driver were shifted to Prasad Hospital, Nacharam, where the victim was declared dead on arrival. However, the driver Yellaiya who was grievously injured is receiving treatment.
The truck driver was arrested and a case has been registered.
Hyderabad: Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Friday night, August 16, to protest the rape-murder of a junior doctor at a hospital in Kolkata earlier this week, an incident that has sparked outrage across the country.
More than 500 students joined the call given by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) of UoH amidst the increasing toll of violence against women in the country. The university students carried out a mashal march from the gate of the north ladies’ hostel complex to Velivada and gathered near the statue of Rohith Vemula.
The march began at around 9:45 pm and ended near the Rohith statue at Velivada. The campus heard Teri mukti meri mukti nari mukti zindabad and Todh ke rakh do panchara, Nari jisme bande hai aaj throughout the march.
The march concluded with a protest gathering where UoH students expressed their distress over the failure of laws and mechanisms to safeguard women.
UoH SFI’s KS Akash addressed the gathering, calling for joint action against sexual assaults across the country, including the incidents of gang-rape of Dalit girls in Bihar’s Muzzafarpur and UP’s Fatehpur and the Kolkata junior doctor’s rape-murder.
He vehemently questioned the role of the central and state governments in allegedly protecting the culprits in his speech.
Another UoH student, Anugraha, from the political science department reminded students of the increasing number rapes and murders across the country, especially in the past week, reiterating the demand for justice.
A UoH PhD scholar, Debomita, from the centre for women studies, condemned the failure of the West Bengal government to ensure the safety of women. She demanded the resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee who failed to handle recurring incidents of sexual assaults in the state.
The gathering concluded with the performance of the Progressive Theater Group, a collective of student artists of the campus.
We gonna roll, we gonna roll, we gonna roll the union, if the murderers are on the way we gonna roll it over them, if the murderers are on the way we gonna roll it over them the gathering echoed.
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country irrespective of the sector and place of work in response to nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered on duty at the Medical College, which resulted in massive public uproars across the country.
Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Friday night, August 16 to protest the rape-murder of a junior doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/bhUYp3cNMc
Hyderabad: Former Telangana finance minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Siddipet MLA Harish Rao on Saturday, August 17 asked chief minister Revanth Reddy to ‘prove’ that the ruling Congress has implemented its farm loan waiver promises.
Harish Rao at a press conference at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad sharply criticized the Congress government for “misleading” people by “partially” implementing the promised farmer loan waiver. “During the Assembly elections, Revanth Reddy claimed that loan waiver would cost ₹40,000 crore and promised to waive off by December 9 as a gift to Sonia Gandhi. However, that promise was not kept,” said the BRS leader.
The former Telangana finance minister said that in a bid to win the Parliament elections this year, Revanth Reddy also promised a loan waiver at a cost of Rs 31,000 crores. Harish Rai Rao said that the government promised to waive it off by August 15. “On Independence Day, Revanth Reddy claimed the loan waiver was completed. However, only ₹17,000 crores were actually waived for 22 lakh farmers, far less than the ₹40,000 crores originally promised,” he claimed.
The ex-BRS minister went on to claim that Rs 23,000 crores “were cut” without explanation. “The Congress had promised to benefit 47 lakh farmers, but only 22 lakh received the waiver benefit, which is just 46% of the promised number. About 25 lakh farmers were deceived, yet Revanth Reddy and his allies shamelessly boast about the loan waiver,” Harish Rao stated.
He also challenged Revanth Reddy to prove that the loan waiver was fully implemented. “You choose the place, date, and time, and let’s go to any district, constituency, or village—your constituency or mine,” Harish Rao stated.
“He reminded everyone of his commitment to the people of Telangana, stating that he resigned for the cause of Telangana without caring about posts, while Revanth Reddy held onto Chandrababu’s coattails and even became Chief Minister after losing in Kodangal by switching parties. Harish Rao also criticized Revanth Reddy for calling on him to resign, despite Revanth’s own failure to keep his promises,” said a press release from his office.
Harish Rao also said that he had earlier promised to resign if the state government waived Rs 2 lakh for all farmers by August 15 and fulfilled the 13 promises under the six guarantees of the Congress. “However, Revanth Reddy failed to deliver on these guarantees,” he claimed, and accused Revanth of starting a malicious campaign to cover up his failures.
Harish Rao also condemned the recent attack on the BRS office in Siddipet, stating it was done by frustrated Congress’s over urs partial loan waiver. “These attacks aren’t new, but they are unacceptable. In our ten years in power, we never resorted to such tactics,” Harish Rao said. He warned that if such actions continue, there will be “serious consequences”.
Hyderabad: The Adibatla police on Friday, August 16, arrested three drug peddlers from Andhra Pradesh and seized 3.8 kg of hash oil from them. Police have also seized three mobile phones.
The accused were identified as Thalapureddy Sudheer, 23, a driver, Thalapureddy Demullu, 26, a farmer; and Kesamshetty Shankar Rao, 26, a soft drink transporter. All of them belong to Anakapally district of Andhra Pradesh.
The accused turned to drug peddling for quick profits, buying hashish oil from Andhra Pradesh at low cost and selling it at higher prices in Hyderabad. Sudheer was introduced to the trade during a visit to Odisha, and he, along with Demullu and Rao, decided to transport drugs.
The trio sourced hashish oil from the Allamchettu Hills, located 70 km from their village, and travelled to the outskirts of Hyderabad. On reaching ORR, they boarded an autorickshaw and proceeded to TCS, Bongulur, to hand over the same to the receiver.
Hyderabad: The Congress in Telangana will accelerate its preparations to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Muslim reservations in the state and in Andhra Pradesh, said Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin. The event will be held on Sunday, August 25, and the venue for the celebration would mostly be either Indira Bhavan or Prakasam Hall, which will be decided soon.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Syed Nizamuddin said that imminent Muslim MPs of the party from different states of india have been invited and are expected to attend the event, including Mohammed Rakibul Hussain from Assam, Tariq Anwar, Dr. Mohammed Jawed from Bihar, Advocate Shafi Parambil from Kerala, Hamidullah Sayeed from Lakshadweep, Imran Masood from Uttar Pradesh, Syed Naseer Hussain from Karnataka, and Imran Pratapgarhi from Maharashtra.
Syed Nizamuddin also said that Congress leaders elected in local body polls, under the BC-E reservation are also invited to the celebrations.
On August 25, 1994, the then Congress CM K Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy issued a government order in the Andhra Pradesh state (erstwhile joint state) assembly, implementing a law which included Muslims among 14 other castes to be given reservation. The community was given 5% reservation which was later reduced to 4%.
In the wake of the BJP”s efforts to “dismantle reservations”, the Congress led event highlights its efforts to educate the public on the importance of preserving this reservation, said Nizamuddin.
“Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has already assured that the Congress government will continue to defend the 4% Muslim quota, and Shabbir Ali has been actively countering the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to target Muslim reservation. Through this event, the Congress party intends to send a clear message to every household about the necessity of protecting Muslim reservation at all costs,” Waliullah Sameer, DCC President, Hyderabad added.
Hyderabad: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has urged the Telangana labour department to protect the rights of migrant workers, highlighting the worsening conditions at labour camps near construction sites in Hyderabad and Rangareddy.
Amid the real estate boom, several highrise building constructions are taking place at a fast pace in Hyderabad, especially in areas surrounding Gachibowli and Kokapet. Construction companies rely on contractors to get migrant workers from Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Contractors are assigned with building the workforce and labour camps and provide them with water and toilet facilities. However, in this process, the HRF stated that several human rights and labour violations were taking place.
In a letter addressed to the secretary of the state labour department, the HRF stated that several violations were taking place due to the lack of supervision and regular inspections. “No officer ever inspected the premises and checked the records (to maintain them as per section 20(2) of the Labour Act),” stated the HRF. “The replies we received from the labour department through RTI indicate the same,” they added.
They urged the secretary to set up a commission to inspect the violations and to ensure that the workers are paid their wages as per the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 and contractors/principal employers are obliging the law.
HRF stated that it has found violations of the following sections of the Act in multiple fact findings conducted on the ground.
Despite section 23 of the Act binding contractors to maintain a passbook in the language that workers can understand with joining date and wages, it was not followed.
Sections 39, 40 and 45 related to amenities to be provided by the contractor like potable water, a sufficient number of toilets etc., were also not being provided.
Section 41 of the Act rules that if the work continues for more than 6 months, then it is the duty of the contractor or the employer to establish and maintain a canteen for the benefit of the workers. However, no such facility is being provided. “We have received information that in many camps, the workers have to go out and buy groceries and other cooking items and cook for themselves in the provided living space,” added the HRF.
Section 44 of the Act dictates that if the work continues for more than 3 months, then it is the duty of the contractor or the employer to establish and maintain a crèche for the workers’ children who are below 6 years old. This too was not being maintained.
The forum also called on the department to carry out regular inspections of labour camps to ensure compliance with regulations on sanitation, safety, and living conditions. They emphasised the need for strict enforcement of existing labour laws that guarantee fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to basic amenities for all workers, regardless of their origin.
Additionally, the forum recommended organizing awareness programs for both construction companies and migrant labourers to educate them about their rights and responsibilities.
They also advocated for the establishment of a strong grievance redress mechanism that allows workers to report violations without fear of retaliation.
“The more things change the more they remain the same.”
This expression was coined in 1849 by French writer Jean Baptiste Alphonse Karr to illustrate that despite superficial changes that we see on the surface of society, certain fundamental aspects of its functioning remain the same.
The words are very apt when one needs to describe the functioning of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The HCA is making news these days for all the wrong reasons. The same old maladies of corrupt practices are still dragging down the name of Hyderabad cricket and spoiling the careers of many young cricketers.
HCA constitution violated
According to former secretary Sesh Narayan, the HCA is guilty of violation of the constitution and by-laws. The crux of the matter was that the promotions and demotions of league teams were done without following the rules properly. It was done at the behest of vested interests with the motive of commercial exploitation of the situation.
Sesh Narayan stated that the rate for taking on lease any team to take part in the 3-Day league is between 8 and 10 lakhs per season. In turn, the managers charge huge amounts from participants ranging from 2 lakhs and above for each slot. As a result the merited players sometimes do not get the opportunity they deserve.
Taking note of the offenses the Telangana High Court came down heavily on the malpractices and stayed the conduct of the league matches. The court also directed the HCA and its Apex Council to follow the norms and guidelines for promoting and demoting the teams.
The rot in the system is making headlines regularly. Former employees of the HCA who were being harassed have complained to the President, the Chief Minister, and the CBI about the mismanagement and their plight. The President’s office has instructed Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari to look into the complaints. She has also been told that the matter is under scrutiny.
Latest fiasco
As if that ignominy was not enough, the latest fiasco that has emerged is the overpayment for gym equipment. According to a recent forensic audit report, an organisation, Body Drench has supplied gym equipment for Rs 174 crore which could have been purchased at a little over 17 lakhs.
Thereby, the HCA enlisted the services of a sole bidder for the supply and installation of equipment at a jacked-up price that was 882 percent higher. It resulted in a heavy loss to the cricket body. Instead of looking for a bidder that is based in Telangana and one who can provide after-sales service, the HCA picked a Mumbai-based organisation named Body Drench India Pvt. Ltd.
Inconsistencies in the deal
The audit on the gym equipment purchase deal found that authorisation, approval and delegation of powers were inconsistent. It was suspected that there was a strong possibility of the misuse of position during the issue of work orders and payments.
Sesh Narayan said that the forensic audit report was not shared with any other, including the members of the general body. He urged the Telangana government to take immediate action against the culprits. “The corrupt people are being protected and the innocent players’ careers are at risk. A thorough cleaning of the system is required urgently or cricket in Telangana will die,” fumed Sesh Narayan.
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is set to upgrade 47 lakes in Hyderabad across six zones. The project will involve building sluice gates, bunds, and ring mains, as well as desilting operations to better manage floodwater.
The focus will be on rejuvenating the lakes in Hyderabad by protecting, conserving, and beautifying them.
Also, a key feature of the plan is the introduction of “Sponge Zones,” which use permeable pavements to improve water retention and reduce runoff. The GHMC will also seek extra funding from the Union government under the Sponge Cities Mission, reported TNIE.
The lakes in Hyderabad have been divided into three groups for the upgrade. Package 1, with a budget of Rs 61.40 crore, will cover seven lakes in the Khairatabad zone. Package 2, costing Rs 45.88 crore, will address 26 lakes in the Kukatpally and Serilingampally zones. Package 3, with Rs 54.07 crore allocated, will focus on 14 lakes in the LB Nagar, Secunderabad, and Charminar zones.
An additional Rs 20 crore will be used for developing Sponge Zones.
The GHMC also plans to set the Full Tank level for the specified lakes in Hyderabad in coordination with the irrigation department. Measures will be taken to prevent encroachments and ensure only treated wastewater or rainwater flows into the lakes.
Additionally, these lakes spread across the six zones in Hyderabad will be beautified with walkways, greenery, parks, jogging and cycling tracks, sitting areas, gazebos, viewing decks, and boating facilities.
List of lakes in Hyderabad to be rejuvenated
In the Khairatabad Zone, Langar Houz Tank, Shahatam Tank, Ananthagani Kunta, Batur Kunta, and Yerra Kunta Lake, with a retaining wall being constructed from Kavadiguda Bridge to the Musi confluence point.
In the Kukatpally Zone lakes such as Periki Cheruvu, Gajulramaram, Mundla Katwa, Kamuni Cheruvu, Pedda Bandam, and Suraram will be rejuvenated.
In the Serilingampally Zone key lakes to be rejuvenated include Botanical Garden Lake, Pochamma Kunta, Gunneru Kunta, Kotha Cheruvu, and Kondapur Forest Lake.
The LB Nagar Zone hosts Pochamma Lake, Bathula Cheruvu, Bandlaguda Cheruvu, Nalla Cheruvu, and Patel Cheruvu.
Under the Secunderabad Zone Banda Cheruvu, Nadimi Cheruvu, Ramanna Cheruvu, and Tirumalagiri Tank will be rejuvenated.
Lastly, in the Charminar Zone, notable lakes including Suleman Cheruvu, Surram Cheruvu, and Gurram Cheruvu will be worked on by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation under this project, reported TNIE.
Hyderabad: Stethoscopes went off the shoulders and the pens stopped writing prescriptions at the out-patient and non-emergency services in various government hospitals across Hyderabad and different parts of Telangana on Saturday, August 17. The doctors boycotted their duties chanting “No Safety, No Duty”, demanding justice for the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
From junior doctors to the senior-most surgeons were enraged, not because of this one incident that had abruptly ended the glorious career of a medico, but because it could happen to any woman irrespective of her profession or social standing.
Doctors gathered at the superintendent’s office at Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad in the morning, chanting slogans and demanding justice. The junior doctors and post-graduate students at OGH could relate to the victim, as they have been facing a lack of basic facilities and security while at work, especially during the night shifts.
Doctors at Osmania General Hospital on strike on Saturday, demanding justice for the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. pic.twitter.com/0LfSFckAKy
“There was a time when only 10 percent of all doctors in this hospital used to be women. Today, whether it’s in PG or MBBS programs, 50 percent of the medicos are women. But the reality is that there are not even separate restrooms for male and female doctors in most of the departments,” a female PG medico told Siasat.com, on condition of anonymity.
“There are just two beds crammed inside a small room where we are required to sleep during the night, and out of 30 doctors on night duty, at least half of them are women,” she underlined.
The departments at OGH are spread across a vast area, and female medicos are scared to venture out of one block to reach another block. They take their male counterparts to escort them, as most of the pathways between the blocks are poorly lit.
The medicos don’t feel safe inside either. A PG student told Siasat.com that people do enter the premises with weapons and there is little that the police personnel could do.
“There was this criminal who was brought for a check-up to the hospital, and he was shouting at me. There was only one police personnel accompanying him, and there was hardly anything he could do about it,” she exclaimed.
Doctors are expected to put in a marathon 45-hour shift at least once a month, and at least twice a week they are required to work night shifts.
The availability of proper changing rooms, sleeping areas, toilets, and bathrooms within the premises is crucial for the safety of female doctors. However, many government hospitals in Hyderabad, such as OGH, which was originally built in the 1920s with additional blocks added throughout the later part of the century, were constructed before the 2000s. These facilities were designed to meet the needs of the gender mix of doctors from that era.
“While the facilities for patients are being improved, those for the female or even the male doctors are not getting improved. We have been waging movements for almost five years now, and very little change is happening, and that too after we are making compromises,” said another PG medico at the Hyderabad hospital.
Similar is the condition of nursing officers (staff nurses) working in various government hospitals in Hyderabad and Telangana, where they hardly have proper changing rooms in their respective wards, and in some cases their toilets are located right beside the patients’ toilets. Some of the changing rooms either lack doors entirely or have broken ones.
As the state government ambitiously pushes to complete the construction of four super-speciality hospitals in Hyderabad and plans to build a new facility for OGH, medicos and healthcare workers are urging the government to ensure that these hospitals are equipped with adequate infrastructure, facilities, and robust security measures to prevent an incident like the ‘RG Kar’ from occurring in Telangana.
What measures could be taken to improve the facilities in the existing establishments, it is only at the discretion of the state government, especially the medical and health department to ponder over.
Hyderabad: The Nallamala forest is a major catchment area for the inflows into the Krishna River. It has been raining almost every day, and small streams can be seen crossing the thar roads inside the forest.
Yet, irony speaks loud inside the tribal habitations, as the Chenchus living deep inside the core forest area continue to face severe scarcity of water. With their borewells dysfunctional, water sources located away from their hamlets, and the water tankers hardly delivering during the rains, the Chenchus have been left with no option but to carry water from outside their habitations.
Mutthaiah, a differently-abled Chenchu carrying water using a rolling drum to Appapur Penta located inside the core forest area
It was during summer when Chenchus from some of the tribal hamlets and villages in the core forest area and buffer zone in Lingal, Balmoor and Kollapur went to meet Telangana panchayat raj minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) in Hyderabad. Among their many grievances was the scarcity of water, as the borewells in their hamlets had either dried, or were blocked.
The minister immediately sanctioned Rs 80 lakh and ordered the rural water supply (RWS) officials of Nagarkurnool district to dig borewells in all the villages, so that the tribals didn’t face scarcity of water. A list was prepared and funds were allocated to every village. The summer has passed and the monsoons have been active, but water has become sour grapes for the Chenchus living in the core forest area.
‘Bugga Vagu’ is a local stream which originates from the hilly areas of the forest, flowing downstream changing its form and name to ‘Gundam Vagu’ while flowing close to Appapur penta. Its flow becomes fierce as it flows further downstream, finally culminating into ‘Vemulapaya,’ a tributary which enters the Krishna River in the Srisailam backwater area.
The core area Chenchus have been demanding for several years, urging the authorities to construct a check dam on the Gundam Vagu, which would ensure water availability in the area around Appapur penta throughout the year. The topography of the stream near Appapur is such that the stream descends the hills and falls into a Gundam (pond) before flowing downstream.
Bugga Vaagu, who changes her form and name as Gundam Vaagu, flowing like a princess walking down the staircase on the day of her 'swayamvar,' before joining the Krishna River near Vemulapaya inside the Nallamala forest @TheSiasatDailypic.twitter.com/FkUNBC3pLb
“By constructing a check dam downstream of the Gundam will ensure the availability of plenty of water. Even in the past, the forest department tried to build a check dam, but it was washed away in the flow because they built it in the wrong place. If they build the check dam downstream of the pond, it will certainly help store massive quantities of water,” a resident of Appapur, Thokala Chinna Mallaiah told Siasat.com.
As Appapur penta is located at a higher altitude (between 100 to 200 ft) from where the stream flows, the Chenchus suggest the installation of a solar pump set to lift the water atop a hillock, delivering it either into an overhead tank built atop the hill, or to deliver it into a sump, from where the water can flow into the penta through gravity using pipelines.
“Every year they dig borewells, which become dysfunctional after the massive network of underground root-system of the forest trees blocks these borewells underground. Even flushing won’t work because of the strength of the roots which would have already penetrated the borewell. Yet, they do the same exercise again and again for reasons best known to RWS officials,” noted Thokala Guruvaiah, another resident of Appapur.
Gundam Vagu is located close to Appapur penta in Lingal mandal of Nagarkurnool district (Photo: Vivek Bhoomi/Siasat.com)
“Just like Rs 50 lakh given by former governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan to the district administration and the Red Cross Society of Nagarkurnool for developmental works in our remote hamlets had gone with the wind, even Rs 80 lakh given to dig borewells and supply of water must have vanished in the thin air,” said Guruvaiah.
Though the Chenchus have been demanding the district administration check dams on the local streams and minor irrigation tanks built by the Kakatiyan rulers of the medieval period, which are still as strong, no efforts have been made to realise their aspirations.
Without the availability of water during the summers let alone during the Kharif season, the Chenchus have not been able to perform agriculture and other allied activities that could have helped create in-situ livelihoods for them.
“Because of the non-availability of water during the summer, animals have been descending the hillocks and entering the villages in the buffer zone, where they have been falling prey to the traps being laid by the hunters who have no intention of protecting the wild animals,” Guruvaiah points out.
A common sight during the summers is the annual forced migration of the star turtles which are native to the Nallamala, as they can be seen moving on the tar roads, trying to find water to survive. That puts them at grave risk of either being hunted or being poached by the people who illegally enter the forest.
Hyderabad: A meeting was held at office of the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) on Saturday, August 17, between the DCP South Zone, Hyderabad and Qiblas, the Shia community elders who manage Anjumans in the city, to ensure the necessary arrangements for the observance of Arbaeen (Chehlum), on Saturday, 25 August.
Arbaeen is the 20th of Safar, marking the 40th day after Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram on which Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was martyred in the year 680 CE.
Key concerns including participation of a large number of matamis (mourning groups) travelling from neighbouring states, planning of the procession routes and required traffic deviations etc were discussed between the responsible parties and the Hyderabad police to ensure seamless movement of the procession with minimal disruption to public life.
The DCP and Qiblas also discussed the support of the community volunteers and local organisations required with the coordination of the state machinery, to handle crowd management, sanitation, and other duties during the event in the Old City during Arbaeen.
Further meetings with other departments will be held in the coming days with the Qiblas to ensure a commendable observation of the Shia traditional event. The DCP South Zone extended their unwavering support to the community elders overseeing the event in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: Taking inspiration from Korean National Sports University in Seoul he visited during his recent international trip, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy proposed to set up an integrated sports hub – the Young India’ Sports University – in the planned ‘fourth city’ of Hyderabad.
The sports university in Hyderabad is expected to be a world class institution to train future olympic champions, providing them with modern sports infrastructure, said a press release.
It would also constitute centres of sports science and sports medicine. The Telangana government considers transforming the existing sports school in Hakimpet or the Sports complex in Gachibowli into the proposed Young India Sports University, added the release.
During his visit to South Korea, chief minister Revanth Reddy met Ms Lim Si-hyeon, a three -time olympic gold medal champion from Korean National Sports University. South Korea had won 32 medals in the 224 Paris Olympics, of which 16 medals were contributed by athletes trained at the Korean National Sports University.
