Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday, January 31 laid the foundation stone for the new building of Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad’s Goshamahal.

The new building being constructed at a cost of Rs 2700 crore will be equipped with 2,000 beds. It will feature a built-up area of 32 lakh square feet and will adhere to the norms set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).

Moreover, the new hospital will feature 29 major and 12 minor operation theatres, including robotic surgery and a dedicated transplant theatre, enhancing advanced medical procedures. Additionally, the facility will expand its medical education and training wing, introducing eight new super-specialty disciplines across 30 departments.

A new academic block will house nursing, dental, and physiotherapy colleges to support medical training.

The project involves collaboration between multiple departments, including health, education, and law enforcement, ensuring seamless development. While the hospital is being built on 26 acres, the police department is redesigning its adjacent 11-acre campus to meet operational requirements.

To improve accessibility, road infrastructure around the hospital and police stadium is being revamped, incorporating ‘no signal’ junctions and underpasses to ease traffic congestion. Additionally, helipads are being planned for emergency patient transfers and organ transplant procedures.

The new campus will include essential facilities like a power sub-station, fire station, bio and non-bio waste management systems, and a sewage treatment plant. Authorities have also ensured the relocation of a government school that was previously situated on the hospital land.

With this project, Hyderabad is set to witness a major transformation in public healthcare, providing advanced medical services and modern education facilities, reinforcing its commitment to quality healthcare infrastructure.

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Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered a case against 22 former Amazon Development Centre employees for their alleged involvement in a Rs.102 crore fraud.

The case was filed following a complaint by Amazon’s corporate counsel in a Kukatpally court. The accused were part of the Relay Operations Centre (ROC) in Nanakramguda, which manages freight operations across multiple countries.

According to the complaint, the employees accepted bribes to manipulate freight operations, favouring third-party carriers, especially from the United States. Amazon strictly prohibits its employees from unauthorized communication with carriers, but the accused allegedly negotiated bribes outside official channels.

So far, no evidence has been found, and the TGCSB has yet to record the complainant’s statement, an official said. The investigation is ongoing.

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Hyderabad: Senior Congress leaders including chief minister Revanth Reddy, deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Goud and all cabinet ministers will be heading to New Delhi in order to appoint a new leader to the PCC body. The expansion of the state cabinet, of which so far 10 (excluding the CM and deputy CM) seats have been appointed, is also likely to be decided.

The Telangana cabinet, which has a total of 18 seats including the chief minister, has not been expanded since the Congress formed the government in December 2023. The state government under Revanth Reddy was also expected to accommodate a few of the 10 Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who defected to the ruling party since the 2023 polls.

However, infighting in the Congress amongst leaders for cabinet posts, and other issues like the appointment of new leaders to the TPCC body prevented the party from filling up its cabinet positions. In the current cabinet, there is no minority face. Advisor to the government and ex-MLA Shabbir Ali, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 state elections, is likely to be given the minority minister post.

However, it is learnt that Congress leader Faheem Qureshi, who is reportedly close to the CM, is also vying for the same post. “Things are slow in the Congress and decisions have to be made from the high command. Under the previous government, everything was decided by (ex-CM) KCR in the BRS. Apart from the cabinet, the entire body of the TPCC will have new appointments,” said a leader from the TPCC who did not want to be named.

Last year, months after the Congress came to power, the high command finally appointed Mahesh Goud as the new party chief in Telangana. Goud’s appointment will also help the party placate its Backward Classes (BC) leaders who have been demanding a higher share in terms of representation within the Congress. In Telangana, BCs are believed to account for about 60% of the population, while the rest is divided between SCs, STs, others and Muslims.

“There is a lot of infighting among leaders and everyone knows that things are slow in the Congress. The government will settle once the cabinet expansion is also fully done. A lot of posts in the TPCC body also have to be filled up and once that is done the party will also focus on organisation,” the Congress leader told Siasat.com.

In the current Telangana government, out of all the 12 posts including the CM and deputy CM, four belong to the Reddy community. Minister Anasuya Seethakka belongs to the tribal community but the tribal welfare post in the cabinet is still with the chief minister. It is to be seen who is also given the minority minister position.

The earlier BRS governments (2014-23) under ex-chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) were also often criticised for only having one Muslim face in his cabinet – ex-minister Mahmood Ali (who also had the home department under him). However, Muslim leaders who were hopeful that the Congress government here would do better than the previous government said that they have been disappointed so far by Revanth Reddy.

“The minority cell is also headless, and the community has no power or post in the party as of now. Hopefully, things will change,” said a senior minority leader from the Congress.

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What was once limited to hill stations like Mahabaleshwar and Ooty, strawberry picking has now made its way to Hyderabad, offering a unique experience right here. Bringing a touch of the countryside to the city, this immersive activity lets you wander through lush strawberry fields and handpick the juiciest berries, making it a great weekend getaway. Ideal for families, couples or even solo explorers, it is a unique opportunity to slow down, soak in the fresh air, and enjoy nature’s simple pleasures.

Strawberry picking in Hyderabad

Organized by Tridha Organics, Hyderabad’s first strawberry picking experience offers a refreshing break from the city’s usual activities. Visitors can stroll through the fields, handpick organic and chemical-free strawberries, and enjoy the joy of harvesting their own fruit. The farm provides a picturesque setting, making it a great spot for capturing memories while relishing the sweet, sun-ripened strawberries straight from the plants. 

To ensure an enjoyable experience, the farm follows a set of guidelines for responsible picking. Guests are advised to select only fully ripe strawberries, handle the plants with care, and use the baskets provided to prevent any damage. Wearing comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes is recommended, along with sun protection for outdoor exposure. The farm also emphasizes sustainability—picking only what you need, avoiding waste, and respecting restricted areas meant for regrowth. 

All details

Entry Fee? Rs. 250 per person and free for children under 2 years

Notably, to ensure a smooth experience, visitors must book their slots online in advance, as walk-ins are not permitted.

Per kg price? Picked strawberries can be purchased at Rs. 800 per kg

Where? Near Hattrick cricket ground, Kundanpally Village, Medchal Malkajgiri, Secunderabad – 501302

Notably, this experience is not available year-round. As the strawberry seasons wrap up in March, so does this opportunity to pick your own strawberries.

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Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has announced the launch of direct flights between Hyderabad and Phuket in Thailand enhancing international connectivity for travellers.

The first flight took off on Friday, January 31 operated by Air India Express. The airline will initially run three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. From February 15, the frequency will increase to six weekly flights, further improving accessibility.

Commenting on the new launches, managing director of Air India Express Aloke Singh, said “It will also offer convenient one-stop flights to Phuket from 16 cities across its network, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jeddah, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Riyadh, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, via Hyderabad.

Hyderabad to Phuket flight schedule

Hyderabad to Phuket:

From 15 February:

Phuket to Hyderabad flight schedule:

From February 15:

From February 15, additional flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Air India Express operates 215 weekly flights from the city

Air India Express in Hyderabad operates 215 weekly flights to 20 domestic destinations and four international cities.

The airline provides direct flights from Hyderabad to popular domestic cities, including Phuket, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Gwalior, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Srinagar, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Vishakhapatnam. Internationally, it connects Hyderabad to Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Phuket.

Additionally, the Air India Express airline offers convenient one-stop connectivity from Hyderabad to 12 domestic destinations, including Agartala, Amritsar, Ayodhya, Delhi, Dimapur, Imphal, Kannur, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Ranchi, and Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).

For international travel, Air India Express also provides one-stop connections to 10 destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Singapore.

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Hyderabad: Oman Air’s Hyderabad-Muscat flight scheduled to depart from Hyderabad airport at 3:00pm was cancelled after an eight-hour delay.

Passengers who had already boarded reportedly faced suffocation due to an air conditioning system malfunction. Despite attempts to fix the issue, the flight was called off at 10:00pm.

A video circulating on social media shows distressed passengers expressing frustration, with some heard screaming in discomfort at Hyderabad airport.

Oman Air has yet to issue an official statement, and passengers claim no refunds or compensation have been provided yet.

In a similar incident on October 5, Airline passengers faced difficulties in the Hyderabad Airport after multiple Indigo flights were delayed for departure after the flight service provider faced a system outage.

According to reports, Indigo’s system slowdown started at 12:30 pm and was happening across the country. The glitch caused issues in check-in, and luggage management, causing huge queues and delayed multiple flights.

More than 25 flights run by Indigo were delayed to take off from the Hyderabad Airport, which were scheduled to fly passengers to various cities in the country.

During the system outage, Indigo’s self-drop baggage counters were not working at the Hyderabad airport, which forced passengers to stand in a queue for normal check-in, which was very long due to the increased number of travellers due to the day being a weekend in the Dasara season.

Similarly, an Indigo flight from Hyderabad Airport had to return without landing in Bengaluru, as dense fog shrouded Kempegowda International Airport.

The Indigo flight, which departed from RGIA and approached Bengaluru by 7:20 am, encountered visibility issues due to thick fog. The plane circled Kempegowda International Airport for over 45 minutes in an attempt to safely land.

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Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) razed tens of footpath encroachments, mostly vegetable, fruit and flower stalls at the Nallakunta vegetable market near Shankarmath on Friday, January 31.

The action comes in response to several complaints from locals over traffic jams on the street which connects Fever Hospital and Vidyanagar main road to Sundarayya Vignana Kendram. The GHMC’s enforcement wing, in the presence of police, carried out the demolitions.

A few days ago, temporary shops located beside and opposite Sundarayya Vignana Kendram were also razed by the GHMC.

According to Greater Hyderabad municipal officials overseeing the demolitions at the Nallakunta vegetable market, no notice was needed to be served to hawkers who had illegally encroached footpaths and roads.

A few GHMC officials claimed that the hawkers were warned about the demolitions three days ago, however, the vegetable vendors who have been squatting in the market for decades, said that they had no prior information.

“There are 120 temporary stalls on this road, and hundreds of families are dependent on these micro businesses for a livelihood. Even in the past, the GHMC had marked this area as a green zone,” said one of the vendors.

The hawkers raised slogans against the state government chanting “CM down, down”. However, the sloganeering had little to no impact on the authorities demolishing the illegal structures.

They demanded the state government provide them an alternative location to earn their livelihoods.

The Nallakunta vegetable market road is presently nearly 60 feet wide, and the GHMC plans to expand the road to 80 feet, so that the street can be used as an alternative road, to reduce the traffic burden on the Vidyanagar main road.

The hawkers received little support from locals during Friday’s demolition drive, primarily due to the high prices of vegetables in this market, one of the most expensive in Hyderabad. No political leader showed support for the hawkers.

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Hyderabad: Zoo Park in Hyderabad received 117 rescued animals and birds from April 2024 to January. These animals were transferred for medical care and shelter after being rescued by forest officials, anti-poaching squads, and the general public.

Officials explained that most animals undergo rehabilitation for a brief period, typically 10 days or less before being released back into their natural habitat.

Langur rescued from circus 

One of the most notable cases involved a six-year-old female langur, previously part of a small circus in Dammaiguda. She was rescued and transferred to the Zoo Park in Hyderabad following a complaint.

The circus run by Buchi Babu from Dammaiguda had used the langur for public entertainment training it to walk on a rope. Babu, who moved to Dammaiguda from Ibrahim Patnam a decade ago had kept the langur to earn money.

The langur was moved to Zoo Park in Hyderabad for rehabilitation where it is reported to be healthy and adjusting to its new environment.

Over 200 birds rescued annually

A frequent issue involves birds getting entangled in synthetic manja (kite string), especially black kites, Indian rollers, and Alexandrine parakeets, some of which sustain permanent disabilities. Among the rescued animals, peacocks and other birds often arrive with injuries, typically from dog attacks or accidents.

The zoo rescues over 200 birds annually due to threats like illegal pet trade, habitat loss, and urban dangers. Other rescues in the past ten months included five black kites, ten Indian rollers, a red-eared slider turtle, a shikra, and eight Indian rock pythons.

About Zoo Park in Hyderabad

The Nehru Zoological Park, located near Mir Alam Tank in Bahadurpura, was inaugurated on October 6, 1963, after the relocation of the erstwhile zoo enclosures from the Public Gardens. The construction of the Nehru Zoo Park in Hyderabad took four years after its construction began on October 26, 1959.

The Nehru Zoo Park currently hosts 2240 animals in total including 664 mammals of 55 species, 1227 birds of 97 species, 341 reptiles of 38 species and 8 amphibians of 2 species. The natural landscape of the Zoo attracts several migratory as well as resident birds.

The Zoo also allows the adoption of animals for a specified time for a fee that helps in the maintenance of the enclosure and the zoo’s work with wildlife conservation organizations worldwide.

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In a recent auction, the Telangana road transport department raised an impressive Rs 38 lakh through the sale of fancy vehicle number plates in Hyderabad.

Among the top bids, the highest was for the number plate “TG 09 E 0009,” which went for a staggering Rs 10,46,999.

Other bids for fancy number plate auction in Hyderabad

• TG 09 D 9999 auction for Rs 6,26,000, claimed by Eternal Avenues and Infrastructures Pvt Limited.
• TG 09 E 0001 was sold for Rs 4,69,900 to Srinivas Reddy Perati.
• TG 09 E 0005 went for Rs 2,43,001, purchased by Kara Conseil Pvt Ltd.
• TG 09 E 0006 auction for Rs 2,25,117, and was acquired by Goyaz Jewellery.
• TG 09 E 0007 was sold for Rs 1,58,003 to S K Car Lounge.

• TG 09 E 0003 was sold for Rs 1,11,000, bought by Vert Line Marine Bunkers Private Limited.
• TG 09 E 0027 fetched Rs 1,09,000, purchased by Neuland Laboratories Limited.
• TG 09 E 0019 sold for Rs 1,00,019, secured by Sithara Entertainments.

Earlier in November, The Telangana transport department earned a whooping Rs 52.52 lakh through an auction of fancy TG number plates online.

“The transport department had put up an auction of nine fancy TG number plates for online auction on Tuesday and through bidding earned an amount of Rs 52, 52,283,” said the joint transport commissioner Ramesh.

Earlier in July, the Secunderabad RTO amassed a sum of Rs 18.28 lakh as fancy TG number plates were auctioned in the city.

Several number plates were auctioned off at the program with three fancy numbers being sold for lakhs of rupees. The number plate TG 10 9999 was sold for Rs 6,00,999 with five contenders competing against each other to acquire it.

The next number plates that were the most in-demand, 10A 0001 and 10A 0009 were sold for Rs 3.60 lakh and 2.61 lakh each respectively, to different buyers. However, the last of the lot, ‘TG-10A-0005’, was only sold for Rs 51,500 only.

The Congress-run Telangana government, earlier this year, decided to change the state’s abbreviation from ‘TS’ to ‘TG’.

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Hyderabad: Telangana deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu inaugurated the annual day function of St Francis College for Women, in Begumpet, Hyderabad, on Friday, January 31.

The annual day’s chief guest Dy CM was joined by Osmania University vice chancellor Kumar Molugaram, as the guest of honour at the event.

The annual day at St Francis included a captivating performance of Telangana Lasya, a traditional folk dance that showcased the rich cultural heritage of Telangana and is known for its rhythmic movements, vibrant attire, and lively energy.

In addition, a Dance ballet titled Bharat Prabha- Viksit Bharat-2047, which translates to ‘India’s Radiance’. was performed reflecting the cultural brilliance, vibrant traditions, and the enduring spirit that defines our nation.

A total of 111 academic excellence awards were presented to undergraduate (2022-25 batch) and postgraduate (2022-25 batch) students. The awards included 18 gold medals, 15 founded prizes, and 78 proficiency prizes.

Dy CM Bhatti, Prof Kumar Molugaram laud St Francis’ achivements

At the event, Dy CM Bhatti Vikramarka sang praises of Hyderabad’s St Francis College terming it a “powerhouse of knowledge, shaping the future of over 3000 young women.”

He credited the institution for its role in the mission of uplifting and empowering the women of Telangana and India at large.

Highlighting the importance of educating women, DY CM Bhatti said, “Educating a man is educating an individual, educating a woman means educating a family, community and society.”

“You’re not just students, you’re the future leaders. Whatever path you choose you lift others along the pathway,” he said while concluding his address.

Professor Kumar Molugaram lauded St Francis College Hyderabad as one of the best autonomous colleges affiliated with Osmania University. Citing his decade-long association with the college, the Osmania University VC said St Francis is his first choice of recommendation for admissions.

Emphasizing the importance of skill-based education, he noted that learning is a continuous process of solving unsolved problems and taking technological development to unreached areas.

The Osmania University VC urged the students to develop critical thinking and intellectual curiosity as he concluded his speech. “You can achieve anything with the college motto-Wisdom and Peace through Love,” he said.

College principal Dr Uma Joseph presented the college’s annual report and felicitated the guests.

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Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Friday, January 31, lashed out at Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress government for “playing dirty politics” on water issues. She demanded that the government “stop playing politics” on water and to “tell the truth” to the people.

Kavitha, who heads the Telangana Jagruti organisation, held a round table meeting on ‘Neellu – Nijalu’ at the Somajiguda Press Club. Kavitha, along with intellectuals, retired engineers and public representatives, attended the meeting. Later, several resolutions were passed and an open letter was written to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, said a press release.

Stating that there is false propaganda on the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, she called the project a “wonderful project in the world”. The BRS MLC said that the Congress government failed to utilize the project and demanded the government to protect the interests of the state and “demonstrate statesmanship, apart from politics”.

She also demanded the government to remove retired IAS officer Adityanath Das, who worked in the Andhra cadre, from the post of Irrigation Advisor. Hailing BRS supremo and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s (KCR) efforts to construct the projects in the state, Kavitha explained that 1.4 crore lakh acres of land came under irrigation during BRS ruling.

At the meeting, the organisation passed a resolution that the state government should write a letter to the Union Government urging to convene an apex council meeting to discuss on Bankacherla Project, proposed by the AP government “illegally”.

It also said that the Medigadda Barrage should be restored and Kaleshwaram Project Link-1 should be fully utilized and that funds not less than Rs 20000 crore should be allocated in forthcoming Budget and spend to complete all irrigation projects. The Telangana Jagruthi also said that the Nagarjuna Sagar Project should be completely brought under the control of the Telangana government.

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Hyderabad: The Cyberabad traffic police launched a real-time traffic updates service on Friday, January 31, to enable commuters in the Cyberabad limits to be informed about traffic congestion and other advisories to their mobile phones as notifications.

Dubbed “Cyberabad Traffic Pulse,” the service aims to efficiently manage increasing traffic congestion by providing alerts and updates to commuters. The initiative was launched in collaboration with the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) and Tanla, a Hyderabad-based communications platform provider.

The platform provides real-time traffic updates, road diversions, accident alerts, traffic restrictions, and notifications about major city events directly to citizens’ mobile phones via WhatsApp, Google RCS, SMS, or Flash Messages.

The service would provide commuters with accurate details about the causes of congestion and estimated clearance times, helping commuters make informed decisions.

The platform would also allow citizens to communicate directly with Cyberabad traffic police via WhatsApp, enabling them to share suggestions and feedback regarding the traffic on their routes.

The Cyberabad Traffic Pulse platform also offers personalised alerts based on frequently used routes selected by the user and preferred modes of transport.

How to register for real-time traffic alerts

To register for real-time traffic alerts in the Cyberabad region, citizens can go to the official website of the Cyberabad traffic police and then click the subscribe button. It will lead to a page, and citizens can fill out an online form.

One can add their name, and mobile number, and provide a frequently used mode of transport. Commuters can choose the frequently used routes to get alerts on those routes, from a list provided. The alert preferences can be updated anytime by the users by logging in to the same website.

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Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Thursday, January 30, raised the retirement age for government teachers to 65 years.

In the 12 state universities, there are over 2,800 sanctioned teaching posts. Of these, only about 750 are currently occupied by regular faculty who will now get the benefit of enhanced retirement age.

“The government, after careful examination of the matter, hereby enhances the age of superannuation of regular teachers working in the state universities of Telangana. The enhanced age of superannuation applies only to the teaching faculty who are drawing UGC scale of pay in the state universities of Telangana under the administrative control of the higher education department,” the GO released by the higher education department said. Registrars in all Telangana universities were asked to take necessary action.

The decision to raise the retirement age for government teachers was based on the recommendations made by the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) to retain the senior-most faculty for a few more years so that the quality of teaching, research, accreditations and rankings are not affected.

The council had informed the govt that varsities were even struggling to get NAAC, NBA, NRIF, National and International Accreditations and rankings in the absence of good faculty.

The Telangana government’s decision to raise the retirement age has received a mixed response from academia.

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Hyderabad: 1,190 lost and stolen mobile phones which were recovered by Cyberabad police over the past 50 days, were handed back to their rightful owners using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal in a formal event held at the Cyberabad Commissionerate Main Conference Hall on Friday, January 31. 

1,010 mobile phones were recovered by five zones of the Cyberabad Central Crime Station (CCS), while the five Zones of Law and Order (L&O) police recovered 180 phones. 

255 phones were recovered from Madhapur CCS, 250 from Balanagar CCS, 208 from Medchal CCS, 157 from Rajendranagar CCS, 140 from Shamshabad CCS, 113 from Balanagar L&O Zone, 41 from Medchal L&O Zone, 16 from Madhapur L&O Zone, and 10 phones were recovered from Shamshabad L&O Zone.

The deputy commissioner of police for crimes K Narasimha advised citizens to remain vigilant against the rising instances of cyber crimes such as UPI frauds and digital arrests. He added that suspicious links must be avoided and verified before taking action. He also warned against the sale and purchase of stolen items, as it is punishable by law.

The DCP also encouraged citizens to promptly report lost or stolen phones at their nearest police station or through the CEIR portal, emphasizing that the portal helps prevent the misuse of stolen phones and speeds up recovery efforts. For cybercrime-related matters, he advised the public to call 1930 or visit their official website to file a complaint without delay.

Stressing the importance of reporting crimes, the DCP said, “People should also be aware that most cybercriminals operate from different countries. Staying informed and reporting incidents immediately is crucial to tackling these growing threats.”

People whose mobiles were recovered by the police expressed gratitude to the Cyberabad police for their prompt action in recovering their devices.

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Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has saved a park from encroachments at Gayathri Layout in Muthangi village of Patancheru mandal in Sangareddy district on Friday, January 31.

On the representation of Gayathri Layout Residents Welfare Association, HYDRAA swung into action and carried out the demolition.

As per the revenue records, while the land in question extended to 1 acre and 10 guntas, it was recorded as 1 acre and 17 guntas in the same survey number on Dharani portal.

Those who sold the said land took this as an advantage. The residents of Gayathri layout complained to HYDRAA that a person named Praveen encroached into their 7 guntas of land, claiming that it was his own, and built structures in it.

HYDRAA, after ascertaining that the park belonged to Gayathri Layout, removed the illegal structures and lodged a case against Praveen, Ravi and Mehraj Khan at Patancheru police station on Friday.

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Hyderabad: The retired pensioners of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd have urged the Centre to restructure the present Coal Mines Pension Scheme (CMPS-1998) with a better scheme in line with the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

In a letter addressed to Union minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy on Thursday, January 30, PK Singh Rathor, convenor of the All-India Coal Pensioners’ Association (AICPA) has requested the union minister to immediately review and enhance the pension linked with Dearness Allowance (DA).

If needed, the organisation suggested the Centre impose a compulsory welfare cess on account of pension fund @ 1% on the selling price of coal, which could be used to enhance the pensions and other welfare measures for SCCL pensioners.

The expansion of the Coal Mines Provident Fund (CMPF) and the board of trustees to include eminent persons and investment experts was also suggested.

“Sir, crores of rupees have been contributed by Coal India and Singreni Collieries to the central and state
government due to the untiring efforts of these pensioners who are looking towards the government with high hopes for enhancement of pensions,” AICPA’s letter read.

It has been heard that the coal ministry wants to make amendments to the CMPS-1998 to address the aspirations and demands of the pensioners, but the progress is very slow and no visible action is seen. The aged pensioners are dying in numbers by the day, waiting to get the benefit of pension enhancement. The surviving pensioners deserve a solution in their lifetime,” the pensioners pleaded with the union minister.

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Hyderabad: MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday, January 31, released the dissent notes he had submitted to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill (Amendment). He alleged that significant portions of his submissions were deleted from the final report without his knowledge.

Taking to X, Asaduddin Owaisi described the deletion as “shocking,” adding that the removed sections were factual and not controversial. He publicly released the original notes to highlight his objections to the amendment.

Key points allegedly removed from Asaduddin Owaisi’s dissent notes included:

• The necessity of protecting the rights of Muslim Scheduled Tribe members to constitute a Waqf.
• Criticism that the proposed amendments were politically driven and aimed at undermining minority rights, particularly those of Muslims.

• Allegations that the voices of Muslim interest groups opposing the bill were ignored.
• Assertions that the amendment was not drafted for the benefit of Waqf Boards but served the Union government’s agenda.

“The Ministry’s consultations, as reported by the media, lacked transparency and adequate notice. There was no official disclosure of meeting minutes or meaningful public engagement,” he noted in his dissent.

Asaduddin Owaisi highlighted in his dissent notes that media reports lacked specific details about the consultations referenced in the Historical Background document provided to JPC members. He pointed out that these reports relied heavily on statements from unnamed ministry sources, with no official notice or public disclosure of meeting minutes.

The Hyderabad MP reiterated that stakeholders had not been adequately consulted, and their detailed objections were disregarded. Asaduddin Owaisi further criticised the process, stating that consultations require reasonable public notice and a clear expression of the government’s agenda, neither of which was fulfilled.

He concluded by questioning the credibility of the consultation process, calling it a superficial exercise aimed at legitimising political objectives.

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Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy was warned Union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay that if he ever tried again to disrespect balladeer Gaddar, he will name the street on which BJP state headquarters is located in Nampally, after Gaddar.

Addressing the audience at a cultural event held to commemorate the 77th birth anniversary of Gaddar alias Gummadi Vitthal Rao on Friday, January 31 at Ravindra Bharathi, he said that every time BJP leaders would write the address of their party office, they will be reminded of the revolutionary singer, if that street was renamed as “Gaddar anna galli.”

“The previous government prevented a rally after the demise of Gaddar. However, the people’s fighter was not alone. We took the mortal remains of Gaddar to the LB Stadium for his admirers to see. We had also warned that the people will pull down the government and it happened,” Revanth said.

Reminding that those who made Gaddar wait outside Pragathi Bhavan for hours without giving an appointment (former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao) had to lose their power, Revanth Reddy felt that BJP, whose leaders were criticising Gaddar, would meet the same fate.

“Gaddar always sailed with the people and inspired the society through his songs and writings. I maintained good relations with Gaddar and I used to meet him whenever I would feel lonely in my political struggle,” Revanth said, adding that it was Gaddar who instilled confidence in him to fight, saying the people of Telangana would definitely recognise his struggle.

Revanth said that the state government was considering having a full-page chapter on balladeer Gaddar in the history books as part of the educational curriculum, he pointed out that the state government was not only officially observing Gaddar’s birth and death anniversaries, but has also announced an award in the name of Gaddar.

The chief minister felt that Gaddar needed to be seen as an ideologue who inspired millions of warriors and fighters, while pursuing his ideology till his last breath.

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Hyderabad: In a shocking incident, two young women reportedly spent at least seven days with the corpse of their mother at their house in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad.

The incident came to light on Friday, December 31. The deceased woman, Sri Latha, 45, had passed away in her sleep on January 23.

The sisters, Ravalika, 25 and Ashwitha, 22, reportedly with no financial stability and the grief of the death of their mother appeared mentally disturbed.

According to a TNIE report, the sisters had initially approached a local MLA who had directed them to the police.

The decomposed body of the deceased woman has been shifted to the Gandhi Hospital for autopsy. A police officer said that the cause of death was under investigation.

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Hyderabad: A minor fire broke out near the Khairatabad Metro Station in Hyderabad on Friday, January 31, causing short-lived panic in the area.

The blaze broke out at 9:48 pm, while the metro was functional, however no damage to property or life was reported.

A tree below the metro station staircase caught fire after a burning cigarette stub was carelessly thrown into nearby rubbish, Hyderabad District Fire Officer Thagaram Venkanna told Siasat.com. The flames quickly spread to the tree causing panic among commuters and passersby.

Authorities were alerted, and the fire was brought under control before it could cause significant damage.

Fire at Malakpet metro station in Hyderabad

In another similar recent incident, a massive blaze fire broke out near Malakpet metro station in Hyderabad on Friday, December 6, after a few bikes caught fire sending thick smoke into the air and raising concerns among commuters and passengers.

After receiving information, Hyderabad fire tenders rushed to near Malakpet metro station and quickly doused the flames. While the incident caused heavy traffic in the area, no casualties were reported.

A mentally unstable man was arrested on December 8, for allegedly setting fire to bikes at the Malakpet metro station.

The accused was identified as Zaker, a resident of Moosanagar. He reportedly suffers from mental health issues and had previously been involved in similar incidents around the city.

According to reports, the accused went to the Hyderabad metro station on Friday afternoon where he set one bike on fire using a matchbox causing the flames to spread to nearby vehicles. In total, five bikes were reportedly destroyed.

After reviewing surveillance footage near Malakpet metro station in Hyderabad, the police identified Zaker as the suspect. Special teams were formed and he was apprehended.

The incident resulted in heavy traffic congestion near the Malakpet metro station.

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