Latest news with #JVenkataMurali
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Collector emphasises support for golden families under P4 scheme
Chirala: Bapatla district collector J Venkata Murali informed that financial assistance will be provided to Golden Families identified under the P4 scheme to lift them out of poverty during a constituency-level meeting held at the Municipal Office in Chirala on Saturday. In the meeting focused on P4, Surya Ghar, and handloom development initiatives, Collector Murali and Chirala MLA M Malakondaiah felicitated local handloom artisans following the national award received for Kuppadam silk sarees under the 'One District One Product' (ODOP) initiative. During the event, the collector distributed loans worth Rs 6.00 crores to 30 DWCRA groups under MEPMA and Rs 7.00 crores to 40 DWACRA groups under Velugu through cheques. Drawing inspiration from Dr BR Ambedkar's journey from poverty to becoming the architect of India's Constitution, Collector Murali emphasised the crucial role of mentors in eradicating poverty. He revealed that under Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's P4 policy, he has adopted 10 destitute families from Cherukupalli mandal. The collector said that in the Chirala constituency, 8,405 Golden Families have been identified, with 402 mentors already assigned to 4,400 families. He appealed for mentors to come forward for the remaining 4,000 families, promising government recognition and respect for their service. For handloom development, the collector emphasised the need to provide liberal loans to weavers and criticised the approval of only 327 units out of 1695 solar power applications. He said plans to establish ODOP stalls at Bapatla, Chirala, Vadarevu, and Suryalanka Beach to promote Kuppadam sarees, incorporating modern technology like scanners to share the history of these traditional garments. The collector also announced that the government has agreed to develop the 26-acre Handloom Park in Devangapuri, Chirala mandal, into a Handloom MSME hub to boost the sector further. Chirala RDO Chandrsekhar, Municipal Chairman M Sambasiva Rao, DRDA PD Srinivasa Rao, CPO Shalom Raju, Handlooms AD Raghunanda, and officials from various departments also participated in the programme.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Govt bans cultivation of Black Burley for current agricultural season
GUNTUR: Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali has announced a complete ban on the cultivation of Black Burley tobacco for the current agricultural season, citing falling prices and reduced company purchases that have impacted farmers. Speaking at a review meeting held at the Collectorate on Wednesday, attended by officials from Markfed, the Agriculture Department, and private buyers, the Collector said the move aims to protect farmers from further losses. 'In recent years, excess production due to corporate assurances has led to sharp price drops, hurting farmer income. Many companies have now withdrawn from procurement,' he said. The Collector warned that even raising seedlings in nurseries is prohibited. Violators will face strict action, including crop destruction and possible legal consequences. Farmers who have already cultivated the crop can sell it to private buyers, but are advised not to bring bundles with more than 20% moisture content to procurement centres. The Bapatla Colelctor assured tobacco farmers of full government support, stating, 'We are committed to ensuring that every last leaf is sold. Trust the administration and don't fall prey to fear.'
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bapatla Collector restores ownership of 102 acres to 87 farmers in Andhra
GUNTUR: In a landmark decision bringing long-awaited relief to local farmers, Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali announced the restoration of ownership rights for 102 acres of land in Muttupalli village of Nizampatnam mandal, which was in legal ambiguity for decades. Speaking at a meeting with the affected farmers at the Collectorate on Friday, he stated that the 102 acres, classified under Section 22 as prohibited land, will now be officially recognised as privately owned agricultural land. The 87 farmers, who have been cultivating the land for generations, will be issued passbooks, granting them full ownership and legal rights. The issue dates back to 1987, when the land was erroneously recorded as government wasteland by revenue officials, despite continuous cultivation by the rightful owners. The misclassification went uncorrected for over six decades, leaving the farmers without legal claim to their land. The farmers appealed to the Collector recently, highlighting the difficulties caused by their land being listed under restricted categories. Upon investigation, the district administration reviewed old revenue records and concluded that the land indeed belonged to the farmers. After consulting with higher authorities, the land was officially recognised as cultivable private land. Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali assured the farmers that the updated entries would be made in revenue records and that each of them would receive documentation confirming full ownership. RDO Ramalakshmi (Repalle), Nizampatnam tahsildar M Srinivasa Rao, and farmers from Muttupalli village participated in the meeting.
New Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Fishermen protest over sea access in Andhra's Bapatla
GUNTUR: Tension gripped the Bapatla Collectorate on Tuesday as fishermen from Vijayalakshmipuram and eight other villages staged a protest demanding restoration of access to the sea through the Eepurupalem straight-cut canal. A brief scuffle with police occurred during the dharna, but was quickly defused after District Collector J Venkata Murali and SP Tushar Dudi invited fishermen representatives for talks. The Collector assured that rocks blocking the canal mouth would be removed immediately and fishing routes restored. He announced the withdrawal of police cases against protestors and promised criminal action against those who dumped rocks illegally, obstructing the canal's flow. Over 20,000 families using 2,500 boats have reportedly been affected. The disruption was traced to an individual who diverted 500 tonnes of sand to reroute the canal, causing severe boat damage and access issues. A special committee with officials from multiple departments and fishermen representatives will investigate the issue. A field-level report is expected within a month. Any illegal encroachments found will be dealt with under the CRZ Act. Dudi confirmed police cooperation in restoring routes. Fishermen leaders submitted complaints, and officials assured strong legal action and protection of livelihoods.
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Black Burley tobacco procurement resumes in Andhra Pradesh
GUNTUR: BAPATLA District Collector J Venkata Murali on Wednesday directed officials to resume procurement of Black Burley tobacco in Bapatla district starting Thursday, following concerns over falling prices and growing distress among farmers. The decision was taken at a review meeting with Agriculture and MARKFED officials at the ETC Conference Hall in the Collectorate. Acting on Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's instructions, the State government has introduced a dedicated 'CM App' to streamline procurement. Only farmers registered through this app—linked with e-Crop and APAMS data—will be eligible for tobacco sales. The government has sanctioned Rs 300 crore to procure up to 25 million kilograms of Black Burley tobacco through MARKFED. Procurement centres will operate at two locations in Parchur and one in Chirala. The fixed procurement price is Rs 12,000 per quintal for HDR and HDM varieties and Rs 3,000 per quintal for HDX. A control room with a toll-free helpline (8331057095) will function in Parchur from 6 AM to 8 PM to address farmer grievances and ensure smooth operations. The Collector criticised Agriculture Department officials over irregularities in crop registration. Although Black Burley tobacco was cultivated in 67,132 acres, only 50,513 acres were recorded in the e-Crop system, covering 28,019 farmers. He instructed officials to upload complete data within a week and warned of strict action for lapses during the current Kharif season. Parchur MLA Eluri Sambasiva Rao highlighted that, for the first time, the government is directly procuring tobacco to support farmers. Bapatla MLA Vegesna Narendra Varma reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring fair prices and safeguarding farmer interests. MARKFED Managing Director Manajeer Zilani Saman and other senior officials participated in the meeting and later visited the Parchur market yard to review arrangements.
