Latest news with #K.Vijayanand
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
17 Municipal Corporations will be declared as plastic-free by next October, says CS
Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has said that steps are being taken to declare 17 Municipal Corporations as plastic-free corporations by next October and the drive is also under way in all government offices. During a video-conference with District Collectors on the implementation of various programmes on Thursday, Mr. Vijayanand said awareness should be created about the harm posed by single-use plastic items, and called upon the manufacturers to pay due attention to curb the menace. He said the government has launched the Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation program for eradicating poverty and eliminating economic inequalities in the society, and that the Collectors should strive to make it a success. Also, he stressed the need for proper implementation of the population policy, the draft of which was released a few days ago, given the consideration of population by the government as an asset. Adarsh Gram Yojana Mr. Vijayanand said that 1,027 villages have been selected under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, of which 765 have already been declared as model villages as per the Village Development Plans. He directed the Collectors to work towards declaring the remaining 262 villages as model villages at the earliest. The Central government would provide ₹20 lakh as a gap-filling grant to each selected village for the creation of infrastructure. Drawing attention to the Rising and Accelerating MSME Performance program, the Chief Secretary said it was a World Bank-supported Centrally Sponsored Scheme and Collectors should make it a success.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Central official discusses simplification of laws with Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary
Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand had a meeting with Manoj Govil, Secretary (Coordination) of the Union Cabinet Secretariat, on 'deregulation and compliance reduction for simplification of laws under ease of trade', at the State Secretariat on Friday. Mr. Govil, who is also a member of the Task Force Committee on Deregulation and Compliance Reduction under Ease of Trade, said Andhra Pradesh was at the forefront in making the required changes in laws in line with deregulation and compliance reduction. Steps are being taken to ensure benefits to the people by making changes, additions and simplifications in the old laws in tune with the Central government laws as part of ease of trade, he said. He suggested that the States should strictly adhere to the National Building and take appropriate measures for fire safety in multi- storey buildings. Mr. Vijayanand stated that the State government was taking steps towards deregulation and compliance reduction of various laws. Changes have been made to 76 laws. The government took the lead in bringing technology closer to the people and providing better services timely, espcially through WhatsApp governance through which 520 services have been made available, he said. Steps were being taken to make digital technologies available in every government department. The necessary clearances were being given in a time-bound manner through the single window system to achieve the objective of the Speed of Doing Business. Special Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest and Science & Technology) G. Anantha Ramu, Principal Secretaries Kumar Vishwajeeth (Home), S. Suresh Kumar (Municipal Administration), and Secretary N. Yuvaraj (Industries) and other senior officials took part in the meeting.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CII Partnership Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam on November 14 and 15
The 30th edition of the CII Partnership Summit is scheduled to be held in the city on November 14 and 15. Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand chaired a review meeting with officials at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, emphasising the use of digital platforms for registration and logistical arrangements. A follow-up meeting is planned for July 16, ahead of the Group of Ministers' review. The summit will feature roadshows, exhibitions, and the signing of several MoUs across sectors.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh announces five-point strategy to combat climate change
In a significant move to combat climate change and support the Central government's mission to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has adopted a comprehensive five-point Climate Strategy aimed at enhancing environmental resilience and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand announced the strategy following a high-level meeting with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on Sunday, a press release by BEE Media Adviser (South India) A. Chandra Sekhar Reddy said. The five points were — aggressive implementation of Energy Efficiency (EE) in collaboration with the BEE, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, and Convergence Energy Services Ltd.; accelerated renewable energy deployment under Integrated Clean Energy Policy; an afforestation drive to plant one crore saplings in a single day and 5.58 crore saplings over the next year in order to increase the State's green cover to 50% by 2047; adoption of global best practices in EE; and organising a State-wide awareness and student engagement campaign.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Approval for Adani Group's Pumped Storage Project expansion in Andhra Pradesh draws flak
The approval given by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for expansion of the Adani Group's Pedakota Pumped Storage Project (PSP) from 1,000 to 1,800 MW in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district and the Raiwada PSP from 600 to 900 MW in Anakapalli district is drawing flak from environmentalists. A G.O. was issued by K. Vijayanand, Special Chief Secretary to Government (FAC), on Monday, June 30. The water allocations for both the projects have also been increased. Ironically, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders had raised a hue and cry against the same project, when the YSRCP government had tried to implement the project in January 2023. The TDP leaders had joined the protests, organised by the tribal people, to oppose the conduct of a survey for the proposed project. A survey team, which had visited Pedakota and other villages for the survey in January 2023, was literally chased by the tribal people, making them beat a hasty retreat. Meanwhile, E.A.S. Sarma, a social activist and former Secretary to the Government of India, in a letter to the Chief Secretary Vijayanand, demanded cancellation of the project given to the Adani Group, alleging that the project approvals were given unilaterally without consulting the local tribal people in violation of the PESA Act (Panchyats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996) and Forest Rights Act. He also noted that apart from permitting the enhancement of the project capacity, permission was also given to utilise water from the local stream for the hydro project. Mr. Sarma noted that Pedakota region was notified under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which gives special rights to the tribal people. The government has to obtain prior approval of the tribal people by holding 'gram sabhas' before taking such a decision, which it has failed to do. Hence, G.O. MS no. 51 (Energy) dt 30-6-2025, is not valid, under the law. The tribal people depend on the local stream for their irrigation needs. Diverting 16.547 MCM of water for the project would cause immense loss to them apart from depriving them of their rights. He regretted that political leaders, who should be answerable to the people in a democracy, were going head over heels to satisfy the corporate groups. He reiterated the demand for cancellation of the project.
