Latest news with #Krishnaiah
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
AP is in tprocess of formulating a recycling policy
Visakhapatnam: AndhraPradesh is in the process of formulating a state-level recycling policy, backed by incentives, to promote entrepreneurship, said chairman of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board P Krishnaiah. Speaking at a conference on 'industrial pollution control' organised by CII Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board in Visakhapatnam on Friday, Krishnaiah recalled his experience at the recent expo observing that recyclable industrial waste in South India has been under-utilised compared to the western states. He highlighted the need to embrace a circular economy in minimising waste and recycling. Drawing real-world examples, Dr Krishnaiah emphasised the role of standard operating procedures, daily safety drills, and visible leadership commitment in preventing industrial accidents. 'Safety and environment should come first or second in your progress reviews, not last. Green technologies are no longer optional but essential. Industries have to invest in research, upskill their workforce, and adopt the latest clean technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions as technology is the only long-term solution to mitigate pollution,' he asserted. The conference brought key stakeholders from industry, academia and regulatory bodies to deliberate on sustainable industrial practices, environmental compliance, and policy collaboration. Further, Krishnaiah called on industries to view waste as a resource, citing examples like a textile plant in Ongole that recycles even salt residues. He emphasised the need to reduce plastic use and promote affordable bio-plastic alternatives. In order to drive innovation and environmental excellence, Krishnaiah proposed forming a CII-led Industrial Technology Forum supported by seed funding from the AP Pollution Control Board to drive innovation and environmental excellence. Highlighting the increased sensitivity of global investors towards ESG compliance, chairman of CII AP G Murali Krishna emphasised that future industrial growth hinges on adopting zero liquid discharge systems, real-time environmental monitoring, and robust safety protocols. He called for integrating green standards into core business strategies to align with global expectations on pollution control and clean energy. President and unit head, Grasim Industries Ltd BB Puram S Narasimha Sastry underscored the need to minimise, mitigate, and move forward to achieve global competence in pollution control. Head of the department of environmental science engineering and management, Andhra University Prof S Bala Prasad spoke about the evolving landscape of wastewater management.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
APPCB chief tells industries to prioritise environment and safety
Prioritise environment and safety, not just for compliance, but for competitiveness, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) Chairman P. Krishnaiah urged the industries at the CII conference on industrial pollution on Friday. Stakeholders from industry, academia and regulatory bodies deliberated on sustainable industrial practices, environmental compliance, and policy collaboration. Mr. Krishnaiah, while delivering the inaugural address, urged the industries to accord a top priority to environmental safety and pollution prevention in management reviews. Those aspects should not be just a checkbox before audits, he said. Referring to technology adoption, Mr. Krishnaiah stressed that green technologies are no longer optional, but essential. Technology is the only long-term solution to mitigate pollution, he affirmed. State-level recycling policy Andhra Pradesh is in the process of formulating a State-level recycling policy, backed by incentives, to promote entrepreneurship in the sector. He noted the underutilisation of recyclable waste in southern India. Sharing his experience from the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) Expo, he said India's western States were far ahead in industrial recycling. Mr. Krishnaiah called on industries to consider waste as a resource, citing examples like a textile plant in Ongole that recycles even salt residues. He proposed forming a CII-led Industrial Technology Forum supported by seed funding from the A.P. Pollution Control Board to drive innovation and environmental excellence. ESG compliance G. Murali Krishna, Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the increasing sensitivity of global investors towards ESG compliance. He emphasised that future industrial growth hinges on adopting zero liquid discharge systems, real-time environmental monitoring, and robust safety protocols. S. Narasimha Sastry, president & unit head, Grasim Industries Ltd, BB Puram, underscored the need to 'minimise, mitigate, and move forward' to achieve global competence in pollution control. S. Bala Prasad, Head of the Department of Environmental Science Engineering and Management at Andhra University, deliberated upon the evolving landscape of wastewater management. He introduced the concept of 'water plus'—treating wastewater as a resource rather than a burden. He spoke on the potential of bio-electrochemical technologies that allow wastewater treatment plants to function as chemical refineries, producing value-added outputs like hydrogen, thereby contributing to both sustainability and profitability.
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Amid BRS family feud, Kavitha's Hyderabad rail roko call sets up a litmus test
K Kavitha, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader and daughter of Telangana's former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is set to face a political litmus test on July 17. Amid an unabating feud with her brother and the party's working president, K T Rama Rao, Kavitha has called a rail roko in Hyderabad on that day to demand the implementation of 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BC) in local body elections. She has a formidable ally in BC leader R Krishnaiah, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP. Sources close to Krishnaiah said, 'K Kavitha was the first to reach out from her party to seek a meeting. She convinced (Krishnaiah) to give her a listen even though they are from two different parties.' Kavitha is learnt to have reminded Krishnaiah of the support he gave the BRS during the agitation for Telangana's statehood. Sources close to Kavitha said she is of the opinion that the BRS should regain its stature as a party that starts an agitation whenever there is a need for it. Her brother, widely known as KTR, however, prefers to be in 'governance mode', the sources said. In a media briefing earlier this month, Kavitha had said, 'Isn't BC reservation a matter that the BRS leadership is concerned with? From Telangana Jagruthi, we plan to take up agitation for the BCs.' While Kavitha has won part of the battle with Krishnaiah's support, her stature in Telangana politics will be defined by the success of her rail roko call, which brings up memories of the agitation that the BRS, led by her father KCR, had taken up for the cause of a Telangana state between 2009 and 2014. During this time, the BRS was known as a party born of a people's movement. 'We hope Kavitha can resurrect a similar sentiment among people. She is focusing on a major voting bloc, the Backward Classes,' said a leader close to her. According to a survey conducted by the state government, BCs account for at least 56% of Telangana's population. However, 42% reservation for the BC would breach the 50% reservation cap set by the Supreme Court and would need the Centre's nod for implementation. The Congress government in Telangana, under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, had passed a Bill recommending implementation of 42% reservation for BCs in education, employment and local body elections in the state. While this Bill got the assent of the Governor, it is pending approval at the President's office. BRS's protest is therefore a nudge to the Centre to implement 42% BC reservations, sources close to Kavitha said. 'Other than passing the Bill and visiting Delhi to meet the Congress High Command, Revanth Reddy has not done much to convince the Centre to allow the breach of the 50% reservation cap,' a BRS source said. The rail roko will also bring to the fore the leaders who support Kavitha. 'Clearly, there is a division in the BRS leadership from the top. We need to see how many leaders of the BRS come out in support of the rail roko and how many want to work with Kavitha on the ground,' a BRS leader said.
Hans India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Article 243-D authorises state govt to provide 42 pc BC quota: BJP MP Krishnaiah
Hyderabad: BJP Rajya Sabha Member R Krishnaiah stated that the Telangana High Court recently ruled that local body elections must be held by September 30. The BJP welcomes this verdict. However, 'we demand that the state government immediately conduct local body elections with 42 percent reservations for backward classes (BC), as promised by the Congress party following this ruling.' Addressing the media on Thursday, Krishnaiah said that BJP state president G Kishan Reddy has already expressed his support for BC reservations, a stance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also made clear. The power to grant BC reservations and to conduct local body elections lies with the state government. According to Article 243D of the Constitution, 'this authority belongs to the state. The government must exercise this power and implement BC reservations.' The Congress party promised 42 percent BC reservations in the Kamareddy BC declaration and reiterated this commitment in its manifesto. Elections must be held in line with this promise, he demanded. Some argue that the Supreme Court or the High Court will place a stay on this issue citing a '50 percent ceiling.' This is misleading and amounts to propaganda. He recalled that the Supreme Court has previously indicated that reservations could be extended up to 60 percent through the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) reservation. In earlier cases, the Supreme Court has commented that the 50 percent ceiling is not constitutionally mandated and can be exceeded if necessary. The state government has established a dedicated commission, following the Supreme Court's guidelines, which has completed the BC population census. According to these findings, 'BCs constitute more than 42 percent of the population in the state.' A law was also passed in the assembly supporting the 42 percent reservation for BCs. There are no constitutional or legal barriers preventing this. 'Article 243D grants the state government full authority in this matter. The Supreme Court's judgments and the Constitution do not impede the implementation of these reservations.' The state government has enacted a law in the assembly, conducted a population census, and received a report from the dedicated commission. Therefore, there should be no obstacles to holding elections with 42 percent reservation. The BJP is demanding the immediate implementation of the High Court's verdict, and that elections be held with a 42 percent reservation for the BCs as promised by the state government. All BC associations, political parties, and various state governments are openly calling for local body elections to be held immediately, and there are no legal, constitutional, or procedural barriers for the state government in this issue. All parties supported the state government when it introduced the bill in the assembly concerning BC reservations. There is no need to place the blame for BC reservations on the central government. It has been made clear that it will not obstruct this matter. The responsibility for formulating and implementing laws regarding reservations rests with the state government, which holds strong constitutional authority under Article 243-D. The MP said that justice for the BCs can only be achieved if the state government immediately issues a government order (GO) on BC reservations and proceeds with elections featuring 42 percent reservations. The government must act urgently in this direction. Krishnaiah mentioned that the delay in fee reimbursement from the State government is causing colleges to struggle with paying their lecturers' salaries. As a result, college management has been withholding original certificates and pressuring students to pay their fees. He urged the government to take the initiative to release the fee reimbursement arrears in two or three phases.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP demands govt. to issue Government Order on 42% BC quota
The Congress government has the power under Article 243D to provide 42% quota for the Backward Classes in the local body polls and can issue a Government Order (GO) without putting the ball in the Centre's court, claimed BJP Rajya Sabha MP R. Krishnaiah on Thursday. Talking to the media at the State office, the BC leader welcomed the High Court ruling on holding local body polls within three months and pointed out that his party had already supported the move to enhance the BC quota. Mr. Krishnaiah does not foresee any legal tangles on the way forward because the government has established a dedicated commission and conducted the BC census per the Supreme Court guidelines. The census had clearly indicated that the BC population is more than 42% and the government had enacted an Act in the Legislative assembly; hence, there should be no legal or constitutional issues, he maintained. The MP also wanted the government to clear the pending fee reimbursement dues of up to ₹8,000 crore in phases as scores of students and managements were under duress. CBI probe In a separate press conference, former MLA N.V.S.S. Prabhakar had reiterated the party's demand for a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram project, illegal phone tapping and many other irregularities in the BRS regime. 'Only the CBI can get to the bottom of these scams since the former CM and former Irrigation Minister have been pinning the blame on the engineers and others for the giant irrigation project fiasco,' he added.
