Latest news with #Lakshminarayana
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- The Hindu
Ganja chocolates seized, one smuggler arrested
In a joint operation, searches by the police in Coromandel Express train on Friday (July 11), led to the seizure of ganja chocolates from a passenger. Police teams comprising of personnel from Government Railway Police (GRP), Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and the NTR Police Commissionerate and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted raids in the train. Satyanarayanapuram CI S.V.V. Lakshminarayana, Vijayawada GRP Circle Inspector J.V. Ramana and RPF personnel participated in the raids. 'The police teams searched the luggage in general and general and reserved compartments and seized the ganja chocolates. One person, travelling to Chennai was taken into custody,' said Deputy Superintendent of Railway Police G. Ratna Raju. In Eluru In another raid, the Eluru police conducted searches in the running trains at Eluru railway station on Friday. The police teams led by Additional Superintendent of Police N. Suryachandra Rao conducted the checks. 'Following the directions of DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, police conducted the raids on trains. The raids were aimed at checking ganja and drugs smuggling through trains,' said Eluru District Superintendent of Police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Where are the Indiramma houses, asks BJP
The BJP has demanded the Congress government to make it clear if it is really committed to the Indiramma housing scheme to the intended beneficiaries from among the poor. Talking to the media on Wednesday at the State office, vice president Y. Lakshminarayana has accused the government of merely issuing 'receipts' to the identified beneficiaries with the house construction or allotment nowhere in sight despite the promise of providing houses in each constituency every year. 'It has been 18 months since the government has come to power. Are the Ministers concerned really serious about allotting houses or is it going to become another false promise,' he questioned. The BJP leader also criticised the Cabinet Ministers for their 'photo-ops' in having food with the beneficiaries of the fine rice provision as if the State government has been solely funding the scheme. The fact is that five of the six kilos being given to the people through ration shops comes from the central pool, he said. Both the Congress and BRS leaders are involved in the drama of slanging matches over who is more corrupt despite being well aware of the truth as they only want to fool the people, he said. Mr. Lakshminarayana said the general feeling is that the government is not serious about recovering the looted public money in several 'scams' under the previous regime. He also wanted proper implementation of Ayushman Bharat medical insurance scheme in all hospitals.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A.P. govt. urged to scrap the EPC model in irrigation contracts
VIJAYAWADA: Irrigation expert and policy analyst and Andhra Pradesh Samagra Adhyayana Vedika convener T. Lakshminarayana has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to abolish the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract system, calling it a deeply flawed mechanism that enables large-scale misappropriation of public funds under the pretext of irrigation development. it is a 'systematic route for institutionalised corruption' that is looting public wealth in the name of irrigation development, he said. In a press release on Wednesday (July 9, 2025), Mr. Lakshminarayana said the EPC model has its origins in the regime of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The method was introduced under the justification that government engineering departments lacked the capacity to handle large-scale irrigation projects under the Jalayagnam initiative. However, over the time, the model had evolved into a tool that sidelined the State engineering departments and handed full control of design, material procurement, and construction to large contractors, allowing them to operate unchecked. 'EPC weakens role of dept. engineers' The EPC system weakened the role of the Irrigation Department's engineers and enabled a cartel of contractors to dominate public works. 'Many of these contractors started small and now control projects worth tens of thousands of crores. Some even made it into Parliament and state legislatures by pumping hundreds of crores into elections. Everyone knows it,' he stated. The EPC model, far from benefiting farmers, has only served to enrich big contractors and their political patrons. 'Projects have turned into money plants for ruling elites, while canals remain dry and farmers wait endlessly,' he said, pointing out that many mega projects have been stuck for decades despite ballooning budgets. He cited the Telugu Ganga, Handri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari, Veligonda, and Vamsadhara Phase I & II among others as examples of this disastrous trend. Mr. Lakshminarayana cautioned that the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Lift Irrigation Scheme — designed under the same EPC framework— is deeply flawed and riddled with irregularities. 'Now we hear that the government is planning a hybrid model worth ₹81,900 crore involving State, central, and financial institution funding, with the contractor also investing. This raises even more red flags,' he said. Rumours of introducing PPP (Public-Private-People Partnership) in the irrigation sector are also doing the rounds, he added, calling it another layer of privatisation and potential exploitation.
Hans India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Historic Milestone: Rs.9,000 Crores Transferred to 70 Lakh Farmers in 9 Days Under Telangana's Rythu Bharosa Scheme
Gadwal: In a historic move that has brought smiles to the faces of 7 million farming families across Telangana, the state government has successfully credited ₹9,000 crores directly into the bank accounts of farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme within just 9 days. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy hailed this achievement as the first of its kind in the state's history and reiterated that the welfare of farmers remains the government's top priority. Addressing the press at the state secretariat in Hyderabad on Tuesday, flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao, and Excise, Tourism & Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, CM Revanth Reddy emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to transforming agriculture into a festival-like experience for the farming community. 'We have taken a firm and unshakable resolve not just to empower farmers but to celebrate farming itself,' he declared. Despite financial constraints, the government ensured that farmers faced no hardship, the CM added. The initiative has sparked widespread enthusiasm among the rural population, with many farmers expressing joy and gratitude toward the timely support from the state. District-Level Celebrations: Gadwal Farmers Rejoice In Gadwal district, the Rythu Vijayotsavam (Farmer Victory Celebrations) were held with great enthusiasm. At various Rythu Vedikas (Farmers' Platforms), farmers gathered voluntarily to celebrate the rapid disbursal of financial assistance to their accounts. The positive mood was palpable across the district. Jogulamba Gadwal Additional District Collector Lakshminarayana, along with District Agriculture Officer Sakriya Naik, participated in the celebratory event at the Pudur Agricultural Cluster Rythu Vedika in Gadwal mandal. They interacted with model farmers and acknowledged the success of the initiative. Speaking on the occasion, ADC Lakshminarayana highlighted the state government's focus on strengthening farmers financially through the Rythu Bharosa scheme. He revealed that within the district alone, ₹244.65 crores had been deposited into the accounts of 165,336 farmers over the 9-day period. The government's efforts also include the supply of quality seeds and fertilizers, along with crop loan waivers, making agriculture more secure and profitable for the farmers. Virtual Participation and Widespread Engagement Farmers from across the state participated with keen interest in the face-to-face video conference with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The live session was broadcast at local Rythu Vedikas, where farmers listened attentively to the CM's speech, expressing appreciation for the swift and effective implementation of the scheme. The Gadwal event saw participation from agricultural officials, mandal-level officers, and a large number of farmers. The occasion underscored the strong farmer-government partnership that the Revanth Reddy administration aims to foster in the coming decade, with the vision of transforming Telangana's agricultural landscape into one of prosperity and celebration. The Rythu Bharosa scheme has not only delivered critical financial support to Telangana's farmers but also demonstrated the government's capacity to act swiftly and effectively. With the promise of continued support and reforms in agriculture, the state looks poised to lead the country in farmer empowerment and crop production.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
YSRCP levelling baseless allegations on Talliki Vandanam scheme, says Anantapur MP
Anantapur MP Ambica Lakshminarayana has said that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and its leaders are making baseless allegations on the Talliki Vandanam scheme. He said the YSRCP leaders failed to prove their charges that ₹2,000 of each Talliki Vandanam beneficiary is going into the pockets of HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. Speaking to media persons along with the TDP district president Venkata Sivudu Yadav here on Monday, Mr. Lakshminarayana said the NDA government had fulfilled another Super Six promise of financial assistance to every school going children in a house. 'Unable to digest the NDA government fulfilling its promise, the YSRCP and its leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are leveling baseless allegations that ₹2,000 from every beneficiary is going into the pockets of Mr. Lokesh. Even as Mr. Lokesh challenged them to prove the allegations, they have not done so. The previous government also gave ₹13,000 financial assistance under Amma Vodi. Does it mean the remaining ₹2,000 went into the pockets of Mr, Jagan Mohan Reddy?' he questioned. Mr. Lakshminarayana said while there were only 42 lakh beneficiaries under Amma Vodi, the Chandrababu Naidu-led government is giving financial assistance to 67.27 lakh students under Talliki Vandanam scheme. He said the Jagan Mohan Reddy government gave financial assistance to only one child in a household while the NDA government has not put any such rider. 'We have assured to implement the scheme before the start of the academic year and we have fulfilled it,' he said. Mr. Lakshminarayana said students from 29.82 lakh BC students, 11.76 lakh SC, 4.26 lakh ST, 8.44 lakh EWS and 66,500 minority students will benefit from the scheme. He said the previous government had spent just ₹5,000 crore on Amma Vodi while the present government is spending nearly ₹10,000 crore on Talliki Vandanam for the bright future of the students. 'While the State government is implementing the scheme in a transparent manner, Mr. Jagan is making baseless allegations. It is Mr. Jagan who had taken commissions in purchase of chikkis and eggs meant for schoolchildren,' he alleged.
