ANDHRA PRADESH

RTC to introduce 100 electric buses in Andhra Pradesh

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The had set an ambitious target of theAndhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation(APSRTC) converting all its fleet into electric vehicles by 2029. The RTC is going to make a head start by introducing 100electric busesbut the road is too long for it to achieve the target within the stipulated time.

The state government in itsElectric Vehicle(EV) policy document, envisaged to convert more than 11,000 buses owned by APSRTC into electric vehicles by 2029 way back in 2018 but it has taken more than three years for the RTC to make a beginning. The state government set a target to convert 100 per cent of the APSRTC fleet in the top four cities into electric by 2024 in the first phase. Achieving this target would be next to impossible with the present operating conditions of APSRTC and the support it is getting from the government, according to insiders of the corporation.

Another problematic area for APSRTC is that of lack of Infrastructure and skilled manpower to handle electric buses. Tirumala Rao observed that they will have to train drivers, mechanics, and maintenance persons prior to acquiring electric buses.

NEP guides Andhra Pradeshs early childhood education plans

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TheAndhra Pradeshschool Education department is planning to roll out early childhood care and education in a phased manner in Anganwadis, primary and high schools. This would be based on the recommendations made in theNational Education Policy(NEP) 2020.

As part of the programme, pre-primary education would be started in government schools. Under this proposed new model, all the existing Anganwadi Centres will function as YSR Pre Primary Schools with pre-primary (PP1 and PP2) classes. The primary schools in Andhra Pradesh will have preparatory 1st class, class I and class II, and they will be called foundational schools.

In a circular issued by the school education department, director, school education, Chinaveerabhadrudu Vadrevu, asked the regional and district-level officials to follow the guidelines and exercise the possibilities.

It was asked to propose the best mapping of existing schools to transform to the new structure of 5+3+3+4, duly focusing on early childhood care and education and foundational Learning.

Andhra Pradesh: Kribhco to set up Bio-Ethanol project at Sarvepalli in Nellore district

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Tirupati MPDr M Gurumoorthyalong with APIIC andAP industries departmentofficials met Union minister of state for Chemicals and FertilizersBhagawanth Khubaat New Delhi.

The Union ministry of chemicals and fertilizers has directed Kribhco to establish aBio-Ethanol projectatSarvepalliinNelloredistrict within the next six months.
Formal approvals have been accorded by the ministry for establishing the Bio-Ethanol project at Sarvepalli.

This Bio-Ethanol project will bring in the much needed investments to this region besides providing a plethora of EMPLOYMENT opportunities to the local youth.

APIIC had allotted 289.81 acres of land to Kribhco to establish a plant for manufacturing phosphates and DAP (Fertilizer) plant with an of Rs.700 crore. Though the land was handed over to Kribhco in 2015 itself, the project hit a road block due to Logistics and other related issues.

Jagan launches projects worth Rs 986 cr in Narsipatnam

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Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone for a medical college and other developmental works worth Rs 986 crore in Narsipatnam in Anakapalli district on Friday.

He unveiled plaques of Yeleru and Tandava canal link projects, to be built at a cost of Rs 470 crore, as well as the Rs 500 crore Government Medical College at Narsipatnam and Rs 16.60 crore road widening works on Narsipatnam highway.

Announcing that a Tribal university will soon be established in the area, Chief Minister observed that he felt proud to launch various development works and hoped to launch more of the same, with people’s support, in the future.

Andhra Pradesh spends Rs 8,000 crore on Covid-19 management

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TheCovid-19pandemic posted complex and grim challenges to the state besides placing an unprecedented financial burden. But it also presented a unique opportunity for AP to scale up its Health infra and medical care, which will come in handy during future emergencies.

As per the statement made by chief ministerYS Jagan Mohan Reddyduring the recent state-level bankers committee meeting, the state has so far spent about Rs 8,000 crore on multiple interventions for prevention, mitigation and management of the Covid-19.

This expenditure was incurred on establishment of labs, testing, procurement of medicines, ventilators, Oxygen supply, Vaccines, third wave preparation, and other measures.

Andhra Pradeshis the first state to include Covid-19 treatment in the list of illnesses covered under its healthcare scheme (Dr YSR Aarogyasri). In the first wave itself, about one lakh patients availed free treatment underAarogyasrischeme, which cost the exchequer of the state to the tune of Rs 310 crore.

Andhra Pradesh: Centre to grant advance of Rs 10,000 crore for Polavaram project

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The Centre has in principle agreed to grant the advance fund to put thePolavaram project workon fast track. The has been lobbying for the release of advance grant of 10,000 crore for the past several months in order to complete the project as per the deadline in 2023.

The state government already submitted a detailed report on the issue to the Centre. Jal Shakti ministry secretary Pankaj Kumar, reviewed the project progress with the senior officials of Cwc and PPA in New Delhi.

Although the Centre repeatedly promised to fund the project cost, it had kept the granting the approval for RCE based on 2017-18 price level.
The state government contented that it was not possible to complete the project with 2013-14 price level as it was projected at just around Rs 29,027 crore.

However, CWC estimated the cost at Rs.55,656 crore at 2017-18 price level. Subsequently, finance ministry and Jal Shakti ministry appointed a Revised Cost Committee to study the proposals of Technical Adivsory Committee (TAC) of CWC keeping in view of the escalation of the cost by over 50%.

Andhra Pradesh industrial zones to get desalination plants

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The has planned to set up at least four desalination Plants, with the first one inSrikakulamdistrict. The project is estimated to cost around 400 crore.

The desalination of ocean water is also expected to provide massive quantities of water required by the industries at affordable prices besides preventing them from tapping groundwater. In fact, making industries switch to the water source from desalination plant will also help districts facing water shortage.

Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (APIIC) has been directed to take up the project inPPPmode. The state government is setting up the first plant in the industrial zone of Ranasthalam mandal of Srikakulam district.

Andhra Pradesh plans expansion of govt degree colleges

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The on Monday proposed one governmentdegree collegefor every assembly constituency. Chief ministerY S Jagan Mohan Reddyannounced the proposal during his review meeting with officials of the Education department at hisTadepallicamp office.

The chief minister wanted officials to ensure that one degree college is established in every assembly constituency. He also suggested they take over aided colleges wherever it is possible. However, he told officials to not make it compulsory foraided institutionsto surrender to the government. It is not compulsory that aided institutions be transferred to the government as we have changed the aided policy. It is a voluntary decision and is left to the managements of the institutions, the chief minister said.

Andhra Pradesh logs 90% success rate in tuberculosis treatment

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Andhra Pradeshis reporting about 60,000 to 80,000 tuberculosis cases a year. The national TB elimination programme, which was rechristened in 2020, has set a target of 90% treatment success rate.

Andhra Pradesh has consistently achieved over 90% success rate in the last three years. It was 92% up to August this year for the 62,781 cases notified in the first eight months of the year.

When the patient is diagnosed with TB of any organ other than the lungs, such as lymph nodes,pleura, genitourinary tract, intestines, etc., it is called an extra-pulmonary tuberculosis case. It is diagnosed with microbiological, histological, radiological, or strong clinical evidence. The symptoms of the extra-pulmonary tuberculosis mostly depend on the affected site, but the general symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fever, and malaise.

APs north America spl rep gets 1-yr extension

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The has extended the term ofRathnakar Pandugayalaasspecial representative of APfor North America, by another year.

Rathnakar has been mobilising, financial, technical and human Resources from North America for economic, social, cultural and tourism development of Andhra Pradesh since 2019 with the rank of cabinet minister.

Taking the Services of Rathnakar into consideration, the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had decided to give him extension till October, 2022.

Rathnakar is from Kadapa and resident of Marlborough, Connecticut in USA. He had been serving as director of several IT services firms and is founder of Kadapa Innovations LLC. He played a crucial role in making Jagan Mohan Reddys US visit a success in 2019.