TELANGANA

After Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh, neem trees in Telangana hit by dieback disease

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After causing havoc in Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, dieback, a fungal disease, is now inflicting neem trees inTelangana.

Thousands of trees have been hit badly in Warangal, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, Mahbubnagar, Gadwal and other districts. A neem tree begins to dry up and its yield is hit once the fungus infects the tree.

Ironically, neem that has become synonymous with providing good Health to other trees, animals and people through its twigs, leaves, flowers, bark, seeds and fruits has been dying due to the rare pest first identified about three decades ago. Neem is a natural pesticide and now it has become a victim of the pest that attacks only neem trees.

In Hyderabad, scores of neem trees in Alkapur Township are drying up with the infection killing the branches. Fresh cases of dieback infection were reported from Warangal city causing concern among Environment activists. Though the infection was noticed more than two decades ago in Karnataka, it began invading neighbouring Rayalaseema in the last five years. From Rayalaseema, it entered Telangana.

Now, Telangana government plans to promote IT in tier-III towns

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After creating information technology (IT) hubs in tier-II towns in the state, the government is now contemplating to develop similar in tier-III towns.

If the governments plans work out,new IT towerswould come up in tier-III towns like Ramagundam in Peddapalli district and Wanaparthy district headquarter apart from Nalgonda, atierII town and district headquarters within a year. The IT department had already developedIT towersin Warangal, Khammam and Karimnagar, while the ones at Siddipet, Nizamabad and Mahbubnagar were under construction.

The government has been promoting setting up new IT towers with a purpose to decentralise IT development, which will provide EMPLOYMENT opportunities to locals. Secondly, the present move would also decongest the IT corridor, especially in the western part of the city, and there would not be any infrastructure problem in tier-II and III towns.

Drillmec to invest $200 million in setting up global oil rigs manufacturing hub in Hyderabad

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Italian oil and gas rigs manufacturerDrillmec SpA, which is a subsidiary of Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), is investing $200 million (approx. Rs 1,500 crore) in setting up a global manufacturing hub at Shahabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
As part of the new ,Drillmecwill be setting up a manufacturing facility for oil rigs and ancillary equipment, R&D centre as well as a centre of excellence for imparting training in cutting-edge technology in this sector. Drillmecs investment is expected to create job opportunities for about 2,500 people.

The Italian player also inked a Memorandum of Understanding with theTelanganagovernment on Monday morning in the presence of Drillmec CEO Simone Trevisani and Telangana Industries ministerKT Rama Rao.

As part of the agreement, Drillmec SpA and the Telangana governments department of industries & commerce will also be floating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for setting up an equipment manufacturing unit.

Drillmec SpA CEO Simone Trevisani said the Italian player is also interested in future investment in the Hydrogen fuel project in India.

57% spike in cybercrime a worrying trend in Telangana

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The overall crime rate in the state has increased by 4.4% and the jump is manily because of a massive 57% rise in cybercrime according to Police.

For the year 2022 the overall conviction rate was 56%, and among these conviction cases, 152 led to life imprisonment.

The report by police also pointed out the rising instances of cybercrime cases, which saw the number jump from 8,839 in 2021 to 13,895 in 2022.

Power bills set to go up in Telangana from April 2022

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Power consumers in the state will have to shell out more towards electricity bills from April 2022 withSouthern Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TSSPDCL) and Telangana Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSNPDCL) seeking to increase 50 paise per unit for low tension (LT) domestic consumers and Re 1 per unit for all other categories, including LT commercial and high tension (LT) consumers.

As a result of the proposed hike, the power utilities are set to mop up an additional revenue of Rs 6,831 crore.

The discoms submitted power tariff proposals to theTelangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The TSERC will conduct a public hearing to seek opinion from people and organisations before finalising or approving the power tariff hike for the year 2022-23.

Both the discoms said that while the annual aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) for the coming financial year is Rs 53,054 crore, the present revenue earnings, including government support, is Rs 42,126 crore, thus leaving a Revenue Deficit of Rs 10,928 crore. The deficit will be bridged in the form of hike in power charges to the tune of Rs 6,831 crore and another Rs 4,097 crore from internal efficiency and governments support, they said.

Telangana has collected 4,228 crore asGoods and Services Tax(GST) in November, among the lowest in southern states. However, the state logged an 8% increase (3,931 crore) compared to the same period in 2021. However, the state showed buoyancy inGSTcollection, despite the fact that the state had a negative growth (-5%) in November 2020 compared to the corresponding period in 2019.

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Among southern states, Kerala had registered a negative Growth (-2%) from the previous years collection.Andhra Pradeshled the way with 14% growth rate followed by Karnataka (13%), Nadu(10%), and Kerala (9%). Apart from three southern states, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Haryana, andMaharashtrahad showed a 10% or higher increase in GST collection in November 2022 compared to 2021.

Meanwhile, the finance department has reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that the state earned 23,493 crore in GST revenue till October this year. GST collection was estimated to be 42,189 crore in the budget for 2022-23, with 55% of the budget already earned. This is also a 5% increase over the November 2021 figures, when only 50% of the budgeted GST was achieved. Till October, the state had earned tax income of more than 70,000 crore. In November 2022, the countrys GST hiked by 8% compared to Nov 2021.

TSRTC Logistics eyes Rs 1 crore per day

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To increase income from the Division of the state-runTelanganaState Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), the corporation had tied up with other logistics firms and government departments including the Indian Railways and the Postal Department to expand its reach to all parts of the country and offer seamless Services to citizens.

Currently, the corporation delivers anywhere between 15,000 to 18,000 parcels and makes about Rs.25 lakh per day through logistics services. It is planning to increase number of parcels being transported and the income generated to about Rs.1 crore per day.

After Unesco tag, renewed focus on Telangana’s Ramappa temple

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Ramappa temple, a 13th-century architectural icon and an engineering marvel that earned the coveted Unesco heritage tag three months ago, was the highlight of the presentation given byTelanganagovernment officials at an ongoing tourism and culture ministers’ conference in Bengaluru.

Situated in ‘s Warangal, the temple stands on a six-feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.

Five states — Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu — and three Union Territories — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry and Lakshadweep — are taking part in the event.

A large number of iconic and historic heritage sites are located in the southern region of India.
India at present has 40 World Heritage Sites, both cultural and natural, spanning across the length and breadth of the country.

Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Ramappa Temple is the newly-formed state’s first World Heritage Site.

The temple, named after its architect, Ramappa, was proposed by the government as its only nomination for the Unesco World Heritage site tag for 2019.

Telangana climbs to 2nd spot in NITI Innovation Index

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Telanganamoved up two places up to grab the second spot on the ‘s India Innovation Index-2021, with an overall score of 17.66 and just behindKarnataka(18.01). In 2020, Telangana was placed in fourth position behind Karnataka,MaharashtraandTamil Nadu.

The icing on the cake, however, for Telangana is that it has been ranked numero uno in the performers category with a score of 15.24 this year. In the enablers category, however, the state, with a score of 20.08, has been rated at No. 4 behindHaryana, Karnataka and Punjab.

Telangana, which has a gross state domestic product (GSDP) per capita of 1,73,672, performed within the expected range in parameters of business Environment (36.54), Human Capital, Investment, knowledge workers in the enablers category and in knowledge output in the performance category.

Thetigercorridor fromMaharashtratoTelanganas Kawaltiger reservehas lately become a haven for tigers. The tiger population in the corridor leading toKawaltiger reserve, especially Adilabad, Nirmal and Asifabads Chennur, Sirpur and Kagaznagarforestdivisions, have seen an increase in tiger population in recent years.

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However, with multiple impediments such as widening and upgrading of roads, national highways and RAILWAY lines that cut through the tiger corridor and encroachments of forest land, experts say that tigers entering in search of sufficient prey and territory are now constantly under threat due to the boost in developmental activities.

Wildlife conservationists also said that development activities such as recent decisions by the Telangana State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) clearing several proposals for BT roads within the Protected Areas and areas falling within the tiger reserve can be a huge hindrance for tiger movement.