Parvatipuram-Manyam district’s new Collector N. Prabhakara Reddy on Saturday emphasised the need for seamless coordination among all departments to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes and to meet the government’s expectations.
PARVATHIPURAM\MANYAM: The Andhra Pradesh government has cancelled two Pumped Hydro Storage Power projects (PSPs) of 1,200mw capacity at Kurukutti under Salur mandal and 1,000mw capacity at Karrivalasa under Pachipenta mandal in the district. The previous government led by then Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had given permission to M/s Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) to set up these two PSPs in Andhra Odisha Border (AOB). However, the present TDP led NDA coalition government cancelled the projects due to local issues and at the request of the developer. They also requested to refund the facilitation charges paid by M/s AGEL or else to adjust towards the allotment fee due for 1000 MW Pedakota and 600 MW Raiwada PSP Projects. Chief secretary K Vijayanand issued GO MS 55, cancelling the allotments to AGEL on Monday. According to GO MS 55 issued by government of Andhra Pradesh, New and Renewable Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) has prepared the Feasibility Reports for two pumped hydro storage power projects (PSPs) of 1,200mw capacity at Kurukutti and 1,000mw capacity at Karrivalasa under Parvathipuram-Manyam by engaging M/s. TCE Ltd and submitted to different directorates of CEA. Survey and investigations are to be taken up for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). However, M/s. Adani Green Energy Limited has taken over the responsibility of survey and investigations as well as preparation of DPR in respect of 1200 MW Kurukutti PSP and 1000 MW Karrivalasa PSP Projects after allocation of the projects.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan visited Manyam Parvathipuram district today. During his tour, he laid the foundation for road construction works in the tribal village of Bagujola in Makkavu Mandal. Deeply moved by the poor conditions in the village, Pawan Kalyan announced that a 9-kilometer tar road from Bagujola to Sirivara would be constructed at a cost of ₹9.50 crore. Reflecting on his earlier visits to tribal regions like Paderu and Araku during his Porata Yatra, he recalled identifying three major issues: roads, drinking water, and youth employment. Expressing concern, he stated, “No one ever thought of coming here or building roads until now.” He highlighted that the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, allocated ₹670 crore for backward districts between 2020-22. However, he alleged that these funds were mismanaged during the previous administration. He criticized the prior administration, saying, “They took your votes by claiming injustice was done to them, but couldn’t build a road in five years. They spent ₹500 crore on Rushikonda Palace but failed to construct a road in the tribal area of Bagujola.”
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Saturday directed officials to develop all 268 gram panchayats hosting the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams as model “Zero Liquid Discharge” panchayats to ensure that no sewage enters the river. Reviewing Pushkaram preparations through a video conference with district collectors and panchayat raj officials, he emphasised the need for pollution-free celebrations and comprehensive infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, parking facilities, streetlights, changing rooms and crowd-management arrangements.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Dozens of readers carrying novels, biographies, newspapers and academic texts gather at Central Park every Saturday evening, turning a section of the park into an open-air reading room. The weekly gathering is part of Vizag Reads, a silent reading community that has steadily grown in Visakhapatnam over the past three years. Founded on June 18, 2023 by Shireen Meher, Vizag Reads began as an attempt to create a simple space where people could come together around a shared interest. Three years later, it has evolved into a community that many participants describe as a place for connection, friendship and a break from pace of everyday life. Speaking to TNIE, Shireen Meher said the idea emerged after she returned to Visakhapatnam following several years in Bengaluru, where she had worked in corporate roles, including at Amazon. During that time, she noticed the growing popularity of communities built around interests such as reading, sketching and other creative pursuits in different cities across the country. “Visakhapatnam did not have many active communities. After school and college, it becomes difficult to meet people regularly because friends move away for work or studies. I always wanted to build a community where people could come together around a shared interest,” she said.
PARVATHIPURAM-MANYAM: Parvathipuram-Manyam police on Tuesday arrested 16 people in connection with the brutal murder of a 30-year-old tribal man over suspicion of practising black magic at Velagavalasa village in Parvathipuram mandal in Manyam district. Tadangi Ramesh (30) was brutally killed by the villagers on Monday evening, and they tried to set his body on fire. Based on the deceased family member’s information, Parvathipuram police rushed to the spot and recovered the half-burnt body. ASP Manisha Reddy informed the media on Tuesday about the brutal murder and arrest of 16 suspects. The ASP said Tadangi Gopi of Velagavalasa village had been suffering from fever for the last few days. He had dream that he was being beaten and strangulated by Tadangi Ramesh of the same village. Therefore, Gopi had suspected that Tadangi Ramesh had performed black magic. Later, the residents of Velagavalasa believed the rumours being spread by Gopi’s family members and neighbours about the suspected black magic by Ramesh. Later, a group of people went to the residence of Ramesh, dragged him out, and beaten to death over suspicion of practising black magic.
The Home Department has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to substantially increase the stipend paid to trainee police constables, citing a 13-year delay in revision and severe financial hardship faced by the recruits and their families. The issue concerns around 5,800 constables appointed by the previous government and now set to begin nine months of basic training after clearing all court cases in AP Meagre stipend unchanged for 13 years At present, trainee constables receive a monthly stipend of only Rs. 4,500, an amount reportedly fixed more than a decade ago and left unrevised despite multiple rounds of pay hikes for regular, contract and outsourcing staff in the state. In the same period, the remuneration of home guards has risen to about Rs. 21,000 per month, creating a sharp disparity between trainees and other categories of frontline security personnel. Rising expenses, growing hardship According to the representation, trainees incur around Rs. 6,000 per month on food alone, with additional outlays on training-related and miscellaneous expenses pushing the monthly burden well beyond their current stipend. Many of the recruits are married and supporting dependants, and the existing payment is said to be insufficient even to cover basic living costs during the nine‑month training period. Demand for hike and parity In view of these factors, the Home Department has recommended that the stipend be raised to at least Rs. 12,500 per month, noting that this revision lies within the state government’s powers. Trainees, however, are appealing for a higher enhancement to bring their monthly stipend on par with the remuneration earned by home guards, around Rs. 21,000, arguing that such parity would reflect both present-day living costs and the nature of duties they are preparing to undertake
Parvathipuram Manyam, May 3: Tense situation has prevailed for some time after a man pulled down statue of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at Krishnapalli village in Parvathipuram Manyam district and dragged it for some distance on the road while raising slogans of ‘Jai Jana Sena.’ Supporters of the YSRCP, who have seen him dragging the idol on the road, have stopped the Jana Sena activist and thrashed him. Meanwhile, the local police arrived on receiving information and took the person into the custody. Some said that he was mentally challenged person. The cops registered a case against him and proceed further after taking legal opinion. Parvathipuram YSRCP MLA Alajangi Jogarao has visited the village and enquired with the villagers about the incident. He is taking steps to reinstall YSR statue in the same spot from where it was torn down. The incident has created a sensation in the combined Vizianagaram district.
