andhra pradesh current affairs 2017 - studyiq than 20% of the 53 million people in andhra pradesh...
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Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs 2017 October November December
TIRELESSSOUL
GauravGarg888
AIIBgrantsRs.13,000cr loantoAndhraPradesh
China-sponsoredAsianInfrastructureInvestment Bank (AIIB)approvedUSD2millionloan(Rs.13,000crores)forfiveprojectin AndhraPradesh
Monthsago,thestate government hadsentproposalstotheUnion Government seekingaidforfiveprojectswhichincludestworoadsand
buildingsdepartment,oneeachforruralsafedrinkingwaterdepartment,municipalandurbandevelopmentdepartmentand Panchayat Rajdepartment.
AndhraPradeshplanssopstopullinRs30,000croreinvestmentinelectric-vehiclesindustry
AndhraPradeshisseekingtoattractRs30,000croreofinvestmentsintheelectric-vehiclesindustrythrougharaftofincentivesthatwouldincludecapitalsubsidiestoautomakers
andcharging-equipmentmanufacturers,helpingIndiaachieveitsstatedgoalofdrasticallylimitingtheuseoffossilfuelsforitssurface-transportationneeds.
NewDelhihasproposedswitchingtoan'electricity-only'fleetby2030,butisyettoannounceacomprehensivepolicy
Itisworkingonazero-subsidyelectric-vehiclepolicy,withfiscalincentivessuchastaxwaiversorholidaysforvehicleandbatterymanufacturersandsubsidised land.Thepolicy
awaitsapprovalofthefederalcabinet.
Thestateplanstoinvitetendersforprocuringelectricvehiclesthroughthestate-runEnergyEfficiencyServicesLtd(EESL).
TataMotorsandMahindra&MahindrahaveemergedaswinnersforanEESLtenderseeking10,000e-vehiclesforfourcentralgovernmentdepartments.
JapanwantstocollaboratewiththeAndhraPradeshgovernmenttomakeanelectric-vehiclescityinthestatethat'shometoIsuzu,KiaMotorsandHero
Motocorp factories.
Recently,ToyotaKirloskar MotorssignedapreliminaryagreementwiththestategovernmenttointroduceelectricvehiclesinAmaravati.
AndhraPradeshgovernmentsignsagreementswithAlphabetXforFibergridproject
ThegovernmentofAndhraPradeshhasenteredintoanagreementwiththemoonshotfactoryofAlphabet(earlierGoogle)- X- tobringthebreakthroughFreeSpaceOpticalCommunication(FSOC)technologyinordertoprovideinternetthroughthegovernment
Fibergrid project.
ThisassociationwithXlabstoimplementFSOCinAPisfirstofitskindintheworldtoprovidewirelessinternetconnectionatahigherspeedofupto20Gbpsandtoadistanceof
upto20kms.
Thissignificantpartnershipwillofferamajorboosttothestate'sdigitalinfrastructureandhelpovercomehindrancesintermsofconnectingisolatedanddifficultterrain,forestareas,
rivercrossings,railwaycrossingsetc."
Lessthan20%ofthe53millionpeopleinAndhraPradeshcurrentlyhaveaccesstobroadbandconnectivity.
Inordertobridgethisgap,thestategovernmentandtelecomserviceproviderAPStateFiberNet havebeenworkingonaninitiativecalledAPFiberGridtoconnect12millionhouseholdsandthousandsofbusinessesby2019.
Alphabet'sXwillalsosetupalocalofficewiththehelpoftheGovernmentofAndhraPradeshinordertoproviderealtimesupportforsmoothoperation
oftheproject
ThetechnologywasoriginallyusedbytheProjectLoonteamtobeamdatabetweenballoons,butitcanalsobeusedclosertoearth.
FSOC linksdeliverhigh-speed,high-capacityconnectivityoverlongdistancesusingbeamsoflightwhichissimilartohowdataistransmittedthroughfiberopticcablesusinglight,butunliketraditionalfiber,one
doesn'tneedtodigtrenchesorstringcablealongthepoles.
Expertpanelfavours nodfornewnavalbaseinAndhraPradesh
ClearingthedecksforanewnavalbaseatRambilli inAndhraPradesh,anexpertpaneloftheUnionenvironmentministryhasrecommendedgrantingtheproject,pendingsinceJanuary
2010,“in-principleapproval”.
TheprojectforsettinguptheNavalAlternateOperatingBase(NAOB)involvesdiversionof676.12hectaresofforestlandinRambilli andKalavalapalli regionsofVisakhapatnaminAndhra
Pradesh.
ItwasfirstsubmittedtotheForestAdvisoryCommittee(FAC)oftheUnionministryofenvironment,forestandclimatechange(MoEFCC)inJanuary2010.
Thebaseisexpectedtohouseseveralconventionalandnuclearwarshipsaswellasnuclearsubmarines.AnewbaseintheeasternregionhasbecomecrucialforIndiawithChinarapidly
expandingitsnavalpowerandincreasingitsinfluenceintheSouthChinaSea.
AndhraPradeshsmartcitiestobereadyby2021
Thefour'SmartCity'projectsin AndhraPradesh wouldbecompletedbyfinancialyear2020-21,Hardeep SinghPuri,theunionministerofstate(independentcharge)for
housingandurbanaffairs.
Purisaidthe'smartcity'projectswereunderwayin Kakinada,Visakhapatnam,TirupatiandAmaravatiinAndhraPradesh,and greaterWarangaland Karimnagar inTelangana
state.
Amaravati andKarimnagar areintheprocessofengagementofprojectmanagementconsultants(PMCs)
Theimplementationofthesmartcitiesmissionisbeingdonebyacity-levelspecialpurposevehicle(SPV)incorporatedundertheCompaniesAct,2013inwhichthestate/UTandurbanlocalbody(ULB)willbethepromotershaving50:50equity
shareholding
India'sleadingbatterymaker,Amara RajaBatteriesLtd(ARBL)commissioneditstwo-wheelerbatteryPlantattheAmara RajaGrowthCorridorinChittoor,Andhra
Pradesh.
Inthefirstphase,theplantwillhaveacapacityof5millionunits,whichwillbeeventuallyscaledupto17millionunits.
ThiswillcallforanestimatedinvestmentofRs700Crtakingthetotalcapacityfortwo-wheelerbatteriesto29millionunits.
Theplantwillemploy1300peopleatfullcapacity.
AndhraPradeshroostersgroomedinTelangana
AnimalrightsactivistsinTelanganastateandAndhraPradeshwantdistrictauthoritiestoimplementanimalwelfareandprotectionlaws.
ThisdemandbytheAnimalWelfareBoardofIndiaandothergroupscomesinthewakeofreportsofprizedcocksbeingreadiedinTelanganastatedistrictsforthecockfightsinAndhraPradesh.
Despitetherebeingclearrulesaboutanimalwelfare,reportsofthecocksbeingreadiedforfightswerepouringin.
CockfightingarerampantinvillagesandtownsinEastGodavari,WestGodavari,KrishnaandGunturofAndhraPradesh.
Itisbelievedthatbetsofabout`1,000croreareplacedeveryyear.
TheHighCourtinDecember2016hadorderedAndhraPradeshgovernmentnottoallowcockfightsduringSankrantiandissuedaseriesofdirectionstoensurethattheydidnottakeplace,particularly
inWestGodavari,EastGodavari,KrishnaandGunturdistricts.
OnecrorehomestogetInternet,rent-freephoneservicefromDecember 2018
MORETHAN1crorehouseholds,50,000schoolsandeducationalinstitutions,allgovernmentoffices,morethan5,000governmenthospitalsandhealthcentres andallpanchayat officesinAndhraPradeshwillstartgettingInternetandrent-freetelephoneandcableTVfromnextDecemberafterPresidentRamNathKovinddedicatedthe
state’sFibregrid Project
Fibre GridprojectalsotermedasTriplePlay2Servicesenvisagestoprovideinternet,televisionandtelephoneservicestomorethanonelakhhousehold
ThePresidentsimultaneouslydedicatedtheAndhraPradeshSurvelliance Project,adroneproject,tothenationatstatesecretariatinAmaravati.
TheAndhraPradeshStateFibernet Limited(APSFL),whichisimplementingtheAPFibre Gridproject,willprovidethreeservicesattariffsstartingaslowasRs149for5
GBat15MBPSspeed and250TVchannelsandafreetelephoneconnection.
Acloud-basedvirtualclassroomservicewillbenefitstudentsinruralareas,andthespreadingofInternetserviceswouldhelpinhealthcareusingtele-medicine.
Theuseofdroneswouldhelpingettingreal-timeinformation,whichinturnwillhelpthegovernmentanddistrictadministrationstoimprovesafetyandpolicing
TheAPSFL,nowthecountry’slargeststategovernment-ownedtelecommunicationcompany,hasalreadylaidmorethan23,000kmoftherequired55,000kmofoptical
fibre cablesin13districtsofAndhraPradesh.
LessawarenessamongwomenhindersOSCgrowthinAndhraPradesh
LackofawarenessaboutSakhi OneStopCentres (OSC),whichprovideasingle-windowsolutiontofemalevictimsofviolence,ishinderingtheprogressofsuch
facilities.
TheUniongovernmentcameupwiththeconceptofthecentretoprovidelegal,medicalandrehabilitationfacilitiestothewomenwhohadbeensubjectedtoseveral
kindsofviolence.
Followingthenorm,thestategovernmentissupposedtosetupitineverydistrictwithacentraladministrator,legal,medical,socialcounsellorsandother
administrativestaff.
ThefirstOSCin AndhraPradesh,whichstartedoperatingasapilotprojectin Krishna districtfromJanuary2016,wasannouncedinAugust2015.
Later,suchcentres weresetupin13districtsacrossthestate.Thecentre,situatedinVijayawada
Athree-daytrainingsession,beganinVijayawadaforprovidingorientationtoofficialsofOSCsfrom13districts,todevelopabetterunderstandingaboutseveralformsofgender-based
violence,aswellasrelevantprovisionsofOSCtodealwithit.
AndhraPradeshHitByChildMarriageMenace
ThemenaceofChildMarriagereachedatalarminglevelinAndhraPradeshasitregistered32.3percent. Itwashighestagainstthenationalaverageof24.9
percent inthecountry.
Theofficial statisticssays, RajasthanregisteredthehighestnumberofChildMarriagesat 40.8percentfollowedbyBihar(39.6),MadhyaPradesh(34.1)andJharkhandreported32.9percent.AndhraPradeshstoodfifthpositionin
childmarriagesinthecountry.
InGuntur district alone,54percentchildmarriageswerereportedandtheUNICEFalreadywarnedthegovernment.Mostofthedeliveriesbyminorgirls
wereregisteredfromPalnadu areainthedistrict.
Fluoridehits2.28lakhpeopleinAndhraPradesh
Asmanyas2.28lakhpeoplein349habitationsacrossAndhraPradeshareaffectedbythehighfluorideconcentrationinthedrinkingwater.
Thedrinkingwatercontainsexcessfluoridein11outofthe13districts,whereasallthe13districtshaveareaswithexcessofnitrateinthem.
Chodavaram,Narsipatnam,andMadugula areasmostlycontainexcessivefluorideandnitrate.
AssessmentoffluorideindrinkingwaterisbeingdonebythestategovernmentsthroughlaboratorytestingforwhichtheUnionministryisassistingtheStates
throughNationalRuralDrinkingWaterProgramme.
StatepreparesDesignatedTechnologyPark2017-20policy
AndhraPradeshstategovernmenthaslaunched‘DesignatedTechnologyParkakaDTPPolicy2017-2020’inAmravati.Asclaimed,itisafirstofitskind initiative inthecountry,
aimed tosolveofficespacecrunchforITcompanies inthestate.
ThosewhowanttosetuptheirunitsinAndhraPradesharefacingashortageofofficespaceasreal-estatedevelopersareskepticalabouttheirbusinessesandnotbuilding
officespaces,asperthestategovernment.
The mainobjectivesofDTPpolicyare torolloutincentivesonprovidingofficespacesforITcompaniesandgiverentalguaranteeforreal-estatedevelopersforbuildingoffice
spacesforIT.
Underthispolicy:
AndhraPradeshElectronicsandITAgencywillrentprivatebuilt-upspacesfromapprovedreal-estatedevelopersandallotthemtoITcompaniesat 50%subsidy.
Forreal-estatedevelopers,thegovernmentwillgive 50to70%rentalguarantee forbuilt-upofficespacesforaperiodof18to36months.
Thosewhodevelop1lakhto2lakhsq.ft.ofofficespacewillbegivenarentalguaranteeforaperiodof18months,whileitis24,30and36monthsforthosewhodevelop2-3lakhsq.ft.,3-4lakhsq.ft.andmorethan4lakhsq.ft.ofofficespacesrespectively.
AndhraPradeshstategovernment aimstocreateonelakhITjobsby2019andonecroresq.ft.ofofficespace tofacilitatethesame.
Govtwill bringdowntheapprovaltimeforofficespacesforITcompaniesfrom1yearto50days.Furtherreduceto21dayssoon.
ItisfurtheraimingtomakeVizag,thehubforInformationTechnologyinthestate.
FinTech valleyisbeingdevelopedinVisakhapatnamandglobalcompaniesworkingonlatesttechnologiesincludingBlockchain arebeingattractedtosetuptheirunits.
Recently,AndhraPradeshalsobecamethefirststateto joinhandswithHyperloopTransportationTechnologies tobringfuturistictransportationsystemtothestate.Andhra
PradeshtogetIndia'sfirstHyperloop;travelfromAmaravatitoVijayawadainjust6minutes
SouthKoreanCity'likelytocomeupinAndhraPradesh
A'SouthKoreaCity'isexpectedtocomeupinAndhraPradesh's newcapitalAmaravati orelsewhereinthestateasChiefMinisterNChandrababu Naiduinvitedindustrialistsfrom
theEastAsiancountrytosetuptheirventures.
Govtwillextendfullco-operationandencouragementfromthegovernmentifyoumakeAndhraPradeshyoursecondcapitalandsetupindustriesinabigway.
GovtwilldevelopaSouthKoreanCity,onthelinesofBusan inyourcountry.
ShowcasingSouthKoreanautomobilegiantKiaMotors,whichissettingupitscarmanufacturingunitinAnantapuramu district,asthemascot,thechiefministertriedtowoootherindustrialistsfromtheEastAsian
nationtothestate.
AndhraPradeshtobuysolarpowerfromKadapa plant
AndhraPradeshhasagreedtobuyelectricityfromKadapa SolarPark,whereasubsidiaryofFrance'sEngie wona250MWsolarauctionheld
byNTPCsevenmonthsagowithoutanybuyerfortheoutput.
GovthasreachedanagreementwithNTPCtobuypowerfromitsproposed250MWplantatKadapaprovideditisbundledwith125MWcapacityofthermalpowersothatthetariffislowerthantheRs
3.15perunitNTPChadinitiallyproposed.
UDAY?Andhra– 13thJharkhand1st27th Mizoram
Onlystates thathave notjoined itareOdishaandWestBengal.
AndhraPradeshkeentodevelopKoreanclusterprojectwithKIAMotorsasanchor
AndhraPradeshisseekingtodevelopaSouthKoreanCityproject inAndhraPradeshwhereKIAMotorsislikelytobetheanchorindustryalongwithaclutchof
otherancillaryindustriesintheautomotivesector.
TheAndhraPradeshEconomicDevelopmentBoardhassignedanMoUwithTier-2andTier-3ancillariesofKIAMotors,referredtoastheKoreanAssociationin
Chennai,fortheproject.
APEDBlooksatcommitmenttobringindirectinvestmentofapproximately Rs. 10,000croretoAndhraPradesh throughtheKoreanCluster
Project.Thishasthepotentialtogenerateemploymentforapproximately45,000persons.
KIAMotorshadearlieroutlinedplanstoinvestabout$1.1billiononagreenfieldplantinAnanthapur district
ofAndhraPradesh.
TheprojectissettocomeupatastrategiclocationclosetoKrishnapatnam portandalsotomajorcities.
AndhraPradesh,GatesFoundationtojoinhandstohelpfarmers
TheAndhraPradeshgovernmentandtheBill&MelindaGatesfoundation(BMGF)willformapartnershiptoimplementa“digitalinnovationprogramme”forfarmersin
thestate.
Theprojectwasannouncedatthethree-dayAPAgtech summit2017whichwasinauguratedbyAPchiefministerN.Chandrababu Naidu
Sixty-twopercentofthestateisdependentonagriculture,whichisgrowingat10%(peryear)
Andhragovernmenthadachievedanoverallgrowthrateof11.6%lastyearandthattheaimwastoreach15%ormore.
AndhraPradeshgovernmentsignsMoUswithUAEfirms;$7.5billioninvestmentexpected
TheAndhraPradeshgovernmenttodaysignedtwomajordealswithDubai-basedfirms,whichcouldnetatotalinvestmentof$7.5billionforthestate.
TheAPEconomicDevelopmentBoardsignedamemorandumofunderstandingwithAviationCityLLPfordevelopinganaerocityhubinAndhraPradeshwithaninvestment
of$5.5billion.
TheBoardsignedanotherMoUwithBinZayed Groupwhichpromisedtoinvest$2billioninvariousinfrastructureprojectsinthestate.
TheAPgovernmentwillhavetosecure10,000acresoflandfortheproposedaerocityhub- thelocationisyettobedecided
BinZayed InternationalLLCwillpartnerwiththeAPgovernmentforvariousinfrastructureprojects.
TheseprojectsincludeVijayawadaMetroRail,Bhogapuram InternationalAirport,themultipurposeportatRamayapatnam,majorarterialringroadandinnerringroad(locationsnotspecified)andBhogapuram-Bhimili andVisakhapatnam-
Addaripeta beachcorridors.
India'sfirstEMCiscomingtoAndhraPradesh
India'sfirstElectronicManufacturingCluster(EMC)willbecomingto AndhraPradesh.
The GovernmentofIndia,throughtheMinistryofElectronicsandInformationTechnology(MeiTY),hadannouncedin2012aboutsettingupan EMC inIndia,with
grant-in-aidforestablishingsuchclusters.
An EMC isdesignedanddevelopedforprovidingfacilitiesandamenitiesformanufacturingmobilesandalliedproducts.
In2015,the AndhraPradesh governmentannouncedthefirstexclusivemobileandelectronicmanufacturingclusterinthenewcapital, Amaravati.
ASpecialPurposeVehicle(SPV)calledSriVenkateswara MobilesandElectronicsManufacturingHubPrivateLimitedwasformed.
TheSPVCompanyhasappliedforthefinalapprovaloftheproject.ThreemajorIndianmobilemanufacturers- Celkon,Karbonn andLavahavecomeforwardto
establishtheirunitsinthe EMC
AnanchorunithasbeenformedinthenameofSevenHillsDigitalParkPrivateLimitedforthethreecompanies.Itwillbeinvolvedinmanufacturingofaccessoriestomobilephonesandotherrelatedelectronicequipment.
AndhraPradesh ChiefMinister NChandrababu Naidu hasallotted113.27acresoflandforthenewcluster,through AndhraPradesh IndustrialInfrastructure
Corporation(APIIC).
GlobalconsortiatosetupspacecentreinAndhraPradesh
CANEUSInternational,engagedinsatelliteandspacetechnology,hassignedatripartiteagreementwiththeAndhraPradeshEconomicDevelopmentBoard(APEDB)andthe
AndhraPradeshStateSkillsDevelopmentCorporation(APSSDC)toestablishaCentreofExcellenceonSpaceSciencesandTechnologiesforDevelopment(CoE4SSTD)atHindpur
inAnantapur.
TheCoE4SSTDisexpectedtohelpbuildcapacitiesandcapabilitiesinspacescienceandresearch.AndhraPradeshwillpartner,collaborateandassisttheCoE4SSTDandhelpaligntheStatewiththe2030AgendaforSustainable
Development.
Thecentre willbesetupon60acresoflandinHindupur,andcreateopportunitiesfor500highlyskilleddirectjobsandover1,000indirectjobsin
AP.Theprojectislikelytobecompletedbytheendof2018
TiE toopenAndhraPradeshchapter
TheIndusEntrepreneurs(TiE),aglobalnetworkofentrepreneursofIndianorigin,isopeningtheTiE Amaravati Chaptertogroomentrepreneurshipinthe
newstate.
ThechapterwillhavearegionalpresenceinVisakhapatnamandTirupati.
BesidesIT,Itwillfocusonagriculture,manufacturingandfoodprocessing.
TentativelynamedAndhraAngels,thenetworkwouldhave100members,eachhavinginvestmentappetiteof Rs. 1croreinaspanoftwoyears.
AndhraPradeshishostingitsfirsteverhot-airballoonfestival
The Araku ValleyofAndhraPradesh ishostingthefirsteditionofitsHotAirBalloonFestival.
Araku Valley isaHillstationinVisakhapatnamdistrict
TheHotAirBalloonFestivalisorganizedby SkyWaltz andsupportedbyAndhraPradeshtourism.
Thefestivalwillfeatureuniqueballoonsfrom 13countries.
TheparticipatingcountriesareIndia,Australia,USA,BrazilandSouthKorea.
TheExtraordinaryshapedballoonsliketheSeahorse,theKiwi,theBeeandmuchmorearelinedupinthefestival.
AndhraPradeshtoamendlawinquesttoboostdigitalpayments
TheAndhraPradeshgovernmentisconsideringanamendmentto theShopsandEstablishmentActtoboostdigitalpaymentsovercash
transactions,aspermediareports.
ThestategovernmenthastiedupwithfinancialservicescompanyVisa tointroducedigitalpaymentforarangeofstate-ownedservices
frombusestoLPG
ThepaymentsystemwouldincorporatelatesttechnologiessuchasQuickResponse(QR)codeandNear-FieldCommunication(NFC)to
makepaymentseasierandmoreefficientforbusinesses
ThegovernmentandglobalpaymentprocessorVisa’scollaborationhasintroducedcontact-lesscards,usingBharatQR,foravailing18
busesoftheAPStateRoadTransportCorporation.
Theprocesscanbefollowedtopayforelectricitybills,watertax,orbookingLPGcylinders
Aspartofthegovernment’sVizag DigitalDhan Sankalp (VDDS)project,thepaymentservicehasbeenactivatedforpropertyand
watertaxpaymentsatGreaterVisakhapatnamMunicipalCorporation,state-runAPSRTCbusservice,andutilityservicesofEasternPower
DistributionCompanyofAPLtd.
Allinall,themainaimofthedigitaldriveistoturn VisakhapatnamintoIndia’sfirst“less–cash”cityaswellasaFintechvalley.
Vizag Blockchain conference,atwo-dayeventthatconcludedonOctober10,2017.
AndhraPradeshstategovernmentintendstocreatethreelakhjobs.
ThisincludearoundonelakhjobsinITwhiletwolakhjobsintheelectronicssector,inthenextfiveyears.
TheannouncementwasmadebyITMinisterNaraLokesh duringtheVizag Blockchainconference,atwo-dayeventthatconcludedonOctober10,2017.
Healsoannouncedthat Tirupati whichisbeingpromotedasthestate’selectronicshubhasalreadyattractedsome $154Mn investments.
Also,electronicscompanieslike Zoho,Dickson(LCDmanufacturer),Celkon,Karbon,Lava,andMunoth (LithiumBatteriesmanufacturer)have planned to
setuptheirmanufacturingplantsinthecity.
Whileninecompanieshavealreadystartedtheiroperationsandinvestedaround
$100Mn inAmaravati
AsaprecursortotheBlockchain conference,theAndhraPradeshgovernmentinpartnershipwithKPMG,IDFCandFullerton hadinitiatedafintechstartup
challengespanningthreecategoriesinAugust2017tosensitise fintechverticalandblockchain platformamongthestartups.Thecompetitionreceived80
entriescollectively.
HCtosplitbyJune,homefoundforAndhraPradeshcourtinVijayawada
Thecommonhighcourt(HC)atHyderabadfor AP and Telangana islikelytobesplitbytheendofnextMay.
ThedevelopmentfollowstheCentre'sapprovalforthecourt'sbifurcation.
Thechosenhomeofthecourt(tillJusticeCityiscompletedatAmaravati)islikelytobeMedha TowersnearVijayawada'sairportatGannavaram.
Muchofthemodalitiesofthesplithavealreadybeenworkedout,with18ofthe33judges,includingActingChiefJusticeRamesh Ranganathan,ofthecommonHC
choosingtheupcomingHCatAP.
AndhraPradeshrevokesordertocheckplantingofMonsantoGMcotton
AndhraPradesh,aleadingcottonproducing-state,haswithdrawnanorderaskinggovernmentofficialstoinspectfieldsplantedwithanunapproved
varietyofgeneticallymodified(GM)cottondevelopedbyMonsantoCo,theworld’sNo.1seedmaker.
Farmersinthestatehaveplanted15%ofthecottonareainthestatewithBollgard IIRoundupReadyFlex(RRF), promptingthelocalgovernmenton5Octobertoformapanelofofficialstoinspectthefieldsoffarmersgrowing
RRF.
Bollgard IIRRFisaproprietarytechnologyownedbyMonsanto,whichlastyearwithdrewitsapplicationseekingapprovalfromtheregulator,GeneticEngineering
AppraisalCommittee(GEAC),forthisvariety.
ItisnotclearhowBollgard IIRRFseepedintosomecottonfieldswithouttheapprovalofGEAC.
MonsantoappliedforGEACapprovalofBollgard IIRRF,knownforitsherbicide-tolerantproperties,in2007.
WhentheUScompanywithdrewtheapplicationlastyear,itwasinthefinalstagesofalengthyprocessthatincludedyearsoffieldtrials
NewDelhiapprovedthefirstGMcottonseedtraitin2003andanupgradedvarietyin2006,helpingtransformIndiaintotheworld’stopproducerandsecond-largestexporter
ofthefibre.
MonsantoislockedinabitterbattlewithaleadingIndiaseedcompany, Nuziveedu SeedsLtd,drawingintheIndian
andUSgovernments
Malakondaiah tobenextAndhraPradeshDGP
TheStategovernmentisallsettoappointMMalakondaiah,seniorIPSofficerof1985batchandAPSRTCManagingDirectorasDirectorGeneralof
Police.
Gandhotsavam held
Theannual‘Gandhotsavam’(sandal-smearingceremony) washeldattheKasumuru dargah nearNelloreamidthe
participationbydevoteeswhoarrivedfromdifferentpartsofAndhraPradeshandneighbouringStates.
Kadapa Dargah peethadhipathi Arifullah Hussain presidedoverthe‘Gandhotsavam’bysmearingthesandalpasteonthetomb
ofMastan Vali there..
ParliamentpassesIndianInstituteofPetroleum&EnergyBill,2017
TheParliamenthaspassedTheIndianInstituteofPetroleumandEnergy(IIPE)Bill,2017afteritwasadoptedbyRajyaSabha.
LokSabhaalreadyhadpassedthebillinAugust2017. TheBillestablishestheIIPEatVishakhapatnam,AndhraPradeshasaninstitutionofnationalimportance.
TheIIPEaimstoprovidehighqualityeducationandresearchfocussing onallaspectsandthemesofpetroleum,hydrocarbonsandenergy.
Itwillactivelypursueresearchanddevelopmentinthefieldssuchasliquefiednaturalgas,biofuels andrenewables.
Background
TheIIPEisbeingsetupatVisakhapatnamaspartofapackagepromisedbytheCentretoAndhraPradeshafterTelanganawascarvedoutofit.
Theinstitute’sdevelopmentwasenvisagedbyTheAndhraPradeshReorganisationAct,2014(Telangana), whichhaddividedAndhraPradeshintotwostates.
AndhraPradeshGovernmenthasprovided200acrelandatVishakhapatnamandCentralgovernmenthasmadeaprovisionofRs650crorefortheinstitute,which
wasbeingmentoredbyIIT,Kharagpur.
Kapu reservationbillpassedinAndhraassembly
TheAndhraPradeshassemblyunanimouslypassedtheKapu reservationbillwhichwillprovidethecommunitywitha5percentquotaineducationandemploymentin
thestate.
However,Kapu quotaifissued,oneoftherulingTeluguDesam Party’selectoralpromisesin2014,willtakethetotalquotainthestateto55percent, whichismore
than50percentlimitrestrictedbytheSupremeCourt.
AndhraPradeshCMNChandrababu Naidutoldtheassembly,“As5%ofreservationtoKapus makestotalreservationexceed50%,centralgovtnodiscompulsory.
AlsodecidedtoextendreservationstoKapu,Telaga,Balija andOntaricommunitiesonthebasisofthereportsubmittedbyManjunath
Commission.
TheKapu community,with27percentpopulationinthestate,hasbeendemandingreservationsfordecades.
InAndhraPradesh,25percentreservationisprovidedtoBCs(A,B,C,Dcategories),backwardMuslimcommunitiesBC(E)have4percent
reservation,SCs- 15percentandSTs- 6percenttotalling 50percentreservations.
NewspeciesofgeckodiscoveredinAndhraPradeshafter5-yearstudy
AnewspeciesofgeckowasfoundintheEasternGhatsinnorthernAndhraPradesh.
Thereptile,whichisendemictothearea,wasidentifiedasadifferentspeciesafterafive-yearstudy.
NamedaftereminentherpetologistSushil KumarDutta fromOdisha,Hemidactylus sushilduttai orDutta’s Mahendragiri geckoisthe32nd speciesofhousegeckos(Hemidactylus)fromIndia,andamongthelargestinitsgenus.
Thegenushasaround90speciesacrosstheworld
HomeMinistryconductsMultiStateMegaMockTsunamiExercise2017
TheMinistryofHomeAffairs(MHA)conductedMultiStateMegaMockTsunamiExercise2017alongtheentireEastCoastin31coastaldistrictsacrossfourStates.
ItwasconductedthroughNationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)andIndianNationalCentreforOceanInformationServices(INCOIS).
Theexercisewasoneofvariousactivitiesconductedaspartofobservationof2ndWorldTsunamiAwarenessDay(observedonNovember5)
Theexercisewassimultaneouslyconductedin31coastaldistrictsacrossfourStates- WestBengal,Odisha,AndhraPradeshandTamilNadu- andUnion
TerritoryPuducherry alongtheentireEastCoast.
Thedisasterscenariowillsimulatetsunamiwavesoriginatingduetoahigh-intensityearthquakeneartheAndamanandNicobarIslands,whichwilllead
toamassivetsunamialongtheEastCoast.
Participantsfrom11PacificIslandcountrieswillobservetheentireexercisetotakeawaykeylessonsandbestpracticestobeadoptedwhilepreparingfor
andrespondingtoadisastersituation.
Etikoppakaartisans - GItag
ThemoodisupbeatinEtikoppaka villagelocatedonthebanksoftheriverVaraha inVisakhapatnamdistrict,astheGeographicalIndicationRegistryhasgiventheGeographicalIndication(GI)tagtothetraditionaltoysmade
bytheartisansinthevillage.
TheGIisanameorsignusedoncertainproductswhichcorrespondtoaspecificgeographicallocationororigin.
Asperthenorms,goodsandproductshavingthetagarerecognised fortheirorigin,qualityandreputationandthiswouldgiveustherequired
edgeintheglobalmarket.
Accordingtotheartisans,theartismorethan400yearsoldandithasbeentraditionallyhandedovertothembytheirancestorsthroughgenerations.
Thetoysareuniquenotonlyinshapeandformbutalsothematerialused.Theyaremadeofwoodandpaintedwithnaturaldyes.Thereisnoheavymetalortoxic
contentandthatiswhyitisunique.
Thenaturaldyesarepreparedfromseeds,lacquer,bark,rootsandleaves.
Thewoodusedisfrom‘Ankudi Karra’(Wrightia tinctoria) treethatissoftinnatureandtheartisalsoknownasturnedwoodLacquercraft.
TheEtikoppaka toysnowjointheeliteproductsfromAndhraPradeshsuchasKondapalli toys,Bobbili Veena,Tirupati laddu,Srikalahasthi Kalamkari,Uppada
Jamdani sarees andShadowpuppets.
Nirmala Sitharaman commissionswarshipINSKiltan inIndianNavy
DefenceministerNirmala Sitharaman commissionedtheindigenously-builtanti-submarinewarfarestealthcorvetteINSKiltan attheEasternNavalCommandin
Visakhapatnam.
Kiltan isthelatestindigenouswarshipafterShivalik class,KolkataclassandsistershipsINSKamorta andINSKadmatt tohavejoinedtheIndianNavy’sarsenalwherein
aplethoraofweaponsandsensorshavebeenintegratedtoprovideaCommonOperationalPicture(COP),anofficialreleasesaid.
ItisIndia’sfirstmajorwarshiptohaveasuperstructureofcarbonfibre compositematerialresultinginimprovedstealthfeatures,lowertopweightandmaintenance
costs.
INSKiltan isalsothefirstmajorwarship tohaveundertakenseatrialsofallmajorweaponsandsensorsasapilotprojectandisreadytobeoperationally
deployedonthedayofjoiningtheIndianNavy.
Inthefuture,itwouldalsobeinstalledwithshortrangeSAMsystemandcarryanintegralASWhelicopter
ThisisthethirdofthefourKamorta-classcorvettesbeingbuiltunderProject28.
Theshiphostsapredominantlyindigenouscutting-edgeweaponsandsensorssuitewhichincludesheavyweighttorpedoes,ASWrockets,76mmcaliberMediumRange
gunandtwomulti-barrel30mmgunsasclose-in-weaponsystem(CIWS)withdedicatedfirecontrolsystems,missiledecoyrockets(Chaff),advancedElectronicSupportMeasuresystem,mostadvancedbowmountedsonarandairsurveillance
radarRevathi.
TheshipderivesitsnamefromoneoftheislandsinAminidivi groupofthestrategicallylocatedLakshadweepandMinicoygroupofislands.
VenkaiahNaidulaysfoundationstoneforNationalWaterway-4inAndhraPradesh
VicepresidentVenkaiahNaidulaidthefoundationstoneforthefirstphaseofthe2,890-kmNationalWaterway-4(NW-4) atAmravatiinAndhraPradesh.
ThefirstphaseinvolvesdevelopmentofawaterchannelfromMuktyala toVijayawadaonKrishnariveralongwithfourfloatingterminalsandthreefixed
terminalstohandlecargooperations.
TheinlandwaterwaywasdeclaredNationalWaterway-4inNovember,2008withatotallengthof1,078km.UndertheNationalWaterwayAct,2016,thiswas
increasedto2,890km.
TheNW-4wouldbedevelopedinthreephases.
Inthefirstphase,the82kmstretchfromMuktyala toVijayawadawillbedeveloped.
Thiswouldbefollowedbythesecondphasewhere233kmwillbedevelopedfromVijayawadatoKakinadaandRajahmundrytoPolavaram
onGodavaririver.
ThethirdphasewillconnectCommamur canal,BuckinghamcanalandthebalancestretchesofriverKrishnaandGodavariacross573km.
Nohelmet-Nopetrolrulecomesintoforce
AndhraPradeshgovernmenthasdecidedtoimplement“Nohelmet,Nopetrol”ruleinthestatewithimmediateeffect.
ChiefMinisterNChandrababu Naidugavegreentoofficialsondirectingthemthattherulemustbeimplementedinallpetrolbunksacrossthestate.
TheChiefMinisterannouncedthatRs10crorewouldbereleasedtoprocureequipmentusingaspartofroadsafetymeasuresbytransportandpoliceofficials.
TU142AircraftMuseuminaugurated
PresidentRamNathKovindinauguratedtheTU142AircraftMuseum,thefirstsuchmuseuminthecountry,ontheBeachRoadVISAKHAPATNAM inthepresenceofGovernorE.S.L.Narasimhan andChiefMinisterN.Chandrababu Naidu.
Mr.NaidupresentedTU142souvenirsandPedana “kalamkarikanduva”tothePresident.
Themuseumisthefirstofitskindwithawalk-throughforvisitors.
TheVisakhapatnamUrbanDevelopmentAuthority(VUDA)oversawtheexecutionofthe₹14-croreprojectcomprisingthemuseumcomplex,TUflight
simulator,anaudio-visualroomandsouvenirshop.
Theproject,seenasamajortouristattractionwiththeSubmarineMuseumacrosstheroad,isfundedbytheAPTourism.
TheVUDAwillrunthemuseum,setupononeacreoftheAndhraUniversity,incoordinationwiththeNavyandtheA.P.Tourism.
ThedecommissionedTU142wasflowninfromtheArakkonam baseoftheNavy,dismantled,transportedandreassembledintothemuseum
BangladeshNavyShipSomudra Avijan onagoodwillvisittoVishakhapatnam
BangladeshNavalShipSomudra Avijan arrivedVishakhapatnamonafour-daygoodwillvisittotheEasternNavalCommandon16October
17.
Priortothearrival,theshipcarriedoutPassageExercisewhichincludednavalmanoeuvres intheBayofBengalpriortoentering
intotheport.
TheBangladeshNavyshipwasaccordedawarmreceptionbyofficialsfromtheENCandEasternFleetwiththeIndianNavalBand
inattendanceonarrival.
APCMNaidureceivesGoldenPeacockAwardinLondon
AndhraPradesh ChiefMinisterN Chandrababu Naidu hasreceivedthe'GoldenPeacockAward'underthecategory- GlobalLeadershipinPublicServiceandEconomicTransformation- ataconvention
in London
Givingapresentationatthe17th London GlobalConventiontoattract investments duringhisacceptancespeech,Naidusaid,"InQ1,2017-18,APregisteredagrowthrateof11.72percentdoublethe
country'saverage.
Chandrababu Naidulaunches'Swachh AndhraMission'onGandhiJayanti
AndhraPradesh ChiefMinister Chandrababu NaidulaunchedSwachh AndhraMissionontheoccasionofGandhiJayanti.
Aceshuttler PVSindhu,whohasbeenchosenasthebrandambassadorofSwachh Andhraoccasion.
Stateisworkingonmakingthestate100%ODFbyMarch2018.
NRCBsignsagreementwithAPgovt.
TheNationalResearchCentreforBanana(NRCB),Trichy,hassignedamemorandumofcooperationwiththeAndhraPradeshgovernmentandwouldserveasaknowledgepartnerindevelopingtechnologiesrelatingtobanana
production.
NRCB,aninstitutionundertheIndianCouncilofAgriculturalResearch,willbethe‘knowledgepartner’indevelopingtechnologiestowardsvaluechainmanagement,supportingbananaexport,organicproductionandwaste
utilisation.
AndhraPradeshistheleadingproducerofseveralcropsincludingbanana.Thepostharvestlossesbeing25-35%,specialimpetuswasgiventofoodprocessing
industry.
India’sfirstOlympicswimmer,Shamsher Khan,dead
Shamsher Khan,thecountry’sfirstswimmerwhohadparticipatedinthe1956Summer Olympics diedathis
nativevillageRepalle,Guntur
Mr.Khan,92,diedofheartattack
APYuva Sadhikarika Nirudyoga Bhruthi Scheme– UnemploymentAllowanceforYouths
Thestategovt.ofAndhraPradeshisgoingtolaunchAPYuva SadhikarikaNirudyoga Bhruthi UnemploymentAllowance Scheme.
Accordingly,eachunemployedyouthwillgetanallowanceofRs1500permonthtillthetimecandidatestheywillgetjob.
Subsequently, AndhraPradeshgovt. willlaunchthisschemeinordertobenefitaround10lakheducatedandjob-lesscandidates.
Allthecandidatesbetweentheagegroupof18-35yearscanapplyforthisscheme.
Thisschemeisapplicabletoonly1unemployedcandidateinafamilywhohaspassedthesenior
secondary(12th)examination.
Furthermore,AndhraPradeshgovt.willgivethisfinancialassistancesothatthecandidatescanpursueskilldevelopment.Thisschemewillsurelyresultin
gettingappropriatejobforjoblessyouths.
Chandranna Pelli kanuka SchemeinAndhraPradeshforMarriageofBCs
ThestategovernmentofAndhraPradeshhasallsettolaunchChandranna Pellikanuka Schemeforbackwardclasseswhich
willprovidethemfinancialassistanceatmarriage.
Thisschemewillbelaunchedonthedayofthenewyear2018.
TheobjectiveoftheschemeistoprovideamonetaryincentiveofRs.30,000forthegirlsofBackwardClassesduringtheir
marriage.
Underthescheme,thestategovernmentwillselect40,000couplesfromBackwardClassacrossthestatetoprovidethemfinancialassistanceof
Rs.30,000ontheoccasionoftheirmarriage.
UnderChandranna Pelli kanuka Scheme,thegovernmentwillprovide20%ofPelli kanuka beforemarriageand80%onthedayofmarriage.
Inaddition,ThegovernmentwillalsoprovideRs.2lakhcompensationfornaturaldeathundertheChandranna Bima.
Togetthebenefitoftheschemewillhavetosubmittheapplicationformbyonlinemodeepass.apcfss.inorbygoingtoanyMee Seva
center.
Belowgivensomestepsofeligibility:-
ThisschemeisonlygirlsofBPLcategoryinthestate.
ThebeneficiaryshouldhaveWhiteRationcardsunderthepovertyline.
Thebridemustbeabove18yearsofageandthegroomabove21.
TheminimumeducationalqualificationofClassXshouldbecompulsory.
Thisschemeonlytopeopleofbelowpovertylineandwhohavewhiterationcard.
Kakinadabeachfestivalkickedoffon19Dec
Fullpledgedarrangementsweremadeforconductingthree- dayKakinadabeachfestivalfrom19toDec21
atNTRbeach.
Helicopterrides,paragliding,flowerexhibition,watersportsandothereventswereplannedduring
thesethreedays.
AndhraPradeshinkspactwithMIC
TheStategovernmentandMakeinIndiaKoreaCenter(MIC)signedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)tosetupKoreaIndustrial
ComplexintheState.
AspertheMoU,theAndhraPradeshCentrewillbeestablishedatBusan inSouthKorea.
TheMICwillalsoconductoutreachprogrammesinKoreaforthepromotionofinvestmentandbusinessinAP.
JICAtoextend₹1,200-crloantoAndhraPradeshtoimprovefarmproductivity
JapanInternationalCooperationAgencyhassignedanagreementwiththeGovernmentofIndiatoprovideOfficialDevelopmentAssistanceloanof21,297
millionJapaneseYen(approximately₹1,200crore)toAndhraPradesh.
TheloanisfortheWaterResourcesDepartmentandallieddepartmentsinAndhraPradeshcovereing “AndhraPradeshIrrigationandLivelihood
ImprovementProject(Phase2)(TrancheI).
TheODAloanisconcessionalat1.4percentinterestrateforprojectactivitiesand0.01percentinterestrateforconsultingservices,and30yearsofrepayment
period(including10yearsofgraceperiod).
InAndhraPradesh,thegapbetweenpotentialirrigatedareaandactualirrigatedareaishuge(over1.1millionha)duetoalargenumberofaged
irrigationsystems.
Ascultivationneedstorelyonrainfall,productionandqualityofcropsinthosecommandareasarenotstable.
APhasputastrongemphasisonpromotingFarmersProducersOrganisations(FPOs)inordertoenhanceproductivityandincomeaswellastoreducethe
burdenoffarmingexpenses,however,theseareinearlystagesofdevelopment.
JICAhaspreviouslycommittedapproximately407billionJapaneseYen(approximately₹23,000crore)
underJICA’sODAlendingsupportforvariousprojectsinAndhraPradeshandTelangana
AndhraPradeshcontemplatesRs80,000croreGodavari-Pennar riverlinkproject
TheAndhraPradeshgovernmentiscontemplatingtotakeuptheinterlinkingofGodavariandPennar rivers.
TheprojecthasanestimatedcostofRs80,000croreandwillenablestorageofabout1500thousandmillioncubicfeet(tmcft)ofwater.
WAPCOS,earlierknownasWaterandPowerConsultancyServicesLimited,haspreparedadetailedprojectreportandsubmittedittoChiefMinisterN
Chandrababu Naidu
Itaddedthatinall320tmcft ofGodavarisurpluswatercouldbedivertedtoPennar throughaliftscheme,whichwouldrequire3,625MWofelectricity.
Asmuchas7,000acresofforestlandand25,000acresofotherlandswouldhavetobeacquiredtocompletetheGodavari-Pennar inter-linkingproject,thecommuniqué
stated.
Itsaidthattwotunnelshavetobedugbetweenthe(under-construction)PolavaramprojectandPrakasam BarragewhileareservoirhastobebuiltatBollapalli.
Canalsstretchingtoalengthof701kmalsoneedtobebuiltbetweenPolavaram andSangam Barragecoveringatleastfivedistricts
Oncetheinter-linkingoftheseriversiscompleted,statecanstore1500tmcft ofwater
PhoenixGrouptosetup₹325-crricemillinAndhraPradesh
TheDubaiheadquarteredPhoenixGroup, aglobalagriculturalandfoodcompany,planstosetuparicemillwithaninvestmentof$50million(₹325crore)toprocess
250,000ofnon-basmatiriceperannumatKakinadainAndhraPradesh.
The$2-billionagriculture-focussed companyhasalsosoundedoutbankstoprocurestressedassetinfoodprocessingandricemills.
Thecompanyhasraised$205million(about₹1,300crore)throughaconsortiumofsevenbanksledbyStandardCharteredBank,Singapore.
ThecompanyplanstoinvesttheremainingamounttoboostitsricebusinessinMozambique,BeninandIvoryCoastasdestinations,andIndiaasorigin.
BiometricattendancemustatAndhraPradeshgovernmentoffices
The AndhraPradesh governmenthasmadetheinstallationofbiometricattendancesystemsandeoffice facilitymandatoryinallgovernment
departmentsincluding district-leveloffices
hestatealsoconstitutedathree-membernodalauthoritytomonitorandensuretheimplementationofthee-officeandbiometricattendancesystems.