Page 2 - Andhra Pradesh Government

PM Modi to lay foundation, inaugurate slew of projects in Andhra on Jan 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam on Wednesday to lay the foundation for a few important projects and inaugurate a few others. This will be the Prime Minister's first visit to the state, after he assumed the office of PM for the third consecutive term in 2024. The NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh consisting TDP, BJP and Janasena played a key role in forming the union government. Accompanied by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and others, Modi will lay the foundation for a railway zone at Visakhapatnam. Likewise, he will lay the foundation for NTPC's integrated green hydrogen hub at Pudimadaka, Nakkapalli mandal, Anakapalli district. As part of this project, the public sector company will invest Rs 65,370 crore in three phases. The Prime Minister will virtually launch Krishnapatnam Industrial Hub, a Rs 1,518 crore project coming up on a 2,500 acre land parcel in the first phase. It is expected to generate employment

No HMPV cases in Andhra Pradesh, no need to panic: Health official

There are no reported cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Andhra Pradesh, a health official said on Sunday, assuring the public that there is no need to panic about the virus. Public Health and Family Welfare Director K Padmavathi stated that the virus spreads from person to person, similar to Covid-19, primarily affecting children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immunity. "There are no HMPV cases in Andhra Pradesh. The virus, detected in China, does not warrant any panic," Padmavathi said in an official press release. According to the director, individuals in close contact with HMPV-infected persons are at risk of contracting the virus. She added that it can also spread through coughing, sneezing, touch, and handshakes with infected individuals. Similarly, Padmavathi noted that the disease can spread through utensils used by infected individuals. The symptoms of the disease typically appear 3 to 10 days after infection and include flu-like signs such as cough, .

AP cabinet approves Rs 2,723 cr for Amaravati works, other investments

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Thursday approved two engineering projects worth Rs 2,723 crore for the greenfield capital city of Amaravati, including a 1 million tonne per annum green ammonia manufacturing facility and South India's first integrated energy project, among others. Although the previous YSRCP regime "neglected" Amaravati, Information & Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathy noted that the TDP-led government is taking steps to develop the greenfield capital to world-class standards. It has been decided to undertake development projects in Amaravati with financial assistance from the World Bank, HUDCO, and Germany. As per the directives of these institutions, fresh tenders are being called, said Parthasarathy, addressing a press conference at the Secretariat. Unlike during the YSRCP regime, he stated that several industrialists are now coming forward to set up operations in the southern state. He added that the cabinet has approved AM Green Ammonia (India) Pvt Ltd's

SECI power deals cannot be scrapped without solid proof: Andhra CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the state government cannot scrap power purchase agreements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) without obtaining solid proof of bribery allegations. The Chief Minister's comments assume significance in the backdrop of Adani being indicted by the US Department of Justice over his role in an alleged years-long scheme to pay USD 250 million bribes to Indian officials in exchange for favourable solar power contracts, including from Andhra Pradesh. This allegation was refuted by the Indian conglomerate. The previous YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh is embroiled in this alleged scam with claims that government officials received bribes from the Adani Group, which reportedly amounted to Rs 1,750 crore. We are getting proper documentation and once we get that then we will take action (if there was any corruption involved). If we cancel the MoUs right away then it may lead to legal issues and unnecessary complications, Naid

YSRCP leaders, cadres protest over power tariff hike in Andhra Pradesh

The opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, YSRCP, on Friday took out statewide protests and rallies opposing power tariff hikes in the southern state under the TDP-led NDA government. YSRCP leaders and cadres protested at several places across the state, including Nellore, Chittoor, Krishna, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Kurnool and others. "Within six months' time, Chandrababu (CM) steeply hiked prices (power tariffs), levying an additional burden of Rs 15,000 crore on the people of the state," said YSRCP in a post on 'X'. In Nellore rural constituency, YSRCP leaders A Vijay Kumar Reddy and K Govardhan Reddy participated in the protest. They garlanded a statue of YS Rajasekhar Reddy and then they displayed a video claiming that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had promised not to hike power tariff. At Punganuru in Chittoor district, senior YSRCP leader and former minister P Ramachandra Reddy undertook a rally amid rainfall, demanding the roll back of hiked power tariffs. He wa

Andhra CM meets PM, discusses state's financial challenges, seeks support

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and sought financial assistance for key state projects and discussed the planned ArcelorMittal steel plant. During the 45-minute meeting, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief thanked Modi for extending financial support for the completion of the Polavaram irrigation project and the Amaravathi capital city development. He reported that work on both projects has resumed, an official statement said. Naidu highlighted financial challenges faced by the state, including the previous government's diversion of funds from 94 centrally-sponsored schemes, of which 74 have now been relaunched. He requested special assistance, noting that the previous administration had depleted five years worth of revenue deficit grants in three years. Regarding the upcoming ArcelorMittal steel plant, Naidu requested central assistance for raw material supply and expedited clearances. The chief minister presente

Andhra govt sets panel for SCs sub-classification after top court's ruling

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday appointed retired IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra as the one-man commission to look into the sub-categorisation within Scheduled Castes (SC) in the state following the Supreme Court ruling in favour of it. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has appointed Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, IAS (retired) as One Man Commission to enquire into the sub-classification within Scheduled Castes in the light of judgment of the Supreme Court dated August 1, 2024, said an official press release. The commission will visit the undivided districts of Eluru, Krishna and Guntur from December 27 to 30 to conduct meetings and receive representations from individuals or institutions familiar with the subject matter. Memoranda and representations can also be submitted in person or through registered post at the commission's office until January 9, 2025. In August, the top court had held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the scheduled .

Andhra, PhysicsWallah ink Rs 1,000 cr deal to set up varsity of innovation

The Andhra Pradesh government and EdTech company PhysicsWallah have signed an agreement to set up a University of Innovation (UoI) at an investment of up to Rs 1,000 crore. The UoI is set to emerge as the first institute of eminence in the state and aligns with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's aim to provide the state's youth with education in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. We are committed to investing up to Rs 1,000 crores by GSV Ventures - US and other investors, the purpose is to create an institution that combines academic learning with industry relevance. The UoI will help learners with the skills they might need in a constantly evolving job market, in an attempt to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, said PhysicsWallah founder and chief executive Alakh Pandey in a press release on Friday. The UoI will work towards blending academic excellence, innovation, and research, focusing on addressing key challenges in education and ...

Andhra CM aims to complete Polavaram project by 2026, outlines plans

The TDP supremo alleged that the previous YSRCP government had diverted Rs 2,334 crore from the Rs 8,242 crore released by the Centre and left Rs 2,000 crore in pending bills, among other alleged

Swarna Andhra-2047: CM unveils vision for 'wealthy, healthy, happy' state

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday unveiled the "Swarna Andhra-2047" vision document, aimed at achieving a 'wealthy, healthy and happy' Andhra Pradesh. The chief minister announced it during a public meeting at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here, which encompasses 10 principles (padi sutralu) and one vision to accomplish a golden future for the southern state. Zero poverty, employment, skilling and human resources development, water security, farmer-agri tech and best global logistics were some of the 10 principles. Others include cost optimisation of energy and fuel, product perfection, swachh (clean) Andhra and incorporating deep tech in all walks of life. During the recent second district collectors conference at the Secretariat in Amaravati, Naidu stressed that the TDP-led NDA government's governance will be based on the Swarna Andhra-2047 vision at state, district, mandal and panchayat levels. Naidu introduced the SwarnaAndhra@2047 vision document during the .

ADB approves $789 mn loan to develop Amaravati as smart, green city

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a USD 788.8 million (over ?6,600 crore) results-based loan to Andhra Pradesh for the development of Amaravati as a green and smart capital city that offers world-class infrastructure. According to an official statement from ADB, the loan will be provided in Japanese yen, amounting to 121.97 billion yen. The Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development Programme is designed to transform Amaravati into a growth hub for the region, enhancing economic prospects, providing job opportunities, and improving living conditions of the residents. ADB and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) will bring global expertise and technical support to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, establishing a strong foundation for a dynamic, sustainable, and vibrant capital city, said Mio Oka, ADB Country Director for India. We believe that Amaravati will become a replicable model for not only developing greenfield cities but also for ...

Google eyeing big AI opportunity in Vizag: Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said global tech giant Google and Andhra Pradesh are eyeing a big Artificial Intelligence opportunity in Visakhapatnam. Addressing a district collectors conference at the secretariat, the CM said Google and the southern state have signed an agreement, which would catapult the port city's development. Recently when IT Minister (Nara Lokesh) went to America, he went to Google campus and requested them. And the result of that is today Google has (agreed to come to Vizag). We signed an MoU (agreement) before coming here. We are looking at a big opportunity in AI, said Naidu. After proposing Vizag as a prospective location, the CM said Google executives visited Andhra Pradesh's largest city for a firsthand survey and were totally impressed. If big firms like Google come to Visakhapatnam under strategic investment, that is a game changer, he said, adding that data centres, AI, machine learning (ML) and deep tech, along with internet sea ...

Andhra CM Naidu desires to provide efficient, fast services to people

Information of all departments should be integrated through Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) to monitor it all together, Naidu said during a review with officials of the Chief Minister's Office

BJD delegation meets central govt officials over AP's Polavaram project

A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has met top officials of ministries of environment and tribal affairs in New Delhi and apprised them of adverse impacts of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram irrigation project on livelihood, land and interest of indigenous people in Odisha's Malkangiri district, the party said on Thursday. The team met the central officials on Wednesday. The BJD delegation, led by senior leader and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra, had also met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil in the national capital on Tuesday and apprised him of the potential of submergence of large areas in Malkangiri due to the construction of the multi-purpose project in the neighbouring state. The team met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Leena Nandan and submitted a memorandum to her, highlighting how the Polavaram project would cause extensive damage to the flora and fauna in tribal-majority Malkangiri district of Odisha. The BJD memorandum said, The Polavaram projec

Andhra govt suspends IPS officer who once oversaw CM Naidu's arrest

Investigation by Vigilance and Enforcement wing reveals misuse of government funds amounting to Rs 1 crore during Sanjay's tenure as Director General of Disaster Response and Fire Services

Will develop state by creating wealth, benefiting poor: Andhra CM Naidu

Addressing the local public, the CM promised to transform Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub, adding that special funds would be allocated for Rayadurgam municipality after formulating an action plan

Pawan Kalyan cracks down on illegal rice smuggling at Kakinada port

Expressing serious displeasure, Kalyan questioned how such large-scale rice smuggling could occur undetected at Kakinada Port

SC defers bail plea against Chandrababu Naidu in skill development case

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned till January, 2025, the hearing on an appeal filed by the Andhra Pradesh government against the order of bail to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the skill development corporation scam case. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi an S C Sharma deferred the matter after senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, sought the adjournment. "There is no point in adjourning the matter from time to time. By way of a last opportunity list in the second week of January," the bench said. Seeking a direction to set aside the bail, the state government called Naidu an "influential person" alleging he ensured that two of his key associates (including a government servant) flee the country. "The accused is therefore clearly obstructing the conduct of the investigation and, therefore, ought not to be granted bail," its plea stated. On November 20, 2023 the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted bail to Naidu while noting the discretion to

Highlights: Sebi introduces mark-to-market basis valuation for repo transactions by mutual funds

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Andhra to review power deal linked to Adani Group amid US SEC charges

The Andhra Pradesh government was set to procure 7,000 MW of solar power from Adani Group through Seci aiming to supply cost-effective power to the agricultural sector