Karimnagar

Another farmer committed suicide by consuming pesticide due to failure of crop and increasing debts in Reddipalli village of Veenavanka mandal on Tuesday.

Hyderabad

Keeping his pre-election promises, the Chief Minister Dr.Y.S.Rajasekharareddy on Tuesday announced two major decisions a special economic assistance scheme for farmers who had committed suicide and completion of 24 pending irrigation projects estimated to cost Rs. 26,000 crores in the next five years.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Reddy announced a one-time settlement scheme with a ceiling of Rs.50, 000/- for clearing all outstanding debts taken by the farmers who had committed suicide. Another component would be an assistance of Rs.1 lakh to the next kin not as ex-gratia but to enable the family members to stand on their own legs.

This would be extended to all cases of suicide after July 1st, 1998. The Chief Minister said applications would be called for getting this assistance and a committee comprising the RDO, the DSP, the local MLA and Sarpanch would be constituted for go into causes, verifying the claims and settling the debts. He said that the Information Technology policy would be continued and all concessions extended to the sector.

Visakhapatnam

The Sarpanch of a panchayat in the agency area of the district has gone to the extent of claiming funds and rice under the Food-for-Work programme for some works done under the supervision of PWG naxalitees alleged the banned organization. People with the help of PWGG at Tokalapalem village 15 years ago built an irrigation tank.

However, Jurra Rambabu, president of Gujarala village who the PWG said was corrupt and an expert at deceiving people had red clay sprinkled over the tankbed with the help of one person of the adjacent Turukuru village and drawn funds and rice. The secretary of Galikonda area in a recorded audio statement, which was sent to newspapers, alleged that corruption was rampant in ongoing development works in Koyyuru mandal.

He demanded that all details of sanctioned works and funds allotted to each work should be made public. Those indulging in corruption cannot escape the final verdict of people, he said.

Cuddapah

The Vigilance DSP Moorthy and staff raided the house of the brother of the TDP MLA of Rayachoti S.Palakondarayudu at Masapet in Rayachoti town on Tuesday and seized 495 bags of Food-for-Work rice valued to Rs.2 laks. The DSP handed over the rice to the Rayachoti MRO and would forward a report on the seizure to the Joint Collector.

Ongole

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Chief spokesperson and MLA elect from Chirala has asserted that the Congress Government is committed to fulfilling all the promises made to the people during the electioneering.

Events and happenings on 18 May in History

18 May 2001
Highlights: CM donates 1000 Bags of Fertilisers to farmers

18 May 2002
Highlights: Vice President lays foundation stone for ICH

18 May 2003
Highlights: YSR falls ill - Paadayatra program suspended for a day

18 May 2004
Highlights: YS Rajasekhara Reddy announces aid for suicide victims kin

18 May 2005
Highlights: Explosives unearthed in Adilabad

18 May 2006
Highlights: Police nabs Alukkas decoity culprits within 48 hours

18 May 2007
Highlights: Bomb blast at Mecca Masjid