The case of the irregularities committed by the head of the AP Agro-Industries Development Corporation in the tenders&rsquo; invitation for supply of some bio-products for 2011-2012 took a serious turn on Saturday with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy instructing the officials concerned in the CMO to further brief him on the controversial subject.
The Managing Director of the APAIDC, who is the wife of Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu, had floated four tenders for supply of bio-products, fertilizers, micronutrients, controlling agents and chemical pesticides without prior information and disregarding the prescribed guidelines laid down by the Central government.
It is understood that the supply of material mostly pertaining to Horticulture Department which has authorized the nodal agency, APAIDC, for supply of all inputs required for the crops allowing 6 per cent service charge which is uncalled for.
Instead, the horticulture department could have directly invited tenders to save the said 6 percent tax to the advantage of the farmers.
&ldquo;As per the Centre&rsquo;s guidelines, only Horticulture Department was entitled to call tenders and supply the said products to the farmers directly which had been the practice in the country,&rdquo; stated MP Sarvey Satyanarayana.
The APAIDC MD, who after inviting tenders for supply of the cited products last year cancelled the tenders thrice for reasons known to her, which resulted in the companies to move the Court.
It was also found that the terms as laid down in the contract were not framed as per the guidelines formulated by the central vigilance commission due to which reputed companies refused to participate in the tenders.

General News

CM for briefing on irregularities in APAIDC tenders

&nbsp;The state and Israeli government are poised to enter into a partnership to promote Information Technology in Andhra Pradesh with an Israel based IT company setting up base in the city to spread its technical know-how shortly. The state government and the Hi-tech Industries Association (HIA) of Israel will sign a Memorandum of Understanding shortly.
Prior to this, an international meet will be held in Israel capital Tel Aviv from May 29 to June 3. Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who has been invited by the Israeli government, will deliver his key note address on May 29.
The HIA has been identified as one which would promote small and medium IT industries in Andhra Pradesh.
The Central government has already given permission to go ahead with the joint venture, Mr Lakshmaiah told media persons at the Secretariat on Saturday. The Minister informed that the international meet will facilitate the state to further embark on the expansion of IT programme with the HIA.
He expressed confidence that the Joint Venture would promote employment generation, research and development, marketing among others. The cited six-day meet will also facilitate threadbare discussions on trade planning, financial assistance and marketing etc, between the IT partners.
&ldquo;This is the first time that Andhra Pradesh has ventured with Israel. I am fortunate for having been named to deliver the key note address at the international seminar,&rdquo; said the Minister. He added that with a further view to spreading the IT companies, the state government had been attempting to enlist the support of multinational and big companies.
The Bangalore based ITC Infotech is expected to set up its unit in the state shortly, Mr Lakshmaiah disclosed.
The company is likely to provide 4000 jobs in a span of two to three years once it begins its operations here, he added. The ITC officials, who were here, had toured the 2-tier cities &ndash; Tirupati, Kakinada, Warangal, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada to study and finalise one of the aforesaid cities for their operations. The Minister said that, in a week the company will select a city of their choice. The state government is ready to extend all facilities to the company including infrastructure, land among others to suit their requirements.
Senior vice president of ITC Infotech Anand Talwar, accompanied by his deputies, was here to survey the cities.

State to ink MoU on IT with Israel, ITC to set up unit: Ponnala

Rich tributes were paid to former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party founder-president late NT Rama Rao on the occasion of his 89th birth anniversary at the at the NTR Ghat on Saturday.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, his wife Bhuvaneswari, her siblings and party leaders Nandamuri Harikrishna, Nandamuri Ramakrishna and other family members including Jr NTR paid tributes to the legendary actor and former chief minister.
Union Minister Purandareswari, along with her husband Daggubati Venkateswara Rao also visited the NTR Ghat and laid wreaths at NTR&rsquo;s Samadhi.
Actor Junior NTR later told media persons that he was unable to attend the ongoing Mahanadu as he was busy with his film schedule.
&ldquo;The strike by film workers recently has thrown the film shooting schedules out of gear. I have to ensure that my commitments to the producers are kept. I will make sure that I attend the annual conclave next year,&rdquo; the actor stated.
Later, Mr Chandrababu Naidu proceeded to Rasoolpura, Begumpet and garlanded NTR&rsquo;s statue there.

Family, TDP leaders pay rich tributes to NTR on birth anniversary

The deciding eliminator match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai turned out to be once again a thriller in IPL 4. Having won the toss, Sachin Tendulkar&rsquo;s team invited Shahrukh Khan&rsquo;s Kolkata to bat first which piled up a competitive score of 147 with good work from&nbsp;RN ten Doeschate who scored 70 runs of 49 balls although his team lost four top order wickets in first five overs just for 20 runs. &nbsp;
Chasing the score, Mumbai Indians began aggressively with Blizzard hitting the ball all around stadium compiling 81 runs in seven overs in partnership with Sachin. Later on Gambhir&rsquo;s efficient captaincy brought Kolkata back into game with fall of quick wickets making the fight go till last over with seven runs to win. Bhajji finished it with a big six making Ambani&rsquo;s relaxed to see their team fight Royal Challengers Bangalore in Semi Final. Apparently this IPL 4 is a better one for Kolkata team owner Shahrukh as his boys went down fighting.

King Khan fails to make it

Is Sania Mirza, an Indian or a Pakistani? She is the ace Indian tennis sensation who married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik last year amidst high voltage drama scenes. The couple is enjoying married life neither in India nor in Pakistan but in Dubai. Now, a Pakistani magazine &lsquo;Newsweek&rsquo; compiled a list of &lsquo;100 influential women who can shake Pakistan.&rsquo;
This list contains the name of Sania Mirza alongside former federal minister Sherry Rehman, women&rsquo;s rights champion Mukhtaran Mai and Um-e Hassan, the wife of hardline Lal Masjid cleric. When Sania never took the citizenship of Pakistan or for that matter she never resided in Pakistan, how can she influence Pakistanis? Every Pakistani is expressing surprise at Mirza being included in the list.
&lsquo;When Sania is winning games for India, how can we be proud to say she is a Pakistani woman?&rsquo; is the reaction of Paki public and this list is already creating ripples in our neighbor country. Well, good to hear that even one of our Indian Woman is able to &lsquo;Shake&rsquo; Pakistan.

CM for briefing on irregularities in APAIDC tenders

State to ink MoU on IT with Israel, ITC to set up unit: Ponnala

State to ink MoU on IT with Israel, ITC to set up unit: Ponnala

State to ink MoU on IT with Israel, ITC to set up unit: Ponnala

Family, TDP leaders pay rich tributes to NTR on birth anniversary

Family, TDP leaders pay rich tributes to NTR on birth anniversary

Family, TDP leaders pay rich tributes to NTR on birth anniversary

King Khan fails to make it

King Khan fails to make it

King Khan fails to make it

Sania Mirza 'Shaking' Pakistan

Sania Mirza 'Shaking' Pakistan