Cleanliness as Important as Education: MLA Prasanthi Reddy

Kovur MLA Vemireddy Prasanthi Reddy said that along with education, personal and environmental cleanliness is essential for students’ healthy growth. She visited a ZP High School at Penuballi village in Buchireddypalem mandal on Saturday as part of the government’s “Mustabu” programme, aimed at improving students’ personal hygiene.

Interacting with students, the MLA stressed the need for daily bathing, wearing clean uniforms, trimmed nails, and a neat appearance. She said clean habits protect health, and a disciplined lifestyle builds self-confidence. She asked teachers to create awareness among students about hygiene, including washing hands before meals and after using toilets.

She said the Mustabu programme was designed with special focus by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Nara Lokesh to instil hygiene habits from an early age. Responding to students’ requests, she assured them that cricket, volleyball and shuttle kits would be provided through the VPR Foundation. She also promised to repair the school’s water plant immediately.

Earlier, on the occasion of Swachh Andhra – Swachh Divas, the MLA participated in a cleanliness drive at Jonnawada village, personally sweeping the streets near the Kamakshamma Temple.

She said cleanliness should become part of daily life and is the social responsibility of every citizen. She called on public representatives, officials and people to work together to spread awareness and actively participate in the programme held on the third Saturday of every month.

Several local leaders, officials, students and party representatives took part in both programmes.

District-level cultural and sports meet for revenue staff launched in Chittoor

District collector Sumit Kumar on Saturday inaugurated a two-day district-level cultural and sports meet for revenue department employees at the DSA Sports Ground in Chittoor, aimed at relieving work stress and improving health and leadership skills.

The event was formally launched along with MLC Kancherla Srikanth Reddy, Chittoor MLA Gurazala Jagan Mohan, and Puthalapattu MLA K. Murali Mohan. Around 400 revenue employees from across the district are participating in the meet, which includes 30 indoor and outdoor games.

Speaking on the occasion, the collector said revenue staff work under continuous pressure, especially during emergencies and natural disasters, and such programmes help improve physical fitness, morale, and efficiency. He said the government plans to conduct the event every year and extend similar initiatives to other departments.

MLC Srikanth Reddy said sports help employees overcome daily work stress, while the Chittoor MLA said stress-free staff can resolve public issues faster. Puthalapattu MLA praised the initiative, highlighting the key role of revenue staff in public service from village to district level.

Cultural programmes and prize distribution will be held on the second day at Nagayya Kalakshetram. Senior officials and public representatives attended the programme.

Nimmala on three-day visit to Dubai

Minister for water resources Nimmala Ramanaidu has been on a three-day visit to Dubai at the invitation of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society.

He was accompanied by the Telugu Desam politburo member T.D. Janardhan, who arrived in Dubai on Saturday morning and took part in the ‘Greet and Meet’ programme and unveiled a book depicting the former chief minister NT Rama Rao’s life history.

On Sunday, they took part in Christmas celebrations held under the aegis of the Dubai Telugu Minorities Welfare Association. The NRIs lauded a series of developmental works being taken up in Andhra Pradesh and wished that AP would develop in a big way.

ASI finds tank inscription of Vijayanagara king Sadasivaraya at Pothugal in Kurnool district

The Archaeological Survey of India has found a tank inscription from the time of Vijayanagara king Sadasivaraya at the outskirts of Pothugal village of Krishnagiri mandal in Kurnool district in AP recently.

The inscription is written in the Telugu language, and the characters are dated to the 16th century. It states that Sri Rayasam Vijayya, an officer, donated tank (reservoir)-associated land to the god Sri Mallikarjun Deva as a temple endowment and entrusted it to the Potuganda Mallapa for providing services and burning the perpetual lamp in the temple. Income from the land allocated for maintenance of the tank, its embankment and irrigation facilities.

Further, it mentions the various land measurements and taxes.

RSASTF seizes 12 red sanders logs, three smugglers arrested

The Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) seized 12 red sanders logs and arrested three smugglers during vehicle checks on the Renigunta–Railway Koduru road on Saturday.

Acting on specific instructions, Task Force personnel conducted early morning inspections near the Anjaneyapuram forest checkpost. At around 5 a.m., a biker tried to flee after noticing the police, while a car following him attempted to escape.

During the chase, the car rammed into a stationary lorry and was damaged. The occupants tried to run away, but Task Force personnel caught two suspects, while the biker was also detained.

On inspection, 12 red sanders logs were found in the car. The Task Force seized the car and the motorcycle used as a pilot vehicle and shifted the seized wood and the accused to the Tirupati Task Force Police Station.

Of the arrested smugglers, one is from Renigunta and two are from the Salem district in Tamil Nadu. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Jagan threatening industrialists: Nellore civic chief

Nellore Urban Development Authority (NUDA) chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy on Saturday alleged that former chief minister and Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was threatening industrialists and behaving like a faction leader.

Speaking to the media at NTR Bhavan, Kotamreddy said there had been no change in Jagan’s attitude despite his party winning only 11 Assembly seats and claimed he was unfit to act as Leader of the Opposition.

He accused the previous government of pushing the state into financial trouble by raising massive loans in the name of medical education, alleging that several medical college sites lack proper infrastructure. He said medical colleges could develop effectively only under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which ensures better facilities and patient care.

Kotamreddy said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was encouraging private participation, while Jagan was threatening potential investors. Ridiculing Jagan’s call to collect one crore signatures against privatisation, he claimed the signatures were not genuine but old YSRC election pamphlets.

He also alleged that Jagan threatened people with jail and accused him of accepting kickbacks in the Krishnapatnam Port deal, warning that obstructing the PPP model in medical education would have serious consequence.

Rape accused held, paraded in Ponnur

Ponnur Town police in Guntur district arrested a 19-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a woman and paraded him on a public road before producing him in court, in a stern message against crimes targeting women.

Police said the incident occurred on the night of December 18 within the Ponnur Town police station limits. The accused, identified as Nallamothu Vara Kumar of Chintalapudi in Ponnur mandal, allegedly trespassed into the victim’s house, threatened her with a knife, injured her and sexually assaulted her.

Based on the survivor’s complaint, a case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the investigation was taken up under the supervision of CI Veera Naik.

Police said the public parade was intended to deter offenders and convey that strict action would be taken against those involved in heinous crimes. The CI reiterated zero tolerance towards crimes against women and children and warned that those indulging in unlawful activities would face severe legal consequences.

Control air pollution in Vizag, citizens urge collector

People from various sections of society have urged the district administration to take immediate steps to control rising air pollution in Visakhapatnam.

In a letter to the collector, Greater Visakhapatnam Citizens’ Forum president Sohan Hatangadi and secretary Capt. (retd.) N. Viswanathan said pollution levels were increasing in areas such as Gajuwaka, Malkapuram, NAD, Kancharapalem, Pendurthi and industrial corridors. Residents are facing high dust levels, industrial emissions, foul odours, smoke from waste burning and growing vehicular pollution.

They said air quality index levels frequently enter unhealthy ranges, leading to respiratory ailments and eye irritation, particularly among children and senior citizens. The forum alleged inadequate monitoring of industrial emissions, pointing out that over 50 per cent of Red Category industries are shown as non-operational on the APPCB website, with no punitive action taken.

They also flagged the lack of automatic air quality monitoring stations, noting that nine of the ten stations in the city are manual and not connected to the national grid, contrary to CPCB guidelines. The representatives criticised poor enforcement against dust from construction sites, open garbage burning and ineffective monitoring of vehicle pollution certification.

Bus develops smoke on the Maredumilli Ghat Road

A bus travelling through the Maredumilli area, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, experienced a technical malfunction when smoke suddenly appeared from the vehicle on a ghat road late at night, leaving passengers stranded in the dark.

According to reports, the Kakinada depot bus was navigating through the ghat road when smoke was spotted emanating from the vehicle. The driver immediately brought the bus to a halt as a precautionary measure to ensure passengers safety.

Transport officials who arrived at the scene made attempts to repair the vehicle and resolve the technical issue, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. The passengers were left stranded with no choice and had to walk approximately four kilometres along the ghat road.

Authorities arranged for a replacement bus from the Gokavaram depot, which was dispatched to pick up the passengers.