Hyderabad: The nearly Rs 4,000-crore phase-I of the Godavari drinking water project for Greater Hyderabad is about to overcome a major environmental hurdle with the state government giving a green signal to the Water Board to take over 28 acres of forest land in Ranga Reddy district for construction of a master balancing reservoir.

The state forest department has agreed to give away 28 acres of forest land after the Water Board provided it with an equal extent of land in Murmur mandal in Karimnagar.

Hyderabad: Monsoon-dependent groundwater levels in the state have fallen by more than 11 metres in 2012. In 1988, the fall was a mere five metres and in 1998, it fell by seven metres.

Interestingly all this happened despite normal average rainfall in the past two decades. Sharing the aforementioned with this newspaper, Dr K. Venugopal, joint director of the AP Ground-water Department said that what is more alarming is that perennial resource of groundwater in the state is not only declining but has started drying up.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad city, once known for it natural and man-made wetlands no longer boast of these features, thanks to the consumer society that has led to extensive depletion of these swamplands.

Wetlands are the best sources of drinking water; they can also be used as percolation tank. Wetlands help in recharging aquifers and also hold good recreation values and attract many birds and aquatic animals explained environmentalist Farida Tampal, state director World Wide Fun for Nature said, wetlands across the city are disappearing rapidly and one of the main reason for this is pollution caused by waste.

Hyderabad: One-third of schools in rural areas of the state do not have provisions for toilets for girls, while another third has toilets that are either locked or unusable.

This is despite several orders by the Supreme Court over the last two years to ensure provision of toilets in all schools and a deadline of March to comply with. According to the Annual Status of Education Report 2012, only 38 per cent of schools in rural Andhra Pradesh have toilets that can be used by girl students.

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said Andhra Pradesh had become the first state in India to provide food security for the poor with his government’s “Mana Biyyam” (our rice) scheme.

The scheme is aimed at providing quality rice for just Rs 1 per kg through the public distribution system. The scheme will cover nearly 2.2 crore white ration card holders in the state at an annual expenditure of Rs 9,600 crore.

Hyderabad: Reacting for the first time on the discoms’ proposals for a massive power tariff hike, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said on Saturday that the government would not take any decision that would affect the poor.

While participating in a function on Saturday Kiran Kumar Reddy, who also holds the power portfolio, clarified that the discoms had only proposed a power tariff hike and it was for the electricity regulatory commission to consider them and give its verdict.

Hyderabad: The sale of gutka continued on the first day of the ban ordered by the state government. The order has created fear, but has not deterred shopkeepers from selling it. It is no longer displayed in shops as it was done earlier. A sachet whose actual price is Rs 1.50 per packet is now being sold at Rs 3.

A Ranigunj shopkeeper, requesting anonymity, said, “The ban has been imposed without giving any notice. I have got huge stocks, which I want to get rid of before officials come for checks.”

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to impose ban on sale of gutkha, pan masala and other such tobacco products in the state.

State Commissioner of Food Safety had requested the government to permit him to impose ban on gutkha, pan masala and other chewable products, a Government Order (GO) issued on Wednesday said.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad is facing the threat of groundwater degradation beyond recoverable level, warn Indian researchers of a German University.

A team of four researchers from the department of engineering geology and hydrogeology, RWTH Aachen University has taken up studies on the scarcity of water in the mega cities in India. Hyderabad is one of the cities selected for research thanks to its rapid urbanisation and heavy pressure on water resources.

Hyderabad: APPCB Task Force, on Friday reportedly directed immediate closure of about 25 polluting units operating within 10km radius of Osmansagar (Gandipet) and Himayats-agar lakes, the main source of drinking water to the city for not shifting despite repeated notices.

APPCB Task Force reportedly decided to cut off the power of these polluting industries as per the provisions. Leading vaccination companies including the government-owned Indian Immunologicals Limited and others having a foreign partnership in addition to some other government undertakings are amongf:\page3 a total of 55 shortlisted units which are in the process of shifting, have been given some grace period, sources say.