Visakhapatnam July 17: The district administration is yet to take up the cloud seeding project for the region though it has been cleared by the state government recently. Cloud seeding would be carried out in Raiwada region as per the government orders. In its order the state asked the collector to consult Prof. T. Sivaji Rao, director of Environmental studies, and his associates who had earlier carried cloud seeding successfully in the district.

Hyderabad July 17: Oil marketing companies on Thursday said power cuts imposed by the state government were responsible for the acute shortage of diesel in several parts of Andhra Pradesh including Hyderabad. Construction companies, commercial complexes and various other establishments which use generators are keeping heavy stocks of diesel fearing that it may not be available in the coming days. Normally, 1.5 lakh litres of diesel is consumed every day in the twin cities, but the consumption has gone up to 2.2 lakh litres in the last few days because of the power-cut induced

Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), fully owned by the Gujarat government, is planning to spend Rs 4,000 crore over the next three to four years to produce oil and gas from the block it discovered in the Krishna-Godavari (K-G) basin off the Andhra Pradesh coast.

The company will raise the money through a combination of loans from banks, a possible public offer and through internal accruals.

Resolves to avoid power cuts between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m No power stations suffered from coal shortage Cabinet pins hopes on forecast of rain HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday decided against imposing power cuts on domestic/commercial sectors at night and to postpone stoppage of generation by the Simhadri project's second unit for its annual overhauling, as planned by the NTPC.

Visakhapatnam, July 16: The state secretary of CPI, Dr K. Narayana, said that their party was opposing the state government's proposal to develop Coastal Corridor between Itchapuram in Srikakulam district and Tada in Nellore district and launched a pro-CPI test campaign in this regard to create awareness among those living in the coastal areas about the ill effects of the proposal.

Warangal, July 16: A special action plan was prepared to prevent the possible outbreak of viral diseases in the district during the monsoon season. The action plan stressed the importance of maintaining better sanitation, chlorination of water bodies, and creation of awareness on personal hygiene.

Eluru, July 16: West Godavari collector, Ms G. Jayalakshmi, reviewed the progress of implementation of the third phase of the Indiramma housing scheme in the district here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, she said that documentation was complete for 73,232 units during the Intinta Indiramma programme in the district and added that at Eluru division alone, documentation was completed for 24,133 units.

Rajahmundry, July 16: In an attempt to tap the increasing tourism potential, forest authorities came up with plans to promote tourism in the Coringa wild-life sanctuary in East Godavari district from August. The authorities prepared plans to press into service two diesel-run 20-seater boats acquired at a cost of Rs 3 lakh each.

Kurnool, July 16: The District Water Management Agency (Dwma) project director, Mr Wilson Babu, issued orders on Wednesday suspending 43 employees for irregularities in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). He also removed 70 masons. Mr Wilson Babu inspected the NREGS office in Atmakur and found that there was variance in records amounting to about Rs 7 lakh. He suspended an assistant project officer (APO), seven technical and 14 field assistants as they failed to give proper explanation relating to the variance.

Hyderabad, July 16: Residents of former municipalities such as Kapra, Alwal, Malkajgiri and LB Nagar and those in Secunderabad Cantonment Board have to wait a little longer to get Krishna water. The South Central Railway has given permission to lay a pipeline for ring main-II of Krishna Phase-II only on Wednesday. According to the water board managing director, Mr G. Asok Kumar, it would take two months to complete ring main-II works.