BS Reporter / New Delhi July 10, 2008, 0:19 IST Oil majors to take call on project after pre-feasibility study by Dec. Billionaire L N Mittal, France's Total and its three other Indian partners will take a final decision to build a $6-billion refinery and petrochemicals complex in south India by December. The decision comes in the wake of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) exiting a similar proposed refinery recently, citing non-feasibility of the project.

Warangal, July 8: The minister for agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, and the minister for major irrigation, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, had a tough time in pacifying the irate farmers, who took the ministers to task on the shortage of fertilisers and the irregular power supply. The ministers had an embarrassing time in answering the farmers on various problems at the Rythu Sadassu meet at Agriculture Research Station here on Tuesday. The farmers challenged the agriculture minister to come along with them to the market and find for himself whether the fertilisers were available or not.

Rajahmundry, July 8: In a major shift, upland farmers find it more remunerative to rear a special breed of cows which gives more milk instead of farming in East Godavari. Farmers from upland areas always find it difficult to raise crops as their sources of irrigation are mainly borewells and rainfall.

Nellore, July 7: Two more Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are likely to come up at Muttukur and Chillakur in Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district. The Surveypalli legislator, Mr Adala Prabhakar Reddy, has revealed this while addressing a meeting at Paturuvarikandriga in Muttukur mandal on Monday.

Hindupur, July 7: The minister for tourism and major industries, Ms J. Geeta Reddy, claimed that the state is progressing on industrial front in a never before manner under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. "I can declare that it was a golden time for the industries in the Congress regime. Already the state stood in the second place in the entire country in industrial development and in no time it would reach the top slot." The minister conducted a review meeting on the situation of industries at Toomukunta industrial estate near Hindupur of Anantapur district.

Anantapur, July 6: The agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, said that cloud seeding would be taken up in another 10 days due to lack of rains in Anantapur district. Speaking to newsmen here on Sunday, he said tenders were called to conduct cloud seeding for the next five years. He said that a government committee would examine the tenders and finalise them within two days. The minister said that steps would be taken to conduct cloud seeding on a war-footing.

Hindupur/Dharmavaram, July 6: Alleging that municipal officials and people's representatives had failed to solve the water problem, women staged protests in Hindupur and Dharma-varam on Sunday. In Hindupur, women sta-ged a rasta roko on the Hindupur-Anantpaur main road with empty pots. The CPI councillor, Ms Asiya Banu, and the town CPI general secretary, Mr Suresh Babu, extended their support to the protest. Traffic came to a halt as the women organised the stir from 9 am to 11.30 am.

Hyderabad, July 6: Non-governmental organisations have demanded that government should obtain environmental clearance from the centre before taking the up metro rail project in Hyderabad. They said noise pollution would be much more throughout the day even at the silent zones such as schools and hospitals. According to them, the metro rail will cause more than permissible level of noise in city. The voluntary organisation "Concerned Citizen" on Sunday organised a debate on the subject in which both the representatives of NGOs and officials of Metro rail projects participated.

Warangal, July 6: Backpackers who want to trek through deep forests and nature lovers who love to slowly sail across waters are flocking to the district, which is fast turning into a favourite eco and adventure tourism destination. Enchanting locations such as the Lakhnavaram Lake, the Pakhal wildlife sanctuary, and the mysterious Pandavulaguttalu are attracting hundreds of visitors every day.

Anantapur, July 4: Loan Vimukthi Melas would be organised throughout the state from July 8 to July 15 at all mandal headquarters where farmers will be presented with the debt waiver certificates with details of their loan outstanding amount, interest on loan and other details. On the same day, the documents pledged with the banks by the farmers for loans will be returned to them. The names of beneficiaries will also be displayed at all banks on July 20.