Monday 13 February 2017

Aadhaar to track 'benami' properties

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Aadhaar seeding of revenue data of agricultural lands, property tax data of buildings and vacant land tax of open plots will help identify original owners of properties and flush out benami property holders, said officials on Monday.

Till date Aadhaar seeding has been used to weed out bogus beneficiaries of both state government schemes and crop loans and to identify property tax defaulters.


With the amended Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act coming into force from November 1, Aadhaar seeding data of property tax has become vital for identification.

UIDAI deputy director general, Mr M.V.S. Rami Reddy said, “AP has completed 90.95 per cent of pattadars of Chief Commissioner of Land Administration Webland and TS is also in the process of speeding it.

Only few data pertaining to people living outside the state and NRIs is yet to be seeded in AP. Once it is seeded with Aadhar, the property or land can be tagged to a particular person. As per Section 57 of the Act, the state may enact rules for the use of the Aadhaar number for any purpose.”

Fema cases on 3 Hyderabad forex traders

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday booked cases under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against three city-based foreign exchange companies. ED seized around Rs 1.5 crore worth unaccounted foreign and Indian currencies during the searches conducted in the city on Friday evening.

Cases were booked against Jain Forex Private Limited, which has branches across the city, Shanthi Forex which has four branches and Kapnox Forex. Searches were conducted following complaints that several foreign exchange companies were selling foreign currencies by accepting demonetized Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, sources said.


“ED officials have seized around Rs 22 lakh worth Indian currency, which we were about to deposit in the bank. There is no violation,” said Mukesh Gandhi, managing partner of Kapnox. “ED officials have conducted searches. This is part of the nationwide raid.  No cash has been seized from our firm,” said Mr J. Raju, claiming to be an employee of Jain Forex.

No one was available for comment from Shanthi Forex. Searches were conducted at over 500 locations across the country. It was reported that the Enforcement Directorate was scrutinising 67 foreign exchange dealers and the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence was also monitoring prominent jewellers and bullion traders. The ED is looking into foreign exchange violations and money laundering by money exchanges, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said in New Delhi.

Flat-owners and builders at war in Telangana and AP

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Abnormal delay in construction of apartments and villas by big construction firms and small-time builders has been causing untold misery to flat buyers and original landowners in cities like Hyderabad, Vizag and elsewhere in AP. There are several cases of consumer forums fining big builders like Alien Developers and Maytas. Cheating cases have been booked in some instances. Despite that, builders continue to delay the construction causing misery to buyers who paid money.

Recently, in a judgement, the Hyderabad consumer forum found fault with a builder who delayed the handover of flats, and asked him to pay compensation to landowners. More and more flat buyers are knocking on the doors of the forum for relief.


The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Reddressal forum-3 passed the order in a complaint filed by M Narsimha Rao and M Sadodith, residents of Prashantinagar in Saidabad against builder SP Haridayal’s construction company. The forum ordered builders to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the delay and hand over possession of the completed flats that are due to landowners as their share immediately.

In 2010, a development agreement was struck for completion of the flats in 18 months from the date of obtaining permission with a grace period of three months. The complainants alleged that the builder failed to comply with the terms of the development agreement and failed to deliver the constructed space within time. The builder failed to complete the flooring, fix doors and windows and do electrical work.

In another case, Amitendu Patnaik, a resident of Erragadda, complained against Sanathnagar enterprises in Hyderabad consumer forum 3. The complainant booked a flat “Casa Paradiso” of the Lodha Group in Sanathnagar for Rs 46 lakh and the complainant was promised it would be delivered in 2012.

The complainant alleged that there was delay in getting possession of the flats and that he had paid excess amounts. The forum ordered the builder to pay a compensation of Rs 3 lakh as well as costs.

Demonetisation: Banks, hoarders nexus under lens

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The CBI has orally asked all vigilance wings of banks to keep a tab on their staff following information that managers and other employees are conniving with black money racketeers and allowing multiple exchanges of demonetised notes against the RBI quota.

Incidents have been reported at Hyderabad and Guntur wherein multiple exchanges of Rs 4,000 is being done with different ID proofs. CBI sources said that they can book cases only if specific complaints are filed. A top CBI source said, “We have learnt about bank staff, along with black money racketeers, using multiple ID proofs for mass exchanges of demonetised notes in multiple names. We haven’t received any specific complaint. We have asked internal vigilance wings of banks to keep tabs on the staff.” Central government banks and postal department employees come under the purview of the CBI probe.


Can’t track driving licence
Banks have no mechanism to check how many times a person visits as there is no link with the driving licence database of the RTA.

ED sources said, “Auto-rickshaw drivers in the city are mostly off the roads. Racketeers are using them for their driving licenses by paying Rs 200 to Rs 300 each time for standing in queues for Rs 4,000.” Even in rural areas, agricultural labourers are being used to change demonetised notes at banks and post offices.

Hyderabad: T-hub-developed new supercomputer ready

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The T-Hub at Gachibowli is building India’s fourth fastest supercomputer (after Indian Institute of Science, IIT Delhi and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) and it will go live in the next two or three months.

According to T-Hub CEO Jay Krishnan, the high-end parallel processing computer system will be part of the “T-Hub Sand Box” to analyse big data very fast, and the same will be freely accessible to start ups in the T-Hub.


A fault tolerance computer similar to the ones used on airplanes, large banks, and data centres will be part of the Sand Box. The super computer will be useful for start-ups for analysis of huge data for smart cities, transportation and logistics.

Mr Krishnan said, “Taking forward the innovation aspect, we are constructing the Sand Box as the fastest super computer which will be able to deal with a crazy amount of computing. It will increase the efficiency of start-ups in processing huge amounts of data. Otherwise start-ups have to pay huge amounts. A chief technical officer will soon be coming in to guide entrepreneurs.”

The Sand Box, which will cost around Rs 25 crore, will be funded by the T-Hub through internally generated revenue, the government and corporates supporting the T-hub.

Mr Krishnan added, “In the next two weeks we are going to have ground breaking for Phase 2 of the T-Hub catalyst building with an investment of Rs 180 crore, which will make ours the world’s largest start-up area. Phase 2 will be completed by 2018 March.” T-Hub is the largest start up area in India with 70,000 square feet of space. He added, “The T-Bridge programme is being used to connect to outside ecosystems.”

Telangana: Global Hospitals told to pay compensation to patient’s kin

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

After the episode of Mr Nikhil Reddy’s height surgery going wrong, city-based Global Hospitals is in the news again.

The Telangana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked Global Hospitals to pay Rs 18 lakh as compensation to a patient’s family after a heart surgery led to brain hemorrhage and ultimately death.


The forum has found that there was improper supply of oxygen to the patient, which amounted to negligence and deficiency in service on the part of the hospital.

In the same complaint, a case against Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, noted cardiac surgeon who supervised the team of doctors who performed the surgery, was dismissed stating that there was no privity of contract about hiring Dr Gokhale’s service and the hospital was liable for the payment of compensation and not the individual doctor.

The complaint was filed by Ms P. Manjula, wife of the deceased patient P. Uma Maheswara Rao, and their sons, residents of Mangalvarapeta in Rajahmundry, against Global Hospital’s administrative officer and Dr Gokhale.

After the final hearing on November 4, the TS consumer forum passed its order in which it observed that the hospital had failed to give any explanation about the clotting of blood in the deceased’s brain.

“It is the duty of the anesthesiologist during the course of surgery to watch and ascertain proper supply of blood and oxygen to the brain,” the victim’s family alleged in the complaint.

Maheshwara Rao was an employee of the judicial department at Rajahmundry and was drawing a salary of Rs 27,000 per month.

On June 3, 2009, he had visited a hospital at Rajahmundry following a heart stroke and was advised a bypass surgery. After a second opinion from a hospital in Ban-jara Hills, he was refer-red to Global Hospitals, his family said..

“On June 24, 2009 the bypass surgery was conducted. The hospital didn’t allow us to see the patient the same day, and allowed us to have just a glimpse of him on the 25th. He was lying without any movement and was on ventilator. Dr Gokhale revealed that there must have been disruption in the supply of oxygen to the brain due to which there could be clotting of blood in the brain leading to coma. He remained unconscious for a month.”

The patient had paid Rs 3.4 lakh and later a bill of Rs 2.72-lakh dues was given to the family. He was declared clinically dead after being taken to a Rajahmundry hospital and on July 30 he was declared dead.

The complainant alleged, “The failure of brain functioning and the resultant death of the patient was the handiwork of Dr Gokhale and his associates who were expected to keep the supply of oxygen to the brain intact and to keep a vigil during the course of the surgery.”

Refuting the allegations, Global Hospitals said, “The surgery was performed after taking consent of the patient and his wife for giving anaesthesia too. We provided appropriate treatment to the patient, and the doctors and the associated team discharged their duties towards the patient and did not commit any breach of duty of care. There was no negligence in performing surgery and it did not have any significant effect. Before surgery, the patient and the attendant were explained about the complications. They supplied sufficient oxygen and they have not concealed any aspect.”

“The condition of the patient was informed to the attendants daily in the morning and even-ings. The family members wanted to take the patient to their hometown for further management and requested for discharge, which was heeded to. On the request of family members, we discharged the patient by explaining the risk and prognosis. After shifting the patient to their home town, he died,” the hospital claimed.

Red-eared turtle takes over lakes

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The ponds and lakes of Hyderabad are infested with the invasive alien species, the red-eared slider turtle or the Ninja turtle named after the cartoon character. Experts warn that it preys on local fish species and poses a threat to the native turtle populations.

CCMB LaCONES senior principal scientist Dr Karthikeyan Vasudevan said, “The native of North America and was introduced into India as a pet. It is a fresh water turtle and now is an invasive alien species threat in the lakes and ponds, including near the zoo and Himayatsagar. The young of the species are carnivorous. They compete with the native turtles for food, nesting space.”

Experts said native turtles are susceptible to parasites and diseases carried by the red-eared sliders. The turtle are smuggled via West Bengal as exotic ornamental pets. They also affect amphibians.

The Trachemys scripta elegans (red-eared slider turtle) is included in the list of 100 worst invasives of the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s invasive species specialist group.

Due to the turtles; aggression, pet owners release them into local water bodies.
The turtles mature sexually at two-five years and lay up to 70 eggs per year.

Foreign fund permit for Nizam’s museum lapses

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registration of at least 1,500 NGOs from Hyderabad, TS and AP, lapsed after they failed to renew it.

These include HEH The Nizam Museum, HEH the Nizam Jubilee Pavilion Trust, Andhra Mahila Sabha, Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and Catholic Hospitals Association of India. These entities cannot receive foreign funds.


Top NGOs failed to submit required papers
Some of them might be defunct or no longer receiving funds from abroad and may have chosen not to apply for renewal, added the ministry of home affairs source.

Among the others in the two Telugu states were Sree Vijayawada Gosamrakshana Sangham, The Anglican Church Of India, Anglican Diocese of AP, Hyderabad Management Association, Bala Vikas, Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust, Cuddapah Diocese Educational Society and the Nalgonda Diocese Social Service Society.

These are among the 11,391 in the country which lost their registration in a new list put out by the Union home ministry. According to the MHA, the FCRA of these institutions was valid till October 31, 2016, and they had not applied for renewal by June 30, due to which their validity of registration will be deemed to have expired from November.

The FCRA Act was amended in 2010 and made more stringent. According to MHA, more than 40,000 organisations were registered and most of those that receive the highest funding are from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Earlier, cracking the whip, the Centre has denied renewal of FCRA registration to 25 NGOs after they were allegedly found to be involved in anti-national activities, and also derecognised more than 11,000 organisations for failing to apply for renewal.

A senior home ministry official confirmed the move, saying the continuation of the 25 NGOs' operations in the country are “contrary” to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) and allegedly anti-national.

The names of these non-government organisations (NGOs) were not immediately known. The Home Ministry said it had closed the application for FCRA licence renewal in 1,736 cases due to “non-submission of documents or deficient documents or other statutory shortcoming within the stipulated time”.

These 1,736 NGOs include some branches of the Ramakrishna Mission, Mata Amritanandamayi Math as well as the Krishnamurthi Foundation of India, and they had applied online for renewal of their registrations before June 30, 2016.

CDFD helps NIA to nail terror suspects

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The NIA could nail terror suspects in several major terror attacks across the country using scientific evidence gathered from things like toothbrushes, combs, clothes, food leftover, blood on razor blades and wastes in the toilets used by suspects.

This was made possible by the city-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting which DNA fingerprinted the samples collected from terror hideouts and the scenes of offences to prove the presence of the suspects at the place of the blasts.


According to NIA charge sheets filed in various courts and the annual reports of CDFD, the agency was involved in a dozen terror cases like the Dilshuknagar blast, Bodh Gaya serial blasts, Puducherry blast and the attack on the BSF convoy in Kashmir from where scientists isolated saliva, hair strands, sweat, excretory matter, skin cells and blood samples of the terrorists.

In the attacks on Army camps in Pathankhot and Kashmir, samples are being brought to CDFD.

The CDFD headed by Dr N. Madhusudhan Reddy is extracting DNA from the samples.

In a charge sheet filed in Nampally court against Riyaz Bhatkal and others of Indian Mujahideen regarding the bomb blast at Dilshuknagar in February 2013, the NIA could prove the presence of the suspects at Abdullapurmet in the city and Mangalore.

NIA said the articles seized from the shelter at ‘Zephyr Heights’ in Mangalore and the articles recovered from the shelter at Abdullapurmet were sent to CDFD for extraction of DNA fingerprints and analysis.

The CDFD, after comparison with the DNA of IM operatives Asadullah Akhtar and DNA of the father of Tahseen Akhtar said the DNA matched with the DNA extracted from some of the personal belongings found in 'Zephyr Heights'.This established the presence of Tahseen Akhtar in that place.

In addition, the DNA extracted from the articles seized from the shelter in Abdullapurpet matched the DNA of Asadullah Akhtar. The CDFD said, "The parent (father) and child (son) relationship exists between the sources of hairs collected from the floor, shaver, hair trimmer and shoes with the blood sample of the father of the accused."

After the arrest of Tahseen Akhtar his blood sample was sent to CDFD. After analysis, the CDFD said the DNA extracted from the exhibits were from the same individual.

Telangana: Green fertiliser comes laced with chemicals

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The AP agriculture department, aided by Telangana state officials, has been cracking down on the Rs 500 crore bio-products industry following complaints of farmers being cheated with bio-fertilisers that are laced with chemicals.

Officials have been raiding manufacturers in both states as they are allegedly selling bio-fertilisers, antifeedant and pest repellents that contain chemicals.
In AP, 42 cases have been booked after 1,400 samples were tested at the National Institute of Plant Health Management at Hyderabad. TS officials, too, have started taking action.


AP additional director of agriculture G. Vinaichand said, “Agricultural officers lifted samples and sent them to NIPHM. Based on the report we have booked cases. We have formed special squads, which are not only acting against distributors but also on the manufacturers in TS.”

The Insecticide Act covers 294 chemicals, and a plant protection licence is a must to use them. Experts said import of these chemicals was expensive and manufacturers needed product licensing from the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee and a manufacturing licence from the state agriculture department. To avoid this, manufacturers import chemicals from China using “bio-products” as a platform.

Mr S. Ratna Chari, deputy director of the AP agriculture department, said, “Bio-product manufacturers gave a declaration in the High Court that their products did not contain chemicals and they thus did not come under the purview of the Insecticides Act. As per the Insecticides Act, manufacturers using listed chemicals should get licences and register with the agriculture department. These bio-product manufacturers are unlicensed.”


He said, “If there are 50 good companies, there are around 100 to 150 others that have mushroomed and are indulging in irregularities. According to one claim, the industry is worth Rs 500 crore to Rs600 crore.”

Additional director of TS agriculture department K. Vijay Kumar said, “We are in the process of taking action. AP agriculture teams are in Hyderabad checking the manufacturing units and we are assisting them too. As soon as we get information, we will act.”

Manufacturing and sale of bio-products to farmers has been increasing lately as there is no licensing authority. The increased use is being attributed to higher prices for organic foods and to avoid rejection of export-oriented agriculture commodities.

The All India Coordinated Research Project Biological Control at Prof. Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University has asked the government to discourage the use of bio-products and bring awareness among farmers.

Dr S.J. Rehman, principal scientist of AIRCB Biological Control said, “Bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers, which are approved and licensed, are different from these so called bio-products sold to farmers. We have been asking farmers to use only registered and licensed plant protection products.”

Industry says bio norms are very stringent
The Agri Biotech Manufacturers Association has asked the agriculture department to distinguish between spurious bio-products and genuine ones. It said that sales had halted due to the “false cases” booked by the agriculture department and manufacturers were not in position to pay sales tax; each manufacturer would be paying between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 40 lakh as sales tax.

The association president Dr J.V. Ramana Rao and general secretary G. Yugandhar Rao, said, “We are willing to help and regulate the manufacturing and marketing of genuine bio products.” They faulted the testing procedure of the National Institute of Pl-ant Health Management.

“The reports show milligram per kilogram, which is less than 0.00001 per cent; this is much less than those in drinking water, coconut milk and milk. As the chemical pesticide lab is being used for testing bio-products, the percentage of all pesticides will show in the report. We are requesting the department to analyse the samples in labs where no pesticides are being tested.”

It alleged that the department was filing false cases and FIRs and was harassing small and medium industries. “Though the court has ordered action according to the Insecticides Act, we are shocked to see such high handedness from the department,” it said. Manufactures claimed that bio-products were helpful for production of chemical pesticide free organic products.

AP gets vital info

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

    The AP Special Intelligence Branch now have a mine of information regarding Maoist networks on the AP-Odisha Border and elsewhere in the country from the seized laptops of top Maoist leaders Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna and Ch Krishnaiah alias Daya and others. The SIB’s tech wing is now checking the computers. Police sources said the material was sent for analysis by SIB’s cyber forensic experts.

A police official said, “We haven’t gone into details so far. The information includes operational matters, military tactics as well as list of targets. We are also checking whether extortions are also listed in the laptops.”

SIB sleuths are trying to find out the hideouts of Maoists including arms dumps in forests and safe houses for leaders in urban areas.

During the encounter top Maoists Ramakrishna, Gajarla Ravi and Chalapati fled leaving their kit bags. Around 25 Maoists were killed in the encounter near Balimela reservoir on the AP-Odisha border during a combing operation by Greyhound commandos.
Police is continuing area domination and combing operations to nab elusive leaders.

Telangana: 4 years later, trial yet to begin in top cases

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The actual trial into major Central Bureau of Investigation cases like AP Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s quid pro quo investments case and the Emaar APIIC township scam cases is yet to move ahead as the charges haven’t been framed yet, though the chargesheets were filed as long as four years ago.

Petitions filed by the accused in the cases in higher courts have been delaying the framing of charges against them, said CBI sources. They said at least 15 petitions regarding these cases had been disposed of but another dozen were pending in the High Court and the Supreme Court, seeking either discharge from the cases, quashing them, or other relief.


The first chargesheet in the Emaar APIIC township case was filed in February 2012 and the first chargesheet against Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and others was filed on March 31, 2012.

“In 11 cases of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s quid pro quo investments, around 110 accused are named. Courts have taken cognisance of the cha-rgesheets and issued summons to the accused for appearance. So far charges have not been framed in any case. There are several petitions filed by the accused in higher courts. the CBI has requested the court to frame charges. It is verifying legally whether charges can be framed in spite of pending petitions so as to put forth the same argument before the CBI special court,” said a source.

Legal experts, however, said the accused named in the chargesheet had got every legal right to seek various kinds of relief as per the law and it was up to the courts to decide.

The Centre has refused to grant permission for prosecution of certain IAS officials named in the chargesheet. However, the CBI has been arguing that no permission is needed for IPC Sections and that permission is necessary only for trying under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Legal experts said that even for IPC cases there were case laws that said that prosecution permission was a must. IAS officials have also challenged the CBI’s move in the court.

Two more prosecution permissions, of IAS officials Manmohan Singh and S.N. Mohanty, named in Jagan Mohan Reddy cases, are still pending with the Centre, sources said.

GE food samples were unsafe: Telangana food laboratory

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A report by the State Food Laboratory (SFL) at Nacharam released on Tuesday declared that genetically engineered (GE) food samples, collected by the GHMC food control officers, were prohibited and unsafe. The labelling on a product of General Mills, called Chocolate Cheerios, proclaimed that it contained GE food ingredients, said the laboratory’s chief  public analyst N Ravindra.

“The sale of GE foods is prohibited under Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act,” he said. The same package carried a distinct label that said the product reduced the risk of heart disease; such proclamation was against the rules of the Food Safety Act. “As the label itself reveals that it is a GE product, we need not conduct any test. We are trying to get information on the FSSAI licence number of the distributors. All stocks pertaining to GE products must be removed from the market,” Mr Ravindra said.


Following a series of reports in these columns recently, the GHMC’s food controllers conducted searches in city supermarkets and seized GE food products imported from the US and Canada. The samples were collected under the provisions of the Food Safety Act from Balaji Super Market in Banjara Hills. GHMC food safety officials served notices on two companies, Shree Agencies and SR International, involved in the distribution of GE foods in Hyderabad supermarkets.

Lion, leopard genes decoded

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Genetic scientists working at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology’s Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species have decoded the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Asiatic Lion and Indian Clouded Leopard. They published their research in ‘Taylor and Francis Online Journal’. The purpose of genome sequencing is to help conservation of the dwindling species and to know more about how they evolved. For example, it will help to find out why the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) differs from other big cats, and its propensity to live in a pride. The complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of the Asiatic Lion was done by Dr Ajay Guar, Wajeeda Tabasum, Sreenivas Ara, Niraj Rai, and Kumarasamy Thangaraj.

The Asiatic Lion is classified as a member the Pantherinae sub family that includes six big cats - tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard. “Asiatic lions are the top carnivores and possess a prominent position atop the food chain in their only remaining natural habitat, in the Gir Forest of Gujarat in India, thus the reduction in their population size would lead to an ecological imbalance. The blood sample used for DNA extraction and analysis was from a male Asiatic lion named Siddharath with the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the Asiatic Lion was sequenced and characterised,” the researchers wrote.


Dr Ajay Gaur Wajeeda Tabasum, Ara Sreenivas, Kesav Kumar Bheemavarapu, and Tirupathi Rao Golla worked on the genome sequencing of the Indian Clouded Leopard. Dr Ajay Gaur said, “The overall estimated population of the Clouded Leopard is less than 10,000 mature individuals in the wild with a declining quality of habitat and exploitation. The blood sample used for DNA extraction and analysis was collected from a female Clouded Leopard named Rehana from Sepahijala Zoological Park in Agartala.”

Tuesday 31 January 2017

Hyderabad floods: 200-km roads battered; 3,000 cars need repair

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Floods in several areas of Hyderabad over the past two days caused huge monetary loss for damaged civil infrastructure like roads and financial losses to car and bike owners and also property loss, mostly due to burning of electric metres in cellars.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s initial estimates are that about Rs 60 crore will be needed to relay around 200 lane kilometres of roads that have been damaged. GHMC executive engineer (Disaster Cell) R. Srinivas Reddy said, “We need Rs 30 lakh to relay each lane kilometer of road, totalling to about Rs 60 crore.”

Outside Hyderabad, from September 11 to September 20, the government has estimated around 8,788 hectare of crop damage, mostly in Adilabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahbubnagar.

Though only five houses collapsing were reported in the city, around 3,000 cars and 5,000 bikes were damaged over the last two days in Nizampet, Bhandari Layout and Quthbullapur.

Insurance companies have been receiving claims for bikes and cars from these localities. The GHMC disaster control room informed that one car was completely washed away, in Macha Bollarum.

Hyderabad now has five sinkholes

Three more sinkholes opened up on Thursday, taking the total to five after just two days of rain. A one-metre diameter sinkhole opened up on the road opposite HDFC Bank in Basheerbagh and another one on the road at King Koti.

Earlier in the day, a four-foot deep sinkhole formed on the Shivam Road near Amberpet on Thursday, the third after two days of rain following the ones on NTR Marg and at Neredmet.

A tanker-trolley got stuck in the Shivam Road sinkhole at about 6 am on Thursday, and was cleared using two large cranes at about noon. The accident caused a massive traffic jam and congestion along the busy road from Osmania University to Amberpet. Traffic police barricaded the sinkhole, even as emergency repairs were being undertaken.

At Basheerbagh, Narayanaguda traffic inspector A. Balaji said he and his team had barricaded the sinkholes. “The road at Basheerbagh is a busy route. We have diverted traffic from one side of the road. GHMC and water works officials will begin repairs from Friday morning,” he said.

About the massive NTR Marg sinkhole that had opened up on Wednesday, Sewerage and Water Board MD M. Dana Kishore said six teams had been set up to reduce water flow into the site.

Emergency response teams have been posted at the sinkhole itself. Infrastructure Repairs will begin after the flow of water stops. Another sinkhole had opened at Neredmet on Wednesday.

GHMC forms 18 multi-disciplinary demolition squads

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

GHMC commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy on Sunday issued orders to all circles in the corporation limits to immediately form multi-disciplinary demolition and enforcement squads with officials of town planning, police, revenue and irrigation departments.

The squads will go into “mission mode demolition drive” from Monday, though the commissioner was not sure of actual demolition starting on the day. The squads will remove unauthorised constructions, encroachment of public spaces including on roads, nalas, parks, tanks, open lands, and demolish structurally unsafe buildings.

The 18 enforcement squads, each to a circle, will be convened by the assistant city planner of GHMC and will comprise the GHMC deputy commissioner, ACP, deputy collector or MRO, executive engineers of GHMC and Irrigation, HMWSSB manager and representatives of TS Southern Power Distribution Com-pany Ltd as members. Each squad will be provided with a mini-truck for movement of men and material, six hired labour, hammers, drillers and power saws.

Demolitions will be in many phases
GHMC commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy on Sunday issued orders to all circles in the corporation limits to immediately form multi-disciplinary demolition and enforcement squads.

Mr Janardhan Reddy said, “We have written to the police commissioner to provide policemen to tackle any resistance. The demolitions will be done in phases. We need to identify the encroachments. On Monday the process of formation of squads will begin. We have short-term and long-term goals. Zeroing in on prioritised structures that will help in reaping maximum benefits in removal of encroachments is the short-term goal. In the next few months the goal is to remove encroachments in nalas, tank beds and low-lying areas.”

He added, “Revival of nalas and tank beds by removing encroachments all over the city will take five to six years. Land acquisition, land compensation, rehabilitation are all part of the process.”

GHMC to begin using muscle that it always hid

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The GHMC has been using only sparingly a 2008 amendment to the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act that makes constructing unauthorised and illegal buildings and adding extra floors in violation of sanctioned plan, a criminal offence. The violator can be punished with up to three years imprisonment or fine.

GHMC chief city planner S. Devender Reddy now says the civic body will book criminal cases against repeat violators and habitual encroachers under Section 461(4) which will result in the arrest of the accused and put them on trial.


He said, “We had earlier filed criminal complaints and got FIRs issued a few years ago and the same are under trial in the Kukatpally court. There are provisions to book the violators under cognizable sections in Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act. We are getting FIRs issued now and then. It is getting difficult to get conviction.”

“Henceforth we will invoke Section 461 read with Section 596 of the Act and book repeat violators. For instance we demolished structures on nalas on Monday. If they construct again we will book criminal cases,” Mr Devender Reddy said.

The special chief secretary, municipal administration department, filed an affidavit in High Court on a writ filed in 2015 by one Jaan Mohammed alias Shahi, a victim, against unauthorised construction on Nizamshahi Road, in which he said, “As per  the request of the corporation to treat the acts of unauthorised construction a cognizable offence in 2008, an amendment was made to Section 461 of the GHMC by adding sub-section (4)  and the same shall be read with Section 596.”

The High Court, ruling on the Jaan Mohammed case on May 19, 2016, observed: “It is not clear from the reading of the sub-section which vested discretion to the court” either to sentence the guilty to jail up to three years or to levy fine. The court observed that the corporation was not invoking the penal provision against those indulging in serious violations of sanctioned plans and building regulations.

Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, who passed the judgement, ruled that the GHMC should take advantage of the provisions of Section 461 (4) of the Act and ensure registration of criminal cases and arrest of the violators, in cases of unauthorised constructions,  constructions without permission and illegal constructions, constructions made in deviation of plans, except in cases of minor deviations.
  • During 2014-15, 865 unauthorised constructions were identified by the town planning department of the GHMC. Only 31 criminal cases were registered since 2008 (when the law was amended) up to 2015.
  • 1,520 cases filed against demolition notices in the civil courts. Interim orders of either injunction or status quo were granted in 1,431 cases.
  • High Court in May 2016 ordered setting up of town planning tribunal, excluding the civil courts’ jurisdiction to prevent proliferation of illegal and unauthorised constructions.
  • High Court ordered the filling up of vacancies in the town planning department to be done in four months from the date of judgement, which was September 19. The same day the city received heavy rainfall leading to flooding in several areas. The Public Service Commission is yet to fill up the posts.
GHMC scouts for sites to dump demolition debris
GHMC officials have begun scouting for places to dump the debris from demolished structures besides seeking methods to reuse the concrete to lay roads.

Much debris is expected to pile up if the demolition drive continues, according to GHMC officials. Till now, the debris was dumped at the Jawaharnagar dump yard or taken away by private parties.

GHMC disaster cell executive engineer R Srinivas Reddy said, “We are checking various areas so that debris can be shifted there in accordance with solid waste management rules. Concrete debris can be recycled and used for laying cement roads in certain localities. The commission has ordered us to work on this.”

Demolition drive: GHMC cracks whip on illegal structures

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

GHMC’s demolition and enforcement squads, invoking Section 405 of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, on Monday took up demolition drives across the city and razed encroachments on nalas, lakebeds and tanks.

Section 405 has been invoked to avoid legal hurdles. Encroachers can’t approach courts for stay orders as no notices are served. According to GHMC chief city planner S. Devender Reddy, Section 405 gives powers to the civic body to remove encroachments without serving notices if the structure, temporary or permanent, is on any street, open channel, drain, well or tank.

GHMC will initially target buildings and structures in which people are not living currently — mostly commercial and upcoming residential projects. Mr Devender Reddy said, “We have prepared an unified report based on Voyants Solutions and Kirloskar, and our field officials, during the recent floods, have identified prioritised structures obstructing flow of water in the nalas.

Residences are not in first list
GHMC chief city planner S. Devender Reddy said, “At present we are not touching dwellings, residential apartments and houses where people are living as we need to work out rehabilitation. Our focus is on commercial structures and upcoming residential projects that are being constructed on nalas or abetting nalas on public land.”

He added that the GHMC need not serve notices and can directly demolish the structures. Section 405 (a) reads: “Any wall, fence, rail, post, step, booth or other structure whether fixed or movable and whether a permanent or a temporary nature, or any fixture which shall be erected or set up in or over any street, any open channel, drain, well or tank contrary to the provisions of HMC act. Section 405 of the Act enables the Mun-icipality to remove unauthorized structures where there is no dispute about the ownership of the Municipality in respect of that land or property.”

Hyderabad police commissioner S. Mahender Reddy has ordered zonal DCPs and ACPs to provide security to the demolition squads. Mr Devender Reddy said that removing the encroachments and widening the nalas as per topographical maps would be done simultaneously.

Asked whether GHMC would continue the drive or whether it was a knee-jerk reaction to the floods, Mr Reddy said, “This time we are determined. Over-night we can’t demolish all the structures. Our target is that by next monsoons we will clean up most structures on nalas, tanks and lake beds.”

Imlibun bus station is a threat to Musi river

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

While the Supreme Court has ruled that part of the area on which the massive Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station was built is a private property, environmentalists claim that constructing the terminal on Imlibun Island in the first place was in clear violation of the River Conservation Act and is a future environmental concern.

The MGBS — one of the largest bus terminals in the country — was constructed in 1994 by the APSRTC on around 18 acres of land on Imlibun Island — which is surrounded by the Musi River on all sides. It was leased by GHMC for 99 years. The recent master plan for improvement of storm water drains drafted by GHMC mentions: “It is interesting to note that Musi is for the city and the Interstate Bus Terminal is located on an island in this river.”

Executive director of TSRTC Hyderabad zone D. Venu said, “GHMC has leased the land to us. Recently, a private party went to the Supreme Court and won the case stating part of this area and that of Imlibun Park was his land. We are in talks with him to resolve the issue. The bus terminal is built on around 3.5 acre of land that the court had settled to be that of the private party.”

The “Mississippi” hangar was constructed in 1953 by the Nizam State Road Transport department a few metres from the Musi, allowing a sufficient buffer zone. After the construction of MGBS at Imlibun, the entire Central Bus Station was shifted there.

Environmentalist Devidas Manganani said, “Though we can do little regarding MGBS, at least in future the government should avoid islands and river buffer zones.”

Ms Lubna Sarwath of SOUL said, “The river buffer zone in urban limits has been lifted in 2015 and that outside urban areas for Musi has been decreased with a GO. This will have a devastating effect on Musi. They are also building a metro station on the river and pillars are being raised.”

Ultimate disposal points of flood water in Hyderabad like the Musi River, Hussain Sagar, Pedda Amberpet Cheruvu, Saroornagar Cheruvu, Nakka Vagu and Nagaram Cheruvu are all shrunk and encroached.

8 Hyderabad-based firms involved in New Zealand visa scam

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Immigration New Zealand’s Mumbai area office has confirmed that eight Hyderabad-based consultants, who had been sending the most students to New Zealand, have been involved in the visa fraud that came to light recently.

They are Kiwi Overseas Services, Sunrise Overseas Educational Consultants, IVY Overseas of SR Nagar, FIFO Overseas, Leaf Educational Services, AR Overseas Consultants of Dilsukhnagar, Storm Atlas and V & U Intellect Consultants.

Immigration New Zealand authorities meanwhile said that the visa rejection rate and the number of students being deported were the highest among Indians. In turn, students from Hyderabad topped the list among Indians.

Around 150 students, mostly from Hyderabad, were served deportation letters as an organised financial document fraud was detected regarding the students send by Hyderabad agents.

An investigation report of NZ Immigration regarding Hyderabad consultants is available with DC. The report states: “...the fraud appears to have exploited the fact that education loan documents are normally verified at sanction stage but not at disbursal stage, therefore creating an unguarded stage in the visa process which these agents have noticed and exploited.”

For instance, Kiwi Overseas Services is one of the biggest New Zealand agents for students in Hyderabad. It had 48 out of 104 applicants approved since January 2015. Of them at least 31, around 65 per cent, were provided with fake loan disbursal letters.

8 Hyderabad agents in New Zealand visa fraud
The Mumbai area office verification support team undertook direct verifications with various banks in Hyderabad.

Migrant Workers Association of Aotearoa / NZ has been helping nine students from Hyderabad — Charan Reddy, Sunil Chinta, Shahed, Shujath Ullah Baig, Teegala Sairoopreddy, Manoj Kiran, Hafiz Syed, Ramakrishna Reddy and Pradeep Reddy. In an email response, MWA’s Anu Kaloti stated, “This investigation was carried out on some 57 agents in Hyderabad alone. It is clear from the report that the fraud was committed by the agents and corrupt bank officials in India, but the report does not reveal the names of banks. We and the students have requested help from Mr Sanjeev Kohli, Indian envoy in NZ.

“The students have also Tweeted to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asking for help but there was no response. The students are extremely stressed.” She added, “The report also clearly states that Immigration NZ had not been checking the loan disbursement documents thoroughly.”

When DC did a check on agents, it was found that most of the consultants had downed shutters. Some of them had brought down their websites too.

Telangana: GO 111 set for big fight at National Green Tribunal on Monday

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A fight over GO 111 that had reached the National Green Tribunal will be coming up for arguments on Monday.

Lake protection activists had filed a petition against encroachments and illegal constructions in the restricted zone along Himayatsagar and Osmansagar and got a status quo order on constructions, which is being challenged by village sarpanchs and politicians who had impleaded in the case, seeking the appointment of a committee for fresh hydrological studies aimed at amending the GO or cancelling it totally.

The legal fight has now gained significance in the wake of Shamshabad being announced as a new district. The region has also become a hot-bed of real estate activity in Hyderabad.

GO 111, issued in March 1996, prohibits industries, major hotels, residential colonies or other establishments that generate pollution in the catchment of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar up to 10 km from the full tank level (FTL) of the lakes. This covers 84 listed villages falling in six mandals such as Shamshabad, Moinabad, Shabad, Shankarpalli, Rajendranagar  and Chevella.

Human Rights and Consumer Protection Cell Trust chairman Thakur Rajkumar Singh of Serilingampally filed a petition against the TS government, HMDA and Ranga Reddy revenue officials alleging that GO 111 had been violated and that there remains a clear threat to Himayatsagar and Osmansagar lakes due to construction of illegal buildings.

Mr Singh said, “The government itself had identified these illegal structures. Those who are against the GO are arguing that a committee has to be set up for a study. The GO has been tested in Supreme Court so we are arguing that it has to be strictly implemented. The case is up for arguments on Monday.”

The counter filed by Ranga Reddy collector in the NGT stated that a survey had been taken up by the panchayat staff based on the orders of the NGT in 84 villages falling within the purview of GO 111 to enumerate the structures and layouts in areas excluding gramkantam area (traditional village settlement area).

The district authorities informed NGT: “It was found that 426  layouts and 12,442  structures are currently in the GO 111 area of RR district... Shamshabad village with 2,981 structures and Palamakula village with 691 are the highest in number.”

Hyderabad: Gandipet loses to encroachers

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

In spite of copious rain in Ranga Reddy and Medak districts, particularly in their catchment area, the two drinking water sources  —  Osmansagar and Himayat-sagar —  haven’t filled up.

Environmentalists said encroachments and illegal constructions in the catchment area, violating GO 111 and blocking nalas and pathways, had decreased inflows.
According to the Water Board, Osmansagar had 2.06 tmc ft water against its 3.9 tmc ft capacity on Friday; in Himayatsagar had water storage of 0.7 tmc ft out of 2.9 tmc ft capacity.

While realtors, politicians and violators, along with officials, are trying to undermine the importance of the twin reservoirs and working legally and politically to cancel or amend GO 111, activists are skeptical about the Save Gandipet project being taken up under Mission Kakatiya. The authorities failed to act on the officially declared 108 encroachments in FTL of Gandipet.

SOUL convener Lubna Sarawat said: “We have sought the project report under RTI but they are refusing to divulge the details. We have been demanding that the government fence the 10-km buffer zone instead of fencing the FTL at Osmansagar, otherwise illegal encroachments would come up on large scale.”

She said Gandipet was adopted by Cyberabad police commissioner under Mission Kakatiya and approximately Rs 26 crore was sanctioned for fencing the lake and a walking track. All blockages on inflow channels must be opened and encroachments on inflow channels removed so that Gandipet survives.”

According to earlier studies, there has been a decline in water supply over the years in Osmansagar and Himayatsagar due to redu-ced inflows. Osmansagar and Himayatsagar first dried up in 2003. Osmansagar has a 56-km perimeter and fencing will cost Rs 26 crore, and cycling track and amenities would cost `9 crore.

Water Board director (operations) G. Rameshwar Rao said: "The two reservoirs fill up once in five years. These were built as flood protection reservoirs. They filled up in 2010. Singur and Manjeera were filled up due to rain in catchment areas. Though there are some encroachments, we can’t attribute the reservoirs not filling up to them.”

HMDA awaits revenue nod for tax

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The revenue department is yet to allow the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority to collect Non-Agricultural Land Assessment tax from those who have sought regularisation of illegal layouts, which would earn around Rs 100 crore to the exchequer. The Nala tax amounts to nine per cent of the registration value of the property.

HMDA had written to the revenue department six months ago seeking delegation of powers to collect Nala tax.

Revenue principal secretary K. Pradeep Chandra said, “We are examining the proposal. we will take a decision after verifying the facts.”

The HMDA move was opposed by politicians including MLAs and corporators as individual buyers in illegal layouts and realtors have been opposing the tax, as a 9 per cent tax on the registration value would be an additional burden on them.

An HMDA official said, “When Nala tax is collected for legally permitted layouts, why not for regularising illegal layouts? The tax is supposed to be collected by the revenue department. We can ask the applicants to get Nala tax clearance certificates from the revenue department for regularisation.”

He said that in order to avoid inconveniencing the applicants, the HMDA had proposed to collect the tax and remit it to the government. “It would fetch the government good revenue and discourage illegal layouts.”

HMDA has received 1.29 lakh applications. HMDA commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu said, “The scrutiny of LRS applications is on. The HMDA has got Rs 160 crore through various fees and we are expecting Rs 500 crore more. The Nala tax though not specified in the LRS GO is mentioned in the Act. Earlier, the High Court had upheld the collection of Nala tax. We have sought delegation of powers from the government.”

Outer Ring Road growth corridor set to be extended

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The conservation zone — mostly agricultural land along the growth corridor of Outer Ring Road — may be hit as Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority  (HMDA) is working on extending the limit of the growth corridor belt on either side of ORR from one kilometre to three kilometres.

Currently there are no conservation restrictions for real estate layouts and other residential and commercial activities within 1 km of the ORR. The HMDA has received several hundreds of applications from builders. The new move is aimed to boost the real estate sector.


The issue of extending the growth corridor on either side up to 3 km was discussed in the recent HMDA meeting on integration of all master plans and common zoning regulations for Hyderabad Metropo-litan Region and revision of master plan.

HMDA director K. Vidyadhar said, “There are five master plans for the HMDA area. We wanted to have a unified master plan. As part of this several issues including ORR belt extension are being discussed. No decision has been taken yet. We have received 1,500 suggestions from the public.”

Hyderabad: Part of Sarathi studios to make way for new mall

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Part of the iconic Saradhi Studios at Ameerpet, one of the earliest film studios in Hyderabad, will give way to a commercial mall, multiplex and hotel spread over 97,442 square metres built up area.

While the original building with floors for indoor shooting will be intact, the outdoor area will be converted into a thematic mall. The Telangana State Environment Impact Assessment Authority had recommended environment clearance during the recent meeting based on an application made by Sri Saradhi Studios Private Limited. Old films like Raithu Bidda and recent ones like Gabbar Singh starring Pawan Kalyan and Janata Garage starring Jr NTR were shot at the studio.


Saradhi Studios’ chief operating officer Mr Murali Krishna Raju said, “Originally, the studio was located on more than seven acre. After losing land to roads-widening and Metro Rail, we have about six acres. The original building built in 1936 existed here. We are now constructing a mall and multiplex in the area in front of the studio. Recently, half of the movie Janata Garage was shot in the sets put up in this area.

“Once we start construction of the mall, there is no possibility of sets outside, but indoor shootings will continue.”

Saradhi Studios’ director K.V. Rao said, “We started the studio in 1956. All the four floors will be intact; we are giving two for film shootings and two for TV shootings. These days films are being shot outdoors at Manikonda. We have also modernised the studio and added digital labs for post production. The upcoming mall and multiplex will be thematic where visitors may have a view of film shoots.” According to the documents submitted to the TS PCB, the project cost is around Rs 250 crore.

Hyderabad: Police, excise clueless about operations of narcotic drugs racket

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A huge racket in narcotic drugs was operating in Miyapur, Cyberabad and in IDA Bollaram right under the noses of agencies like the police and excise but they could not find it till the Narcotics Control Bureau came in.

The police and the excise are empowered under the NDPS Act and the Drug Control Administration (DCA) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act but citing lack of intelligence, staff and jurisdictional issues they did not bother about what was happening.

On September 30, the NCB seized 221 kg of Amphetamine from Miyapur and 10 kg Amphetamine from a lab in IDA Bollaram on October 1. The value of the seized narcotic is estimated to be Rs 45 crore.

The confession of IAF wing commander G. Rajasekhar Reddy who was arrested by the NCB revealed that a drug ring had been operating in Jeedimetla and IDA Bollaram since years. Rajasekhar Reddy said that Amphetamine was made in a lab at Trident Fine Chem and Laboratories in IDA Bollaram.

TS DCA joint director M. Amruth Rao said, “We are not empowered under the NDPS Act. This happened in a chemical factory and not a pharma company. So there was no lapse from our side.”

The TS DCA has no vigilance wing like the one in AP to keep tabs on drug rackets. A DCA official said, “We are facing a staff crunch. There are no funds even to collect samples. We can book cases under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act if therapeutics are misused. Amphetamine was removed from the list of therapeutics. The NDPS Act has more teeth than the Drugs Act and the NCB can track them down. We are tied up with licensing issues.”

Monday 30 January 2017

Indigo ordered to pay Rs 70,000 for loss of student’s baggage in Hyderabad

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-3 has ordered Indigo Airlines to pay Rs 70,000 to a BTech fourth year student as compensation for loss of baggage, mental agony and expenses.

Mr Shaik Noor Mohammed, son of Shaik Ameer Basha, of Jal Vayu Towers near Lower Tank Bund, filed a complaint against Indigo and Dnata Baggage Services alleging that they had failed to trace his baggage and settle his claim.

Mr Mohammed said he booked a return ticket with Indigo to travel to Dubai from Hyderabad on January 28, 2014. Upon his arrival in Dubai, he found that his baggage was missing and filed a complaint stating that it contained Rs 1.18 lakh worth of personal belongings. He said that he was forced to purchase clothes and toiletries during his stay and incurred additional expenses.


Indigo contended that the forum had no jurisdiction as the airline had no branch office in Hyderabad. It said: “Indigo shall not accept any responsibility for such items carried by the customers in their baggage.”

It argued that liability for loss, delay or damage of baggage would be according to the Warsaw or Montreal Conventions unless higher value was declared in advance and additional charges were paid.

Indigo said that it offered $300 as per international conventions to the complainant, which Mr Mohammed did not accept. It alleged that he failed to provide any proof of purchase made due to the loss of baggage.
The forum in its judgement on October 5 ruled that it had jurisdiction as the ticket was booked in Hyderabad and the complainant boarded the aircraft at the Hyderabad airport.

The consumer disputes redressal forum, further, observed: “When the airline accepted the baggage to be carried by them, they are the custodians of the same and a duty is cast upon them to deliver the same at the port of disembarkation. Failure to do so constitutes a case of deficiency of service.”

FBI nabs Hyderabad businessman in call centre scam

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A Hyderabadi connection has emerged in the US money soliciting scam involving Indian call centres, with the arrest of city origin businessman Bhogavalli Narasimha Rao by the FBI in Irving, Texas.

Rao, 50, was arrested on Thursday for engaging in “monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity in connection with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) impersonation scam.”

According to the US Justice Department, the victims were contacted by individuals claiming to be IRS agents and told of “outstanding warrants for their arrest” and that they would be sent to jail unless they deposited money orders or cash into accounts controlled by Narasimha Rao and other accounts used by co-conspirators.”

Call centre scam: Hyderabadi managed multiple accounts
Tipped by US agencies Indian police detected a call centre operating from Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Northern District of Texas attorney John Parker alleged that Narasimha Rao had defrauded victims, transferred the money to his accounts and wired it to India. He was produced before a magistrate who ordered his detention.

Narasimha Rao used at least two Bank of America accounts, one in the name of Tekdynamics, Inc. and the other in the name of Touchstone Commodities, Inc. The investigation revealed that he controlled additional accounts used in the scam, including a Citibank account in the name of Touchstone Commodities, it said.

It said that from November 2014 to February 2015, 242 cash deposits to the tune of Rs 11.09 crore in Indian currency was deposited in one of the Bank of America accounts and 60 money orders worth Rs 25 lakh into the second one. An amount of `64 lakh was deposited in the Citibank account

The FBI found that immediately after the victims made the deposits, the money was wire-transferred to other accounts that Narasimha Rao controlled, which he either spent or wired them to accounts in other countries, such as India.

Narasimha Rao was listed as the director of Touchstone Commodities, located in Irving, Texas, which he claimed was running an “import-export” business of iron ore, steel and wood chips.

Records showed that he was listed as president of Tekdynamics, a firm claiming to be provider of “technology, outsourcing and consulting needs” with established infrastructure in the US and India.


  • Narasimha Rao was a product of GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, in the 1980s and was the member of GITAM Alumni of North America.
  • The website of Touchstone Commodities which listed Rao as chairman named his India representative as Avutapalli Srinivasa Rao.
  • The website says Srinivasa Rao is an engineer like Narasimha Rao and was in the business of precious stones.

Roadside eateries use cheaper genetically engineered cotton oil

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Oil from the genetically modified BT cotton seed is widely used at roadside eateries, a few bakeries and smalltime restaurants due to its low cost.

About 95 per cent of the cotton sown in AP and TS is of the BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) variety. Ginning mills in Guntur and other parts in the state supply BT seeds to solvent or oil extractors who supply cotton seed cake meal for fish, poultry and animal feed to dairies and edible oil for general consumption.

Interestingly, none of them is labelled as GE derivative or BT based. Executive director of Solvent Extractors’ Association of India B.V. Mehta said, “We are not labelling imported GM oils or the BT cotton oil seed produced here. There is no requirement to label them as per the procedures.”

The oil extractors are located in Bahadurpura in the city and at Adoni in Kurnool and in Guntur. Food safety assistant controller Balaji Raju said, “Cotton oil is edible and allowed. It is mostly used by small roadside eateries and some mix it with other oils and use it. Adulteration has to be checked. As per the Act, the cover should denote what is inside. So it would be legal if they label them as BT cotton seed oil.”

A gazette notification from the ministry of consumer affairs has made it mandatory for packaged foods using genetically modified products as ingredients to carry such labels from January 1, 2013.

Experts say approval for cultivating BT cotton crop is deemed to be approval for all its products and by-products. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee member Dr S.J. Rehman said, “When the government allows commercial cultivation of BT cotton based on the recommendation of GEAC, it means all the products of the crop are deemed to be allowed. Before approving, they might have done all safety studies including of the cake and oil. Here the question is whether BT or non BT cotton oil is good for health has to be answered by medical professionals. When the bakers and eateries are using this cheap oil they should let the consumer know about it.”

Scientists say that studies revealed that there was no change in composition in the BT and non BT cotton seeds with respect to proteins, carbohydrates, oil, calories and ash content. According to Dr O.P. Govila, retired professor of genetics at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, the seeds have passed all toxicological tests.

Biggest consumer


  • In 2015-16, India imported edible oil worth Rs 70,000 crore. Of this, 30 per cent was GM mustard oil.
  • India is one of the largest producer of oilseeds, accounting 27.51 million tonnes of nine cultivated oil seeds during 2014-15, or six to seven per cent of the world’s oil seed production.

Genetically engineered foods: Two firms in focus

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

GHMC food safety officials on Monday served notices to two companies involved in the distribution of genetically engineered foods in Hyderabad supermarkets. Shree Agencies and SR International were served notices, asking to explain about imports and licences based on Green Mills Chocolate Cheerios samples lifted from supermarkets.

According to GHMC assistant food controller Mr K. Balaji Raju, notices were served based on the inspection report of Balaji Grand Bazar in Banjara Hills. “We have served notices to Shree Agencies of Padmarag Nagar and SR International of New Delhi, seeking details pertaining to these companies,” he said. Meanwhile the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Association on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the government to allow farmers to cultivate Genetically Modified Mustard as GM foods are approved in the US and elsewhere and are also being imported into India, though illegally.

Quoting the DC investigation story in the letter, CIFA chief advisor P. Chengal Reddy said, “GM is a silver bullet to solve highly complex crop problems and also achieve food security as well as sustain small farmers in all situations.” In another letter to the Chief Justice of India, CIFA stated, “Genetically engineered cornflakes, GM mustard sauce and many other imported foods of GM origin are sold in the private sector in India. Farmer should be given access to genetic technology.”

2008 Balimela attack which killed 37 Greyhounds is avenged: Police

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A team of AP Greyhounds launched a massive attack on the Maoist state-level meet camp on October 24 morning in the thick forests on the AP-Odisha border using rocket launchers, INSAS and AK-47 rifles.

They had only one aim. Avenge the killing of their comrades in Balimela eight years ago. Around 37 Greyhound commandos were killed in July 2008 when Maoists attacked them in the Balimela reservoir.


Using the same terrain advantage that Maoists had then, the Greyhounds attacked killing 24 Maoists including two state committee members B. Venkataramana alias Ganesh and Ch. Krishnaiah alias Daya of Nalgonda, six divisional committee members and two area committee members.

Maoist military expert B. Venkataramana alias Ganesh of AOB state committee and Munna alias Vikram, son of Ramakrishna alias RK and  Maoist top gun Ramakrishna may have escaped from the scene.

A top AP police official said, “The encounter took place near the Balimela reservoir. We found 24 weapons of Maoists and lost Greyhounds weapons. It was a meticulously planned operation.”

A senior intelligence official said, “Maoists might have been overconfident that we wouldn’t reach them. It was a state committee meeting of AOB. It is true that choppers got delayed in reaching the spot as we do not have them readily available. However, it has nothing to do with the death of commando Abu Bakr as he had already died at the spot."

Revolutionary poet Vara Vara Rao said, “Munna was a 23-year-old. He went underground without writing his Intermediate exams. His mother was arrested in 2010 in Odisha when she went to meet her husband RK and son Munna. Police planned this encounter to avenge Balimela.”

Daya was underground for 27 years and had been working in the AOB area since many years and was carrying a reward of `20 lakh on his head.

Public apathy takes light out of bug in Hyderabad

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Zoologists and biodiversity experts have confirmed that bioluminescent fireflies, locally called jugnu or minguru purugu, have almost disappeared from urban and semi-urban areas while their number is dwindling in villages. They are now seen only in forest tracts and undisturbed jungles.

Experts say that light pollution and excessive use of pesticides are the prime reasons for their disappearance. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state account for 24 per cent of pesticide use in the country, the highest for any state.


Dr C Srinivasulu, assistant professor of zoology at Osmania University and member of the TS State Biodiversity Board, said, “One of the major reasons is indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides. In the city and suburbs. Environment fogging done for mosquito control has resulted in this local extinction. Even in villages and agri farms, the firefly population is going down. We have fireflies only in undisturbed forests.”

He said this was akin to the decline in population of honey bees. “It has been recorded that the decline of honey bees is affecting pollination. Government organisations are apathetic about biodiversity. Only charismatic species like tiger, elephant and lion are in focus. There is a need to identify the problem and mitigate it.”

Fireflies are a variety of beetle and there are hundreds of species across the world. Fireflies use light signals emanating from their bodies to attract the opposite sex during mating.

Mr K. Tulsi Rao, coordinator, East Godavari Riverine Estuarine Eco-system Foundation, a UNDP-funded project, said, “Apart from pesticides, light pollution is another major reason. Due to excessive use of lights in homes and on vehicles, the mating process of fireflies is affected. Fireflies or lightning bugs generate light within their bodies to attract a mate. I can confirm that the firefly population has come down to a threatening level in some areas. Much is talked about biodiversity and the theat but little is done on the ground.”

National Biodiversity Authority member Mathen Rajeev Mathew confirmed the decline of fireflies and blamed the use of pesticides.

Narcotics Control Bureau to keep tabs on all chemicals, intermediaries

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

After busting a ring that was planning to smuggle amphetamines worth Rs 45 crore in the city recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau has decided to keep a tab on the sales of all chemicals, including laughing gas, and intermediaries like ephedrine and amphetamine used in hospitals as well as in the pharma industry.

The NCB has listed laughing gas as one of the commonly abused drugs. Laughing gas or nitrous oxide, which is also used in surgeries, is sold on a large scale in Hyderabad. Prolonged inhalation of laughing gas could cause death.

An NCB source said, “So far we haven’t found laughing gas during raids. It is misused abroad and we suspect that it is misused here too. It is on the list of most commonly abused drugs.”

“Stimulants speed up the body’s nervous system. They are also called ‘uppers’ and make people more awake. Laughing gas is an inhalant; when sniffed it gives immediate results but damages organs as the body is deprived of oxygen. It is known as laughing gas as it creates an euphoric feeling,” said the source.

It was widely reported in 2012 that Hollywood actor Demi Moore was addicted on nitrous oxide after splitting up with her husband. A wholesale dealer of nitrous oxide cylinders at Begum Bazaar said, “We sell the cylinders to hospitals and dental clinics. Usually vigilance is less during sales. We do not check its ultimate use or misuse.”

DC investigation: Genetically Engineered food in Hyderabad is uncertified

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

From breakfast products to sauces, salad dressings to snack foods, certain imported products sold in city supermarkets were likely to contain Genetically Engineered (GE) food ingredients.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials said that it was illegal to sell food products with GE ingredients as they were  still restricted.


An investigation done by this newspaper in the city’s supermarkets found that food products with GE ingredients like corn, soy bean, mustard seed and canola oil from the United States and Canada were sold widely in the city.

Products of US-based companies like General Mills, including Cocoa Puffs, Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch and Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce were  imported by Delhi-based companies and sold in supermarkets in several areas including Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Madhapur and Secunderabad.



General Mills on its website said, “In Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch, some ingredients (generally less than 75 per cent of the product by weight) are from plants grown using GE seeds.” It also revealed that Cocoa Puffs were produced with GE ingredients.

Restrictions on GE food to continue
According to Washington-based Environment Working Group (EWG), Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce, General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios, and Whole Grain Oat Cereal may contain genetically engineered or may be derived from GE crops like Modified Starch (Corn).

How to Avoid Geneti-cally Engineered Food — A Greenpeace Shoppers Guide — has red-listed Honey Nut Cheerios and Red Enchilada Sauce as they are likely to contain GE or GE-derived ingredients.

Interestingly, a company named SR International with a New Delhi address on the labels of the products of General Mills and Old El Paso has an FSSAI licence number. However, when the licence number was verified on FSSAI’s website, it was found to be licensed to a Mumbai-based company. The customer care number on the label was not working.

FSSAI deputy director Dr M. Kannan said, “Two days back, FSSAI announced that restrictions on genetically mutant or modified foods would continue. No imports will be allowed.”

Consortium of Indian Farmers; Associations chief adviser P. Chengal Reddy, who also did a research on GE ingredients, said, “In Khan Market of Delhi, Andheri of Mumbai, T. Nagar of Chennai, MG Road of Bengaluru, Jubilee Hills of Hyderabad, genetically engineered corn flakes, soy bean, corn, ready-to-eat foods are sold. Even GE pet food is sold.”

He added, “According to International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications, 83 per cent of soy bean produced in the world is genetically engineered. Most soy bean, corn products from US and Canada contain GM ingredients. If an American food or beverage product lists corn, soy, canola, cottonseed or beet sugar as an ingredient, it is likely to contain GE ingredients.”

Hyderabad Metro Rail plans to build multi-level parking

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Hyderabad Metro Rail has issued tenders to appoint a concessionaire for the development of the integrated multi-level parking and skywalks targeting commercial areas at Nampally and Abids on a Design Build Finance Operate Transfer (DBFOT) mode. The multi-level parking is to be constructed on 0.5 acres at Nampally near the upcoming Metro Rail station. The skywalks will be constructed, in general, below the viaduct along the central median, wherever piers are present for connectivity with nearby areas for Metro Rail and other road users.

According to HMR authorities, the area for the project is centered around the Nampally and Gandhi Bhavan Metro Rail stations, both located approximately 800 metre apart on the Metro Line Corridor I from Miyapur to LB Nagar. A proposed skywalk will connect the MLP to both the Nampally and Gandhi Bhavan stations. The concession period has been fixed at 25 years. HMR will provide the land for the MLP and facilitate approvals. However, it will not bear any cost. The integrated multi-level car park that will also include a commercial complex will have a minimum capacity of 350 cars and 200 two-wheelers.


“The larger project area extends to the railway station complex in the north, Abids towards the east, Moazzamjahi Market and surrounding in the south and the Gandhi Bhavan area and neighbouring Exhibition Grounds towards the west,” said a HMR source. “The area is primarily commercial in nature with wholesale shops dealing with furniture, sanitary ware, ceramics, electrical appliances etc. Due to the presence of the Nampally station, there are many hotels and lodges located within a 500-metre radius of the station complex. In addition to commercial and lodging facilities, the area houses multiple government and office buildings,” he said.

The area faces the dual issue of parking as well as sub-par pedestrian experience. Although many of the bigger government offices and hotels have their own parking, there is only one dedicated parking space available within the project area. The area also lacks proper pedestrian facilities for people wanting to visit the various landmarks.

Hyderabad school fails student, fined Rs 55,000 by consumer forum

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum 3 has ordered Jubilee Hills Public School to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to a Class II student after it was found that the school had harassed the girl and her parents and withheld her promotion to Class III by withholding her exam result.

The forum also granted Rs 5,000 towards costs to be paid by the school, in addition to the compensation, ruling that there was a deficiency in service on part of the school. It said the school had made the complainant’s father to run from pillar to post and caused mental agony.

The school claimed that the student’s attendance did not meet the criteria and her performance was poor.

Mother was threatened: Police
The eight-year-old girl, represented by her father K. Veera Raghava Reddy, a resident of OU Colony in Shaikpet, had filed a petition against the school’s secretary, principal and the Jubilee Hills inspector of police seeking Rs 15 lakh as damages for loss of education of 86 days.

Mr Reddy alleged, “We had paid the complete fee. After conducting Class II examination, the principal did not release the progress report and did not send information regarding promotion to Class III from July 2015. They called my wife under the guise of counselling and demanded a guarantee letter towards keeping good education standards of my daughter. My wife lodged a police complaint as she was threatened. The school authorities demanded withdrawal of the complaint to give the progress report and victimised my daughter. It is a gross violation of the Right to Education Act.”

Mr Raghava Reddy filed a petition in the High Court, which ordered the school to declare the result. Following this, the school sent a letter and the parents collected the report on December 16, 2015. He said that his daughter was admitted to another school, losing an academic year.

The school said the student fell short of the mandatory 75 per cent attendance but was allowed to write the exam. “On March 26, 2015, the complainant’s mother visited the school and she was advised retest, as the performance was not good. Instead of taking it in the right spirit, the mother walked out without collecting the progress report. Apart from police complaint, the parents filed a petition with the district education officer for derecognition of school. They filed complaints on several forums. We sent reminders for payment of fee but they didn’t bother to pay. It was suggested in the letter that the parents may take away the child from the school in view of the unfortunate incidents,” he said.

The school claimed that CCTV footage was given to the police to establish that the allegations of the girl’s mother were false. Jubilee Hills inspector Venkat Reddy told the forum that a case of criminal intimidation and wrong confinement was made out against the JPS and chargesheet filed in Nampally court against the authorities. The forum found no fault with the inspector.

Back to the nature for all cures

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Can consuming a simple home remedy, like papaya leaf extract, be a solution for dengue? It has often been called a ‘billion-dollar disease’ for the huge economic and medical burden it puts on the TS and AP governments annually and the patient. If the person is admitted to a city private hospital, treatment for dengue would cost no less than Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh, including blood transfusion to increase platelet count and excluding non medical and indirect costs.

With deaths — and cases — reported in Hyderabad and other districts of TS and AP, mostly Anantapur, messages of natural remedies for dengue and other diseases are being circulated widely on social media. The biggest dilemma is ascertaining whether they are scientifically accurate and effective enough to bring down medical expenses.


Chikungunya is another disease that has been afflicting people in TS and AP. Doctors practising natural medicines suggest use of basil leaves (tulsi) for treatment.

Deccan Chronicle spoke to medical experts to find out their efficacy as papaya leaf extract is now available as Tab Cairpill and Tab Platimax.

Dr S.S. Paknikar’s study, Papaya Extract to Treat Dengue: A Novel Thera-peutic Option?
published on the online journal of the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Bethesda, Maryland, analysed seven published research studies on humans and animals.

It concluded, “From the various reports published in scientific literature, it appears that papaya leaf extract does have beneficial properties in dengue. It has been shown to bring about a rapid increase in platelet count. This could be possibly attributed to its membrane-stabilising property. The flavonoids and other phenols present in the extract seem to provide the beneficial effects. The researchers suggested that the minerals may balance the mineral deficiency caused by the virus and strengthen the immune cells against it.”

Dr Paknikar said, “The picture is not entirely clear. Most of the cases were given a crude leaf extract, prepared by grinding the papaya leaves. In addition to its effect against the virus, the papaya plant also appears to be effective against the Aedes mosquito. Thus, if proved to be effective, this plant could control dengue at two levels: at the level of transmission as well at the host level. Papaya extract, no doubt, offers a cheap and possibly effective treatment for dengue, but until its benefits are established, one cannot ignore standard treatment for dengue. Large scale randomised clinical trials in dengue-confirmed patie-nts are necessary to establish papaya leaf extract’s usefulness.”

Ayurveda doctors recommend papaya leaf extract-based treatment. Some of its benefits, according to them, are that it has anti-inflammatory properties; it inhibits tumours; is antioxidant; protects the liver and kidney; controls the effect of sugar and fat in the body; and has anti-sickling properties in sickle cell diseases.

Dr S. Vidyasagar, an ayurvedic doctor and former chief superintendent of pharmacy, Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Hyderabad, said, “Tulsi and pippali (long pepper fruit) are good for chikungunya. Tulsi, pippali or papaya are considered safe remedies for dengue and will not have side affects on vital organs like the kidney, heart and liver.”

The Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha in New Delhi endorsed in its technical report the benefits of tulsi in treating chikungunya.

Allopathic doctors give such remedies a thumbs-down. Dr Hari Kishan Boorugu, a consultant physician, said, “Dengue fever has many manifestations: low platelet count is one of them.  Dengue patients do not die of low platelet count, but due to dengue shock, multiple organ failure. People panic and tend to give platelet transfusions unnecessarily even when the patient is not bleeding and platelet count is more than 10-15,000. Dengue is a self-resolving illness in most cases , and platelet count improves in almost all patients with supportive treatment alone.”

Regarding papaya leaf research, Dr Hari Kishan said, “There are two papers published about it in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, one of them by the manufacturers. These are small studies and their conclusions can be vouched for. They say platelet count improves faster in patients treated with this drug. but overall outcomes are not different. Papaya leaf extract has a few side effects like abdominal cramps and vomiting, symptoms also seen in patients with severe dengue, which can be troublesome. I personally do not prescribe it, but if someone wants to use it, they may. They need to understand these facts.”

Home remedies for common ailments

Do not depend on natural remedies alone as they have to be scientifically proven. Consult your doctor, take medicines as prescribed.

This could be accompanied by a cough due to an infection in the lungs, causing a secretion of mucus. Some home remedies that can be used are:
Boil water. Add a dash of cinnamon, a little piece of ginger, 1 tsp honey and drink.
Heat water with 2 tsp of lemon juice and 2 tsp of honey and sip.
Heat a glass of water, add a tsp of salt and gargle three times a day. Take 1 tsp fresh ginger juice, ½ tsp honey and a pinch of turmeric. Swallow this
mixture at least thrice a day.
Heat ½ glass milk, add less than ¼ tsp of turmeric and sugar (if diabetic, don’t add sugar). Drink while warm.
Avoid milk and milk products for some time if you have excess mucus secretion.

Blow your nose often to emit the mucus rather than sniffing it in.
Hot chicken soup with lots of garlic helps unclog the nasal passages.
Plenty of liquids are beneficial — like two or three cups of tea a day and hot soups. This will replace important fluids lost due to the cold and help flush out impurities.

Chew eight or ten mint (pudina) leaves early in the morning on an empty stomach for one month. Having raw onions along with your meals will also keep acidity at bay.
Drink a glass of lemon juice before each meal to help relieve acidity.
Avoid too much tea, coffee, fried and fermented food as they stimulate acid production.
Take a glass of water 20 minutes before each meal; avoid drinking water along with food.
Drink coconut water three or four times a day (not for diabetics).
Eat a serving of cucumber or watermelon four or five times a day.
Chew seven or eight basil (tulasi) leaves to get relief from acidity and gas.
A glass of buttermilk with little jeera (cumin seeds) added to it helps relieve acidity.

Hiccups
Take a spoonful of sugar and keep under your tongue until the sugar melts. Suck two to three pieces of ginger. This helps stop hiccups from recurring. Hold your breath for 30 seconds. If the hiccups do not stop, repeat the procedure twice.
Take a glass of water and gulp it down without pausing. Boil ½ tsp of cardamom in 1 cup of water and sip like tea.

Sinus
Soak four to five dried pieces of amla (gooseberry) overnight in water. Drink the liquid in the morning on an empty stomach. Repeat the process for at least one month.

Diarrhoea
Take 1 tsp of mustard seeds (rai) and swallow it with 1 glass of lukewarm water.
Take 1 tsp of fenugreek seeds (methi), add 1 tsp of curd and swallow.
Eat stewed apples every day. Steam the apple with the peel on till soft, then skin, mash and consume.  
Eat boiled sweet potatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper, to cure diarrhoea.
Take ½ tsp powdered nutmeg, combined with honey.
Bananas —two or three of the smaller, yellow variety or one or one-and-a-half of the regular ones — help bind stools.

Stomach ache
Add a pinch of rock salt (black salt) to 1 tsp of ajwain (carom seeds, or wamu in Telugu); chew and swallow with one glass of lukewarm water.
Boil 1 tsp of ajwain in a glass of water and keep sipping it through the day.
Take 1 tsp of mint juice with1 tsp of honey.
Sip cinnamon tea throughout the day.
Boil 1 tsp of powdered cinnamon in 1 cup of water and sip.
Chew one betel leaf with one small crystal of rock salt for instant relief.

Constipation
In addition to your regular water intake, have at least three to four glasses of warm water with honey added to it (diabetic patients should avoid the honey).
Eat apples, along with the skin, daily.
Eat bran rotis. Make them by using 50 percent wheat flour and 50 percent bran flour. It will add fibre to your diet.
Eat 1 serving of raw salads with every meal.
Eat two to three ripe bananas to add bulk to your stools (diabetic patients should avoid this).

Anaemia
Soak black raisins overnight in water and have in the morning on an empty stomach for one month.
Add 2 tsp of powdered black sesame seeds (til) to ½ glass lukewarm water and have every morning.
Eat two to three dates every day (diabetic patients should avoid this).
Vitamin C is required for iron to get absorbed in the body. Squeeze lemon juice on iron rich foods like rice flakes or dark green leafy vegetables.

Dengue fever:
Include lots of fruits in the diet. Juice from papaya leaves to be taken every day for one week to improve the platelet count.
— As told by Dr M Gayatri, clinical dietician



How much to rely on the papaya leaf?

A pilot study was conducted in Sri Lanka on 12 patients suspected of suffering from dengue on the efficacy of papaya leaf extracts. The patients received two doses of papaya leaf extract at eight-hour intervals. They also received standard symptomatic care.

The study found an increase in platelets and white blood cell count in patients administered papaya leaf extract within 24 hours of treatment with the extract.

A case report from Pakistan described papaya leaf’s efficacy in the treatment of dengue in a truck driver. He received 25 ml of papaya leaf extract twice a day for five days. A steady increase in the platelet and white blood cell count was observed after two days of treatment.

A study conducted in Indonesia used papaya leaf extract capsules, which contained 70 per cent ethanol extract of papaya leaves. The 80 patients included in the study had high and continuous fever for between two and seven days, thrombocyte count of less than 150,000/iL and hematocrit of 20 per cent or more. They were randomised into two groups; one group received CPC in addition to standard treatment, and the other received only standard treatment for dengue.

The study found that platelets increased faster in those who were administered the CPC. The authors concluded that treatment with CPC could hasten recovery of patients and reduce hospitalisation.

A report on the website of the British Medical Journal described the rapid recovery of platelet counts in two children suffering from dengue. They were administered a spoonful of paste made from ground papaya leaves every four hours. A dramatic increase in platelet counts was observed; in one case, within 12 hours the count increased to 100,000. In the second case, it increased within two days to 250,000.

The Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants cited a study that reported an increase in plate-lets in five patients within 24 hours of taking papaya leaf extract for dengue.

A study conducted in Malaysia had a more systematic approach in evaluating the use of papaya leaf juice in the treatment of dengue. An open-labelled, randomised, controlled trial was conducted on 290 patients between the ages of 18 and 60 years with significantly reduced platelets than normal levels.

How to use papaya leaf extract for dengue fever patients (Not for those allergic to papaya) If the Dengue NS1 antigen test is positive and you are diagnosed with dengue fever you should immediately get treatment from an allopathic doctor. Papaya leaf extract should be used in addition to the normal course of its management. Papaya leaf extract can be given at any stage of the disease. But for best results it should be given from the first day of the fever. Papaya leaf extracts could be taken as syrup; 30ml three times a day before meals for an adult and 5-10ml three times a day for a child.

Method of preparation
50 gm fresh healthy, mature papaya leaves from a fruit-bearing tree.
Wash thoroughly, chop into small pieces, excluding the main stem.
Grind with pestle with 50ml of boiled and cooled water and 25g sugar till a uniform pulp results.
Mix this pulp well and keep for about 30 minutes.
Squeeze pulp by hand: this is the papaya leaf extract