Tomorrow, March 17th all the Garment shops in Vijayawada City will remain closed. As the Central Government levied 2% excise duty on readymade garments in the 2016-17 Budget, the manufacturers said that the cost of readymade garments would increase by five to ten percent in the retail market. Opposing the excise duty on readymade garments, the manufactures announced strike on March 17th.

They also explained that Central government already imposed 2% sales tax and 5% value added tax. Now with additional 2% excise duty there would be an additional burden on the industry.

On the other hand, the Central government excise department officials explained that the excise duty is applicable to only above Rs.1000 readymade garments. But, the traders are arguing that even a pair of readymade trousers cost more than Rs.2000 and a shirt cost Rs.1500

To strengthen the Prakasam Barrage, Irrigation Department has started the apron works with Rs.24 crores. At the downstream of the barrage, a big concrete retaining is being constructed. The apron wall is constructed with big rocks and also some part of concrete. Space is being created for big stones, so that the river flow will not destroy the apron. Heavy cranes are being used to arrange the big blocks and rocks. Also the movement of the trucks bringing concrete is also being observed in the downstream of the barrage.

The works will continue till the end of the season. Also the patch works wherever required also will be done.

The barrage is being constructed in the year 1957. Instead of using it for irrigation, the barrage is being used to store the water for Vijayawada Thermal Power Station and the problems have been started. According to the original design, the cistern upstream the barrage should be drained completely during the summers and repairs conducted, but water was stored throughout the year.

Andhra Pradesh Government is starting Internet, Cable and Phone Service (ICP Service), through Optic Fiber Cable (OPF). With this government is planning to provide internet, telephone and cable TV at Rs.150 per month. Government is targeting to provide this service to 1.20 crore households in the state. By 2017 July, government is targeting to give 8 lakh connections.

Government is starting this service on March 17th as a pilot basis in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. It will be implemented in phased manner to all other districts of the state, by June end.

The main use of this service is, right now we are using different platforms for Cable, Phone and Internet. For Cable, Set-up Box; for Internet, Modem; for Wifi, Router. Also in the villages, there is no clarity in voice calls, cable and very slow internet. To overcome all these and to get all these three services through one platform, government is using Optic Fiber Cable (OPF) we get all these three.

Services Provided for Rs.150:

• 10 MBPS Internet Connection, with 5 GB Data Limit
• 100 Channels
• Free Telephone Calls within Network

Value Added Services:

• Video Conference
• Cinemas on Demand
• New Cinemas on TV
• Utility Bills Payment
• E-Commerce
• Ads Service
• Any Other Extra Services Needed

Below are the different plans:

Optic Fiber Cable (OPF) Budget:

• Total Budget Required: 47,000 crores
• Central Government will Fund: 3,800 crores
• State Government will fund: 900 crores
• Total Distance of the Optic Fiber Cable: 61,000 km
• Time to complete the whole process: 2 years

Coverage Area:

• 1.20 crore households
• 52,000 Schools
• 6,580 Primary Health Care Centers
• 10,000 Government Offices

An electronic Monitored fertilizer distribution system introduced in Krishna district had gone national with the central government deciding to expand it to all over nation.

The Aadhar enabled distribution of fertilizers system (AeDAS) introduced some time ago in Krishna district in just 20 fertilizer shops in the district would soon be the national programme. The successful implementation of the system in the district on a pilot basis had won the appreciation of the central government.

District Collector Babu Ahmad, who had earlier introduced the e-Pos (electronic point of sales) in the Public Distribution System (PDS) was give a chance to try the AeDAS on pilot basis. The AeDAS was implemented on the lines of the e-POS where the misuse of PDS commodities was prevented, which helped the district to save a few crore rupees in a month to the exchequer.

Under AeDAS also, it had helped the administration to prevent pilferage of subsidized fertilizers as the beneficiary farmers and their Aadhar numbers were linked with their landholdings.

The Krishna District Collector, who gave a presentation of AeDAS received appreciation from PMO in Delhi. AeDAS enables officials collect Aadhar numbers of framers and basing on it verifying the land, soil nature and advising on the correct usage of fertilizers.