Top storyDalit and tribal women staged a protest by climbing a water tank at Antlapalem village under K. Naidupalem panchayat in Rolugunta mandal of Anakapalli district. They said fluoride-affected groundwater was causing joint pains and other chronic ailments. The village has about 200 families, including 40 SC and ST families with 150 people in a separate colony. Residents said a 20,000-litre tank was built three years ago with Rs 22 lakh, and demanded Varaha river water at Janakirampuram be linked to it. They appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister.
A Varuna Yagam was conducted at the Sri Swayambhu Karyasiddhi Vigneswara temple in Chodavaram, praying for adequate rainfall. The ritual, led by MLA K.S.N. Raju, was attended by Vedic scholars, public representatives and devotees. Priests stood in water and recited Varuna hymns hundreds of times before the yagam began, after which the MLA offered purnahuti. Organisers said the event followed farmers' distress over delayed rains and drying crops this year.
A rare pangolin was found in a pit dug for a bathroom during house construction on farmer Vempa Subbaraju's field at Gollalapalem village in V. Madugula mandal of Anakapalli district. The family informed forest officials. Venkatesh, skilled at handling wild animals, rescued it safely and released it in nearby forests in the presence of officials. The pangolin is a nocturnal mammal feeding on ants and termites, and faces threats from poaching and illegal trade.
Ahead of the coming municipal elections, joint Visakha district coalition leaders held a coordination meeting at the Anakapalli district TDP office, convened by district in-charge Minister Kollu Ravindra. Participants discussed selection of coalition candidates, strategy suited to local conditions and coordinated work between TDP and Jana Sena leaders. They also discussed taking the development and welfare programmes of the coalition government's two and a half years to the people. Panchakarla Ramesh, Vamsi Krishna Yadav, Konathala Ramakrishna, Sundarapu Vijay Kumar, Bandaru Satyanarayana and Chintakayala Rajesh attended.
