tirupati l sunday l november 02, 2025 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l anantapur EDITION city of Nawabs goes global as unesco high-fives its cuisine Lucknow has been inducted into UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network under the ‘Gastronomy’ category, a testimony of its culinary heritage lucknow is a haven for food, says u.n. Make a trip for its uniqueness: pm modi UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay designated 58 cities as new members of the CCN “for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development”. The UN in India in a post on X said, “From mouth-watering Galouti Kabab to Awadhi Biryani, desserts like Makhan Malai and so much more — Lucknow is a haven for food...” ■ ■ Lucknow isn’t just about its kebabs. If the ever-inviting, rather demure, creamy “Malai Gilori” is an all-time favourite, the mouth-watering “paani puri” or “paani ke batashe”, are favourites too “I am glad UNESCO recognised this aspect of Lucknow. I call upon people to visit it to discover its uniqueness,” PM Modi said on X 408 cities in the world are part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Women among 9 people killed in AP temple crush No police permission sought for the event U s h a Pe r i @ Srikakulam Nine devotees, eight of them women and a 13-year-old boy died , in a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, on Saturday. The crush occurred when a large number of people thronged the temple for darshan on the first Ekadasi of Karthika Masam, considered auspicious. Two persons are reportedly in a critical condition, while about 15 others suffered minor injuries. All the victims hailed from nearby villages and mandals. Srikakulam district Superintendent of Police KV Maheswara Reddy said the temple was built recently on a private land without proper permissions. “The structure, including the gate and stairway was com, pleted only 3-4 months ago. The crowd tried to enter through an exit gate with a seven-foot drop. The grill at the spot was weak, and collapsed due to the pressure, leading to the fall of sevRescue efforts on after the stampede at eral devotees,” he explained. No permission was sought the temple in Kasibugga | Express from local police for crowd management. “A case has been `15 lakh ex gratia for registered against the temple victims announced owner, Hari Mukunda Panda, under various sections of culThe State government has pable homicide,” the SP said. announced an ex gratia of Prime Minister Narendra `15 lakh each for the families Modi expressed grief over the of the nine devotees, who tragedy, and announced an exlost their lives in the gratia of `2 lakh to each of the stampede at Kasibugga families of the deceased, and `50,000 to those injured in the incident. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to ensure immediate medical aid and relief. The state government said the temple was not under the control of the endowments department. Harimukund Panda acknowledged that they were unprepared for the surge in devotees. “We rarely get more than a 1,000 even on special days. Today several , thousands arrived for darshan. We did not anticipate the crowd, and did not alert the police,” he admitted. A view of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s house in Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda district | Rajesh Kumar thakur 2005 fallout on Lalu, Nitish villages RA J E SH KUMAR THAKUR @ Nalanda/Gopalganj IN Bihar’s political heartland, two villages—Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda and Fulwaria in Gopalganj — stand as contrasting portraits of their most illustrious sons, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Kalyan Bigha, Nitish Kumar’s ancestral village, mirrors the CM’s focus on development and order. T he once-slee py hamlet now gleams with smooth roads, solar-lit lanes, and uninterrupted electricity. On the spectrum’s far-end, former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Fulwaria reflects the fading imprint of a political era long past. Once popularly referred to as a “mini-secretariat” during the RJD’s rule from 1990 to 2005, Fulwaria is now lost in the tedious warp of time, with whatever once built now slowly withering away . In Kalyan Bigha, where Nitish Kumar is affectionately called as “Munna”, villagers speak with pride and gratitude. “Our Munna has made this village immortal with development works,” said 70-year-old Girendra Singh, sitting under a tree near the market that’s buzzing with evening chatter. The village has round-the-clock electricity, high speed internet, a referral hospital, a high The State collected `3,021 cr in net GST revenue, making it second-highest October collection since the GST regime was introduced in 2017. Gross GST collections stood at `3,490 cr, ranking third among October performances | P4 ArcelorMittal gets environmental clearance for Anakapalli steel plant m aya n k s i n g h @ New Delhi E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India’s stance in the Indo-Pacific, stressing that its emphasis on the “rule of law” does not target any country but seeks to protect regional interests collectively . Speaking at the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting — Plus (12th ADMM-Plus) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singh underscored that India’s advocacy of the UN Rajnath Singh Convention on the Law of the Sea and freedom of navigation reflects a commitment to inclusivity and stability in the region. “India’s emphasis on the rule of law and its advocacy for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, are not directed against any country but are meant to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders,” said Singh on Saturday . WITH THIS ISSUE As spaces shrink and eco-awareness rises, urban Indians are embracing minimalist design More or Less PLUS 12 P AGES In a major milestone for Andhra Pradesh’s industrial growth, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recommended environmental clearan c e fo r ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel’s (AM/NS) 8.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) greenfield integrated steel plant in Anakapalli district. Backed by a `1.5 lakh crore investment, the project, India’s largest greenfield steel manufacturing initiative, has secured all major approvals, including land, in just 14 months since AM/NS first engaged with the State government in school upgraded to the 10+2 level, an ITI, a shooting range and a spacious guest house. Nitish’s ancestral doublestorey home remains locked for most of the year, except during his visits to the Smriti-sthal, a memorial built in memory of his parents and wife. Nearby, the restored Devi-sthal — where he reportedly prays before major political moves — serves as the village’s spiritual heart. Every corner echoes the villagers’ affection for both Nitish and his son, Nishant Kumar. Their only worry— why the NDA hasn’t formally projected Nitish again as chief ministerial face. About 200 km away, in Ful- waria, the once-busy helipad is in ruin, the railway station silent, and battered link roads carry the scars of neglect. “Samay ka chakra hai. Jo kal chamakta tha aaj murjha raha hai (It’s the wheel of time. What once used to shine has now lost its glitter),” says Parmeshwari Singh, watching cattle graze where choppers once landed. Fulwaria’s old hospital still functions but in a ramshackle state. Lalu Yadav’s two-storey ancestral home, with a statue of his mother inside, serves as a reminder of his past glory . Villagers hope for a revival under Tejashwi Yadav. “When he comes to power, Fulwaria will bloom again,” says Nityanand, a youth. GSTAPreforms in revenue Polavaram proj displaced families pay off as records 8.7% rise ‘Collective security key to sovereignty’ @ Vijayawada Former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ancestral home in Fulwaria in Gopalganj | Special arrangement August 2024. The joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Japan’s Nippon Steel will develop the plant in phases, starting with 8.2 MTPA integrated steel capacity, and eventually scal- Project to promote industrial growth The project is expected to catalyse infra development in the region, strengthen the Vizag–Anakapalli–Kakinada industrial belt, and anchor India’s position as a major player in steel production ing to 24 MTPA. The facility will use advanced, energy-efficient, and low-emission technologies that meet global standards for sus- tainability and carbon management. Set to become the key anchor for the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Corridor, the plant will enable the growth of steel-based downstream units, machinery production clusters, and logistics networks across north coastal Andhra Pradesh. The State government has allotted the required land within three months, and extended single-window facilitation, allowing the company to obtain all necessary statutory and environmental clearances without any delay. The foundation stone will be laid during the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 14 and 15, 2025, in the presence of top global CEOs, policymakers, P4 and industrial leaders. receive `1,000 cr compensation E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada A festive atmosphere prevailed at Velerupadu in Eluru district on Saturday as the State government distributed `1,000 crore compensation to families displaced by the Polavaram Irrigation Project. The compensation, covering land acquisition and rehabilitation package, was directly credited into beneficiaries’ bank accounts at a public meeting addressed by Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu. He said, “By December 2026, we will ensure full compensation is paid to all families affected by Phase-1 of Polavaram project.” The event saw the Water Resources Minister, along with the displaced performing ‘Ksheera Abhishekam’ to the portraits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. Ramanaidu expressed gratitude to the trio for their roles in advancing the project, and supporting the affected families. Water Resources Minister N Ramanaidu distributes `1,000 crore compensation to Polavaram project displaced families at Velerupadu on Saturday | Express Highlighting past efforts, he recalled that during the previous TDP regime (2014-19), `700 crore was distributed in 2016, and another `900 crore in January this year under the current coalition government. “This is the second tranche of `1,000 crore going directly into your accounts,” he said, pledging continued full-hearted support to all the oustees. Criticising the previous YSRCP regime, he accused it of stalling the project, and abandoning the displaced. “While the TDP completed 72% of the project work during 2014-19, the YSRCP managed less than 3% in its five year term, setting progress back by 25 years,” he said. Tenders worth `739 crore for rehabilitation colonies, and infrastructure have been finalised recently Currently 49 out . , of 75 planned colonies are under construction, with parallel efforts on development of basic amenities. Phase-1 rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) under the 41.15 metre project contour will be completed by June 2026, he promised. A dedicated grievance cell is being set up to address the issues of displaced. The NDA government aims to complete the Polavaram project by December 2027, Ramanaidu added. I C C W o m e n ’ s w o r l d cu p Final destination: Harmanpreet & Co set to take a shot at immortality G o m e s h S @ Navi Mumbai IT doesn’t get any bigger than this — India team is set for the final of the home ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup here on Sunday. Their final obstacle before getting their hands on their first-ever ICC Trophy are South Africa — a team and country chasing a history of their own. One just needed to stroll along the roads around the DY Patil Stadium to understand what the final meant to the teams. With more than 24 hours to go, thousands of fans had flocked the gates and lanes of the venue, trying their luck to get tickets for the game. The official ticketing partner had gone from ‘coming soon’ to ‘event closed’ overnight, leaving the fans disappointed. Excitement was palpable as myriad emotions gripped the fans. T h e p re s s u re o f ‘availability of tickets’ did not spare the India captain either. Though it was an avoidable nuisance for players, Harmanpreet Kaur under- stood the gravity of it. She rather cheekily welcomed it. “I think it’s good that not only for cricket on the field but there is pressure for tickets also,” she said during the press conference on Saturday This daily has . reported how ticket prices on resaling websites have shot the roof. As much as Kaur had an off-the-cuff reply, the enormity of the occasion had not gone past her. Leading the country in a home World Cup for first time, she knew how crucial the final will be for women’s cricket. Despite the high points of the 2005, 2017 and 2020 World Cup finals (two ODIs and one T20), the silverware has remained elusive. With Sunday offering the chance to reshape history it , is understandable why Kaur called the home WC final the biggest thing in their lives. “We know how it feels to lose, but we are really looking forward to seeing how it feels after we win. Hopefully, this day tomorrow (Sunday) will be special for us,” said Kaur. If they manage to win, they will change the course of women’s cricket in P11 India forever.  Captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Laura Wolvaardt with World Cup trophy | PTI 3 pm on Jio/Hotstar; LIVE Star Sports Networks