Buy mangoes with abandon and eat them to your heart's content this season, because the summertime delicacies are now going to be a lot cheaper than last year, with North Andhra yields aplenty flooding the market. A bumper yield of mangoes coupled with wartime doldrums, have brought down the prices and the export volumes this year sending Vizagites drooling all the way to the fruit markets.

Excellent yield has been reported from all parts of Vizag district, except South Rayavaram and Nakkapalli. Even the famous Suvarna Rekha variety is now selling in the markets at Rs 50 per dozen. The Banginapalli variety is selling at Rs 100 per dozen. Other popular varieties include Rasalu, Panchadhara Kalsi, Panukulu Mamidi, Kothapalli Kobbari, Ema Pasandu, Kobbari Mamidi, Neelalu and Collector. The war in Iraq and the resultant fall in exports has led to low prices in the local markets says Mr. Mopada Krishna Murthy president of the Vizianagaram Mango Growers Association. The only respite that mango growers here have is that eager customers would be waiting to buy their produce in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The first consignment from north coastal Andhra districts to New Delhi were despatched from Vizianagaram on April 12.

On our part, we at VizagCityOnline.com / www.VizagEshop.com have commenced home delivery of gift packs of mangoes.

With no clear end in sight, public outrage against the attack on Iraq is forever on the increase, both within and outside the United States. 

Vizag too witnessed protest rallies and demonstrations against the high-handedness with which America handled the situation in Iraq. Protests were organised by political parties, student bodies and voluntary organisations. The Mayor led a rally from Asilmetta junction to the Municipal Stadium, in which people from various walks of life and different social organisations participated, joining in the anti-war demonstrations.

Talking to a representative of VizagCityOnline.com, the Mayor, Ms. Rajana Ramani, said that she thoroughly opposes the war and feels that it offers no solution. She said, "The UN is there to sort out face-offs between countries and we ought to accept its decision." On civilians suffering the ravages of war, Ms. Ramani said, "I feel especially sorry for them. It is always the common people who suffer the worst of war. It is time that the US stopped playing Big Brother and left other countries alone," she added.