Dr. YSR Smruthi Vanam Project near Nallakalva village, Atmakur mandal of Kurnool district, the only memorial shrine of the former Chief Minister coming up from among the proposed three, is fast nearing completion. It will be done before the third death anniversary of the former Chief Minister on September 2.
A majestic memorial park with a 20 ft statue of YSR made by sculptor Shivaprasad with his trademark raised hand waving to people with landscaping forms the main component of the Rs.13 crore project on a 22.20 acre site acquired outside the forest and on the Nandyal-Atmakur road.
Theme gardens like neem – a personal favourite of YSR, fragrance garden, ‘pavitra vanam' of 108 sacred plants, butterfly shaped garden with 150 species of carefully chosen plants to attract butterflies, fragrance garden, cafeteria, etc., are in the final stages at the site, a four-hour drive from here (300 kilometres).
YSR statue is positioned aesthetically behind a water curtain. From a 60 ft viewing tower under construction a clear view of the helicopter crash site on the hillock is visible with help of ‘spotting scopes' (bigger version of binoculars) is a highlight. Save for a cross where his body was found, there is nothing else at the crash site located amidst thick hillock vegetation.
An interpretation hall to showcase forest flora and fauna, theatre hall for eco education are among the facilities in the memorial with an imposing entrance. “More than 100 people worked almost round-the-clock since June 2010, 90 per cent of the project has been completed. We will be ready by June,” avers Project Director N. Chandramohan Reddy.
Lot of care was taken to plan and execute the work especially the memorial designed by Mumbai-based architect Kishore Pradhan. A special power line was drawn across 10 km to the site and a golf course like drain facility to empty excess water was built.
Adjacent to the memorial, 3,500 acres of Velugodu reserve forest was notified for the ‘Smruthi Vanam'. Besides, measures to protect the grassland ecosystem from cattle, fire and humans, it will have a 100 acre bio-diversity park as 210 diverse plants species were identified.
With no work at other two memorials, near Prasads Imax and Idupulapaya, YSR ‘Smruthi Vanam' progress makes it quite remarkable during these political times.
