All sections of people have the responsibility to work towards improving the city which has gained importance as an industrial and tourist centre, distict Collector Solomon Arokia Raj said during his message at the State Formation Day celebrations held on the premises of Collectorate here on Friday.
He assured the people that help due from the government would be extended to those affected by the Phailin cyclone and the heavy rains and floods that followed. Public and private property suffered heavy damages but the government departments and voluntary agencies have minimised the loss of human life, Mr. Arokia Raj said.
He explained at length the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and other programmes and informed that the modernisation of Tandava and Konam reservoirs would be completed by June and March 2014 respectively.
A sum of Rs. 30.41 crore towards compensation for the 1.48 lakh farmers whose crops were damaged by the Nilam cyclone was being distributed.
Crop loan of Rs. 640 crore was sanctioned to help 1.45 lakh farmers during kharif season.
Earlier, Mr. Arokia Raj, Commissioner of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy, Superintendent of Police Vikram Jeet Duggal, Joint Collector Pravin Kumar, District Revenue Officer M. Venkateswara Rao and others paid floral tributes to Potti Sreeramulu. Assets worth Rs. 10.71 crore were distributed to 8,750 beneficiaries under various government programmes.
Children from Vignan High School, Vijayam School, Chaitanya High School, MPP School (Yendada), Sacred Heart High School and MGM High School performed ballets depicting the State’s culture and tradition.
600-metre national flag
Pupils of Andhra University High School formed into the shape of Andhra Pradesh and carried a 600-metre long national flag around it, as part of the State Formation Day celebrations at the AU Golden Jubilee Ground here on Friday. Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju, who was chief guest, garlanded the portraits of Potti Sreeramulu and Telugu Talli.
Registrar K. Rama Mohana Rao, Director of Physical Education M. Syam Babu, NSS Coordinator NAD Pal, Botta Ramachandra and others were present.
At another function, Prof. Raju garlanded the statue of Telugu Talli at Maddilapalem Junction and portraits of Potti Sreeramulu and map of Andhra Pradesh at the Central Administrative Office.
Rector E.A. Narayana, Principals D. Prabhakara Rao, .Ch.V. Ramachandra Murthy, Gyanamani, Ratnam, A. Subrahmanyam, and Ganga Rao, Prof. Rama Mohana Rao, Director of School of Distance Education N.L. Narasimha Rao, Deans L.D. Sudhakara Babu, Hariprakash, Arjun, Veerraju, Koteswara Rao, Bobby Vardhan and others participated.
Rasamayi
At Andhra Medical College, its cultural wing Rasamayi organised a programme to celebrate the State Formation Day with many participants feeling that it would be the last such celebrations in unified State.
The faculty and students hoped the State remained unified.
Students and teachers rendered songs highlighting Telugu culture and history. Principal of AMC S.V. Kumar, Superintendent of KGH M. Madhusudhana Babu, chairperson of Rasamayi Balamuralikrishna, Dr. Saroj and Bharati and others spoke. Rajesh and Varun of first year bagged first prize in a quiz competition on AP. A faculty team of Subba Rao and Ramakrishna and students pair Shashank and Siddharth shared the second prize.
At Podar Jumbo Kids school, dresses and playing equipment was donated to students of Balavikas Foundation. Correspondent of the school Riddhi Parikh and others were present.
