The first Republic Day post-bifurcation was celebrated with patriotic fervour in Andhra Pradesh. Collectors of various districts distributed showcased the progress achieved by their respective districts on the occasion.
Nellore Collector N. Janaki highlighted the disbursement of crop loans in the district. As against the crop loan requirement of Rs. 2,900 crore, banks have disbursed Rs. 1,920 crore so far, she said. Water for irrigation was supplied to nearly 2.14 acres of ayacut for the rabi season under the Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs.
Kadapa Collector K.V. Ramana 48 mandals in Kadapa district had been declared drought-hit, and crop loans of Rs. 653 crore had been disbursed. Owing to poor rain, farmers cultivated 1.15 lakh hectares out of 1.90 lakh hectares in the kharif season and 1.49 lakh hectares out of 2.05 lakh hectares in rabi, he added.
Prakasam Collector G.S.R.K.R. Vijaykumar said various development initiatives like the Rs. 38,000-crore National Investment and Manufacturing Zone, the Rs. 8,000-crore Ramayapatnam port and Rs. 5000-crore Donakonda industrial hub would help the district shed the ‘backward district’ tag.
Chittoor Collector Siddarth Jain unfurled the tricolor at the parade grounds. Chittoor SP Ghattamaneni Srinivas, Joint Collector Bharath Narayana Guptha and senior officials of the district administration were present.
Vizianagaram Collector M.M. Naik said the district would be developed by encouraging horticulture crops and developing pharma, Information Technology and Ferro alloy industries. He said focus would also be on sea food and developing tourism hubs in the district.
Srikakulam Collector Paturi Lakshmi Narasimham said the government was giving top priority for making the district an industrial hub by extending the Chennai-Visakhapatnam industrial corridor to the district.
“This will provide jobs to thousands of youngsters locally,” he added.
