Projects worth Rs. 230 cr. launched

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday launched schemes worth Rs.230 crore in the cyclone-prone Diviseema area.

“My last visit to this place was to console cyclone victims. That was also my first official visit after assuming charge as Chief Minister,” he said at a public meeting after inaugurating a new building of Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao Fisheries Polytechnic at Bhavadevarapalli.

Responding favourably to the plea by aqua farmers, he said that the Government had abolished the NALA (AP Non-Agricultural Land Assessment) Act even though it meant an additional financial burden on the State ex-chequer.

In response to a plea by former Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad to increase the intake of students in the Fisheries Polytechnic and to upgrade an existing residential school at Mopidevi to the status of a junior college, he asked the officials concerned to send proposals to this effect.

He also agreed with Mr. Buddha Prasad’s contention that residents of the island villages had been facing severe drinking water problem. “There is water everywhere around but no water to drink. This region requires a comprehensive drinking water project and the Government will do all it can to permanently solve this problem,” he assured.

Mr. Reddy wanted the local authorities to forward him proposals pertaining to construction of bridges between Ullipalem-Bhavanipuram and Edurumundi-Etimugga. He also complimented Mr. Budha Prasad for his relentless crusade to promote Telugu language.

State Ministers K. Parthasaradhy, Thota Narasimham and P. Swaroop, former MP Badiga Ramakrishna and others were present.