Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asserted on Monday that Srisailam, a pilgrim centre with the temple of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Sri Bhramaramba Devi, a ‘jyotirlingam’ and an ‘ashtadasa sakthi peetham’, located in a serene atmosphere, would be developed into a religious tourism centre.
Srisailam, a nature’s bounty with a tiger reserve, would be connected by helicopter, as it is situated equidistant from Hyderabad, Amaravati, and Bengaluru, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said after performing ‘nadi pooja’ and offering a saree, flowers, vermillion and turmeric and giving ‘harathi’ to the Krishna river at Lingalagattu low level ghat in Srisailam. Stating that Krishna pushkarams was organised better than last year’s Godavari pushkaram, providing requisite facilities, accommodation, transport, dining and security, the Chief Minister said the people expressed happiness at the arrangements made.
‘Sankalpam’ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Naidu recalled that he had made a ‘sankalpam’ last year and accordingly linked the rivers Godavari and Krishna through the Pattiseema lift-irrigation scheme. He was making a fresh ‘sankalpam’ to link the rivers Godavari and Krishna to the Penna at Somasila and ensure that water from Pothireddipadu head regulator irrigated the Rayalaseema area. The State did not get rainfall in August but the government conceived the rain gun concept to safeguard crops and conserve water by digging farm ponds and soak pits.
The number of people offering ‘pinda pradanam’, to pay reverence to their ancestors, increased during the Krishna pushkarams compared to last year’s Godavari pushkarams, the Chief Minister said.
Noticing the presence of a large number of youth recording his address on mobile phones, Mr. Naidu remarked that youth were forgetting everything except computers and mobile phones and must change their mindset. None appeared to be in tension and were utilising technology effectively, he remarked.
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Mr. Naidu had a word of praise for the police force in the district and said the uniformed force known for wielding the stick was getting involved in social service like helping the physically challenged and the aged with wheel chairs. Lauding the students who acted as volunteers, he said service was needed to earn respect from the society.
FelicitatedSrisailam Devasthanam Executive Officer Narayana Bharat Gupta felicitated Mr. Chandrababu Naidu with a shawl and temple priests gave him prasadam.