The 73rd Independence Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across Prakasam district on Thursday.
Flag hoisting was organised by youth in every street corner in Ongole city and other places in the district.
At the main event organised at the Police Parade Grounds here, Irrigation Minister P. Anil Kumar Yadav, flanked by District Collector P. Bhaskar and Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kaushal, inspected the ceremonial parade.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the first phase of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda project, the lifeline of parched Prakasam district, would be completed at any cost by 2020.
The work was progressing at a swift pace both at the twin giant tunnels and at the Kollamvagu head regulator site to draw Krishna water from Srisailam.
Only 2.5 km of drilling work had to be completed in case of tunnel-I and 7.700 km for tunnel-II, explained the Minister, who was accompanied, among others, by his Cabinet colleagues Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and A. Suresh and Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy. More than 20 tableaux of various State departments highlighted the achievements of the State on various fronts.
