Godavari Pushkaram: Big Task Ahead

The Andhra Pradesh government plans to make the Godavari Pushkarams - 2015 a mega event, with a large number of devotees from across the country expected to attend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited to inaugurate the Pushkarams be held in July 2015.

The East and West Godavari district authorities have come up with proposals worth Rs.1,100 crore, of which Rs. 800 crore will be from East Godavari.

The first meeting of the six-member Group of Ministers on the mega event under Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, which was held on August 8 in Rajahmundry, authorised the East and West Godavari District Collectors to forward proposals to the Commissioner of Endowments Department, Y.V. Anuradha, besides promising to release Rs. 100 crore as token advance.

“We have a big task ahead, including renovation of temples, construction of new ghats and strengthening of ghats. The sky is the limit when it comes to spending money on organising the event,” Mr. Yanamala said. He added that the work proposals would be sanctioned only after a thorough scrutiny, and that the State would mobilise funds from the TTD and the Central government.

Works yet to commence The most significant work is the renovation of as many as 68 ghats and construction of 72 small new ghats along the Godavari bund. Minister for Endowments Pydikondala Manikyala Rao and Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinna Rajappa had inspected the ruined ghats in August. But, no work has commenced as yet.

Another challenge is to find space for vehicle parking. Unlike in the previous occasion, when large vacant spaces were available in and around the city, a number of constructions have come up, making the task tough. Providing accommodation for thousands of devotees is yet another issue.

THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

1.Pushkarams works at eleventh hour in 2003 drew criticism

2Flash floods and arrangement of parking facility are big challenges

3.Number of devotees going to be increase more than ten times

4.State facing fund crunch to start Pushkaram works as of now

FUND MANAGEMENT

* Government will release Rs.100 crore as token advance for Pushkaram-2015 works

*Collectors have forwarded proposals worth Rs.1,100 crore for the mega event

QUOTES:

1. “I admit that funds to the tune of Rs. 100 crore as token advance to begin engineering works are yet to be released. But I am expecting them this week.”

Neetu Prasad.

District Collector

East Godvari

2. “We will get funds from the Centre to organise the event in a grand manner and will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the event.”

Dr. Akula Satyanaryana,

Rajahmundry City MLA

Somu Veerraju,

BJP national committee member

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