Telangana gears up for Bonalu festival

​Hyderabad: Home Minister Naini Narasimha Reddy said the State government had sanctioned Rs 15 crores for the celebration of Bonalu festival this year. Narasimha Reddy, who is also the Chairman of the Festival Committee, directed the officials to make elaborate arrangements for the peaceful conduct of Bonalu festival. Last year Rs 10 crore was sanctioned and this year an additional Rs 5 crore have been sanctioned to celebrate the festival in a more befitting and traditional manner. He said city MLAs and local corporators must play a vital role to take up each and every work near the temples.

The Minister directed all ZCs and SEs to complete the works which have already been sanctioned before the festival. He said there should not be any delay and works should be allotted by duly calling the tenders. Narasimha Reddy interacted with the Endowment officials and directed them to provide all necessary help to the Corporators by providing funds. Responding to the directions, the Endowment officials requested the Corporators to give their proposals. They also sought last year utilisation certificate for immediate reference.

Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan asked the Corporators to conduct a review meeting within two days to discuss arrangements for the festival. He also directed all ZCs and SEs to deploy additional vehicles for lifting garbage and to take up recarpeting of roads, filling of potholes and providing LED lights wherever necessary. 

He said all civic related works should be taken up on priority and must be completed before July 20. Zonal Commissioners Hari Chandana, Bharathi Holikeri, CN Raghu Prasad and N Ravi Kiran, SEs of all zones and other senior officials attended the meeting.