Vizag will become Smart City: Naidu

Aaripaka (Visakhapatnam): Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday assured the people that Visakhapatnam, which was ravaged by cyclone, would be restored to its past glory within a short time. He also said the city would soon turn into smart city and the Centre and US administration were providing support for the venture, he said.

While showering sops on the urban Visakhapatnam, the Chief Minister did not disappoint the modest crowd from the neighbouring villages who were eagerly waiting for him to make a statement on farm loan waiver, provision of drinking water and basic connectivity.

I will turn every village into a model village with all the facilities. The TDP government has drawn a huge road map with all the facilities. All the seven missions will make villages a better place for living,’’ Naidu said, while maintaining a stoic silence on the loan waiver.

Prior to his public address, president of the Dwcra Federation of Visakhapatnam praised the Chief Minister to the skies.

On the demand by local MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, Naidu said the row over Devasthanam land belonging to Simhachalam would be resolved soon and the residents of five villages who lost their houses in the recent cyclone would have their land registered. The issue is presently in the High Court and the matter would be taken up with the Advocate General for early solution..

Minister for Panchayat Raj Ayyanna Patrudu announced that the Center had increased the MNREGA wages from from Rs 149 to Rs 169 with effect from April this year. The beneficiaries would be paid arrears also. There was a modest crowd at the meeting due to the Karthika Somavaram. The Chief Minister said he would visit the district on the same day next week.

...performs Sreemantham
Chief Minister N Chandrababu on Monday donned all kinds of roles during his Janmabhoomi-Maa Vuru programme here on Monday evening. He described himself as a son to an old pensioner, who was abandoned by her sons, a model teacher to the students who praised his vision and finally played the multiple role of father and father-in-law while performing Seemanatham for a couple of pregnant women. The programme was initiated by the overenthusiastic local MLA and former Minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy.

Seemantham is a performed for the first time pregnant women on an auspicious day, mainly in either the fifth, seventh or ninth month. Long ago, it was performed twice: once by the pregnant woman's in-laws and the other time by her parents.

About 15 pregnant women were brought on to the stage attired in traditional dress and the Chief Minister, appeared bit embarrassed with the sudden announcement of the MLA. But he presented them with saris and sweets.