Patriotic fervour marks R-Day fete

Kurnool: 68th Republic Day Celebrations were organised in a grand manner at the Police Parade Grounds in Kurnool on Thursday.

District Collector Ch Vijaya Mohan unfurled the tri-colour. Later, he received the guard of honour from police personnel.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Mohan said Kurnool is achieving progress in different sectors. An industrial hub would be established in an area of 10,922 acres at Orvakal. Ramco Cement plant would be set up at Kolimigundla at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. Prisim Cement at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore and Ultra Tech cement industries at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore are likely to be established in the district, he stated.

In addition to the factories, 1,000 mega watts of solar power plant, the largest power generation plant in the globe has been set up at Shakunala and Ghani.

Disilting of 1.50 cubic metres has been done for 634 ponds at a cost of Rs 148.69 cr under the Neeru-Chettu programme.

Water has been extended to 26,811 acres of land under 12 lift irrigation schemes through APSIDC utilsing a sum of Rs 208.19 cr, he said.

Despite scanty rainfall in the district, efforts have been made to protect the crops from withering away.

The district has secured satisfactory yields of paddy, black gram and green gram. Around 50,000 quintals of seeds have been distributed to farmers on subsidy. He said construction of 5,559 check dams was taken up at cost of Rs 56 crore and 76 gram panchyats have been turned into open defecation free villages.

The Collector also stated that 4 lakh saplings have been planted on either side of the roads and CC roads were laid at a stretch of 365 kilometres at a cost of Rs 76 crore.

Around 14,850 houses have been sanctioned under NTR housing scheme and Rs 74.43 crore has been allocated for the purpose. A cardio thoracic surgery unit was set up at Kurnool General Hospital at a cost of Rs 7 crore and around 40 bypass surgeries were performed to the poor patients.

The collector said several reforms have been made in Revenue Department.

‘Mee Intiki-Mee Bhoomi’ was launched. He said 513 own buildings to Anganwadi centres have been constructed at a cost of Rs 36 crore.

Later, the government and private school children performed cultural programmes. The Collector felicitated the staff of different departments by presenting them commendation certificates and mementos.

Kurnool District Judge Anupama Chakravarthi, Rajya Sabha Member T G Venkatesh, YSR Congress Party MP Butta Renuka, Kurnool MLA S V Mohan Reddy, DIG B V Ramana Kumar, Joint Collector C Hari Kiran, SP Ake Ravi Krishna and others participated.