AP will be education & knowledge hub: CM

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that Andhra Pradesh will become an education and knowledge hub with the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga.

He said the State is achieving good progress and overcoming the difficulties that were caused by bifurcation due to the blessings of the presiding deity on Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada.

Highlights:

• Says the State is achieving good progress overcoming the difficulties caused by bifurcation
• Chandrababu Naidu along with his wife Bhuvaneswari offers silk clothes to Goddess Kanaka Durga adorned as Sri Saraswathi Devi on Indrakeeladri on Moola Nakshatram

Chandrababu Naidu along with his wife presented Pattu Vastralu (silk robes) to Goddess Kanaka Durga adorned as Saraswati Devi on Indrakeeladri on Wednesday as part of the Dasara celebrations.

The Chief Minister performed rituals and presented Pattu Vastralu amidst chanting of slokas by priests.Earlier, the temple officials and priests welcomed the Chief Minister with Poorna Kumbham. The CM visited the temple on the auspicious day of Moola Nakshatram.

Later, addressing a media conference at the temple, he said that he had prayed to the Goddess for speedy construction of the Polavaram Project and construction of world-class new capital Amaravati.

He said Amaravati should be a pride of Telugu people and symbol of self-respect.Giving details on future plans, Naidu said the government is planning to start the Godavari-Penna river linkage works very soon.

He pointed out that 64 tmcft of Godavari river could be diverted to Krishna river this season due to construction of Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project. He said Smart Water Grid and Smart Power Grid are two important schemes of the State for proper utilisation of water resources as well as to supply power at affordable rates to the consumers.

He once again hinted at reducing the power charges in the State.Explaining the importance and history of Durga temple in Vijayawada, he said Arjuna had performed Tapassu on the historical Indrakeeladri and the city is well known for its victory over evil forces.

He said 12th King Vishnu Vardhan had ruled this region and Vijaya Nagara emperor Sri Krishna Devarayalu also used to visit the Durga temple to offer prayers.

The CM was in a joyful mood and posed for photographs with the scribes.Police and personal body guards faced embarrassing situation when dozens of scribes and cameramen jostled to get photographed with Chandrababu Naidu at the media point on Indrakeeladri.

Interaction with devotees: The Chief Minister interacted with the devotees standing in queue lines while coming to the temple as well as leaving the temple.

Many devotees standing in queue lines were delighted when the Chief Minister personally went to them and inquired about the arrangements made for the annual festival.

The CM complimented young volunteers, officials and Durga Temple Trust Board members for making elaborate arrangements for Moola Nakshatram.

Endowment Minister P Manikyala Rao, Minister for Water Resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas, Krishna District Collector B lakshmikantham, temple executive officer A Suryakumari, Trust Board chairman
Y Gauranga babu and others were present.