Heritage tag to Gandikota fort soon

Kadapa: Marketing Minister C Adinarayana Reddy has said that Gandikota fort is going to secure UNESCO heritage status within one month. The Minister participated in the World Tourism Day celebrations here on Wednesday.

Addressing a gathering, Adinarayana Reddy stated that fort is getting heritage status with the initiative of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Facelift will be given to tourism spots like Siddavatam fort, Vontimitta temple, Jain temple etc., he said and gave a call for the people to take collective responsibility for the development of the district. The Minister added that people have quit faction culture and concentrating on the development.

Reddy said that unemployed in the district will get jobs as solar power and wind power units are coming in a big way. The Minister directed the Tourism department to publish booklets with comprehensive information about the tourist spots, and ancient temples in the district. He advised officials to arrange a package tour in the interest of the tourists, who are coming from far off places.

Adinarayana hinted at allocation of funds from the District Reserve Fund (DRF) for the development of tourism spots in the district. He instructed the officials to collect fund from the industries under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for developing tourism in the district. He said that the government had sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the construction of 8 km road from Agasteswara Kona to Gandikota.

He further stated that officials concerned should supply water from Gandikota reservoir to Mailavaram, Sarvaraya Sagar and Brahamam Sagar reservoirs for agriculture operations in the Kharif season.

On the occasion, the Minister has distributed prizes and certificates to the winners of various competitions. Tourism Regional Director G Gopal, DRDA PD Ramachandra Reddy and other officials were present.