Bullock-cart races held at Gollaprolu

Pithapuram: The State-level bullock-cart races were held on the outskirts of Gollaprolu, near here, on Sunday with the participation of over 30 pairs of bullocks from all over Andhra Pradesh.

Pithapuram MLA NVSN Varma, who inaugurated the event, said such races will be held in all mandals of the district to provide relaxation to the farmers and also as part of the animal husbandry development programme. The competition was held in the senior and junior categories. As the bulls ran on the kutcha roads kicking off enough dust, farmers watched the event standing in the farms and irrigation canal bunds.

Varma said that he had suggested to the government in the State Legislative Assembly that buffaloes supplied on subsidy to the farmers should be of local breeds. In the senior category, pair of bulls belonging to Bavirisetti Mani from Vannepudi in Gollaprolu mandal bagged the first prize, while those belonging to Mummina Ramakrishna of Narasaiahpeta in Visakhapatnam district secured the second prize. Third prize went to Chekuri Ramakrishna of Samalkot.

In the junior category, bulls belonging to Kimidi Pranita Lakshmi of Hukumpet of Rajahmundry mandal bagged the first prize while the second prize went to the bulls of Chekuri Ramakrishna of Samalkot. The third prize was bagged by Gedda Pavani of P Nayakampalli.

The MLA distributed shields and cash prize to winners of the bullock-cart races. Municipal chairman Seeram Manikyam, market committee chairman Madepalli Sunil Verma, TDP leaders and councilors took part in the event.

By Saride Nageswara Rao