AP to name state delicacies!

Vijayawada: The AP government’s Department of Tourism and Culture is finalising an action plan to get international recognition for Telugu delicacies with a geographical indication. As part of the initiative, the department has decided to organise food festivals and competitions across the state during June.

Similarly, the government has also plans to announce some selected dishes as state dishes as in the model of state symbols like neem tree as state tree. The government is eliciting opinion from the public in this regard. Already, the government has collected public opinion about tasty and healthy dishes. Some of them have already voted in favor of Bandar Laddu, Kakinada Kaja, Atryeapuram Pootarekulu, Gongura and Mango Avakaya and Punugulu.

Several dishes are being considered for announcing as state delicacy. The government wants to give area-wise recognition through various dishes. It gives recognition for not only the particular dish but also boost the importance of the entire area.

Tourism and Culture Department secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena has instructed the officials to identify the special dishes and make an effort to get geographical indication. He also said the food festivals and competitions should be conducted under a pleasant ambience. He also directed the officials to prepare a calendar with month-wise special dish festivals.

Similarly, the Tourism and Culture department wants to make Pootarekulu to get recognition in India Book of Records. The department wants to give publicity to the importance of tasty cuisines globally. The recognition would help increase the business also, the officials of the Tourism department said.