Pushkaram underway, CM, Ministers take holy dip

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday reiterated his government’s commitment to strive for the development of all districts in the state without bias towards or against any particular area.

KKR also recalled the commitment of former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy who had vowed to develop Adilabad district and promised to continue the pending development works initiated by YSR.

Talking to media persons after symbolically inaugurating the Pushkaram by taking a holy dip at Arjunigutta, the bank of Pranahita river in Kotapally mandal during his maiden visit to the district, KKR reiterated his government’s commitment to implement all the welfare schemes which were launched by YSR, in letter and spirit.

KKR stated that the development of the state, particularly the backward areas, was his top priority.

The Chief Minister also vowed to make concentrated efforts for getting the National Project status accorded to the Pranahita-Chevella projects from the Centre.

He pointed out that the Pranahita-Chevella project, being taken up with a cost of Rs 7,000 crore would provide irrigation water to 1.56 lakh acres of land in Telangana districts.

The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for the construction of District Hospital building. The government would launch a trauma care centre in the district hospital in a year.

Earlier, Major Irrigation Minister P Sudershan Reddy launched the Pushkaram at Tummidi Hatti in Koutala mandal while Civil Supplies and Legislative Affairs Minister Sridhar Babu launched the Pushkaram by taking holy dip at historic Kaleswara Muktheeswara swamy devasthanam in Mahadevpur mandal along the shores of river Godavari in Karimnagar district.

The state government has declared the 12-day Pranahita Pushkaram as State Festival and released Rs 6 crore.

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for pilgrims visiting the temple shrine. The State Road Transport Corporation will operate a fleet of 150 buses several parts of district to Kaleswaram temple shrine.

Over 50,000 devotees are expected to take part in the Pushkaram. The district administration has already been ordered to take care of hygiene, sanitation, drinking water and erecting of barricades for the smooth conduct of this rare festival at the temple, known as Dakshina Kasi, which was supposed to give Moksha to those worshipping there.