Mulapeta (Srikakulam dist), April 19: Reiterating the Government’s commitment of changing the landscape of north coastal Andhra and ensuring tangible balanced regional development, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said here on Wednesday that he would be shifting to Visakhapatnam in September.
The Chief Minister emphasised on balanced regional development addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for the Rs.4362crore Mulapeta Port that would provide direct and indirect employment to 25,000 people and play key role in handling exports and imports from other states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
He also laid foundation stones for the Rs. 360crore fishing harbour at Budagatlapalem at Etcherla mandal, Rs. 176.35crore Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation Project that would take water to Hiramandalam reservoir from Gotta Barrage and the Rs. 300crore Mahendratanaya offshore Reservoir Project works.
Addressing the gathering after the ground-breaking ceremonies, the Chief Minister said that the Mulapeta Port and other developmental works would change the face of the Srikakulam district transforming the local villages into cities like Mumbai and Chennai over a period of time.
Regretting that the North Andhra region remained backward for several decades despite the area being rich with the waters of the Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers, he said that the Mulapeta Port, which is expected to be completed in two years, would encourage growth of ancillary industries in the surrounding areas and would provide employment to the local youth, he said.
The Mulapeta Port, being built in an area of 1250 acres with an annual capacity of 23.5 million tonnes, will have four loading and unloading berths to handle exports and imports of coal, multipurpose containers and the general cargo. In the coming days, its handling capacity would reach 100 million tonnes, he hoped.
The Rs. 15crore Manchineellapeta fish land centre would be upgraded as fishing harbour soon, he said, adding that the fishing harbours in the district would encourage deep sea fishing and prevent migration of fishermen to other parts of the country.
He said he would complete the Mahendra Tanaya and Vamsadhara second phase stage-2 works which were initiated by his father and former Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The works of the Uddhanam Kidney Centre have reached final stage, he said, adding he would inaugurate it in June.
The Rs. 700crore safe drinking water project to bring purified water to Uddanam area from Hiramandalam Reservoir would be ready in the next few months and permanently end the recurrence of kidney ailments, he said.
Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation Project would help stabilise the Ayacut with the supply of 19 TMC of water helping the farmers opt for second crop similar to coastal districts, he said.
The linking of Vamsadhara –Nagavaali Rivers would be completed in August while the foundation stone for the Rs. 265crore water works extension project in Pathapatnam constituency will be laid in June, he said.
He said he would lay foundation stones for the Bhogarpuram airport and Adani Data Centre on May 3 and for the Tribal University at Saluru in June and added that all these developmental works would totally change the facade of the Srikakulam district and North Andhra.
The establishment of four new medical colleges besides a tribal engineering college in the region would also serve the growing medical needs of the locals and elevate the lives of the tribal youth, he said.
Shift in September
Reiterating that the Government is committed to decentralised development of the State, the Chief Minister said he would shift to Visakhapatnam in September.
In response to the appeal of the local MLC D. Srinivas, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 70crore for augmenting drinking water project works and bringing safe drinking water to 49 villages in Santhabommali Mandal.
Assembly Speaker T. Sitharam, Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao, Animal Husbandry Minister S. Appala Raju, IT Minister G. Amarnath, Water Resources Minister A. Rambabu and MLC D. Srinivas and top officials participated in the programme.
