Godavari Pushkaralu: Telangana Seeks 750 Crores

The Telangana government has sought a special grant of Rs 750 crores from the central government for conducting the Godavari Pushkaralu, to be held from 14th to 25th July this year.

Replying to a question raised by MLA Koppula Eshwara and others during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Endowments Minister A Indira Karan Reddy informed that a proposal was submitted to the Centre with an estimated cost of Rs 907.20 crores, and a request was made for the release of an amount of Rs 750 crores as a special grant.

He also informed that the Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Godavari Pushkarams had held a detailed review meeting with all the concerned line departments, and suggested that they meet the expenses from their own budgets allocated by the government for executing works pertaining to their departments.

He said nearly Rs 500 crores would be spent on the 12-day event, which would have over six crores devotees participating. The state government has released Rs 100 crores each in the budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The roads & buildings and panchayat raj departments will spend Rs 185 crores and Rs 57 crores respectively for the construction of BT roads. The endowments department will spend Rs 13 crores for sprucing up 46 temples. the irrigation department will spend Rs 82 crores for the development of 88 ghats.

Reddy said that the South Central Railway has been urged to renovate and repair all the railway stations in five districts. Stating that an IAS officer was being deputed to supervise the works, he expressed hope that all the works would be completed by the set deadline of June 30.

He also informed that about 900-1,500 special buses would be operated by the RTC during the event.

The Chief Secretary will be reviewing the works at least once in 10 days, he said.

Legislators including P Ajay Kumar, D K Aruna, Kopula Eshwar, N Diwakar Rao, V Prashanth Reddy and N V S S Prabhakar urged the government to ensure facilities like drinking water, toilets, food, emergency healthcare, sanitation and better roads for the devotees. BJP MLA Prabhakar requested the government to conduct an all-party meeting on the arrangements. (INN)