KCR Announces Rs 200 Crores, 200 Acres For Medaram

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today said tribal deities Sammakka and Saralamma were noted for their bravery, quite akin to what was witnessed during the fight for Telangana's statehood.

KCR made a visit to the Medaram Jathara, a popular tribal festival which he called the South Indian Kumbha Mela, and offered special prayers at the Sammakka and Saralamma gaddelu in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district near Warangal. The Chief Minister offered jaggery called "bangaram" to the tribal goddesses on the occasion, and also got weighed in the balance.

Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari, Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary and others welcomed the Chief Minister and his family members, including his wife Shobha and grandson Himanshu and others.

Speaking on the occasion, KCR said that about 1.50 crore people were going to participate in the tribal festival from various states, and announced the sanction of Rs 200 crores for the development of the festival site. He also said that 200 to 300 acres was proposed to be acquired for the festival, and said that a special meeting would be held in 15 days to take a decision.

"During my previous visit, I prayed to the forest goddesses to bless me to achieve Telangana state, and now I prayed them to change the narrow mindset of those who are stalling the works of the projects, and for their speedy completion. The festival was neglected in the combined state, and we are trying to give it the recognition it deserves now. I will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ask him to accord national status to the festival on the lines of Kumbha Mela in Uttar Pradesh," he said.