The Telangana Government has sought a special grant of Rs 750 crore from the Central Government for the conduct of 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 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 crore and it has been urged requested to release an amount of Rs 750 crore as a special grant. He also informed that the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Godavari Pushkarams held a detailed review meeting with all concerned line Departments and suggested to meet the funds from their own budget which was allocated by the government for executing the works pertaining to their departments. He nearly Rs 500 crore will be spent on the 12-day event which would have the participation of over six crore devotees. The State Government has released Rs 100 crore each in the budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16.
The Roads & Buildings and Panchayat Raj departments will spend Rs 185 crore and Rs 57 respectively for the construction of BT Roads. The Endowments Department will be spending Rs 13 crore for sprucing up 46 temples. The Irrigation Department will be spending Rs 82 crore for the development of 88 ghats. He said the South Central Railway has been urged to renovate and repair all the railway stations in five districts. Stating that one IAS officer is being deputed to supervise the works, he hoped that all the works would be completed by the set deadline of June 30. He also informed that about 900-1500 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, DK Aruna, Kopula Eshwar, N Diwakar Rao, V Prashanth Reddy and NVSS 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)