Minister Kollu lays stone for drainage works

Machilipatnam (Krishna District): Minister for Mines & Geology and Excise Kollu Ravindra affirmed that Machilipatnam, a historic town with over 150 years of municipal legacy, would not lag in infrastructure development. He said that Rs 73 crore is required for strengthening the drainage network in the port city.

The minister conducted an extensive tour across multiple divisions on Tuesday and launched several civic works aimed at upgrading urban amenities. He laid the foundation stone for drainage pipeline works in the 48th Division and inaugurated three culverts and two drainage works at the New Mosque Centre in the 35th Division, Rajupeta. He also initiated culvert and HDPE pipeline works near the Ranga statue, also in the 48th Division.

Speaking at the public meeting, Ravindra said that Machilipatnam municipality was upgraded into a corporation between 2014 and 2019, paving the way for faster development. He said proposals worth Rs 60 crore were already submitted to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to expand the drainage network, along with a request for an additional Rs 13 crore for major drains. To address drinking water shortages, he said that the state government took up the construction of a 20 MLD water plant and eight reservoirs, which now ensure supply to most localities. Steps are also being taken to resolve electricity issues permanently.

Recalling earlier initiatives, he said that the summer storage tank built under former MLA Vaddi Ranga Rao’s leadership, and the CC road works initiated by former minister Narasimha Rao and former MLC and Municipal Chairman Batchula Arjunudu, transformed the region’s infrastructure.

He said cement roads had been completed in 95% of the corporation’s limits, and efforts were underway to finish the remaining portions swiftly. Highlighting the government’s commitment to job creation, he said the recent CII conference brought in investment proposals worth Rs 13 lakh crore, with the potential to generate 15 lakh jobs. Cluster In-charge Pallapati Subramaniam, former Chairman, Motamarri Baba Prasad, and leaders from Jana Sena and BJP were present.