Naidu vows equal development of all the regions of AP

Visakhapatnam: Committing to ensure "equal development" of all the regions of the state by "decentralising" the administration, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said every individual should contribute for the betterment of the country.

Speaking on the occasion of 69th Independence Day celebrations at R K Beach here, Naidu said his government was committed to ensure equal development of all the regions of the state by "decentralising" the administration.

"It is every individual's responsibility to contribute his or her might for the development of the country and to eradicate poverty, unemployment and illiteracy," he said.

The state was facing several problems due to "unscientific bifurcation" (of united Anhdra Pradesh, to create Telangana) by the Congress-led UPA for political reasons, Naidu said, adding that the NDA government now needed to help Andhra Pradesh.

He noted that with the support of local populace, his government restored normalcy in Visakhapatnam within nine days after the cyclone Hudhud struck last year.

He further said that the government also organised the Godavari Pushkaram festival last month with meticulous planning, though there was a mishap (a stampede) in the beginning, he said. More than five crore devotees took holy deep in the Godavari river during the festival.

The state had planned to link the rivers to provide water to all the regions, Naidu informed. The government took up the Pattiseema irrigation project in March to provide irrigation to Rayalaseema, and the project would be dedicated to the country this evening, the Chief Minister said.

His government had also waived agricultural loans of Rs 25,000 crore despite the fiscal deficit it is facing, he said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the guard of honour and took salute by the contingents of police, school children, Scouts and the Red Cross, etc.