Mulapeta port, development works to upscale activity in Srikakulam dt, says YS Jagan

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Mulapeta port and various other projects worth over Rs.5,198 crore.

He first laid the foundation stone for the Rs.4,362 crore Mulapeta Port that would provide direct and indirect employment to 25,000 people and play key role in handling exports and imports from other States including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

He also laid foundation stones for the Rs. 360-crore fishing harbour at Budagatlapalem at Etcherla mandal, Rs. 176.35-crore Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation Project that would take water to Hiramandalam reservoir from Gotta Barrage and the Rs. 300-crore Mahendratanaya offshore Reservoir Project works.

Addressing the gathering after the ground-breaking ceremonies, the Chief Minister said that the Mulapeta Port and other developmental works would change the face of Srikakulam district transforming the local villages into cities like Mumbai and Chennai over a period of time.

Regretting that the North Andhra region remained backward for several decades despite the area being rich with the waters of the Vamsadhara and Nagavali, he said that the Mulapeta Port, which was expected to be completed in two years, would encourage growth of ancillary industries in the surrounding areas and would provide employment to the local youth.

The Mulapeta Port, being built in an area of 1,250 acres with an annual capacity of 23.5 million tonnes, would have four loading and unloading berths to handle exports and imports of coal, multipurpose containers and the general cargo.

In the coming days, its handling capacity would reach 100 million tonnes, he hoped.

The Rs. 15-crore Manchineellapeta fish land centre would be upgraded as fishing harbour soon, he said, adding that the fishing harbours in the district would encourage deep sea fishing and prevent migration of fishermen to other parts of the country.

He said he would complete the Mahendra Tanaya and Vamsadhara second phase stage-II works which were initiated by his father and former Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

The works of the Uddhanam Kidney Centre had reached final stage, he said, adding he would inaugurate it in June.

The Rs. 700-crore safe drinking water project to bring purified water to Uddanam area from Hiramandalam reservoir would be ready in the next few months and permanently end the recurrence of kidney ailments, he said.

Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation Project would help stabilise the Ayacut with the supply of 19 TMC feet of water helping the farmers opt for second crop similar to coastal districts, he said.

The linking of Vamsadhara –Nagavaali Rivers would be completed in August while the foundation stone for the Rs. 265-crore water works extension project in Pathapatnam constituency would be laid in June, he said.

He said he would lay foundation stones for the Bhogarpuram airport and Adani Data Centre on May 3 and for the Tribal University at Saluru in June and added that all these developmental works would totally change the facade of the Srikakulam district and North Andhra.

The establishment of four new medical colleges besides a tribal engineering college in the region would also serve the growing medical needs of the locals and elevate the lives of the tribal youth, he said.

Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitharam, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Animal Husbandry Minister Seediri Appala Raju, IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath, Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu and MLC D. Srinivas and top officials participated in the programme.