MAHBUBNAGAR: Telugu film star went home to his native village of Burripalem in Guntur district on Sunday, promising to bring development but the village he adopted in Telangana, Siddapur village in Mahbubnagar district, continues to languish.
Seven months ago, flush with the success of his Good Samaritan movie Srimanthudu, the Tollywood actor adopted the Telangana village but few of the projects he announced there have got going. Since that high-profile visit to the village, the star has not been back in Siddapur. The only activity taken up there under the aegis of the star has been a two-day health camp organised last month, for which Mahesh Babu's wife Namrata Shirodkar visited the village.
While acknowledging the star's interest in the village, sarpanch Jangaiah said much needs to be done in Siddapur. The local fans association has been trying to get the actor to visit again, but he remains too busy.
Adoption by film stars and VIPS has done little other such villages, either in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana. Development has been so-so in villages adopted by elected reps mainly due to tardy funding from the Centre.
However, in Kondareddypally village in Kesampet mandal of Mahbubnagar district, adopted by the actor Prakash Raj, has benefitted some. A water-treatment plant, underground sewerage, two acres of land for a government school and transportation for school children are some of the goodies that have come the way of Kondareddypally due to the character actor's involvement.
WHAT SIDDAPUR NEEDS