VIJAYAWADA: The State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Thursday, cleared several proposals, including the sanction of Rs 50 crore for security arrangements for Godavari Pushkarams-2027, launch of a new welfare scheme ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ for handloom weavers, and establishment of two private universities.
As lakhs of devotees are expected to participate in Godavari Pushkarams scheduled to be held in June and July 2027, the State government plans to make extensive security arrangements across seven districts along the Godavari river, including East Godavari, Kakinada, BR Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Eluru, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Polavaram.
The measures will include crowd and traffic management, surveillance, communication systems, river safety and rescue operations, disaster response, fire and emergency services, medical facilities, public amenities, and integrated control rooms to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.
Disclosing the decisions taken by the Cabinet to the media, I&PR Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said handloom weaver families living below the poverty line will receive Rs 25,000 per annum irrespective of the age of beneficiary and the number of looms owned under the Nethanna Sevalo scheme. The scheme is expected to benefit 51,952 handloom weavers across the State, causing a burden of Rs 129.88 crore to the State exchequer.
The Cabinet cleared the proposal to provide a government guarantee for APMARKFED to secure a Rs 300 crore term loan from the Central Bank of India during the current financial year.
Cabinet nod for two new pvt universities in State
It also gave a nod for the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2016, paving the way for the establishment of Vishnu Women’s University and Chalapathi University under the Brownfield Category.
Under the proposal, Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women in Bhimavaram will be upgraded into Vishnu Women’s University, while Chalapathi Institute of Technology at Lam in Guntur district will become Chalapathi University. The universities will reserve 35 per cent of seats under the government quota with concessional fee structure, the I&PR Minister said.
The Cabinet also approved compensation for the remaining eligible farmers under the Land Pooling Scheme at Cherlopalikhanda in Anakapalli district, allowing them to receive developed residential and commercial plots on par with farmers who had earlier consented to the scheme.
An administrative sanction was given for Rs 641.10 crore for the construction of the Neradi Barrage and allied works under Stage-II of the BRR Vamsadhara Project, aimed at improving irrigation facilities.