VIJAYAWADA: While works related to the State government’s ambitious plan to build a Shilparamam in every district, are moving at a brisk pace in nine districts, the project is yet to take shape in three other districts. Officials are yet to identify suitable land for construction of Shilparamams in West Godavari, Prakasam, and Nellore districts. Sources in the tourism department said the government has been trying to finding suitable land for construction of Shilparamam in Ongole for the past four years; Nellore (Two years) and Eluru (Three months).
“We are unable to find 25 to 30 acres of land in Ongole as we need land that is accessible to the artisans and visitors who come to see the craft works that are displayed here. In Nellore, we got 42 acres of land, but the project has been stalled due to a court case. We have already filed a counter case,” B Jayaraj, Special Officer for Shilparamam, told Express.
“We are also not able to find suitable land in Eluru. However, I have written a letter to the collector and he has responded positively,” he added.“There was a proposal to build a Shilparamam at Machilipatnam during the two-day Collectors’ Conference. The CM had given his consent to build a Shilparamam at Amaravati for which the works will start soon,” said Jayaraj. Naidu had given his nod for the renovation of existing Shilparamams at Tirupati and Vishakapatnam and also approved a master plan for a Shilparamam at Guntur.
