TIRUPATI: Chief minister K Rosaiah arrived here on Wednesday to review the arrangements for the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 31.
Speaking to mediapersons after the official meeting, forest minister P Ramachandra Reddy said the prime minister is likely to visit Tirupati to lay the foundation stone for the much-awaited BHEL-NTPC joint venture at Mannavaram near Srikalahasthi.
He said as per the tentative programme, the prime minister will leave for Mannavaram immediately on his arrival at Renigunta airport to lay the foundation stone for the project. He will unveil a pylon for the international airport project and other development works in the airport before returning to New Delhi on the same day.
Reddy said there will be no public meeting. Manmohan Singh will address only a select gathering of local people and activists at the airport. The PMO did not give consent for a public meeting.
Earlier at the airport, chief minister while replying to a question said doubts over the multi-crore BHEL-NTPC joint venture were baseless.
`Mannavaram project manade’ he said.
To another query, the chief minister said the TTD specified authority will continue for some more time. This indicates that the government is in no hurry to set up a TTD trust board immediately. The chief minister felt that this will in no way hinder the conduct of the Brahmotsavams to be held in September and October.
Due to inclement weather, the chief minister cancelled his trip to Nellore from here. Instead he visited Tirumala to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara.
In Tirumala, he was received by TTD executive officer IYR Krishna Rao. He was given teertha prasadams and appraised of the arrangements being made for the Brahmotsavams.
After a brief rest at Sri Padmavati Guest House, he returned to Tirupati and visited Tiruchanuru and offered prayers at Padamavathi temple before leaving for Hyderabad. Forest minister P Ramachandra Reddy, MP Chinta Mohan, former minister R Chenga Reddy, former MLA M Venkataramana, district officials including collector V Seshadri and others were present.