VIJAYAWADA: Ugadi, Telugu New Year day, was officially celebrated by the State government at picturesque Ananthavaram village of Tullur mandal for the first time in the state post-bifurcation.
Promising to develop the region as a world-class capital city, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, participating in the celebrations as chief guest with a host of ministers, MPs, MLAs and other VIPs claimed that the first phase of the river front capital will be completed by June 2018.
Chandrababu profusely thanked farmers of Tullur for their gesture in parting with their lands for the construction of the capital city. He thanked them for reposing faith in him and participating in land pooling. He said annual compensation of `30,000 per acre for dry land and `50,000 per acre for wet land has commenced. He announced a compensation of additional `1 lakh per acre for owners of orchards. Farm hands will get a compensation of `2,500 from April 1 onwards, he said
Taking inspiration from Japan, Germany and Singapore, which rose from ashes to emerge as developed nations, the people of AP should strive to make the state a prosperous one, he said.
Naidu said he has plans to overcome the financial crisis and develop the state with available resources. Polavaram will be completed and so will Pattiseema, he said and added micro irrigation will be encouraged for effective use of water resources.
The entire Ananthavaram was spruced up for the occasion and witnessed nearly 20,000 people participating in the first ever state-sponsored Ugadi celebrations. Attired in their best, people thronged the venue to listen to Panchanga Sravanam by TTD court astrologer Tangirala Krishna Purna Prasad Siddanthi, who predicted a good future for the reorganised state.
The Chief Minister, who started the celebrations by eating ‘Ugadi Pachadi’, released Agriculture and Horticulture almanacs, brought out by NG Ranga Agriculture University.
Cultural programmes including classical and folk dance, songs reflecting Telugu culture and tradition, were performed.
Ugadi was also celebrated in a traditional manner across Krishna and Guntur districts.