Pranab Mukherjee to attend K Chandrasekhar Rao’s mega yagam on last day

Mr Mukherjee will be in city for his winter sojourn from December 18 to 31. Mr Rao has planned yagam on a grand scale, for five days from December 23 to 27.

The Chief Minister’s Office has received official communication from the President’s Office to this effect.

Following this, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Thursday convened a meeting with officials of various departments at the Secretariat and directed them to make arrangements for the President’s visit. He told them to set up helipads at the venues for programmes to be attended by Mr Mukherjee.

Officials from Army, police, GHMC, Water Works, health, R&B, I&PR, power, BSNL, Cantonment, fire, revenue etc. were present at the meeting.

Mr Sharma asked officials to make necessary arrangements at the Hakimpet airport for the arrival of the President. He instructed officials to repair the roads and set up welcome boards along the roads to be used by the President’s convoy.

He asked officials to spruce up the Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bollarum, on a war-footing and provide all facilities.

As per the schedule received by the CMO, the President will take part in the convocation of Military College of Engineering & Electronics on December 19.

He will attend the annual meeting of Indian Economic Association to be held in Prof. Jayashankar Agriculture University on December 27.

Mr Rao called on Mr Pawar in New Delhi on his 75th birthday, along with TRS MP Jitender Reddy and others to wish him long life. He also invited Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu for the yagam.

“During the Telangana movement, Sharad Pawar extended full support for creation of Telangana State. He also came to Hyderabad and extended support which we cannot forget. I wished him long life,” the CM said.

He is also planning to invite AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and CMs of other southern states for the yagam during the Southern CMs’ meet at Vijayawada on December 12.

Sources said Mr Rao has decided to attend the meeting. This will be his second visit to AP State after he participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of AP capital Amravati.

Mr Rao also met Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and sought sanction of more houses under the Central scheme in view of the state taking up 2BHK housing scheme on a large scale.

“Centre would extend all support to the 2BHK housing scheme initiated by the TS government and also consider the plea for more houses,” Mr Venkaiah Naidu said.