First Anakapalli Utsav Commences on Beaches, Lake in the District

Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu and minister Kollu Ravindra launched the flower show at the Jaggery Market organised by Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. The show, being held for the first time, attracted a large number of people who came to witness the exotic flowers and medicinal plants on display.

Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha opened the festival at Mutyalammapalem beach, known for its virgin sands and greenery. Several cultural programmes got organised at Mutyalammapalem and Revupalem beaches. A motorised paragliding turned out to be a major attraction.

The main festival took place at the Kondakarla Ava, India’s second biggest freshwater lake, which is also a bird sanctuary. The festival began with boats sailing into the Ava water and several folk dances organised near the lake. Stalls exhibited and sold Etikoppaka toys, pottery, forest products from tribal areas, and Savara and traditional paintings. Outlets selling Madugula Halwa, Araku Coffee, and traditional dishes attracted people.

Speaking on the occasion, speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu said Kondakarla Ava needs to be developed as a major tourist centre, providing financial opportunities to the local people and jobs to the unemployed. He maintained that there are many places and opportunities to make the district a major tourist attraction. The reservoirs could be converted into exotic tourist spots to draw visitors from different parts of the country and the world, he stated.

The minister pointed out that the district is emerging as a major industrial hub, with several industries already operating and employing thousands of people. He asked every family in the district to spend some time at Kondakarla Ava.

District in-charge minister Kollu Ravindra said there is a lot of scope to develop Kondakarla Ava spread over 1,800 acres. The bird sanctuary and green cover will be ideal for an eco-tourism project. Ravindra thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his suggestion that similar festivities be organised in all districts.

Anakapalli MP C.M. Ramesh said he will do his best as a member of parliament to develop tourism projects in the district.

In the interim, a cycle rally, helicopter rides, and other events marked the Araku Utsav on Day Two. Many events have also been organised at the R.K. Beach as part of the Visakha Utsav.