Burial grounds in West Godavari lack facilities

KAKINADA: Union Minister for State of Industries, Bhuapthiraju Srinivasa Varma has said the burial grounds are in a bad shape in seven constituencies of West Godavari district and the facilities there would be improved.

“We shall mobilize funds for it. The compound walls have to be built around these grounds. An electric burial ground would be set up in Tadepalligudem,” he told the media on Monday, along with MLA Bolisetty Srinivas at Tadepalligudem on Monday.

The minister said he was also trying to get more funds to develop the Narsapuram Lok Sabha constituency. There is no scarcity of funds for roads and drainage. Special schemes would be taken up for the purpose. A dialysis centre and additional buildings would be constructed at a cost of `2 crore obtained through CSR funds for the Government Hospital at Tadepalligudem. The Bhimavaram-Pippara road works would be taken up at a cost of `100 crore. Tenders will be invited soon for this purpose.

He said that based on a promise given to the people of Pippara village during the last elections, a road at a cost of `50 lakh has been developed in Pippara. Repair works were started for the National Highways with funds released by roads minister Nithin Gadkari.

These apart, efforts are being made to schedule a halt for the Vande Bharat train at Tadepalligudem. “I have urged the Railways to restore the halts of some of the trains at Tadepalligudem and other places where the halts had been cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the central minister said.

MLA Srinivas said special funds of `200 crore would be needed for development of Tadepalligudem constituency and this can be met through CSR initiatives. He thanked Union minister Varma for releasing nearly `3 crore for development works in the constituency.

BJP constituency convener Eethakota Tataji, TD convener Mallikarjuna Rao and others were present.