Date:14/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/14/stories/2007101453470300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

SEZ will bring about sea change, says Minister

Correspondent

Iintegration camp to be held at Kakinada

Rs. 1.15 cr. sanctioned for Pithapuram
Civic authorities told to make best use of resources

Kakinada: The Kakinada SEZ will about bring a sea change in the economy of the entire region with several key industries coming up providing a lot of employment avenues to locals, according to M M Pallam Raju, Union Minister of State for Defence.

He said the entire belt along the coast would develop fast and there would be great demand for houses and hotels in near future.

Participating in a number of programmes including inaugurations and laying foundation stones in Pithapuram town near here on Friday, he said Rs.11.5 crores was sanctioned for development of houses, roads in slums of the town under the integrated slum housing development programme.

Claiming that a lot of development works were taken up in the town for the past two and a half years with an outlay of Rs.34 lakhs under the MPLADS, he advised the municipal authorities to make best use of available resources for improvement in basic amenities.

Later, speaking to newsmen, he said the NCC national integration camp would be held at Kakinada from October 20 till October 30 in which over one thousand NCC cadets from all over India would participate.

Explaining the importance of the camp, he said, it was aimed at promoting national integration enabling participants to interact and exchange views on the culture and traditions of different regions.

Cultural fare

As part of the camp, Mr. Pallamraju said that there would be a big parade with NCC cadets in APSP grounds on October 26 and colourful cultural programmes on the next day at the District sports authority stadium. `It will be really a spectacular show with NCC cadets staging cultural events depicting the culture and tradition of different states. The horse riding event and the micro-light aircraft flying will be thrilling. Special dance troupe from Manipur will perform dances that will be a highlight of the programme’ he added. He wanted the students and teachers to come forward to highlight the culture and tradition of East Godavari District to the NCC cadets of other states attending the camp. Pendem Dorababu MLA, Pithapuram Municipal chair person D. Rajarajesweri, former Minister KVCH Mohan Rao attended.