Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited Pedalabudu on Tuesday. He has adopted this village and promised to transform Pedalabadu into a smart panchayat.

Addressing the public CM said “Araku Valley is very close to my heart. That is the reason why I adopted this panchayat close to the Valley.”  After arriving at Araku he was given a traditional welcome followed by the folk and an interactive session with the villagers for over an hour.

After interactive session briefly, he listened about party’s contribution to the Agency. The Chief Minister said his government would address all of their problems by providing all the infrastructure facilities in the panchayat, which has 22 hamlets having a population of 11,280.

He said “beginning with Pedalabudu village, all the homes would be provided with gas connections within next fortnight, individual toilets to 36 houses which has no facility so far and tap connections to all the homes within four months.”

Naidu said “an amount of Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for providing drinking water facilities in the panchayat. He said that Rs 9 crore has been allocated for laying of cement roads in entire panchayat and the task would be completed in three months.”

CM was also told about the housing problem after which he announced houses for 413 families which will complete within a year.

The Chief Minister faced many questions from the villagers. A post graduate, C Ananda Rao who has completed his science with a BEd certificate told the Chief Minister that he was losing all competitive examinations as there was no coaching facility or a library in the village after which the CM instantly sanctioned a library.

Two Dhimsa and Muvvala dancers approached him to give them opportunity to perform in Visakhapatnam and other tourist resorts. Naidu accepted their plea and said “folk artists from the Agency would be given ample opportunities to enhance their income and keep alive the folk art.”

Naidu suggested all the villagers to diversify their activities from traditional farming. He also asked them to take up cash crops which include coffee. He also promised to make Araku Valley a tourist hub that would give employment opportunities to scores of youth. Panchayat Raj Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu and HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao were also present.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI