Andhra Pradesh festival gets only title but not funds

Nellore: Though the state government had declared popular Rottela Panduga held at Bara Shaheed Dargah in Nellore as state festival two years back, it failed to allot any funds much to the disappointment of civic body rulers. The fund starved body has been spending more than Rs 1 crore every year for the festival to create facilities for more than 10 lakh devotees thronging to the Dargah from various parts of the country.

They are concerned about the funds now since only two months left for the festival and several proposed development works at the dargah are pending because of paucity for funds. In fact Mayor S.K. Abdul Aziz had spent nearly '20 lakh from his pocket for some of the cultural programmes to avoid burden on the Corporation. Incidentally, state government has been allotting '1 crore every year for another state festival — Flamingo Festival — held in Sullurpeta in Nellore district every year to mark the arrival of migratory birds to Nelapattu Birds Sanctuary and Pulicat Lake.

Officials of civic body said, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had promised Rs 20 crore for the dargah during his visit to the festival last year but they are yet to receive the amount. There are proposals to build a permanent structure and mosque with Air Conditioning facility to enable 2,000 people to take shelter or offer prayers in the premises of the dargah.  

In addition to this, there are plans to lay internal roads and concrete the bottom of Nellore tank (known as Swarnala Cheruvu) up to 60 feet for the benefit of devotees to exchange rotis standing in water. Notwithstanding to the sanction of funds from the government, authorities have decided to go ahead with internal roads and concreting the bottom at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. Mayor Abdul Aziz said they have called for tenders to take up the work. “The festival is a true reflection for the national integrity since people from all faiths participate in the event and their number is increasing by leaps and bounds every year,” Mr Aziz said.