Vijayawada: While the countdown has begun for start of the Krishna Pushkaralu, the works initiated by the state government for the event are progressing at snail's pace on the banks of River Krishna, as also in the holy city of Vijayawada and Guntur.
As much as 50 per cent of the Ghats development works remain incomplete. Krishna Pushkaralu starts on August 12.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, ministers and government officials keep claiming that over 50 per cent of the works were done. As the monsoon season has set in, continuous rainfall is causing further delays.
Irrigation department SE (in-charge) for Vijayawada S. Suganakar Rao said works on construction of Krishnaveni Ghat were complete to the extent of 85 per cent.
This was originally proposed to be for a stretch of 300 metres but later extended to 450 metres. Works on the Padmavati Ghat, with an estimated length of 800 metres, were completed by nearly 75 per cent.
He said the Bhavani Ghat works, complete by 60 per cent, were dragging because of financial problems of the contractor. Works on the Durga Ghat and Punnami Ghat, with an estimated length of 300 metres each, were under progress. The granite flooring for these ghats would be completed soon.
Works at the Pavitrasangam Ghat, where the Godavari water merges with the Krishna river, would be completed shortly, he said.
