Hans News Service Rajamahendravaram

BJP national executive member and MLC Somu Veerraju has urged the Union government to extend support for tourism development around the Polavaram project and establish a National Palmyra Development Board in Andhra Pradesh. During a meeting with Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi, Veerraju submitted a memorandum seeking the development of a Rajamahendravaram-Polavaram-Bhadrachalam spiritual, heritage, eco and river cruise tourism corridor centred around the Polavaram project. He requested Central assistance for the development of Godavari riverfronts and tourism projects in the Papikonda region, including eco-tourism, cruise tourism and adventure tourism. He also appealed for special financial assistance under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes to complete the proposed projects before the Godavari Pushkaralu in 2027. Veerraju said the proposed tourism corridor would generate employment, strengthen the local economy and provide significant benefits to tribal communities. Later, he met Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and sought the establishment of a National Palmyra Development Board at Pandirimamidi village in Rampachodavaram mandal of Polavaram district.

Veerraju also proposed large-scale plantation of palmyra trees under the Vriksha Bharati Green (VBG) programme along village tanks, canal bunds, riverbanks, government wastelands and coastal areas.