Lanka Dinakar Suggests Turning Veligonda Project into Tourist Hub

Speedy Summary

• Lanka Dinakar,Chairman of the 20-Point Program,met Prakasam District Collector P. Raja Babu on saturday at the Ongole Collectorate.
• discussions centered around the completion of the Veligonda project to provide drinking, irrigation, and industrial water to Western Prakasam district.
• The first phase of the project is predicted to be completed within one year.
• Dinakar suggested developing Cumbum Lake (Gundlakamma Lake) and surrounding areas as tourist destinations with improved infrastructure near the lake.
• He proposed setting up memorials for classical composer Tyagaraja and civil engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya in West prakasam to attract global tourists.
• A tourist circuit highlighting cultural heritage sites and temples around Cumbum Lake was also suggested, emphasizing coordination with Giddaluru MLA Ashok Reddy and APTDC Chairman Nookasani Balaji.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The discussions between Lanka Dinakar and Prakasam District authorities reflect a multi-pronged approach aimed at revitalizing West Prakasam district through infrastructure growth for both practical utility (water access) and long-term economic growth via tourism promotion. The Veligonda project’s completion can address critical water needs in this largely backward region while laying a foundation for broader socio-economic improvement through increased agricultural productivity, industrial support, and tourism gains.

Dinakar’s proposal to establish memorials for historical figures like Tyagaraja and Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya aligns with an effort to integrate cultural heritage into local identity building-potentially attracting national or international interest if successfully implemented. Though, ensuring coordinated efforts among stakeholders such as government officials (e.g., MLA Ashok Reddy) will be crucial for planning effectiveness. This initiative could serve as a template for rural development strategies combining functional projects like irrigation systems with cultural tourism circuits across other regions in India.

Link: Read more at The Hindu