Gandhi Hill, which has been neglected over the years, might get an aesthetic look soon, with Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao promising to revive its past glory.
He made this assurance while participating in the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations organised atop the hill here on Friday by the Gandhi Hill Foundation.
“We will invite Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to visit the historic place to take stock of the amenities required at the hill,” he said. He also advised teachers to take necessary steps to propagate the ideology of Gandhi among students.
The first Gandhi Memorial with seven Stupas in the country was constructed on this hill at a height of 500 ft. The project was unveiled by then President Zakir Hussain on October 6 in 1968.
Regardless of its great significance that is reflected in the Gandhi Memorial library, it remained neglected. The planetarium, a toy train atop the hill and some other facilities remain the objects of neglect. Gandhi Hill Foundation Chairman and MP Gokaraju Gangaraju deplored the apathetic attitude of successive governments to the development of the historic place.
Students, who took part in the programme, wanted officials to conduct similar events regularly to spread Gandhian principles. Krishna District Collector Babu A. said a survey would be conducted from October 9 to 31 to identify houses and areas that lacked personal toilets and make them open defecation-free.
Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Joint Collector G. Chandrudu and other senior officials attended. Meanwhile, M. J. Naidu Super Specialty Hospital organised 3K run from BRTS Road to Meesala Rajeswara Rao Bridge in connection with its anniversary coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.
