The Andhra Pradesh government may be planning to spend more than it has for the upcoming Krishna Pushkaralu, despite being in the middle of a financial crunch.
The Times of India reported:
The TDP leadership is not sparing any resources for Krishna Puskaram arrangements. Last year in the name of Godavari Puskarams, government had spent more than Rs 1500 crore. Following the same route, the TDP government has already earmarked Rs 1080 crore for Krishna Puskarams.
“We have additional demand for works worth of Rs 350 crore pending and the expenditure for Krishna Puskaram is set to cross Rs 1500 crore. We have no clue from where the money would come as the revenue deficit for the first quarter has already hit the ceiling," a senior official in the finance department told TOI.
`Krishna Pushkaralu' is a festival of River Krishna which normally occurs once in 12 years. The event is observed for a period of 12 days from the time of entry of Jupiter into Virgo.
This year, the festival, which attracts lakhs of devotees from all over Andhra Pradesh and other States, will be held between August 12 to 24 in Krishna, Guntur and Kurnool districts.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting on Saturday directed officials to expedite the works related to organisation of the festival.
Inputs PTI