Naidu's Pet Village Padalabudu Set for a Makeover

In the light of Srimanthudu, a Tollywood blockbuster whose theme revolves around a millionaire adopting an entire village to help bring change in the village, Padalabudu, a backward tribal village in Visakhapatnam district, is all set for a makeover with the help of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The village, which was adopted by Naidu last year, is going to witness a sea change on development front with the State government deciding to pump funds for the growth of the village.

Ahead of Naidu’s visit to Padalabudu, scheduled to take place on October 12, the State government recently released Rs. 5.01 crore for undertaking 27 works in the village including modernisation of all roads, under Rural Development Fund Grant.

During his proposed visit, Naidu would lay a foundation stone for works worth Rs. 25 crore for construction of roads, laying of drinking water pipelines and construction of nine Anganwadi centres at the village.

The chief minister, while making announcement about adopting Padalabudu village last year had declared that the village would be transformed into a smart village.

Interestingly, the village sits in the rich bauxite zone. In 2008, Padalabudu village was one of the hot-spots of resistance to bauxite excavation in the area. The Adivasis from Doliguda, Guardguda, Bistumguda and many Gudas of the Pedalabudu panchayat had raised a banner of revolt against the decision to construct bauxite stockyard to store the ore excavated from the nearby bauxite mines.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS