Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa reviewing the parade at the 71st Independence Day celebrations in Visakhapatanam on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: C.V.Subrahmanyam A spirit of patriotism prevailed with children performing patriotic dances to popular songs and tableaux displaying activities of various departments taken around the ground, at the 71st Independence Day celebrations, organised by the District Administration, at the Police Parade Ground here on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, who was chief guest, unfurled the National Tricolour and inspected the parade presented by various contingents. Addressing a large gathering, Mr. Rajappa, who is also the district In-charge Minister, paid homage to freedom fighters and called upon the gathering to rededicate themselves to the cause of the nation. He spoke at length on achievements made by the city, district and the State in various spheres of development and the emphasis being given by the Chandrababu Naidu Government to the welfare of people and development of the State. Visakhapatnam city has attained focus at the national level by being chosen among the top three cities in India in Swachh Survekshan Survey this year and hosting national and international meets. He said the Polavaram Left Main Canal project works were being done on the fast track mode and they would be completed by 2018. This would bring 45,000 acres in Visakhapatnam district under irrigation. Educational institutions of national importance like IIM, National Law University and Petroleum University were established in the city. On the health front, two health ATMs were opened at Sileru and G.K. Veedhi mandals in the Agency areas to provide medicines to tribal people, a dialysis facility was opened at Narsipatnam and 27 vans have been launched for the safe transport of the mother and child, after delivery, to their home from the government hospitals. Tourism projects Several tourism projects were taken up to attract tourists to Visakhapatnam district. These include: provision of tourists resorts at Lambasingi and Dallapalli at a total cost of ? 8 crore and provision of basic amenities at Mangamaripeta, Rushikonda and Yarada beaches at a cost of ?2 crore. Later, the Deputy Chief Minister interacted with officials and freedom fighters. Assets worth ?13,565 crore to 4,355 beneficiaries under various schemes were given away by Mr. Rajappa and the District Collector. Merit certificates were given away to government employees and representatives of voluntary organisations. Zilla Parishad Chairperson Lalam Bhavani, MLC MVVS Murthi, MLAs Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Collector Pravin Kumar, Joint Collector G. Srijana, Police Commissioner T. Yoganand, Assistant Collector Misha Singh were among those who attended.

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