Fever forces CM to skip Mannavaram foundation stone laying ceremony

Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday was forced to cancel his trip to Tirupati on account of being indisposed.

According to sources in the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr Rosaiah was scheduled to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of BHEL-NTPC power equipment manufacturing joint venture project. The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Mannavaram near Srikalahasthi in Chittoor district on Wednesday.

Mr Rosaiah’s personal doctors advised him from making the trip to Tirupati since he is suffering from fever.

The 78-year-old Chief Minister’s speech welcoming the Prime Minister, was read out by Major Industries Minister Kanna Laxminarayana on his behalf.

The foundation stone ceremony for the prestigious project was eagerly awaited by the people of the state ever since it became known that Andhra Pradesh had bagged the project.

Mr Rosaiah had on August 25 visited Tirupati to see for himself the arrangements being made for Wednesday’s visit by the Prime Minister for the ceremony.

Earlier, Governor E S L Narasimhan had already left for Tirupati to participate in the programme.