Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

NELLORE: In yet another sop to the state, the Centre has readied a package worth Rs 52,000 crore from the petroleum ministry.

Addressing a meeting at Swarna Bharat Trust at Venkatachalam in the district on Sunday, Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the Centre had cleared a major package from his ministry for the benefit of Andhra Pradesh. He said that the package would cost the Centre Rs 52,000 crore. "The package includes expansion of HPCL refinery, Petro-Chemical complex and Petroleum university," said Pradhan. He said that they have also decided to grant additional LPG connections to eligible poor in the state.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who was chief guest at the 15th anniversary celebrations of SBT, said that it was time to give impetus to girls not only in education but in sporting activities too. She said that the recent stellar show by the country's sportswomen at Rio Olympics stressed the need to encourage girls in the sports arena. "Now it's Beti padao and Beti ko aage Badao," she said.

Stating that silver medallist P V Sindhu had become a national attraction and motivating power to girls across the country , she said Mahajan said that bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, tennis star Sania Mirza and badminton ace Saina Nehwal brought laurels to the country . Lauding the services of badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, she said that he had spread his talent to four corners living up to the true meaning of 'Pullela' which means a 'fully blossomed flower' in Marathi.

Lok Sabha Speaker appreciated the efforts of Union minister for urban development housing and poverty alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu for establishing SBT, a social service trust, to help rural needy . She said that Naidu is a visionary and a philosopher. She also observed that without development of rural India, smart cities concept has no meaning.Addressing the gathering, Venkaih Naidu said that he strongly believed in service to man is service to God.

