RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, Sept. 7, 2026: A long-pending demand for a dedicated Kapu Bhavan in Rajamahendravaram moved closer to reality on Monday, with Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari performing the bhoomi puja for the proposed building.

The foundation ceremony was held on 30 cents of land allotted by the coalition government near the Collectorate in the Rajamahendravaram Rural constituency. The event drew Kapu community representatives and political leaders, with the minister using the occasion to address a dispute over the ownership and status of the site.

Durgesh said the land allotted for the Kapu Bhavan does not fall within the university's jurisdiction, rejecting claims that the government had used university land for the project. He said the original 45-acre parcel had, in 2008, been restricted to 20 acres for the university, while the remaining 25 acres were allocated for other public institutions and purposes.

Of that balance, 10 acres were allotted to the Agriculture University and the National Academy of Construction, where the Collectorate is now located, he said. Another 1.5 acres was allotted to Godavari Gas Private Limited, with the rest distributed among other government institutions. The 30 cents allotted for the Kapu Bhavan therefore had no connection with the university, Durgesh said, urging people not to be misled by claims to the contrary.

The minister described the foundation ceremony as the fulfilment of a decades-old aspiration of the Kapu community. He recalled that efforts to secure land for a Kapu welfare and function hall had continued for years and credited Purandeswari and Daggubati Venkateswara Rao with having pursued the objective.

“Determination can make even a long-standing dream possible,” Durgesh said, arguing that the coalition government's decision had finally created the opportunity to turn the demand into a permanent institution.

Invoking the example of the legendary warrior Kartaviryarjuna, who is traditionally depicted as having a thousand arms in battle, Durgesh said he was prepared to stand with the strength of “a thousand hands” whenever public welfare required it.

He also called for an inclusive approach to social development, referring to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's emphasis on playing the role of an elder brother and bringing different communities and social groups together without discrimination.

Durgesh said the objective would be fully achieved only when construction was completed and the Kapu Bhavan was ready for public use. He appealed to community leaders and others involved in the project to work together to complete the building quickly.

He specifically thanked Purandeswari for her role in helping secure the project and said the coalition government had provided the political support necessary to turn the long-standing demand into reality.

MLC Somu Veerraju, Kapu Welfare Association president Alluri Seshunarayana, honorary president Ramineedi Murali, association leaders Achyuta Ramarao, Ganga Kishore, S. Srinivasa Rao and others attended the ceremony in large numbers.

Eluru/Rajahmundry, April 23: In a significant push to strengthen enforcement at the grassroots level, Prohibition and Excise Commissioner Chamakuri Sridhar conducted a detailed SHO-wise review meeting covering excise operations in Eluru and Rajahmundry regions. The review focused on operational performance across districts including Eluru, Bhimavaram, Kakinada, Konaseema, and East Godavari, with emphasis on illegal liquor control, digital monitoring, and revenue integrity. The meeting concluded with a strong warning that SHOs failing to control violations and meet enforcement targets within their jurisdictions will face strict departmental action, as the state moves toward a more accountable and crime-free excise administration.

During the meeting, the Commissioner reviewed the performance of each Station House Officer (SHO) individually, moving beyond generalized district-level assessments. He examined crime control measures, particularly the prevalence of illicitly distilled liquor and illegal “belt shops” within respective jurisdictions. Station-wise staff strength and its effective utilisation for enforcement activities like raids and patrolling were also thoroughly assessed.

Emphasizing strict enforcement, the Commissioner again reviewed case detection and follow-up action taken by SHOs against repeat offenders and smugglers. He made it clear that any rise in crime without corresponding enforcement would be viewed seriously and could invite departmental action.

A major focus of the review was the mandatory implementation of the Surakshaa App. The Commissioner directed all SHOs to ensure 100 percent scanning compliance within their limits. The app enables real-time tracking of liquor movement from depots to consumers. Any discrepancies between stock offtake and scanned sales at shops and bars will be closely monitored to detect diversion of non-duty paid liquor.

The review also covered inspections of licensed establishments. SHOs were instructed to conduct frequent surprise checks at shops and bars to ensure adherence to rules, including timing and capacity regulations. The Commissioner also ordered increased collection of liquor samples for chemical analysis to prevent the sale of adulterated or harmful products.

Comparing current performance with last year’s data, he highlighted that growth in legitimate revenue is directly linked to effective control of illegal trade and stressed maintaining a balance between enforcement and revenue collection.

As part of the visit, the Commissioner conducted a high-profile inspection at Ajay Wines in Eluru town, using the Surakshaa App to verify stock authenticity through digital scanning. He directed officials to carry out rigorous and random bottle checks to eliminate the threat of spurious liquor in the market and ensure only genuine stock is sold to consumers.

Senior officials including DC Sreelatha, AC Prabhu Kumar, DPEO Eluru Avulaiah, and DPEO West Godavari Subba Rao participated in the review. From the Rajahmundry region, DC Kakinada Chaitanya Murali, DPEO Rajahmundry Sreelatha, and DPEO Konaseema Kumareswaran were also present.