WITH STUDENTS: Altlandsberg Mayor Ravindra Gujjula (third from left) explains the design of tsunami shelter-cum-school building at Utagundam village near Avanigadda in Krishna district to a delegation of German students on Sunday. - Photo: Ch. Vi jaya Bhaskar

AVANIGADDA: Looking at the tsunami shelter-cum-school building that is fast coming up in Utagundam village near Avanigadda, Altlandsberg Mayor Ravindra Gujjula's face lit up. "This makes me feel immensely satisfied that the money we have mobilised back home is being put to proper use," he said during his visit to the village on Sunday.

The Bhadrachalam-born man, who is now serving his third term as Mayor of the small city near Berlin, inaugurated the building in the presence of several other members of the German delegation.

German relief

Soon after tsunami struck several villages in the district, Mr. Ravindra arranged some immediate relief with the assistance of a few individuals back home. But as suggestions for permanent help came from then district Collector K. Prabhakar Reddy and others, Mr. Ravindra convinced the German Government and organisations such as Lions Club, Altlandsberg, to contribute to the construction of shelter-cum-school buildings in four villages around Avanigadda.

Team visits Kodur mandal

On Sunday, Mr. Ravindra and president of Lions Club, Altlandsberg Klaus Czakowski, along with more than a dozen German students, visited Utagundam and Ullipalem villages in Kodur mandal and inaugurated the buildings. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad accompanied them.

Two other tsunami shelter-cum-school buildings are coming up at Sangameswaram and Ganapeswaram villages. Each building costs Rs.16 lakhs, out of which the aid from Germany was to the extent of Rs.12 lakhs and the remaining came from the State Government.

The German aid was made up of contributions mainly from Solidarity Service International (SODI) and Aktion Deutschland Hilft, while Lions Club, Altlandsberg and Berlin Lichtenberg pitched in too.

But as one wondered about the logic behind the construction of a common structure for use as shelter during natural calamities and as school during normal times, the dilapidated cyclone shelter of the 70s, standing just next to the new structure in the village, provided a ready-made answer. "This building should not become like that one," Mr. Ravindra cautioned the villagers. As he reasoned, if a cyclone shelter alone was built, it would remain out of use during normal times, resulting in its wear and tear. But a common structure would remain in use always.

He assured villagers that he would present a few more proposals to the German Government and charitable organisations back home for financing.

The German students, who will be staying in the district till April 28 for doing shramdan in the villages, enjoyed their visit.

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