Vijayawada: First ever rose show Horticulture and flowers Expo-2017 was launched in the city on Thursday. Harita Priya Plant Lovers Association, along with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Andhra Pradesh government department of horticulture and agriculture and Natural Organic Farmers Association are jointly organising the four-day rose flower exhibition at Abhyudaya College grounds in the city. Deeputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa and health minister Kamineni Srinivas and transport minister Siddha Raghava Rao launched the expo. Around 6,000 rose plants of 500 varieties were arranged in the expo.

Visitors criticised the organisers of the expo for collecting entry fee. Government departments and some private sponsors have supported the event but still the organisers are collecting entry fee as well as arranged commercial stalls. “Organisers have earlier publicised that the expo is free for all but still collecting the entry fee of Rs 30 from each visitor. Organisers have commercialised the event by arranging stalls of commercial private products, “says J. Hari Priya, a visitor to the expo.


“Organisers of the expo received a financial support of Rs 10 lakh from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on his visit to the organisation a month ago. Many government departments have supported the organisers and arranged stalls. But still the organisers are collecting an entry fee. Severe action should be taken on the organisers for commercialising the government-sponsored expo,” P. Barathi, a visitor at expo demanded. When contacted, the organisers said that the entry fee is very low and everyone can afford it.