The Forum For Better Bapatla is instal the statue of Padmabhushan Nori Gopalakrishnamurthy, a famous hydroelectric engineer, in Bapatla as a token of gratitude for him for bringing name and fame to the town. The statue will be unveiled at Patelnagar on Saturday by former dean, Acharya Nagarjuna Universuty, S.R Parimi. His son Kesav Nori and other guests will attend the function.

Born in Bapatla on February 16, 1910, Nori studied in Bapatla Board School and secured first rank in SSLC examination in 1924. Later he joined Guindy College of Engineering,Madras from where he graduated in Civil Engineering in 1930. In 1931, he joined the prestigious Indian Service of Engineers.

Starting his career as assistant engineer in Solapur district, Maharashtra, he worked in various capacities as Chairman, Bhakra Nangal Management Board, Managing Director of Water and Power Consultancy Organisation, Chairman, Bombay Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

He was president of Central Board of Irrigation and Power during 1967-68 and authored number of technical papers which won him awards.

Mr. Gopalakrishnamurthy is instrumental in setting up Koyna Hydoelectric Project in Maharashtra and served as chairman of Bhakra Nangal Project. He received Padmasri in 1963 and Padmabhushan in 1972 from Government of India.

During second world war, he designed and constructed aerodromes at Pune and Belgaum as well as Noval Engineering Centre at Lonovala.

He served as chairman of Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission and Vice-Chairman of International Congress of Large Dams.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Bapatla – April 02nd, 2016