The Hindu : `Administration bypassing tenders system'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

`Administration bypassing tenders system'

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, JAN. 21. The District Congress Committee president, A. Venkatarami Reddy, has accused the district administration of taking up SJRY works with Rs. 10.3 crores through the nomination method instead of calling for tenders, succumbing to pressure from the ruling TDP. He asked the administration to cancel the works sanctioned and take them up afresh by calling for tenders.

Talking to newspersons here today he stated that the district Collector had issued orders recently sanctioning the works through nomination method.

As per the guidelines the works had to be implemented by the village sarpanches under the supervision of the village works committee. But TDP leaders had forced the administration to sanction the works through nomination fearing that the Congress sarpanches would earn a good name, if they were implemented through the tenders system. He mentioned that 60 per cent of the gram panchayats were led by Congress sarpanches.

The DCC president also alleged that SJRY funds were also diverted to 16th and 18th rounds of Janmabhoomi works in violation of norms.

He also urged the officials to take up Rs. 66 lakhs worth development works in Sri Satya Sai Urban Development Authority (Puttaparthi) by inviting tenders. He said the TDP had already collected 10 per cent commission from some contractors assuring them that they would get the works for them.

Regarding the DCC's rythu sadassu scheduled at Kadiri on January 25 Mr. Venkatarami Reddy said the plan was to expose the TDP Government's policies, which had failed to resolve the problems of the farming community. About 400 farmers had committed suicide during the last four years due to the Government policies, and the Government had been neglecting their demand for provision of Rs. one lakh ex gratia to the families, he said. The Congress went on seeking alms to help such families. The money collected during the `bhikshatana' was distributed among such families by the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, last year.

There was no wage work available in the villages and no fodder for the cattle. The special package announced by the Government remained unimplemented so far, he pointed out. He stated that the Congress would complete pending irrigation projects in a time-bound programme if they were voted to power.

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