The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : State administration in go-slow mode

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

State administration in go-slow mode

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 4. The administration has come to a near-standstill in the State thanks to the long-drawn-out election process beginning with the announcement of the schedule on February 29 and concluding on May 13 when counting of votes will be taken up for the Lok Sabha seats— a clear 75 days.

With model code of conduct in force, the Government has taken no major decision for two and a half months so far in spite of drought and other problems. The respite gained by the Government following repeal of the code of April 28 was short-lived. A Rs 5.16-crore package was announced for 10 hailstorm-affected districts but the situation came to square one, as an immediate fallout of the exit poll results.

Haunted by political uncertainties caused by exit poll results, Ministers have been steering clear of the Secretariat where files are awaiting clearance. Besides, many Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and heads of departments are away in other States as Central observers. In the absence of any guidance and policy direction from the top, the staff are brooding over routine files relating to day-to-day administration, service matters and even vigilance cases. An employee working in the Irrigation Department said, "even 10 per cent of the files are not being cleared now."

According to a senior Finance Department official, the works taken up for Krishna Pushkarams such as repairing the ghats along the river bank for which funds are provided in the vote-on-account budget "are going on unhindered" after a review by the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda.

A fear about possible reshuffle of officials after the elections is also discernible. Many of them are mentally prepared for transfer though seniors remain unperturbed, holding the view that the Telugu Desam "will scrape through". With the talk of Government change doing the rounds these days, several names are doing the rounds for the highest posts in the Government and the police.

With the redress mechanism being absent due to the non-availability of Ministers and top officials, the flow of visitors to the Secretariat has come down. The office of the Chief Minister and that of the Ministers are empty and are being used only by personal staff. The caretaker Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, last visited his chamber on February 28, a day before the election schedule was announced.

Meanwhile, the Finance Department is waiting for the new Government to take over, as it has a task cut out. It has to prepare the budget for 2004-05 for adoption by the new Assembly. "We have finalised budget provisions but kept the priorities (allotments) open for the new Government to decide. In all probability, the Assembly may be convened in May-June for passing the budget before the vote-on-account lapses on July 31."

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