Andhra Pradesh - Cuddapah   

ZP chief charged with abuse of power

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, SEPT. 7. The Congress MLA of Mydukur, D.L. Ravindra Reddy, on Tuesday accused the Cuddapah Zilla Parishad Chairman, K. Suresh Babu, of resorting to misuse of official powers and irregularities in leasing out sand quarries, which resulted in unauthorised lifting of sand worth a few crores of rupees in the district.

Points listed

In a representation submitted to the ZP Chief Executive Officer, Durga Prasad, Dr. Ravindra Reddy listed out 19 points to be included in the next ZP general body meeting agenda and wanted the ZP chief and officials concerned to produce relevant records and reply to his charges.

The MLA demanded the ZP Chairman, also of Congress, to reply why he did not initiate action to call tenders for the Chennamukkapalle sand quarry as directed by the A.P. High Court orders dated October 30, 2002. On the other hand, the ZP chief filed a counter-affidavit in the High Court not to extend the lease on the Balasinganapalle quarry on the grounds that calling a fresh tender would fetch higher revenue.

Dr. Ravindra Reddy asked why no action was initiated against a contractor of Chemullapalle, who he alleged, unauthorisedly lifted sand from Chennamukkapalle quarry for two years, if Mr. Suresh Babu was keen on fetching a higher revenue to the Government. He demanded the ZP chief's explanation for permitting lifting of sand from the Chemmullapalle and Ramannapalle quarries, which were closed for two years, without any court directions.

Propriety questioned

He questioned the propriety of the ZP Chairman in unilaterally issuing orders cancelling extension of lease for Balasinganapalle quarry by another year, although the District Panchayat Officer and other sand committee members opposed it.

He demanded the ZP chief to explain how the Chemullapalle quarry was opened in August 2002 without any resolution by the sarpanch and ward members concerned.

He recalled that the quarry was cancelled in 2000 by the then Collector, Adhar Sinha, on a complaint from the Chemullapalle sarpanch and local people.

The Chairman had turned down the repeated written requests of a contractor, L. Siva Reddy, to return the lease amount to him, after a tender called in January 2002 was cancelled on the people's complaint.

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