The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Kodela questions choice of venue for YSR's new residence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Kodela questions choice of venue for YSR's new residence

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, SEPT. 29. The former Minister for Health, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, took exception to the choice of the place for the construction of the Chief Minister's official residence stating that it would be a permanent security threat to the Chief Minister and create hurdles for the public.

Why should the State Government pay Rs.1 crore for demolition of the existing buildings while there were people to do it free-of-cost by taking away the useful things from the old structures and also pay back some money if bargained, Dr. Rao observed at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Interference flayed

The alleged involvement of YSR's relative in the construction activity was uncalled for, he said, and alleged that his uncalled for interference at each level of estimates and designing was forcing the Government officials go on leave, unable to bear the harassment.

He expressed surprise over the Chief Minister taking a two-day holiday, that too at a private resort.

"Why should the Government spend money to improve roads and lighting at a private resort, which shows that Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy does not realise that he has become the Chief Minister," the TDP leader said.

Questions logic

He questioned the Government's logic behind handing over the work to a contractor in Bangalore, who, in turn, had given it to Nagarjuna Constructions in Hyderabad, while the Government could have given it to a local company itself.

Of the 46 empanelled contractors for the Government, 32 were Congress supporters or their MLAs and although 16 of them did not meet the eligibility criteria they were put in the list through back-door methods, he alleged.

Plea to curb violence

Reacting to the Congress criticism that although similar murders had been committed in Anantapur during the nine-year Telugu Desam rule, the TDP was making it a big issue, he wanted the Government to first control violence.

The suggestion of the Congress Ministers that the TDP should provide the list of criminals who had resorted to murders was ridiculous, Dr. Rao said and added that the information could be obtained from the police records.

Appointment of police officers in Anantapur was biased and only those officers who toed the party line were being posted there, he alleged.

Terming the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a bad administrator, he advised him to take the Opposition criticism positively.

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