The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : House panel expresses reservations on Neeru-Meeru works

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

House panel expresses reservations on Neeru-Meeru works

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, FEB. 8. The House Committee constituted to go into the alleged irregularities in the execution of Neeru Meeru works -- a massive watershed development programme across the State during the TDP regime -- today inspected a number of check-dams, percolation tanks, contour bunds, etc at different places in and around Tirupati and expressed its `total dissatisfaction' over the works and the large amount of public funds believed to have been spent on them.

The eight-member committee headed by Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, on the second day of its visit to the district, inspected the works carried out under the programme at Karakambadi on the slopes of Tirumala at a number places on the two ghat-roads and a few spots near Pakala.

Report in 3 months

The panel chief, Mr Ramanarayana Reddy, expressed his reservations over the manner in which about Rs.281.25 crores was said to have been spent in the district on the works.

He pointed out that this was the position by and large in all the districts and said that after a random inspection of the works across the State, the panel would submit its report to the Government after three months.

In the course of its inspection of works on the first ghat road, Mr Ramanarayana Reddy was seen grilling the TTD top brass as to the veracity of the figures shown on the records and on the boards displaced at the work-spots as the figures varied widely.

At some places, he questioned not only the need for constructing a check dam but also the technical feasibility of going in for the dams on rocky terrain with fissures and cleavages all around.

The panel constituted a three-member TTD sub-committee comprising its Executive Officer, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer and the Engineering Chief to inspect all the works done under Neeru Meeru in the TTD during the TDP regime and submit a report soon.

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