The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : BJP leader wants Speaker to examine records on tenders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BJP leader wants Speaker to examine records on tenders

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, MARCH 30. The BJP leader and former Union Minister, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, on Wednesday asked the Government to submit all records pertaining to the irrigation tenders to the Assembly Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy. Questioning the role of consultants in the tender process and charges of corruption against the Government, he said it was better if the Speaker examined all the reports and cleared them.

"The State Government is revising the tender estimates several times and is apparently acting hastily in awarding contracts to people who do not even know the project sites. Crores of rupees have changed hands in the entire process," he alleged at a press conference here. Referring to the issue of clearance certificates from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and providing rehabilitation to the evacuees, Mr. Rao felt that no project would move ahead in the State. "The Government will follow the example of Maharashtra where not a single project has materialised so far," he said.

Faults Government

On the BJP's plan to bring pressure on the Government for pucca houses to slum-dwellers, Mr. Rao found fault with the State Government for "not concentrating on housing to the poor," even as the number of migrants to cities had been increasing every year.

"Ironically, there is no discussion either in the Assembly or outside about the issue. Slum-dwellers in large numbers are living in miserable conditions and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide pucca houses to them," he said. Mr. Rao demanded that the State Government appoint a land acquisition committee with representatives of all political parties, non-government organisations and media as its members.

`Time not yet ripe'

To a question on the BJP's alliance with the TDP in the ensuing local body elections, he said nothing could be said at this moment. "It is a matter of time. The party will decide it after the announcement of elections to local bodies," he said.

On the issue of Telangana, he said the BJP was for smaller States. However, as far as Telangana is concerned, the party president, L.K.Advani, would spell out the strategy.

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