The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP MLAs offer to quit en masse Row over tenders deepens

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

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP MLAs offer to quit en masse Row over tenders deepens

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 30. Alleging large-scale corruption in finalising tenders for irrigation projects in the Assembly, the Telugu Desam Legislature Party Deputy Leader, T. Devender Goud, on Wednesday reiterated his party MLAs' decision to resign en masse if proved otherwise.

Initiating the debate on the Appropriation Bill 2005, he alleged that the single point programme of the Government in taking up the projects on massive scale was to benefit a select group of contractors and get commissions. There was still no allocation of water, no clearances and no financial tie-ups, yet the Government had released hundreds of crores of mobilisation advance.

`Irregularities'

Highlighting "irregularities," he said the Government shifted the projects like Sri Ram Sagar Project Flood Flow canal, from category II to category I in utter disregard for the High Court judgment, just to enable the contractors to get inflated estimates. There was a loss of Rs. 274 crores to the exchequer. Canal digging for the Polavaram project was equally "strange." Two contractors were allotted the same work with the result they started excavating two canals with no work on the barrage. He demanded an enquiry into all irrigation tenders finalised so far.

"If the Congress Government thinks that it has absolute right in whatever it wants to do for the next five years and expects us to remain silent spectators, it only exposes its dictatorial streak. As Opposition, we will do our duty allotted to us in a democracy and not spare it", he warned.

Mr. Goud said the Government was diverting crores of rupees in the name of irrigation projects, depriving funds for welfare of weaker sections.

CPI(M) suggestion

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) floor leader, Nomula Narsimhaiah, suggested that the Government constitute an expert committee to study the backwardness of districts and rank it accordingly so that funds could be allocated as per the need. Mr. Narsimhaiah said regional disparities would be contained if his suggestions were followed. He strongly favoured allocation of sufficient funds for the welfare and development activities. He mooted establishment of a separate corporation for artisans.

The CPI(M) member regretted that the Government had failed to earmark funds for the welfare of tribals. He flayed the Government for not ensuring remunerative prices for the agriculture produce. The cost of treatment had become a burden for the poor, he added.

The Congress member, A. Ramnarayan Reddy, said the Government was accountable and transparent in its functioning.

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