The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : PAC directs irrigation officials to submit CAG files

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

PAC directs irrigation officials to submit CAG files

PAC members dispute claims made on 9.42 lakh acres ayacut created under the first stage of SRSP

Public Accounts Committee meeting examines CAG report for 1999-2000 and 2003-2004
Members favour sub-committee to inspect irrigation project to get the actual facts

HYDERABAD: Irrigation Department officials were at the receiving end at the Public Accounts Committee meeting on Tuesday, when members disputed the claims made by the former that 9.42 lakh acres ayacut had been created under the first stage of Sriramsagar project (SRSP).

The meeting chaired by Yanamala Ramakrishnudu (Telugu Desam Party) saw members taking strong exception to the statistics furnished by the Irrigation Department officials that a large extent of agricultural land had been brought under irrigation in SRSP first stage.

The meeting was examining the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report for the year 1999-2000 and 2003-2004.

Palvai Goverdhan Reddy (Congress) reportedly raised objections to the claims made by irrigation officials on SRSP ayacut.

He reportedly demanded that officials furnish all the details about the stage one ayacut. Chada Venkat Reddy (CPI) wanted officials to bring all the information about distributory-wise ayacut created under SRSP stage one.

Officials faulted

Members favoured a sub-committee to inspect the irrigation project to get the actual facts.

They also faulted the irrigation officials for commissioning an agency to conduct investigation for the Sripadasagar project (Devadula) and making a payment of Rs. 56 lakh.

They contended that when the project fell under the ayacut of Sriramsagar, there was no need to conduct fresh investigations.

The meeting also decided to call for all the files pertaining to the six irrigation projects including Yellampally (J. Chokka Rao project) taken up on the Godavari in Telangana.

They said that in wake of CAG objections, all the files should be placed before the PAC.

Excess payments

Officials pointed out that it would take at least 45 days to get all the files.

The committee insisted that the files should be submitted within 30 days.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said the committee was examining the old and the new CAG reports.

Yellampally issue

“We have also sought the files relating to Yellampally and other projects where Rs. 539 crore payments were made in excess, as pointed in the CAG report for the year 2006-07,” he said.

The meeting would continue on Wednesday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh