Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy firm on uprooting graft

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that strict laws should be brought in to eradicate corruption and legislation on the lines of Disha Bill would be coming up soon to fix a timeline for completing the trial in corruption cases.

The Chief Minister held a review meeting at the camp office here on Monday, where the IIM, Ahmadabad representatives had presented a report on 'Good Governance'. The meeting reviewed the Cabinet sub-committee report and the functioning of ACB Call Centre number 14440, Judicial Preview, Reverse Tendering and other issues on eradicating corruption.

The issue of delay in trial of corruption cases was discussed at the meeting and the Chief Minister said that legislation should be brought in to fix a timeline for the trial of those involved in corruption and strict action should be taken to uproot corruption.

Even if an employee is caught red-handed taking bribe, the case is being dragged for a long period and in some cases even for over 25 years. "To stop this we have to bring in a legislation on the lines of Disha Bill fixing the timeline for trial," the CM said.

"We could eradicate corruption at the top level and it should percolate down the line," he said. On two issues, the contrast between this government and the previous one is crystal clear. "In case of the Pinnapuram Power Project, Kurnool, the previous government in July 2018 has signed an MoU and allotted 4,766.28 acres at the cost of Rs 2.5 lakh per acre. When our government came to power, we have renegotiated with the same company and with the same specifications and the company agreed to pay Rs 5 lakh per acre increasing the land value by Rs 2.5 lakh per acre which has benefited the State by Rs 119 crore. In the same manner, the renegotiation in the solar/wind power projects has yielded Rs 3,382 crore.

In Bhogapuram airport project as well the previous government allotted 2,703 acres, while we have renegotiated with the very same company which agreed to develop the airport in an extent of 2,203 acres which resulted in government getting back 500 acres worth over Rs 1,500 crore. All complaints on corruption coming to 1092 should be diverted to ACB toll free number 14440 which covers from village Secretariat and upwards. The ACB Call Centre was started a year back and till now 44,999 calls were received of 1,747 calls pertain to corruption and all the cases were addressed to. Of them, action was taken on complaints received from 161 calls and 35 are pending, the officials said.

The officials have briefed the Chief Minister about the Reverse Tendering involving 788 tenders in which 15.01 per cent was saved in place of 7.7 per cent. The Chief Minister said the government should go for Reverse Tendering in all sectors wherever the tender amount exceeds Rs 1 crore. The officials told the Chief Minister that for the year ending August 2020, so far 45 projects were sent for Judicial Preview worth RS 14,285 crore. The Chief Minister said that complaints from village secretariat upwards should be received by ACB which should be linked to the Collector's office. Town Planning, Sub Registrar, MRO, MDO and other such offices should be free of corruption. Prof Sundaravalli Narayana Swamy of IIM Ahmedabad had submitted to the Chief Minister, the Report on Good Governance, which identifies the grey areas of corruption in government departments and the means in which it can be eradicated.

Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, DGP Goutham Sawang, ACB DIG PSR Anjaneyulu, IIM representatives and other officials participated in the review meeting.