BJP alleges 'Smart City' scam, asks KTR to quit

Hyderabad: The State BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao owning moral responsibility for irregularities in the implementation of the Centre-sponsored Smart City Project in Warangal and Karimnagar towns.

Party spokesman Anugula Rakesh Reddy, addressing a press meet, informed that the Centre had given Rs 196 crore for Warangal and Karimnagar towns under the Smart Cities programme. But, since the State government has not provided its share, the project remained a non-starter.

Besides, Reddy alleged, the government allocated only Rs 23 crore to Warangal and Rs 9 crore to Karimnagar. He claimed that officials, including District Collector and Commissioner of Warangal civic body, have been giving evading response to RTI queries on the expenditure incurred on the project. Alleging a scam, he said, "if needed, we will go to court and expose leaders and officials for depriving the people of Warangal and Karimnagar and Telangana their due."

Reddy said the Centre had written three letters to the State Chief Secretary, asking for the immediate release of funds for the project. The Centre had warned to remove both the towns from the Smart Cities list if the government was not interested. However, with the requests made by the State BJP leaders and people's representatives the Centre was waiting for government's response, he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister the KCR government has been neglecting development as well as trying to sideline the historical city from the State's political landscape. He asked the government why it had not given Rs.10,000 assistance to the flood victims of Warangal, on par with their counterparts in Hyderabad.

Reddy lashed out at MLAs of Warangal and Karimnagar for being mute spectators to the diversion of funds given for the development of the towns. He predicted that saffron flag was all set to fly high in Warangal and would capture the Warangal Municipal Corporation as well as Mayor's post.