Come clean on Pattiseema

Amaravati: The BJP, which has turned into a rival overnight after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu parted ways with the Centre, has demanded institution of a CBI probe or an inquiry by a sitting judge into the allegations of irregularities in the execution of the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project. 

BJP floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju, leading the charge against the TDP in the Assembly on Wednesday, alleged that a whopping Rs 371 crore had been misused in the execution of the project.

The BJP leader also dared the TDP members to resign if they have guts and if they do, the BJP members too were ready to do likewise. Ministers K Atchannaidu and Devineni Umamaheshwar Rao said the allegations of the BJP were baseless and were part of a conspiracy hatched against the state government.

Vishnu Kumar Raju said the CAG report had clearly mentioned that an excess of Rs 371 crore had been paid to the Pattiseema contractor for "using alternative technology." He also said the government made full payment to the agency even though only 24 pumps set up instead of a total of 30 pumps.

He also said the government gave Rs 21,353 per cubic meter of excavation and transportation of soil instead of Rs 394 as per Standard Schedule of Rates (SSR) and tender documents. “The rate of Rs 21,353 was given to the contractors only based on ‘observation data’ by officials but it was not the tender rate,” he said.

Intervening at this point, the Water Resources Management Minister said the BJP was levelling baseless allegations against the state government.  He said that latest technology had to be used in the diaphragm wall works which had pushed up the cost. “It is unfair to make such allegations against the Pattiseema scheme. Farmers will teach you a lesson,” the minister said.

Arguing that he was not opposing the Pattiseema scheme per se, Vishnu Kumar Raju said that his point only related to the misuse of crores of rupees. “Irrigation Minister says he had no knowledge of misuse of funds. No one would believe this version. I am sure funds were misused. Don’t mislead the people,” he said.

Atchannaidu asked the BJP leader why he was silent for the last three years if he knows that irregularities took place in the Pattiseema scheme. “The Centre, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is trying to take it out on us for leaving his company.

This charge of corruption has made the BJP come out in its true colours. If you (BJP) have guts, you can arrange a public meeting and tell the people what you are saying here,” he said. He also alleged that the BJP, YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy and Pawan Kalyan were conspiring to wreck the TDP.

Reacting to this insinuation, Vishnu Kumar Raju said that there was no need for any public meeting. “All the TDP members should resign if they have guts, then we will also resign,” he dared. "There is rampant corruption. He asked the ministers as to why they were hesitating to order enquiry with the CBI or sitting judge if there was no corruption in the execution of the Pattiseema project," he asked.