Uttam fires land scam salvo at govt

​Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday alleged that a major scam had taken place in the allotment of land and other sops by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government to Welspun Group.

In an informal chat with media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that the State government had allotted 800 acres of land to Welspun Group through three different GOs (19, 20 and 21) issued on the same day (March 23, 2018) by the same department (Industries and Commerce). 

Through GO Ms No19, M/s Welspun Flooring Ltd has been allotted 500 acres of land, onetime capital subsidy of Rs 80 crores, interest subsidy at the rate of 8 per cent per annum for a period of eight years, power tariff subsidy of Rs 2.625 per unit for a period of 10 years and 100 per cent gross SGST reimbursement. 

Similarly, through GO Ms No 20, the company has been allotted 150 acres of land, 10 per cent capital subsidy, interest subsidy at the rate of 5 per cent per annum for a period of five years, power tariff subsidy of Rs 2.5 per unit for a period of 10 years and 100 per cent net SGST reimbursement. 

Likewise, through GO Ms No 21, it has been allotted 150 acres of land, onetime capital subsidy of Rs 40 crore, interest subsidy at the rate of 8 per cent per annum for a period of eight years, power tariff subsidy of Rs 2.625 per unit for a period of 10 years and 100 per cent gross SGST reimbursement.

Uttam asked the TRS government to explain the criteria on which 800 acres of land worth several hundred crores had been allotted to Welspun Group in a single shot. He alleged that the allotments and sops were part of a quid pro quo between the firms and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao. 

He also alleged that IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan had played a key role in these irregularities and assisted Rama Rao in the scam. He said similarly irregularities had been occurring in all portfolios like Mission Bhagiratha and Mines being handled by Rama Rao. He described Rama Rao as the most corrupt Minister in the entire country. He alleged that the government had allotted 15 acres of land to Hetero Drugs at Madhapur, stating that the company had been providing employment to many. However, the government failed to open the public sector companies which were closed. 

The TPCC chief clarified that he had never mentioned that Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had 150 rooms. “What I pointed out was not the built-up area, but the usage of Pragati Bhavan where the KCR family has been living a lavish lifestyle using hard-earned public money. While the economic conditions of common people have been deteriorating by the day, the KCR family’s assets are increasing day by day. 

The KCR family members travel by private aircrafts and luxury cars. While common people have no access to the Pragathi Bhavan, it accords grand welcome to Andhra contractors who bring cash bags,” he alleged.

He announced that the Congress, after coming to power in the next elections, would order a probe into the corruption of the KCR’s family. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was extremely happy with the success of Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra. He said Rahul Gandhi had agreed to participate in the next phase of the bus yatra.

He exuded confidence of the Congress retaining power in Karnataka as elections are one-sided affair in favour of the party. He said while the BJP was unable to put up a strong fight, JD (S) was limited to Mandya region.

Earlier in the day, Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with AICC secretary RC Khuntia and other senior leaders, addressed a press conference appealing the Congress cadre to participate in the Jan Aakrosh Rally being led by Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on April 29.