Row over installation of NTR statue

Vijayawada: The CPI, Walkers Association, students unions SFI, AISF and NSUI opposed the construction of the pedestal and installation of NTR statue on the premises of SRR and CVR College at Gunadala without permission either from the college authorities or the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation.

This issue is snowballing into a controversy as the statue would be unveiled soon.

It may be noted that strict action would be taken by the CRDA authorities for any construction work without their permission within their jurisdiction.

But, no action was taken against those who were involved in the work though the construction work of the pedestal and the installation of the statue was completed without permission,

The principal is tight lipped on this issue when asked about the illegal construction of the pedestal and the installation of the statue Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, alumnus of the college and the founder of the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

He said that some outsiders entered the college premises without permission and completed the work and a case was filed in this regard with the Machavaram police, but no action was taken till now.

All the student organisations strongly opposed the action of the Machavaram police in favour of the ruling party and not taking any action on the complaint given by the college principal on the illegal construction on the college premises.

Koti, SFI city in-charge, said that Ramu husband of Machavaram corporator, along with Velaga Joshi, alumnus of SRR College and the accused in call money case, were involved in the illegal construction of the pedestal at SRR and CRR College.

“They were bearing all the expenses of the construction for political gain. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was using every opportunity to leave their identity,” he alleged.

He said that SRR and CRR College is spread in seven acres out of 12 acres donated by Nuzvid Raja. Five acres were occupied and no one has taken any action on it till now, he added.

“There are 1,800 students studying in Junior College and Degree College of SRR and CVR College. There is no proper sanitation, wash rooms facility, drinking water.

There is hardly any auditorium nor a seminar hall of 150 capacity. No one talks about it. But everyone is interested in illegally constructing pedestals to gain political mileage.

Strict action should be taken against them,” he said. Dhonepudi Shankar, CPI city secretary, reminded that the TDP government on various occasions condemned the installation of statues as they cause public inconvenience.

He quoted the statement made by the TDP: ‘Vigrahalu pettukovalante mee intlo pettukondo’ means interested people may install statues in their houses and not at public places”.

Many statues, which were installed prior to the TDP government, which came to power in 2014, were being demolished.

Shankar opposed the illegal construction of the pedestal and installation of the statue on the college premises.

He demanded strict action agains those people who were involved in the illegal construction on the college premises.

Walkers Association and other local bodies are also against those entering the college premises and indulging in such activities which would send wrong signals for the students studying in the college who are the future of the nation.