AP Govt flayed over delay in submission of revised estimates

Rajamahendravaram: Former MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar has sent a letter to Water Resources Department (WRD) Principal Secretary Sashibhushan Kumar and Engineer-in-Chief M Venkateswara Rao seeking some clarifications on Polavaram Project.

He raised 11 questions in the letter and sought replies for them. He asked them to give reply within seven days otherwise a PIL will be filed in High Court in this regard for which they would be held responsible. He released the letter at a press conference held here on Wednesday.

The letter was sent to the officials on March 16. Vundavalli alleged that they were solely responsible for delay in execution of Polavaram Project for a period of two years causing loss to government exchequer.

The questions the former MP raised in his letter are: 1. Is it not the duty of every government employee to co-operate with Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) for early completion of Polavaram Project, 2 Why the revised estimates of the project based on the current prices were not submitted to PPA between March 2015--September 2016 in spite of requests from PPA, 3.

Why the transfer of assets and liabilities of the project to PPA was delayed until project execution was given to the State, 4 Are you aware of the delay in submission of revised estimates and transfer of assets and liabilities to PPA, 5.

Whether there have been any instructions from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu or from the Minister of WRD for delayed submission of estimates and transfer of assets, 6. Whether there is any permission from the Cabinet to request PPA to consider Polavaram Project as any other national project under AIBP and grant only 90 per cent of funds instead of bearing entire cost of the project, 7.

Any request from State government to construct the power component of project with state funds, 8. Any sanction or approval by the State Cabinet for burdening the State to this effect, 9. Why are you repeatedly demanding PPA for the reimbursement of expenditure incurred by the State government before March 31, 2014, 10.

Why you have started payments to contractors from State funds and asking reimbursements from the Central government, 11 Why there is no mention of minutes of PPA meetings.

He said so far no MOU was signed between the State and Central governments and they are busy in blame game on each other. He wondered why Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was playing dual role on Polavaram Project.

Polavaram Project issues also figured in the Fact Finding Committee and based on that Pawan Kalyan spoke on the project, he said. How can Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu say that Navayuga Engineering Company agreed to work at old rates, he questioned.

In reply to a question, Vundavalli said the Lok Sabha Speaker can allow no-confidence motion even if the House is not in order. He pointed out that many Bills were passed in the House amidst ruckus. He also recalled that the Bill pertaining to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was also passed amidst uproar and ruckus in the House.