Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Five-nation tour for MLAs in A.P.

By S. Nagesh Kumar

HYDERABAD APRIL 8. The Andhra Pradesh Government has sponsored a five-nation tour for 253 members of the State Assembly to travel in four different batches, visiting Malaysia, Singapore, China, Korea and Thailand.

Each contingent will consist of about 60 MLAs as the entire lot will be divided into four batches. The tour is aimed at helping the MLAs see the changes taking place elsewhere in the field of economic development so that Andhra Pradesh can learn from their experience.

The first team will leave on April 28 and return after 14 days. The second and third contingents will leave on May 12 and 25 respectively.

The departure date of the third team has not yet been decided as the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, is keen on the presence of MLAs during the next round of Janmabhoomi from June 1 onwards.

Earlier in 1999, a plan to send MLAs in batches was aborted after the first batch of legislators returned from their foreign trip.

While the tour itinerary is not yet finalised, the tentative programme shows that the law-makers will spend four days in China and two days each in the remaining four countries. The `study tour' will encompass a variety of subjects like industrial development, agricultural growth, tourism, rural development and sight-seeing.

The highlight of the China tour, apart from Beijing, will be a visit to Shanghai, the symbol of economic growth and a special economic zone in mainland China.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu has reportedly put in a request to the Minister of External Affairs, Jaswant Singh, to ask the Indian Embassies to extend all assistance and guidance to the visiting MLAs.

The State Government is separately contacting the embassies through informal channels.

Going by conservative estimates, the tour will cost Rs. 3.54 crores to the exchequer. This figure is worked out on the basis of Rs. 1.40 lakhs per MLA, inclusive of travel, board, lodging and sight-seeing tickets, the lowest quotation of the travel agencies.

Four reputed agencies - Sita Travels, Satellite Travels, TCI Ltd and Cox & Kings responded to the committee's invitation to quote their prices. After negotiations, the committee reportedly settled for the lowest price on offer.

The MLAs now have only to pack their bags and fly.

The quotations were scrutinised by a committee comprising five legislators -- the Government Chief Whip, Kagitha Venkata Rao, the Government Whip, E. Dayakar Rao, K. R. Suresh Reddy (Congress), the BJP floor leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, and Della Godfrey (Nominated) besides the Secretary, GAD, A. K. Kutty.

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