Minister rules out interference in administration

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 31. The Major Irrigation Minister, Mr M. Venkateswara Rao, has categorically stated that he will not interfere with the administration of his department, which will end up in violation of rules and regulations.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the department's NGOs' Association after releasing its diary for 2001 here on Saturday, the Minister said the rules were set up by the Government and if the very Government violated them by interference, it would set a bad example. It was why he made it a policy not to ask the superior officers to effect this transfer or that posting though there was tremendous pressure exerted on him for the same by some engineers, ministerial staff and others.

In this connection, Mr Venkateswara Rao recalled how last year, he had successfully effected transfers of as many as 700 engineers through "counselling". Seeing the benefits under the system, even the Chief Minister stood by him like rock despite pressure brought against this. The Minister asked the ministerial staff to clear files as early as possible as such an action amounted to creating the necessary infrastructure for the engineers engaged in construction of dams and canals.

Mr Rao advised the staff to accept computers as they would ensure transparency and accountability in the administration, and promised that service of none of them would be affected.

Mr C. V. S. K. Sharma, Secretary, Irrigation, spoke. Messrs P. Venkata Ramana, Engineer-in-Chief, B. P. Venkateswarlu, Routu Satyanarayana, A. S. Murthy and R. Satyanarayana, Major, Medium and Minor and Srisailam project chief engineers respectively were present.

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Section  : Southern States
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