Date:13/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/13/stories/2004111304030400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Irrigation Minister stands by officials

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 12. The Government has rejected the demand of the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for suspension of C. V. S. K. Sarma, Principal Secretary, Irrigation, and P. Sitapati Rao, advisor, Irrigation, over the irrigation tenders.

The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, rejected the demand on the ground that the Chandrababu Naidu Government had also followed the same procedure of pre-qualifying the bidders. He referred to Devadula, Prakasam Barrage repairs and a few others as examples. The water scheme taken up for Kuppam was "handed over to a contractor" just on nomination basis and at 25 per cent excess over the actual estimates.

The Minister said Mr. Naidu had made it a habit to lay foundation stones for projects just before elections, "ignoring all norms.''

Naidu's `follies'

One classic example was the Jurala hydel project for which he laid the stone when the polls were due.

During Mr. Naidu's time, execution of the Srisailam Right Branch Canal project was awarded to contractors at 50 per cent excess with the rate going up to 90 per cent on some packages, KC Canal modernisation for 40 per cent excess and Sriramsagar Project for 26 per cent.

He justified the pre-qualification method citing the commitment given by the Congress during elections for speedy completion of pending projects.