Date:26/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/26/stories/2007042610870500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Minister orders AE's suspension

Staff Reporter

Action taken for failure to restore power for 15 days to village

SEEKING HELP: SC women complaining about non-sanction of land at a gram sabha at Isurrallapalli in Anantapur on Wednesday.

ANANTAPUR: Minister for Panchayat Raj and Endowments J.C. Diwakar Reddy directed district officials on Wednesday to follow up problems raised by people at `Praja Patham' gram sabhas and solutions recommended by elected representatives.

The Minister ordered for suspension of AP Transco AE of Gooty Lavakumar for his alleged negligence in restoring power supply to Jakkalacheruvu village for a fortnight. Lack of power supply had also created severe drinking water problem in the village.

He warned the officials against lethargy in resolving the problems.

The Minister participated in gram sabhas at Isurallapalli, Jakkalacheruvu and Thondapadu village in Gooty mandal along with Anantapur Member of Parliament A. Venkatarami Reddy, local bodies' elected representatives and officials lead by Joint Collector Anita Rajendra on Wednesday.

At Isurallapalli, two Dalit women -- Kristamma and Nagamma -- complained that they were not given land in spite of repeated requests. The villagers also sought an overhead water tank.

On the land issue raised by the Dalit women, the Minister sought explanation from Tehsildar Kullayappa and MPDO Iqbal. As the two failed to give proper information, the Minister chided them and said they had come to the village not to give speeches and get garlands and applauds but learn problems and resolve them. He directed officials to distribute land to the two women.

Water problem

He also assured construction of an overhead tank as part of Rs. 350-crore drinking water scheme from Gandikota reservoir.

The Minister turned furious against the Transo AE at Jakkalacheruvu on his explanation that power supply was not restored due to scarcity of poles.

At Thondapadu the SC Colony, residents complained that vice-sarpanch Satyanarayana was preventing supply of drinking water to them by diverting the entire quantity to the remaining village. The Minister warned Mr. Satyanarayana that he would be sent to jail if he denied water to SC Colony.