ANANTAPUR: State secretariat member of Communist Party of India (CPI) T. Laxminarayana has said that the four newly-formed Regional Development Boards (RDBs) without funds and powers will be like decorative pieces.

Talking to newspersons here on Wednesday he said that the CPI had been demanding formation of RDBs for the last seven years for the comprehensive development of backward areas with special attention and funds. Though the previous TDP dispensation had overlooked the demand, the Congress Government revived the same and the CPI would welcome it, he said.

But, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's statement two days ago that there would be no special budget for the regional boards and they would only have supervisory powers had diluted the spirit of their formation itself.

The CPI leader said that the regional boards were revived only to appease the Congress leaders who could not be accommodated in the Cabinet.

There would be no use with the regional boards sans funds and powers. They must be provided with rights and responsibilities as per law and action plans be prepared for focus areas and funds be allocated for the purpose. The CPI would agitate if the RDBs were denied rights, responsibilities, funds and powers.

`Purpose defeated'

The very thinking that regional boards were revived for settling the internal strife in the Congress was harmful, he said. There was no necessity of such an arrangement if it was being thought of only as shelter for political unemployment. If the Government had any sincerity towards development of backward areas like Rayalaseema it should allocate Rs. 5,000 crore special funds for the regional board. Other boards too be given similar funding, he demanded.

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