Andhra Pradesh

Yanamala flays State on Yellampalli

Kakinada: Senior Telugu Desam Party leader and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has alleged that the government is deliberately delaying the submission of the Lok Ayukta inquiry report on irregularities in Yellampalli project to the PAC to protect culprits.

More than three months have passed since the High Court ruled that the government should not keep it a secret. But, there is no response as some ruling party leaders, who are allegedly involved in the scandal, are playing the spoilsport.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said that the PAC had been waiting for the Lok Ayukta report on Yellampalli project for a long time but some forces in the government were working overtime to keep the PAC in the dark.

However, if this situation continued, the PAC would seek the Chief Secretary’s intervention for bringing out the report which would let the people know how some ministers and MLAs ‘looted’ the public exchequer. As a last resort, PAC would directly approach the Lok Ayukta for information.

Besides, the Comptroller and Auditor-General and Vigilance and Enforcement Departments held the government responsible for large scale misuse of funds in several schemes but the government lacked the morality to admit its mistakes and take action against the guilty. Worse, the government appeared to have no respect for the PAC and other statutory bodies.

As regards the proposed coastal corridor, Mr. Ramakrishnudu demanded that the government publish a white paper, giving the number and names of companies with which it signed agreements. He alleged that lands were gifted away at meagre prices to companies and even to individuals in violation of guidelines.

For instance, the government had nothing to substantiate its claim that the ONGC would set up its refinery at Kakinada. In fact, the ONGC was yet to make up its mind on Kakinada refinery due to technical reasons and differences with the government on certain policy matters.

The TDP leader also sought the names of MLAs and ruling party leaders whom PAC member and Congress MLA G Venkat Reddy described as corrupt, to be disclosed. The government might brush off the charges made by the Opposition parties but can it do the same to their own MLA’s remarked? Ramakrishnudu questioned.

TDP leaders N Chinna Rajappa, Metla Satyanarayana Rao, Chikkala Ramachandra Rao, Vanga Geeta, V. Venkateswara Rao and D. Janardhana Rao were among those present.

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