Date:10/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071055080600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

DPC members upset with officials

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Members of the District Planning Committee (DPC) on Wednesday alleged that the officials were inviting them for meetings only to get approval for the works proposed by them (officials) and they (members) had no role whatsoever to play.

They also expressed dismay that most of the works sanctioned under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) for 2007-08 were not grounded so far.

Members of the DPC, cutting across party lines, raised the issue from the word go only to find the officials concerned fumbling for proper explanation. Even Anantapur MP A. Venkatarami Reddy also joined the members in blaming the officials for not involving the elected representatives, members of the DPC who included ZPTC members, municipal councillors, municipal chairpersons and nominated members, in proposing the works.

Estimates

Of the Rs. 30 crore sanctioned for the current year works with an estimated cost of Rs. 23.55 cr. were proposed in rural areas and the remaining ones were proposed in urban areas. Several members also raised drinking water problems in their areas due to lack of energisation of completed works, incomplete schemes and due to maintenance problems.

Issues like social forestry, construction of dhobi ghats, construction of buildings for anganwadi centres and other were also discussed at the meeting. Legislative Council member G. Thippeswamy, several municipal chairperson, district officers and in-charge CEO of Zilla Parishad G. Jayapala Reddy participated.