Justice observes the Minister is put into darkness by officials
Hyderabad, April 16, 2007The Andhra Pradesh Lokayutka Justice S. Ramanujam on Monday observed that the Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation Ponnala Lakshamaiah appears to have been kept in darkness by his officials. The Minister was grilled by the Lokayukta and also the counsels when he appeared as witness in the enquiry on increasing estimates in Yellampali project works without the following the procedure. The Lokayukta posted to Wednesday for cross examination.
The Minister said that the Government has the power to approve tenders without waiting for the report from the High Power Committee. He further said that the High Power committee chaired by the Chief Secretary was attended by the Irrigation Secretary but the Finance Secretary was not present as he was busy on official duty preparing the budget.
Though the Committee approved the estimates, it kept them pending waiting for approval from the Finance Secretary too. He said that he did not receive the minutes from the High Power committee before signing on tender approval. When the Lokayukta wanted to know how he signed when the administrative sanction was accorded for Rs. 1688.86 crore, whereas the tender was awarded for Rs. 1738 crore. The minister said that he ha signed the file without going through the technical details as the Irrigation Advisor and Secretary were going through those figures. He admitted that he was not aware of the difference in sanctioned amount and awarded amount.
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