In yet another instance of embarrassment to YSR Congress party, the NDA government on Monday made it clear that there were no irregularities whatsoever in the construction of Polavaram project or rehabilitation and resettlement of project evacuees.
The Centre was reacting to a series of questions raised by YSRC member V Vijay Sai Reddy, BJP member G V L Narasimha Rao and others on the alleged irregularities in Polavaram project, demanding that the Centre order a CBI probe into the same.
Union minister for water resources Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said there were no complaints or reports from any central agency against the state or the contractor about any irregularities in the project.
“As such, there is no need for any CBI inquiry in this regard,” the minister said.
Shekhawat said the Centre had declared Polavaram as a national project as part of the AP Reorganisation Act and would bear 100 per cent of the project cost.
“As of now, 60 per cent of the project works were completed and there were no reports from any agency on the works or packages or rehabilitation and resettlement of evacuees about the alleged irregularities. So, there is no need for any CBI inquiry,” he said.
He also made it clear that the Centre had approved the revised estimates of the project and they had been sent to the relevant committee for approval.
“Once the estimates committee gives the approval, it will be sent to the finance ministry,” he said.
The Centre’s statement came as an embarrassment to Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state, at a time when the assembly was discussing the project status.
State irrigation minister Anil Kumar attacked the previous TDP government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu that it had not done anything to complete the project.
“Naidu was more interested in giving poses for photographs at the project site, instead of taking up any works. He enhanced project estimates and pocketed huge funds,” Anil alleged.
A couple of days ago, the Centre gave a similar shock to Jagan by opposing his move to revisit the power purchase agreements with solar and wind power producers on the pretext that the Naidu government had caused Rs 2,200 crore loss to the state exchequer by signing the PPAs.
Union minister for power R K Singh in his letter to Jagan said the PPAs were signed only after the approvals from electricity regulatory commissions and the rates quoted by AP were very competitive compared to other states.