The shifting of the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat departments to the temporary Secretariat at Velagapudi in the new capital region, Amaravati is progressing at a snail’s pace, notwithstanding the initial brouhaha about the imminent shift of the seat of administration to the new State.
Several departments, which entered the new capital region by formally performing puja and other traditional rituals, continue to function from the Secretariat premises here.
The reason: contractors did not complete the construction of the five blocks in the Interim Government Complex in spite of their repeated assurances.
The delay in handing over the premises forced the Government to reset the dates for commencement of operations on several occasions starting from June 27.
e-office incomplete
The IT infrastructure needed for the much-publicised e-office system at the temporary Secretariat too is said to be still incomplete, putting a halt to the Government’s plans to introduce a paperless administration at least in the Secretariat.
A visitor to the Secretariat here can see the employees allocated to Andhra Pradesh still operating from it.
“The contractors promised to complete the fifth block in Velagapudi by July 21. The departments will move once the work is 100 per cent complete,” AP Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee chairman U. Muralikrishna told The Hindu .
Local status
Another major impediment for the employees is said to be the local status issue on which orders are yet to be released.
The Central government had given its green signal for conferring local status on the employees moving to the new capital for protecting the education and employment opportunities of their children.
But the file is said to be making rounds between the Chief Minister’s Office and the Chief Secretary’s Office.
The delay in issuance of the orders has become a cause for concern for at least some employees who are reluctant to shift their families to the new capital region.
“The file has been put in circulation for minor changes. It is expected to be cleared once the Chief Minister returns from his trip abroad,” a senior officer said, adding that orders on local status issue were likely to be issued in a few days from now.
The departments will move once the work on the fifth block in Velagapudi is 100 per cent complete
U. Muralikrishna
Chairman, AP Secretariat Employees Coordination Committee
