The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found contractors’ negligence in constructing K.L. Rao Sagar (Pulichintala Project).
The committee after touring Krishna district for two days said that due to administrative lapses and negligence of some officials, contractors had taken undue advantage in the execution of works of the project.
“The CAG had found that Rs.46 crore undue payments were made in Pulichintala works,” said the committee members.
ADVERTISEMENT
The panel also observed several irregularities in the accounting process of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, Durga temple, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA) and Irrigation Department.
Headed by Revuri Prakash Reddy, the panel rapped the VGTMUDA and the Irrigation authorities for failing to produce records for about Rs.75 crore.
The PAC inspected the condition of ‘Raja Gopuram’ and ‘Maha Mantapam’ at Indrakeeladri. They visited the ‘prasadam’ preparation halls and expressed concern over the poor hygienic conditions.
ADVERTISEMENT
No records
The Endowments Department gets Rs.45 crore from Durga temple per annum but there is no designated accounts officer, and the temple AEO is in-charge. The temple management spent Rs.27 crore for which there are no records.
“We observed unhygienic conditions where boondi , laddu and pulihora prasadams are being prepared. The PAC directed the district Collector to conduct a meeting with the Endowment officials on undue payments and on cleanliness,” said Mr. Prakash Reddy.
On Bhavani Island, only the restaurant and rest houses are on use. We asked the Tourism Department officials to submit proposals to the Tourism Commissioner with special packages for tourists, to boost up the revenue.
The Committee found several illegal structures on either side of the Krishna. It directed the Krishna and Guntur district Collectors to constitute a committee with Revenue, VGTMUDA and Irrigation officials, identify the unauthorised constructions, and submit a report to the government within 15 days.