Andhra govt cancels Rs 3 crore work orders at CM's residence after opposition outrage

In a bid to ward off allegations of lavish and wasteful expenditure by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy levied by the opposition parties, the state government on Sunday cancelled proposed work at his residence. The proposed work amounting to Rs 2,87,50000 for installation of aluminium windows and doors, furniture and other things is cancelled.

Multiple government orders were cancelled

The government order cancelled earlier orders for providing round the clock services of qualified Electrical Maintenance staff at the CM residence and Camp Office worth Rs 8.5 lakhs, for security. Arrangements at CM's Hyderabad Residence worth Rs 24.5 lakhs. The order also cancelled earlier GO (government order) for temporary arrangements like PVC rain Proof Pagodas, Mobile Toilets, Coolers and other amenities surrounding CM Camp Residence worth Rs 22.5 lakhs.

Earlier order for Supply and Installation of Aluminium Windows / Doors and Miscellaneous Works in CM Camp Residence and Office Block worth Rs 73 lakhs was cancelled as well. The state government also cancelled earlier orders for annual maintenance of camp residence of AP CM for 2019-20 worth Rs 1.20 crores and for furniture at CM camp residence worth Rs 39 lakhs.

'Present govt under YSRCP is reaching to next levels'

The main opposition attacked Reddy over the lavish and wasteful expenditure and alleged a sum of Rs 17 crore was being splurged on the CMs residence when the state was reeling under an acute financial crisis. BJP leader Lanka Dinakar welcomed the cancellation of the order pertaining to the expenditure. "We all criticized the decisions of Jagan administration on these Government orders using the funds of the public exchequer as their money in pocket, media also played a vital role to expose it," Dinakar said in an official statement. The leader added, "In a previous government under TDP also made similar practices. But present government under YSRCP is reaching to the next levels.

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No official reason was given but in a sudden development, Babu issued a series of orders late on Friday night cancelling the sanctioned work. Official sources, however, said the work was cancelled on Reddy’s instructions to ward off criticism about the extravagant spending.

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(With agency inputs)