‘Emaar GO issued without sending file to me’

HYDERABAD: PCC president and transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana, who was the minister for major industries in the YSR government, told the CBI that he observed certain lacunae in issuance of GOs on Emaar Properties and took them up with the then chief minister.

Further, he said that a file relating to a GO was not circulated through him by officials at the time of issuing it.

He made the observations when the CBI recorded his statements in the Emaar township scam case on October 19 last.

Satyanarayana told reporters here on Monday that the Congress government, after coming to power in 2004, constituted a group of ministers to review major projects conceptualised during the earlier (TDP) regime.

As the GoM found that the implementation structure of the integrated project approved by the previous government was not transparent, it suggested changes .

In the revised arrangement, the stake of APIIC was reduced and that of Emaar Properties increased.

“In order to give a final shape to the new arrangement for executing the project, GO MS No 14 dated January 11, 2005 was issued and subsequently GO Ms No 22 dated January 27, 2005 was issued as certain aspects were not properly clarified in the first GO.

At the time of issuing GO Ms No 22, the file was not circulated by the (then) principal secretary (industries and commerce) through me, though I was the minister for major industries.

After issuance of the GO Ms No 22, the file was placed before me.

I observed certain lacunae which I pointed in my comments dated February 7, 2005,’’ Satyanarayana told the CBI.

Satyanarayana said the matter, however, remained unresolved and a secret note was issued by him on February 17 to the chief minister clarifying the issues that were required to be covered while issuing the GO 22.

Posing questions to the minister, the CBI said that in the GO issued in 2002, the land was to be given to the developer on sale basis at Rs 29 lakh per acre.

“In the note dated November 1, 2004 by the APIIC vicechairman and managing director, it was mentioned that the asset value of the project has gone up before it was put up to you.

It was mentioned by the senior manager (P) that the rate of Rs 40 lakh per acre could be insisted.

Why was the cost of land not enhanced from Rs 29 lakh per acre to the prevailing market value which would have generated more revenue to the government?’’ the CBI questioned.

Satyanarayana replied that the matter was examined by the APIIC managing director and it was seen that he was not very particular about enhancing the land cost.

“Subsequently, principal secretary (industries) gave his comments wherein he did not raise the issue which shows that he agreed to the recommendations of the VC and MD.

Accordingly, I agreed to the recommendations of the principal secretary (industries and commerce) which was agreed to by the principal secretary (finance) and minister for finance, and finally approved by the CM,’’ Satyanarayana said.