HYDERABAD: Even as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is all set to lay the foundation stone for the temporary secretariat at Velagapudi in the capital region on Wednesday, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy questioned the motive behind the move which costs over `200 crore. He demanded that the government drop the plan and construct a permanent secretariat as per the capital city master plan.
Speaking to reporters at Indira Bhavan here on Tuesday, Raghuveera Reddy asked why the Chief Minister was spending `200 crore worth of public money on a temporary secretariat when he can construct a permanent one with the same amount.
“Why is the CM wasting crores of rupees of public money on a temporary secretariat? It makes no sense. Instead, the government should construct a permanent structure according to the master plan of the capital city,” he suggested.
Coming down heavily on Naidu for spending huge amounts of public money on wasteful activities, the PCC chief said even though the State is passing through a financial crisis, the CM is least bothered about it. “Naidu is the costliest CM of the country. No CM spends like him. He had spent `400 crore on the foundation laying ceremony of capital city Amaravati. And now again, he is preparing to spend on foundation laying ceremony of the temporary secretariat,” he alleged.
As per the AP Reorganistion Act, 2014, it is the duty of the Centre to construct the new capital city, but instead of demanding the Centre to release money for it, Naidu is indulging in publicity stunts, Raghuveera Reddy alleged.
Bring Pressure on Centre for Drought Aid: Cong Raghuveera Reddy criticised Naidu for being unable to get adequate Central funds for taking up relief and rehabilitation works in the drought-hit and cyclone affected areas , and urged him to exert pressure on the Centre for release of funds.