BJP MLC P.V.N. Madhav on Sunday blamed the TDP for missing an opportunity to create the Visakhapatnam railway zone in early 2000 as the former Union Minister and senior TDP leader, K. Yerrannaidu, did not evince interest in the matter when he was Chairman of Railway Board.
Addressing the media here, Mr. Madhav said that Yerrannaidu, as a native of Srikakulam, had an apprehension that the interests of his district would be compromised if the railway zone was carved. “Blaming the BJP for the delay is unwarranted and unnecessary,” he said. He said as the creation of the zone would have an impact on the people residing in Odisha, Bihar, and West Bengal, the BJP, as a national party, was striving for a consensus of all the stakeholders on the issue.
“A decision will be taken in the future. It is quite clear that the new zone will be based in the port city,” he said.
Funds flow
Mr. Madhav asked the State government how the 12% growth rate had been possible without the help of the Centre.
On pending funds of MGNREGS, he said the government failed to submit utilisation certificates in time, and that was the reason for the delay in the release of funds. “There are 19 States that have delayed submission of accounts of funds spent under the MGNREGS and A.P. is one of them. The neighbouring Tamil Nadu, despite political instability, has submitted the certificates in time to get the funds,” he said.
The TDP leaders were blaming the Prime Minister or the delay in extending financial assistance when, in fact, the fault lay with them.
“The Centre has allocated ₹50 crore to each district of the Rayalaseema and North Andhra regions and is contemplating increasing the same in the days to come,” he claimed.
“The Centre is keen on assisting Andhra Pradesh with externally aided projects and centrally-funded schemes, and it has to be remembered that specified rules and regulations have to be followed in respect of the projects funded by organisations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund,” he added.
