YSR memorial near crash site nearing completion

                                                                      

Dr. YSR Smruthi Vanam Project near Nallakalva village, Atmakur mandal of Kurnool district, the only memorial shrine of the former Chief Minister coming up from among the proposed three, is fast nearing completion. It will be done before the third death anniversary of the former Chief Minister on September 2.

A majestic memorial park with a 20 ft statue of YSR made by sculptor Shivaprasad with his trademark raised hand waving to people with landscaping forms the main component of the Rs.13 crore project on a 22.20 acre site acquired outside the forest and on the Nandyal-Atmakur road.

Theme gardens like neem – a personal favourite of YSR, fragrance garden, ‘pavitra vanam' of 108 sacred plants, butterfly shaped garden with 150 species of carefully chosen plants to attract butterflies, fragrance garden, cafeteria, etc., are in the final stages at the site, a four-hour drive from here (300 kilometres).

YSR statue is positioned aesthetically behind a water curtain. From a 60 ft viewing tower under construction a clear view of the helicopter crash site on the hillock is visible with help of ‘spotting scopes' (bigger version of binoculars) is a highlight. Save for a cross where his body was found, there is nothing else at the crash site located amidst thick hillock vegetation.

An interpretation hall to showcase forest flora and fauna, theatre hall for eco education are among the facilities in the memorial with an imposing entrance. “More than 100 people worked almost round-the-clock since June 2010, 90 per cent of the project has been completed. We will be ready by June,” avers Project Director N. Chandramohan Reddy.

Lot of care was taken to plan and execute the work especially the memorial designed by Mumbai-based architect Kishore Pradhan. A special power line was drawn across 10 km to the site and a golf course like drain facility to empty excess water was built.

Adjacent to the memorial, 3,500 acres of Velugodu reserve forest was notified for the ‘Smruthi Vanam'. Besides, measures to protect the grassland ecosystem from cattle, fire and humans, it will have a 100 acre bio-diversity park as 210 diverse plants species were identified.

With no work at other two memorials, near Prasads Imax and Idupulapaya, YSR ‘Smruthi Vanam' progress makes it quite remarkable during these political times.

Comptroller and Auditor General exposes YSR nepotism

                                                           
VIJAYAWADA: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)'s report contains a damning observation on undue favours shown by the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority ( VGTM-UDA) to a firm owned by CC Reddy, a close relative of late CM YSR. Incidentally, CC Reddy was agricultural advisor to the YSR government enjoying cabinet rank.

The CAG pointed out that private firm Arihant Indo-African Infra Developer and Builders was handed over nearly 22 acres of land near Vijayawada despite it having failed to implement the project which was originally proposed by the urban development authority.

While the 22-acre plot was given away in exchange of Rs 41.80 crore, the actual market value of the property was much above the amount paid by CC Reddy's firm.

Curiously, land rates were calculated based on 2007 prices while the transfer was effected in 2010, by which time land prices had gone up several times. According to the going rates for 2010, each acre of land in the area cost around Rs 4-6 crore. Giving away 22 acres of land for Rs 42 crore thus resulted in a loss of not less than Rs 80 crore to the exchequer.

According to the CAG report, which was tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, UDA invited bids for development of a township called Singapore Township on 53 acres of land near Mangalagiri. Arihant developers won the contract after quoting Rs 97.52 crore. Land was handed over to the contractor in 2007 and it was then CM YSR who laid the foundation stone for the project. As per the tender agreement, the project is to be completed in three years. However, after paying Rs 42 crore in two instalments towards minimum guarantee sums (MGS), the company withdrew from the project citing the global economic downturn.

"The company did not even launch the work till expiry of the term. In such a scenario, UDA should have terminated the contract by forfeiting the amounts deposited by the company," the CAG observed.

Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav cuts down 32 cars in his fleet

                                                               
Akhilesh Yadav has issued orders to cut down the cars in his fleet from 40 to just eight and also ordered the specialised hospital operating in his official residence to shut down.
Thirty-two cars have been ordered to be taken away from the chief minister's fleet and repatriated to the Rajya Sampatti Vibhag (state property wing), a senior official with the chief minister's security said.
"The only cars that would now be accompanying the motorcade of the chief minister would be a fleet of ambassadors and an SUV fitted with jammers," the official said.
The Chief Minister has also ordered the highly specialised hospital within his official residence to be shut down immediately and said that doctors on duty be sent to hospitals where they are needed more, officials said.
This hospital was formed in 2008 on orders of Mayawati and cost the state exchequer Rs. 75 lakh per annum had a medical superintendent, 22 pharmacists, a dozen nurses, four hi-tech ambulances and specialist doctors on 24x7 duty.
The latest move of the 38-year-old chief minister, who has also opened the doors of sprawling official residence for common people, is in stark departure from his predecessor Mayawati who moved around the city in hooter fitted cars and a fleet of 40-plus cars. These included three jammer fitted cars, an ambulance and a fleet of cars of city police and traffic cops.
Akhilesh Yadav has also done away with other security regulations such as stopping of traffic when the chief minister's convoy passes and the use of hooters whenever he moves.
"This is the real face of Samajwad (socialism) where everyone, even the chief minister is treated alike," said Rajendra Chowdhary, spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party and a close aide of the chief minister.
Also, in a state where government officials and employees are used to a five-day week, Akhilesh Yadav threw in a surprise when he turned up at his annexe office on a Saturday, quietly and unnoticed without the usual horn honking and siren blaring entourage following him.

Telangana issue rocks LS for fifth day

Telangana issue rocked the Lok Sabha for the fifth day paralysing proceedings on the last day of the first part of the Budget Session on Friday.
The House was adjourned for the day soon after it reassembled at noon as placard-carrying TRS and TDP members stormed the Well and Congress members from the region shouted slogans standing in the aisles.
Speaker Meira Kumar ordered tabling of papers and took up Zero Hour amidst the uproar over the demand for creation of separate Telangana.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was present in the House and was having discussions with Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is incharge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.
As the din continued, Kumar adjourned the House till April 24, when the second part of the Budget session resumes.
Earlier when the House assembled for the day and took up Question Hour, Congress members from Telangana and those from TDP and TRS rushed to the Well holding posters saying "honour the commitment for Telangana" and "jan bhavna ka samman karo" (respect public sentiments).
Amid intense slogan-shouting, some Opposition members termed the disruption as a "conspiracy" by the government so that the proceedings do not take place. The Speaker then adjourned the House till noon.

I can't respect Parliament, it has criminal MPs'

                                            
Striking a defiant note, Arvind Kejriwal on Friday replied to the privilege notices served on him for "insulting" Parliament, saying how can he respect the institution which has MPs with "criminal background".

The Team Anna member alleged that all the parties are responsible for bringing Parliament to disrepute as 162 MPs with criminal background have managed to get into it.
"There was a Parliament in which Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned (from the post of railway minister) following a train accident. I would like to sacrifice anything for such a Parliament but how will I respect Parliament of present days," Kejriwal said in the letter.
He also alleged that industrialists, who were not known for any public service, have managed to get into Parliament with the help of various parties.
"They enter Parliament to further their business interest. If this is not misuse of Parliament, if this is not insult to Parliament then what is it?," he asked.
Besides Congress MP Sajjan Singh Verma, RJD MPs Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav had served a privilege notice against Kejriwal for calling MPs "rapists, murderers and looters" during an election campaign rally last month.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought reply from Kejriwal following the receipt of the notices. "Received privilege notices from Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav also...Rajniti Prasad is the same MP who tore the Lokpal Bil in Parliament. Did he insult Parliament or did I insult Parliament?" Kejriwal had tweeted after he got the notices.
Earlier in September last year, Kejriwal was served a notice for making "derogatory" remarks against parliamentarians during Hazare's agitation in Ramlila Maidan.
"In this Parliament, 163 members have cases of heinous offences against them. In this Parliament, rapists are sitting, murderers and looters are sitting. How can you expect Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed by Parliament? How can you expect that you can get reprieve from poverty and corruption," Kejriwal had said on February 25.
Talking to reporters today, Kejriwal also said that Team Anna will soon write to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh providing evidence against 14 Union Cabinet ministers whom he had named as "corrupt".
Hazare had set a deadline of August to register FIR against these ministers and warned the government that they will launch 'jail bharo' agitation, if it is not done.