Media News Archive

Hyderabad | Thursday, Nov 13 2008 IST

Taking strong exception to the state government asking civic bodies to remit the fees collected under the building regularisation and layout regularisation schemes into the treasury, the Lok Satta today claimed it was totally contrary to Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao's promise that the amount would be kept in a separate account and utilised to meet local needs.

Briefing the media, party spokespersons Katari Srinivasa Rao and B Krishna Reddy said the Government had collected Rs 605 crore under the two schemes covered by GO 901 and 902, even as a public interest litigation petition filed by Lok Satta questioning them was pending in the High Court.

The Lok Satta had opposed the schemes right from the beginning as they sought to penalise innocent buyers of flats and plots instead of officials and builders responsible for irregularities, they said, adding that the Government was now seeking to divert the penal fees into the treasury to meet its expenses on ''unproductive schemes''.

The Lok Satta demanded that the Rs 605 crore be utilised towards improving civic amenities like parks, commmunity halls, playgrounds and roads in towns and cities, they added.

Courtesy: WebIndia123

Hyderabad (PTI): A unique website aimed at empowering the people with various information about the candidates contesting an election of the assembly and Parliamentary election was launched here on wednesday by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh.

www.Empoweringindia.org aims at providing comprehensive information to the voters so that they can make an informed choice, Barun S Mitra of Delhi-based Liberty Institute, which developed the website, told reporters here. The website gives analysis of election results and details about candidates like their criminal background, if any, and other information, he said.

Lyngdoh said the website is "very flexible" and he favoured making public the disclosures made by candidates on election expenditure along with the comments of the election officials.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao said the website is a step in the right direction as it would help voters make an informed choice. He said the launch of the website is very timely as it came in the run up to the elections to Lok Sabha and assembly in Andhra Pradesh.

Bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan sought the media to focus on what is not disclosed by the candidates in their election affidavits. "If a candidate declares assets worth Rs 5 crores, the media highlights that. It does not generally focus on what is not disclosed. What is concealed is more important many times," he said.

Subba Rao later said the final electoral rolls would be ready in the state by January 10 and Photo Identity Cards would be distributed next month, he added.

Courtesy: The Hindu