Press Releases Archive

The Lok Satta Party today took strong exception to the Government directive that funds accruing to municipalities and municipal corporations through Building Penalization and Layout Regularization Schemes shall be spent as decided by the district in-charge Ministers.

The G. O. No. 190 under which the Government released funds realized through BPS and LRS to civic bodies belatedly emasculates elected local governments as it provides for interference by in-charge Ministers.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and P. Bhaskara Rao demanded that the civic bodies be enabled to spend the amounts in consultation with colony/apartment welfare associations in the absence of elected ward committees.

The party leaders referred to large-scale abuse of power in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by Ministers and said that history would repeat itself if Ministers were to be provided for a role in spending BPS/LRS funds.

On Government advice to civic bodies to raise their revenue through higher taxes etc, the Lok Satta leaders pointed out that the people were opposed to higher taxes since they had lost faith in the civic bodies’ ability to deliver quality services through proper funds’ utilization.

The Lok Satta Party today demanded the appointment of fully-empowered ombudsmen in all districts to go into irregularities in NREGS implementation in all districts.

The Lok Satta Party was reacting to the Chief Minister’s directive to the Vigilance Department to probe into allegations of NREGS irregularities in Srikakulam district.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party leaders Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Bheesetti Babji, Mr. V.Lakshman Balaji, Mr.V.Vijayender Reddy said that reports of irregularities have been pouring in from all districts and not merely from Srikakulam. By limiting the inquiry to Srikakulam district and that too works in the Revenue Minister’s constituency, the Chief Minister seemed to be minimizing the gravity and magnitude of the problem.

The Lok Satta leaders recalled that the Government had already issued an order for appointment of ombudsmen in all districts. Ombudsmen appointed according to the order would be toothless in that they would go into irregularities thrown up by social audits only.

The Lok Satta leaders said that the proposed ombudsmen should be empowered to probe into instances of corruption and irregularities in all schemes at the local government level and not limited to NREGS irregularities.

Pointing out that around Rs.2000 crore a year is being spent directly at the district level under various Government schemes, the Lok Satta leaders underlined the need to curb irregularities and corruption in all the schemes executed at the local level.

The ombudsmen should be empowered to act upon complaints, undertake investigations suo motu, and initiate punitive action against both officials and elected people’s representatives.

The Lok Satta leaders also suggested that the proposed ombudsmen should enjoy the rank, salary, allowances and privileges of a sitting district judge.