E. Godavari ZPTCs Stall Parishad Meeting Over Unpaid Honorarium

Kakinada: Members of East Godavari district zilla parishad territorial council (ZPTC), particularly those belonging to YSRC, stalled proceedings of the parishad meeting on Friday demanding payment of honorarium, which has not been paid to ZPTCs for the past 21 months.

Zilla parishad chairman V. Venugopal had been presiding over the meeting. ZPTCs protested that funds have also not been released to develop their territorial councils.

ZP vice chairman B. Anubabu went on to announce that they would boycott the meeting.

This irked Anaparthi MLA Nallamilli Ramakrishna Reddy and Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Venkata Appa Rao (Nehru). They reprimanded the ZPTCs saying why they had not sought their honorarium from the previous government. Ramakrishna Reddy went on to say that the NDA alliance government only assumed charge about 100 days ago. State government will release the honorarium soon, he assured.

ZP vice chairman Anubabu demanded that a resolution be passed seeking immediate release of funds.

Rajya Sabha member Pilli Subhashchandra Bose suggested that for the time being, 50 per cent of the honorarium could be paid from the general account funds.

At this, Zilla parishad chief executive officer A. Sri Ramachandra Murthy said there are no funds in the general account and the government has been informed in this regard.

Mandapeta MLA Vegulla Jogeswara Rao asked members to wait for some time and the entire honorarium could be released.

District collector S. Shan Mohan assured that the issue will be sorted out within one week.

Rajanagaram MLA Bathula Balarama Krishna said good days will come for ZPTCs and MPTCs soon.

Those present at the meeting included Kakinada Rural MLA Pantham Venkateswara Rao (Nanaji) and joint collector S. Chinna Ramudu.