HYDERABAD: Alleging that the state government was trying to cover up its failures by violating even constitutional norms, senior Congress leader Ponnala Lakshmaiah said that it was a deliberate move to stop tabling of the CAG report on the last day of the Budget session.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, he said that this was the first time in history that a CAG report was not placed in the House.
"It is a constitutional obligation under Article 151. Besides completing the session without a proper debate on pressing issues, the Chief Minister has tried to hide all wrongdoings by keeping away the CAG report from public domain," he said.
While daring the ruling party leaders for an open debate on irrigation projects, the former Minister said that several incomplete projects when he assumed charge were not taken up because Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao feared that Congress would get credit for those projects.
"At least 33.5 lakh acres would have been irrigated if those projects, at an estimated cost of Rs 8,500 crore, had been completed. But he spent more than one lakh crore on Kaleshwaram, which has served no purpose. Whatever small quantity was lifted from the project ended up in the ocean. Moreover this wastage has come at a cost Rs 9,000 crore in power bills. Interest charges on borrowings are at a staggering Rs 16,000 crore in just one year and money splurged on his publicity is Rs 26 000 crore," Lakshmaiah fumed.
