Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has expressed dismay over the weak financial position of the Swachh Andhra Corporation (SAC). He said only Rs 7 crore was available out of the Rs 2,092.65 crore earmarked for it during the 2020-21 financial year.
The Deputy CM held a review meeting at his residence in Mangalagiri and took stock of the funds availability with the SAC and waste management practices in the state. He sought from officials the details of the diversion of the funds by the YSRC government.
Pawan Kalyan pointed out that the corporation had utilised Rs 728.35 crore and Rs 508 crore during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years respectively and Rs 1,066.36 crore was available with the corporation at the end of the 2021-22 fiscal. “However, in the records, it was stated that only Rs 3 crore remained with the corporation account at the start of the 2022-23 financial year. This is confusing.”
He directed the officials to explain what was done with the funds. “Currently, with the available funds, the corporation would only be able to provide employees' salaries for five months," he said.
The Deputy CM asked, “On whose orders have the corporation funds been diverted? What went wrong?”
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Swachh Bharat Mission for the benefit of the public and under this initiative, the Swachh Andhra Corporation was established. The Centre has been giving funds to the state government, he noted.
“Unfortunately, the funds intended for public health had been diverted for other purposes by the YSRC government.”
Principal secretaries to panchayat raj and rural development, the SAC managing director and other officials were present.
