The IT Tower in Suryapet, which has seen almost no activity despite promises of creating 2,000 jobs, has become a symbol of alleged misuse of funds by BRS leaders. (DC Image)
HYDERABAD: The much-hyped IT Towers set up by the previous BRS government to expand the sector beyond Hyderabad has benefited BRS leaders more than providing jobs for local youth.
The IT tower established in Suryapet last is a classic example to show how BRS leaders pocketed money in the name of IT towers. A private building belonging to then BRS Huzurnagar MLA Shanampudi Saidi Reddy was converted into an IT tower. It sees almost zero activity but the government has been paying Rs 1.18 lakh per monthly rent.
Official sources said that the decision to rent the private building was taken by then IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan, contrary to the state government's policy of setting up IT towers in government-owned buildings. The inauguration was done in a hurry, just a month before Assembly elections in November 2023.
The Suryapet IT tower was launched amidst much fanfare by Rama Rao in the presence of then energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy, who represents the Suryapet constituency.
After the inaugural, Rama Rao and Jagadish Reddy claimed that the tower would house 15 IT companies initially and provide 2,000 jobs.
They also announced that IT companies will hold a job mela, conduct interviews and provide jobs to 250 people. Only five companies came forward to launch operations and provided jobs to around 100 people. Later, these companies halted operations.
This apart, the government spent Rs 1.90 crore to furnish the office with chairs, desks, ACs and interior fittings besides laying approach roads. The rent agreement will run out in August, an official of the IT department said. There is no clarity on what the government will do with the infrastructure after that.
"The BRS government took the same building for rent to house the temporary district collectorate office of Suryapet district from October 2016. It was used as collector office till August 2023. Again it was taken on rent to house IT tower in August 2023 which benefited Saidi Reddy," the official said.
With zero activity, there are no chances of the present Congress government renewing the rental agreement in August, he stated. The state government will end up paying Rs 14.16 lakh towards rent on a building which has zero activity.
The previous BRS government had set up IT towers in Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Siddipet, Nizamabad and Nalgonda, apart from in Suryapet.
Of this, only the IT tower at Warangal houses prominent companies. Some others have established their units in Khammam and Siddipet.
Of this, only the IT tower at Warangal houses prominent companies. Some others have established their units in Khammam and Siddipet.
There is not much response to IT towers located in other towns.
The previous BRS government used the IT towers to promote the BRS and 'Brand KTR" to create an artificial hype and derive political mileage in elections.
Then BRS government has decided to charge Rs 2,200 per seat per month in the first year and `3,500 from the second year for setting operations in IT towers. Many IT small and mid-size IT companies are seeking further lowering of the charges.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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