PAC finds irregularities worth Rs 1600 crore: Nagam

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Nagam Janardhan Reddy on Tuesday stated that irregularities to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore in the Jalayagnam irrigation project works executed since 2004 were found by the PAC.

Talking to media persons at Assembly Media Point after submitting the PAC report to Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar, Mr Janardhan Reddy said the House should take up discussion on Committee report and adopt the recommendations to plug leakages.

Reacting to the fact that only nine members attended the final session of the meeting out of 20, Mr Janardhan Reddy said “I will not be held responsible for their attendance.”

Responding to three Congress members--MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, B Mohan Reddy and MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy’s refusal to sign on the final report, staging a walkout and then dashing off letter to Deputy Speaker that they were not party to the final report, he said “I will be held responsible for entire report. As per responsibility l did my job and submitted the report.”

The senior TDP leader demanded strong disciplinary action against those who indulged in irregularities and caused thousands of crores loss to state exchequer.

Mr Janardhan Reddy said that he would meet Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy appealing them to take up a discussion on committee recommendations to plug loopholes in the Jalayagnam project’s execution.

Reacting on allegations that he had connived with some contractors and indulged in irregularities, the PAC chairman condemned the reports as baseless and far from truth and said, “the people of state knows how I work, and they are well aware of my integrity” .

He pointed out that he was the one who had brought irregularities in mining operations in Obulapuram to the notice of state government. 

Mr Janardhan Reddy made it clear that he would continue his fight against rampant corruption whether or not he remains a part of the PAC.

He also congratulated Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and other party members for the completion of 29 years of the party’s formation day of TDP.

The PAC chairman term ends on Wednesday.