Look Into CAG Report Findings: Rao

Textiles and Weavers' Welfare Minister, P Shankar Rao, on Wednesday insisted on the constitution of an experts' committee to probe certain irregularities pointed out in the Comptroller And Auditor General's (CAG) report which was tabled in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

The Minister, who was in the news in the recent past for having filed a writ petition (as an MLA in November/December 2010) that challenged the assets allegedly amassed by Kadapa leader and former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's son, Y S Jaganamohan Reddy, said that he was quite pleased with the CAG's report.

Shankar Rao said that the CAG report pointed out various lapses in irrigation projects' construction in the state, and also the thousands of crores of losses suffered by the government.

Stating that the authorities concerned might manipulate the figures in the records that were brought to light by the CAG report, the Minister suggested that the officiating Speaker, Nadendla Manohar, immediately seize the said records to avoid misinterpretations or attempts to suppress the factual figures.

The Minister also demanded that an inquiry be conducted immediately and the report be released within a month. "Justice delayed is justice denied," he said, and added that the culprits must be punished in order to facilitate transparent governance.

Shankar Rao also demanded that a high-level inquiry be ordered into the Industries Department frauds which are said to be amounting to Rs. 100 crores.

The Industries Directorate had sanctioned funds upto Rs. 50 lakhs to the SC and ST beneficiaries for purchasing vehicles on the furnishing of their caste certificates. This facility was being misused by the officials concerned, the Minister alleged.

Shankar Rao also welcomed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's announcement in the state assembly on the constitution of a House Committee to probe the land allocations made to Jaganmohan Reddy's business partners.