Less than three weeks after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was criticised for sanctioning a huge amount of government funds towards upgrading his private residence in Amaravati, the government has sanctioned around Rs 1.9 crore yet again towards the upkeep of the house.
On Monday, two Government Orders (GOs) were issued by the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department department sanctioning funds towards Jagan’s residences. While one of the orders sanctions an amount of Rs 1.2 crore for “annual maintenance” of the CM camp residence in Tadepalli in Amaravati, the second order accords administrative sanction for an amount of Rs 39 lakh for ‘providing furniture’ to the same residence.
An additional amount of Rs 35.5 lakh sanctioned for Lotus Pond, Jagan's Hyderabad residence, will be used for ‘strengthening of existing solar power fencing system’, ‘supply and installation and commissioning of Boom Barriers’, ‘providing external and internal electrical installations to police barracks’ and ‘providing round the clock services of qualified electrical maintenance staff’ from July 2019 to March 2020.
Just last month, Jagan came under heavy criticism after a GO came to light, which showed that an amount of Rs 73 lakh had been sanctioned for supply and installation of aluminium doors and windows and other works at the Tadepalli residence.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Leader of Opposition Chandrababu Naidu had slammed Jagan for sanctioning such amounts to his private residence, especially when the state is in a fiscal mess. The state has been in a poor financial situation since the time of bifurcation. With near-empty coffers, the government has been banking on expected funds from the Centre and has even decided to sell government lands and buildings to pool funds for the huge number of welfare schemes and promises made under the YSRCP's Navaratnalu -- a list of nine welfare schemes Jagan had promised, while campaigning.
Jagan had moved to a palatial house in Tadepalli town of Guntur district in the capital region back in February when he was the Leader of the Opposition. After the YSRCP won the elections and Jagan was sworn in as the CM on May 30, the house has been modified and upgraded in multiple ways, at the cost of the state exchequer.
Earlier in June, the state government sanctioned Rs 1.89 crore for a helipad and other facilities. A road was also reportedly built at a cost of Rs 5 crore, while another Rs 3.6 crore was spent on electrical works.
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