Samikhsya Bureau
Praja Vedika, the razed multi crore posh structure built by the TDP government under Chandrababu Naidu regime, was reminder of how brute political power can be used for the hideous ostentation at public expense. Whether the building was for hearing of grievances or not, but the extravagance do signal at a mindless splurge.
While the lesson remains that no such activity alleged to be unlawful should be allowed by any dispensation but, built at a cost of crores of rupees from the public exchequer, otherwise could have been preserved for any public purpose and bring the offenders into the book.
Praja Vedika conference hall, located adjacent to the former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s residence at Undavalli in Amaravati, was demolished by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) officials on Wednesday.
Last week, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had ordered its demolition calling it “illegal”. Chandrababu Naidu, on the other hand, said that it was “foolish” on the part of Jagan Mohan Reddy to destroy a government property.
As per the instructions of chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, the CRDA and revenue officials began the pulling down of the Praja Vedia grievances hall last night at around 8 pm, immediately after the conclusion of two-day district collectors conference on Tuesday.
The Praja Vedika conference hall was constructed at a cost of Rs.9 crore two years ago by the then Chandrababu Naidu led government to organise government as well as party programmes. As the Praja Vedika hall constructed without taking permissions from the departments concerned, chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered the demolition of the same.
The official brought labourers in vehicles to the Praja Vedika hall last night who shifted the equipment including LED TVs, projectors, sound systems, computers, other electronic gadgets, chairs and tables to other places.
Later, 3 JCBs were pressed into services to demolish the Praja Vedika hall and six tippers to take away the debris. The demolition works continued whole night. The CRDA officials said Wednesday that 80 per cent of demolition of Praja Vedika had been completed. By evening, the demolition would be completed. The police officials said no restrictions were imposed on the movements of Telugu Desam Party leaders and they could go to the former chief minister’s house.
Interestingly, when the demolition of Praja Vedika hall was being carried out, former chief minister and leader of the opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu arrived from Hyderabad at around 11.30 pm. However, the police allowed his convey to go to his residence.
Talking to media here on Wednesday, YSRCP MLA Alla Rama Krishna Reddy said the officials in the erstwhile Naidu government forcibly took land from two farmers Dasari Nagaiah and D. Sambashiva Rao to construct the hall. The farmers were cultivating Lillie flowers crop in the land. He said notices were issued to all the unauthorised constructions which had come up on the south bank of the river Krishna, few meters away from the river water.
Talking to media, Telugu Desam party State President K. Kala Venkata Rao described the pulling down of Praja Vedia in a hurried manner as vindictive politics. He said there were costly electronic gadgets in the Praja Vedika hall and they could be preserved before pulling down process began.
(With UNI inputs)
