The Opposition YSR Congress accused chief minister Chandrababu Naidu of indulging in the wasteful spending of about Rs 5,000 crore which were non-productive and sheer wastage of tax payers money.
Stating that the government owed an explanation on the spending, YSR Congress party senior leader K Parthasaradhi demanded a white paper on the expenditures of the state in the past 17 months. He invited state finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu for an open debate with economists and academics on the state of finances of Andhra Pradesh.
‘While resorting to extravagant expenditure at the cost of welfare schemes, state government speaking of financial crisis is meaningless. On one hand it has unrolled an ambitious plan of building of a multi-billion rupee capital city and at the same time has been shouting from roof tops of empty coffers. Finance minister should explain this split personality of the state economy and TDP government,’ former minister and party’s spokesperson K. Parthasarathi said. How would the huge amounts, which do not exist reality, come unless the government levies taxes heavily or settling for a sell-out to foreign companies,” he asked. The government should explain as to how it would mobilize the finances for the capital city, he averred.
The size of the budget bigger than that of the united Andhra Pradesh and without transparency, he said. ” Even after the hike in RTC bus fare and power tariff the government still speaks of deficit. Is it a ploy to cut the spending on welfare schemes,” Parthasarathi wondered. The government should release a white paper on financial status of the state and the finance minister get himself ready for a debate on financial discipline with experts, the former minister added.
‘ The brazen splurging of the tax payers money on special flights of Chief Minister is inexplicable. Reports say about his travels cost Rs 250 cores and his penchant for Vastu perfect house and other improvement put a burden of Rs 200 crore on the people of this state And another Rs 400 crore has reportedly been spent for capital city foundation stone laying. The government owes an explanation for these non-productive waste of money” he said. The state has given incentives with retrospective effect to industrialists to a tune of Rs 2,500 crore and spent Rs 1,500 crore on the “redundant Pattiseema”.
“The irresponsible spending of money by the government has badly affected the welfare schemes and we demand a white paper on the expenditures and the revenues of the state in the past 17 months,” he said.
