Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Botsa Satyanarayana said that the Praja Vedika built by the former TDP government through Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), was illegal as it had no proper permissions.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday at Undavalli, he issued a clarification about the status of Praja Vedika being taken over by the government. He said that since it was government property and had all the necessary amenities to conduct official meetings, the State Collectors meeting was being conducted there.

He taunted the TDP officials for criticising the YS Jagan-led government for taking over the property. He had called for the complete details of the building from the CRDA and pointed out the irregularities.

Speaking to Sakshi, he explained that the that Praja Vedika built on the banks of river Krishna was denied permission by the Krishna Central Division Chief Engineer of the Water Resources department in September itself. Since the proposed zone was prone to floods as it was on the banks of the river, the Lok Ayukta had also ordered that all illegal constructions on the banks should be removed. The reports clearly state that there were no permissions from the CRDA or the Town and Planning departments, he said. Based on former Municipal Administration Minister Narayana's instructions the building was constructed. The estimates were hiked by the company called to build it. The construction company NCC first quoted Rs 4.34 crore and was given the contract. Later it was hiked to Rs 8.90 crore and ultimately Rs 7.59 crore was paid to them , he said.He also crafted that both Chandrababu's residence and the Praja Vedika were illegal constructions.

He derided the TDP for creating a ruckus about the buildings, saying that it was a shame on their part to fight for something that was not valid. He also said that unlike the TDP government which conducted Collectors' meetings in five-star hotels , the current government was using the property which belonged to the government for official purposes .

Terming the TDP leaders ranting that the government should not conduct meetings in Praja Vedika , he reminded them that the property was not built with the Chandrababu's money and that the TDP leaders should refrain from fighting with government officials over this . He also warned that if the TDP leaders attack officials, they would face legal actions and be punished.

The district administration, which had begun preparing for the Collectors’ conference to be organised at Praja Vedika on Monday, were stalled by TDP leaders who prevented them from doing so. Minister for Municipal Administration Botsa Satyanarayana and other leaders also reached the venue to monitor the arrangements.TDP leaders K. Kala Venkata Rao, Babu Rajendra Prasad and Jupudi Prabhakara Rao reached the venue and protested against the decision of the government to take over the hall located adjacent to the residence of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

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