High drama at DRC meet

High drama at DRC meet

Deccan Chronicle - http://www.deccan. com/Region/ RegionNews. asp#High% 20drama%20at% 20DRC%20meet

10th July 2007

Visakhapatnam, : The Bauxite issue has stalled the proceedings of the District Review Committee meeting on Tuesday. While the TD MLA from Payakaraopeta Chengala Venkat Rao prevented taking up of the agenda by forcibly snatching the papers from the zilla parishad chief executive officer P. Rama Rao, the other district officials boycotted the meeting demanding apology from the MLA for his alleged highhanded behaviour towards an official. The MLA also manhandled a policeman in plain clothes who tried to stop him while going to the podium. Mr Vekata Rao snatched papers from the ZP CEO and manhandled a police constable in the meeting hall to make his point.

The district officials who were upset with the MLA's behaviour boycotted the meeting, which was ultimately adjourned without taking up any proceedings. The officials demanded that the MLA should tender a written apology to them.

Minutes after the meeting began, the in-charge minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, who was presiding the meeting directed the officials to go with the prescribed agenda. When the officials were about to follow his instructions, Chengala Venkata Rao objected by saying that issues like supply of Godavari water to Jindal refinery and irregularities in the construction of a bund on Thandava river should be discussed before taking up the agenda.

He replied that the issues raised by TDP MLA did not figure in the agenda, therefore, discussion would be allowed after the agenda was taken up. The TD leaders said that the bauxite issue was also crucial. Along with Chodavaram MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao and and Anakapalli MP Pappala Chalapati Rao, Mr. Venkata Rao argued that he sent a letter to the collector A.K. Singhal on Monday, seeking clarifications on the above issues.

Mr Singhal, then clarified that he received the letter late in the evening and he would submit details later. Not satisfied with the answer, TDP leaders rushed to the podium.