Dr Tulasi Reddy is a spokesperson of different caliber. Anybody known to him might have observed how meticulously he studies an issue before addressing a media conference. He gathers information from media. He collects statistics from government and argues like an advocate to drive his point home with the help references.
Dr Reddy belongs to the first generation TDP leaders. He was Rajya Sabha MP and ZP chairman for a term. Now, of course, he is vice president of AP Congress.
This time, to refute chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s housing claims, unmindful of the hot summer, Reddy rushed to Jakkampudi village in Krishna district today, where Naidu laid foundation for 10,000 unit 2BHK colony.
Standing near the foundation stone, he wondered if the ambitious project would also end up like botched up loan waiver scheme?
This is his argument and logic:
*According the CM to construct 6 lakh houses in two years, government has to spent Rs 16,300 crore.
*Naidu’s track record shows it will be an impossible task to be implemented in two years.
* In 2015-16 TDP government has allocated a measly sum of Rs 834 crore for Housing but could not spend even 834 piase.
* From the day one, June 8, 2014 when Naidu took oath of office as CM, till now, not a single house has been built by the state government. This is the progress report of the party which came to power stating it would transform AP into a hut-less state (see 33-page TDP 2014 manifesto).
* This is a record for Naidu. Because ever since the AP Housing Corporation was set up on July 5, 1979 every government had built some houses for poor every year. It is for the first time that a government had spent 22 months without constructing a single house.
* In 2016-17 the TDP government has allocated just Rs 1132 crore for housing. Even if Rs 2000 crore is allotted in 2017-18 the amount doesn’t exceed Rs 3,132 crore for the two years.
*The question posed by Tulasi standing near the foundation stone laid by Naidu is that how would Naidu mobilize Rs 16,300 crore. What are the sources of funding to complete the project in just two years.
Doesn’t it look like the farm loan wavier scheme, Tulasi Reddy asked.