Sparks fly at meeting over finance secretary's notes

Mr Tucker told the chief secretary that they have sent a file to the finance department for sanction of Rs one crore for the skill training programme. Mr Tucker said after two months, principal secretary P.V. Ramesh returned the file with a two page note with several questions like as to who the training skill was meant for, what are the benefits of the training and various other

questions.

A furious Tucker asked, “Who is he to ask all these questions?.. What right has he got to ask us? Finance department is only an advisory body,” he said. Finance department principal secretary P.V. Ramesh did not attend the meeting as he is in Kolkata.

Mr Tucker said that the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu wants the state to achieve double digit growth, but the finance department does not release any funds. He said, “With limited available funds we are trying to achieve double digit growth. If the finance department does not release funds, for how many days could we get on like this?” When Tucker spoke harshly about Mr Ramesh, chief secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao remained silent.

Last month, when Chief Minister chaired secretaries’ conference at the Secretariat, similar situation arose then too, but the Chief Minister had defended Mr Ramesh in that meeting. A few days ago Medical and Health department principal secretary Poon-am Malakondaiah also reprimanded Ramesh in the presence of finance minister Yanamala Rama Krishnudu for not releasing Rs 192 crore for the National Health Mission project.

Meanwhile Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao told the secretaries that Central team will visit flood and drought hit areas soon and a preliminary meeting would be held on December 11 at Vijayawada with secretaries concerned.

He said that the next phase of Janmabhoomi will commence on January 1, 2016. He said that on priority, all departments must prepare notes on assurances made by the Chief Minister in the State Assembly while declaring the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.

In view of the ensuing Assembly session, Chief Secretary reviewed with the secretaries the readiness of questions raised by the members in the previous session and to prepare for the issues that would arise during the ensuing Assembly session.