Jagananna Colonies: Rs. 420 Crore Scam Exposed
A scam exceeding Rs. 420 crore has been reported regarding the land leveling works in Jagananna colonies during the previous YSRCP government.
A scam exceeding Rs. 420 crore has been reported regarding the land leveling works in Jagananna colonies during the previous YSRCP government. The previous administration authorized payments worth Rs. 200 crore for a minimal amount of actual work completed. The sector is preparing to disburse an additional Rs. 220 crore for work that either wasn't done or was executed in lesser quantities than reported. Alarmingly, even state-level officials, who were responsible for assessing the situation on the ground, appear to be favoring these payments. There are calls for the Vigilance and Enforcement Department to conduct an investigation, which could reveal irregularities linked to YSRCP leaders and complicit officials.
Allegations suggest that YSRCP leaders engaged in substantial misconduct during their earlier term by misappropriating funds for land leveling in Jagananna colonies. Specifically, they obtained over Rs. 780 crore by improperly leveling lands using funds intended for an employment scheme. The Union Ministry of Rural Development took this matter seriously, prompting the Jagan government to resolve to cover the remaining bills with state funds just before the elections. Orders were issued at that time for payments to be made through the State Housing Corporation. Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders involved in the land leveling projects exerted pressure on field employment staff to alter measurements in the M-books, falsely indicating that less work had been done in certain areas or that no work had been performed at all. Following the second formation of the YSRCP government, there was a push to expedite the payment of these bills.
Despite the YSRCP leaders facing setbacks after the coalition government's formation, some government officials in key positions from the previous administration continue to support them. Nearly all arrangements for bill payments have been finalized, with permissions granted from the relevant higher officials. Upon the YSRCP government assuming power, it dismissed the bills submitted by TDP sarpanches and leaders who completed employment work in 2018-19 and called for an inquiry into those works. Many individuals who struggled for five years to have their bills paid have now faced additional hardships. TDP leaders express discontent over the recent arrangements made by officials to expedite payments under the coalition government for works poorly executed during the previous YSRCP tenure. They are demanding government intervention regarding the swift payment approvals, citing High Court orders as the rationale.