BJP demands judicial probe into 'Sripadasagar Scam'

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) The BJP today demanded a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the alleged Rs 400 crore fraud in award of contract for the Rs 1757.18 crore Sripadasagar Project.

Participating in an inconclusive debate on the project, which had rocked the Assembly since March two, BJP Floor Leader G Kishan Reddy demanded cancellation of all tenders and an independent accountal of cost of projects under the irrigation initative by a third party.

Pointing out that the Government was only a custodian of public money, he wanted production of all papers relating to Sripadasagar project before the Speaker and cited the example of the previous TDP Government, which had put all documents relating to power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), conceding the opposition demand. The Speaker should ask the Government to place the files before him, he demanded.

Disputing the Government's contention that the oppositon had not raised the issue when the public debate was held, he said his party had demanded a CBI probe then.

Objecting to the Government's suggestion that the Opposition parties could very well invoke the Right to Information act, he maintained that the Government was answerable to this august house.

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