Chandrababu Naidu inspects Secretariat blocks allotted to AP

Hyderabad, July 4: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today toured and inspected the blocks allotted to the state in the Secretariat here.

Chandrababu made an unscheduled visit to the Secretariat, after paying homage to freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju on Tank Bund, to get a first hand feel of affairs in the administrative headquarters. He first went to the J block and inspected the chambers of ministers and senior bureaucrats. He also went into the sections and spoke to the staff about the facilities.

"Even a revenue divisional officer-rank official is forced to adjust with a single table and four staffers. This is the sorry state of affairs," the Chief Minister remarked after taking a round of one of the sections in the J block. Some senior bureaucrats were not even allotted chambers in the Secretariat so far, after the bifurcation of the state.

Chandrababu then went to the L block, where the Chief Minister's Office is being readied at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Work on refurbishment of the eighth floor, where the CM's chamber will be located, was going on a tardy pace and the place was filled with filth. Sources said the fourth class staff refused to sweep the premises or dust the area even after they were informed of the Chief Minister's visit.

"All the lower level staff belong to Telangana and are currently working here on a temporary basis. They seldom follow our instructions," a senior official later pointed out. Consequent to the state's bifurcation, the J, K, L and south and north H blocks in the Secretariat have been allotted to Andhra Pradesh.

The K block, older among all the other blocks, is filled with other offices like Telangana employees association, post office, bank, etc. While ministers have been allotted chambers in J, L and south H blocks, many of the Secretary-rank IAS officers are yet to get chambers in any of the blocks.

"Its more than 30 days since the state has been divided but even officers do not have proper accommodation. My office is not yet ready and it may take two or three months," Chandrababu said.

PTI