Tirupati MP tops in Andhra Pradesh by Utilisation of MPLADS Funds

Tirupati: YSRCP Member of Parliament (MP) of Tirupati V Varaprasada Rao stands on top among his counterparts from Andhra Pradesh in utilising the funds allocated under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds. He had spent Rs 22 crore since 2014.

Highlights:

• So far, Varaprasada Rao spent Rs 22 crore for developmental works
• He got sanctioned Rs 30 crore for modernisation of Cotton Mills in Tirupati
• MP toured more than 1,000 villages in the last three years and opened offices in all the seven segments in Chittoor district

The Tirupati MP is entitled to spend Rs 15 crore in three years as each MP gets Rs 5 crore per annum to take developmental works in their constituencies. Varaprasad is in his fourth year as MP took advance funds from MPLADS and spent on developmental works which placed him at No.1 position in the state.

The amount was allocated for various developmental works like providing drinking water supply, construction of bus shelters, drains and community halls and laying cement concrete roads. In an exclusive interview to The Hans India here on Monday, the MP also said that he wants to revive the sick Cotton Mills here which is a unit of National Textile Corporation and he took initiative for sanctioning of Rs 30 crore.

For years, the modernisation of the mills was pending as itsuffered heavy losses and on the verge of closure. The MP met Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and told her about the need to revive the unit.

In the same breath, he took initiative in submitting a representation to the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for protecting the interests of sugar cane farmers and employees of the Gajulamandyam Sugar Factory. The MP stressed on the need for protecting the lands belonging to Cotton Mills as they have huge real estate value.

RUB issue

The pending Railway Under Bridge (RUB) at Rayalacheruvu Road in pilgrim city is under active consideration of the Railway authorities along with the pedestrian under bridge at Venkateswara Theatre, Varaprasad disclosed. A team of experts recently visited the two locations and submitted their report to the authorities and a decision is awaited.

At Rayalacheruvu Road, either Road Over Bridge or RUB may become a problem as it is the processional route of Govindaraja Swamy temple.In view of this, the design may need to be modified to take care of the processions which may cost another Rs 20 to 25 crore, he said.

To get the first-hand information about the problems being faced by the people in his constituency which covers seven Assembly segments in Chittoor district four in Nellore district, the MP has toured more than 1,000 villages during the last three years and he opened his offices in all the seven segments in Chittoor district.

He also took initiative to get financial assistance from PM Relief Fund to 50 persons, who were in dire need of it. He also took active role in getting Rs 42 lakh funds from PM Relief Fund and distributed Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of deceased in Munagalapalem and Rs 50 lakh to the injured during the Yerpedu mishap.

He also contributed Rs 2 lakh out of his own funds for the cause. Varaprasad has proudly said he is having 90 percent attendance in the Parliament and attended all the committee meetings in which he was the member.

He also spoke 80 times so far in the Parliament. With his initiative only, the Canara bank has donated the ambulance to the Ruia Hospital under its corporate social responsibility. On every Monday, he is organising a grievance cell in his office and dealing the grievances in a systematic way by maintaining all the records.

BY V Pradeep Kumar