VIJAYAWADA: YSRC spokesperson K. Parthasarathi demanded an inquiry into the irregularities in the Polvaram contract issue. He said that Chandrababu Naidu has been treating the multipurpose project as a cash cow. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday Mr Parthasarathi said though the Centre has categorically ruled out the change of contractor as it would escalate the cost, Mr Naidu has been persistent. He was treating the project as a cash cow and wants to milk it in the form of kickbacks burdening the exchequer.

Mr Parthasarathi pointing to the Union minister Nitin Gakdkari’s remarks said Mr Naidu went to Nagpur by a special flight to mount pressure on him to accept the change of contractor.

When the Centre convened a meeting of officials connected with the project, and decided against changing the contractor as the cost would escalate, he did not leave it there but is going ahead to change the contractor even if the state has to pay the difference of amount which works out to over Rs 2,000 crore, he said.

Mr Parthasarathi observed that the original estimate of the project which was Rs 16,000 crore has now reached Rs 58,000 crore and the way things are going it would go further up and there is no indication that the deadline would ever be met.

“We demand that the state should tell in clear terms the exact cost of the Polavaram project, how much the Centre would be giving and how much should the state mobilise and how. Before that the state should also say why it has taken over the project from the Centre,” he said and demanded an inquiry into the irregularities by a Central agency.