Take steps for CBI probe into alleged sand scam: AIADMK

Opposition AIADMK on Wednesday requested the Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi to take steps to institute a CBI probe into the alleged scandalous practice and corruption in disposing of river sand imported from Malaysia and kept in Karaikal port.

Addressing reporters here, the leaderof the legislature wing of the party A Anbalagan said the sand brought from Malaysia to meet the requirements of the Union Territory had been kept in Karaikal port for over 120 days.

He alleged certain influential sections in the government have been clearing the sand to those who paid kickbacks and the price of sand was also quoted at a rate higher than that in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

He said those taking up construction work in the Union Territory were facing a difficulty in getting the sand and the movement of the sand within Karaikal was also hit because of the alleged corrupt practice at various levels in Puducherry.

Anbalagan wanted the Lieutenant Governor to arrange for a CBI probe into the alleged questionable practices in disposing of the sand.

He said the Puducherry government was not maintaining cordial relations with the neighbouring state government. Consequently, several issues had been caused by the Puducherry Congress government that were affecting routine developmental work, he said.

Expressing concern over the alleged inordinate delay in convening the Assembly session and also in passing the full-fledged budget for the fiscal 2019-2020, he said the Congress government, headed by Narayanasamy, was left only with 10 days to adopt the budget.

The allocation of funds through Vote on Account in March for the five months from April this year would be sufficient upto this month-end.

"Any delay in adopting a full-fledged budget would give rise to non-availability of salaries to government staff," he said.

On the notice given by the opposition AINRC for a non-confidence motion against the assembly Speaker V P Sivakolundhu, he said although his party too felt that the Speaker was exposing himself through participation in Congress party-sponsored meetings, "we will focus this through our initiative after getting the approval of our party high command.