Demolition of Rs. 8-crore hall built by Chandrababu Naidu underway

Amaravati: A Rs 8 crore building used by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu is being demolished in accordance with orders issued by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying it was built in “violation” of rules and “involved corruption”.

A JCB machine, six trucks and 30 labourers were pressed into action for razing the building, ‘Praja Vedika convention hall’ late Tuesday night. Built by the Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) in 2017, the cost of constructing the Praja Vedika convention hall had exceeded the initial estimate by Rs 3 crore. It is learnt that the TDP chief’s residence is likely to be demolished next.

Meanwhile, Naidu, who returned yesterday after a Europe trip, said it was foolish to destroy government property. He even wondered if the Chief Minister was planning to raze the statues of his father, former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy as many such statues stand on unauthorized land.”

The TDP chief had earlier written to the new Chief Minister to allow him to retain the hall so he could work from there as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.

The demolition took place after the Andhra High Court turned down a late night plea and adjourned the hearing by two weeks. The petition had alleged the demolition was a waste of public money.

The TDP has called the demolition “vendetta politics”.