It has been 45 days since the new government of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was formed in Andhra Pradesh but there has been no change in the functioning of the officials at the lower-level.
Naidu, who had been the chief minister for nearly 15 years in the past, is learnt to be facing a peculiar situation in his present term.
Though he had reshuffled the bureaucrats at the higher levels, he has noticed that there is absolute lack of cooperation from the lower-rung officials in various departments.
Whenever the government sought information on any issue – whether it is power sector, or mining department or excise department or even the police department, the lower officials are said to be taking their own sweet time in providing the same.
Even if they give some information, it is half-baked, making it difficult for the ministers and higher officials to take any action.
“This is happening even in the case of the chief minister, who could not get adequate information on various issues to prepare the white papers and present them before the people,” sources said.
Even in the ongoing assembly session, the ministers are not able to give proper answers to several questions due to lack of cooperation from the officials. As a result, they are not able to give proper replies in the House.
For example, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan asked for certain information about diversion of panchayat raj funds in the last five years, but the officials haven’t provided proper inputs. He expressed anger at the officials.
So was the case with social welfare minister Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy who could not get proper information about misuse of funds related to SC sub-plan. He was shocked at the lack of cooperation from the officials.
Apparently, many of the officials who held key positions during the previous government are holding up the information because they are apprehensive that their loopholes would get exposed.
Since the IAS officers heading the departments are new, they are also taking their own time to understand the situation.
“It will take a few more months for the government to bring the administration under its control,” sources said.
