Naidu rues poor working conditions at AP secretariat

'It would take 3 more months to renovate CM's office'

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who visited the state secretariat, had a first-hand knowledge of the poor working conditions in the building, which his establishment shares with Telangana.

The Andhra Pradesh employees put forth a strong demand for shifting of the secretariat to the new capital. The government is, by law, allowed to work from the common capital for 10 years, giving it enough time to build its capital. However, the barricading of the secretariat has disturbed the AP employees who felt alienated in the building where they have been working for decades.

During the visit, Naidu was appalled by the conditions prevailing in the blocks allocated for him and his ministers. In the L Block, an old building where Naidu has been given office space, the 8th floor where the chief minister’s office was being renovated looked like a dump-yard with papers, files and office materials thrown all over the place.

When Naidu enquired, he was told by the officers that it would take at least three more months to renovate his office. An amount of Rs 3 crore has been approved for the work and the office was not ready even as Naidu took oath on June 8.

The employees in J block complained to Naidu that even canteen and post office were counted as office space. “We don’t have furniture, many IAS officers have no chambers to sit and work,” they told Naidu whose two principal secretaries and a secretary are still looking for chambers.

“The Lakeview guest house, from where I work now, doesn’t even have a proper guest room where I can meet dignitaries and offer them a cup of coffee. It is really unfortunate that Andhra Pradesh was divided a month ago and we have no proper place to work.

Senior revenue officials are managing with a table and two chairs, many rooms do not have internet connection, this is the sorry state of affairs,” a disheartened Naidu told reporters.

Later, Seemandhra Employees Forum Chairman U Muralikrishna said that AP employees were working in inhuman conditions. “Hundreds are packed in small rooms with poor ventilation and lighting,” he said.