August 30, 2025

Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan set off a storm on Friday by accusing the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of wasting a whopping Rs 453 crore public money on a controversial palatial mansion at Rushikonda Hill, Vizag. This grand structure replaced tourism villas that once attracted visitors, but now stands as a "financial burden" on the state. Kalyan personally visited Rushikonda to check the quality, costs, and upkeep of the buildings. At a lively press conference, he said, "Rs 453 crore of public money was wasted on the Rushikonda buildings, which have become a financial burden on the state government." Did you know? The old resorts used to earn Rs 7 crore every year! But after these were torn down, the government is now forced to pay over Rs 1 crore annually just for electricity bills. Shocked? That’s the scale of mismanagement. Taking strong aim at the former YSRCP regime, Kalyan charged them with "constructing luxury structures" for Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence that broke environmental rules. He also revealed that the buildings have already "suffered damage due to poor maintenance." So, what’s next? Kalyan said plans are on their way to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to transform this costly eyesore into a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) hub or a dazzling spot for destination weddings. A smart move to recover some glory! The Deputy CM didn’t hold back on alleging the misuse of money. He said funds were secretly drained from the Transco, GVMC, and Horticulture and Tourism departments to pump nearly Rs 40 crore into interiors and dig up a massive 8.48 lakh cubic metres of soil. This excavation also caused serious environmental harm. The controversy isn’t going away soon. Cases are pending at the National Green Tribunal, High Court, and Supreme Court for judging the environmental violations and accountability. As of now, there is no reply from Jagan Mohan Reddy’s side on these fiery allegations. The battle over Rushikonda continues, making waves in Andhra’s political and environmental scene!

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Tags: Andhra pradesh, Pawan kalyan, Rushikonda project, Public money wastage, Environmental violations, Ysrcp government,