COVID pandemic warrior and Bollywood actor Sonu Sood’s promise to help improve roads in Vizianagaram agency area has turned into a nightmare for Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pamula Pushpa Sreevani. Responding to the plight of bad roads in the agency areas in the district, Sonu Sood promised to do his bit for its improvement.
Against all expectations in political circles, the Kurupam MLA has been taken into Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s cabinet as the Tribal Welfare Minister. People expected that along with Cheepurupalli MLA Botsa Satyanarayana, another senior leader and Saluru ST MLA Pidika Rajanna Dora might get the cabinet berth. However, Sreevani was given a ministerial berth and also sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the State.
While in opposition, the young MLA had on several occasions raised the issues related to the plight of tribal people living in the agency areas of the district and the State. People reposed a lot of faith in her after she became the Tribal Welfare Minister and hoped she will bring about significant changes in their lives.
However, their hopes are dashed as Sreevani mostly confines herself to Kurupam Assembly constituency and does not bother to even hold a review meeting with the officials even as the pandemic is claiming many lives in the district. The setting up of Tribal University is also running into rough weather. When in opposition, she highlighted the long pending issue of construction of a bridge over River Nagavali, at Purnapadu- Labesu villages. She had criticised the then TDP Government of gross negligence and spoke on behalf of people living in 30 villages who are affected whenever the river is in spate.
For reasons best known to her, the Deputy CM is not only silent on the issue of bridge construction but is also not bothered about the poor condition of roads in the agency areas which have become worse after rains.
