Questioned about bad roads, UP PWD minister loses cool

VARANASI: Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Shivpal Yadav on Sunday lost his cool at reporters after facing questions over pitiable condition of roads in the eastern part of the state especially Varanasi.

When asked about commuters' sufferings due to bad roads in Varanasi, he retorted, "Theka lelo sadak banane ka (take a contract for laying of roads)." Yadav was here to review works of his department. After coming out of the meeting, he initially ducked questions from reporters but later agreed to reply to questions. Yadav said the state government had already released a huge amount for road construction, though he refused to divulge details.

When asked about Narendra Modi's statement on development in the state, the minister said that in comparison to Gujarat, UP was a big state and developmental works were being undertaken at a large-scale. He was annoyed over the road issue as local representatives had repeatedly raised the same issue in the review meeting. The minister ordered the departments concerned to launch efforts on a war-footing to improve the condition of roads.

When he was told that road digging for laying pipeline under sewage, drainage and other projects was undertaken by the UP Jal Nigam, he asked nigam authorities to hand over the money allotted to it for road repair works to PWD. He authorized the PWD to repair all the roads.