The Hindu 19.04.2013
Ahead of polls, BBMP freezes 1,970 schemes and pre-empts scam
Of the 2,756 schemes sanctioned, only 786 have been taken up so far.
It is common practice for the ruling party to take up
‘development works’ ahead of elections to influence voters. Attempting
to put an end to this, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has
frozen 1,970 schemes worth Rs. 522.95 crore.
According
to sources in the BBMP, these works were sanctioned sometime in
January/February this year under special grants of Mayor, Deputy Mayor,
city MLAs and chairpersons of different standing committees. Of the
2,756 schemes worth Rs. 762.51 crore that were sanctioned, only 786
worth Rs. 239.56 crore have been taken up so far. This means that 1,970
schemes have not been taken up yet.
The sources said
that these 1,970 schemes are in various stages of the tendering process.
With the election code of conduct already in force, the BBMP has put
all new schemes on hold and has not floated any tenders. To prevent
these schemes being taken up, BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah, who is also
the District Election Officer, directed the Technical Vigilance Cell
under Commissioner (TVCC) to ascertain how many have been taken up so
far.
Citizens’ feedback
On
investigation, the TVCC officials found that only 28.5 per cent of works
had been taken up in the eight zones in the city. The sources conceded
that some of the projects were “unnecessary”. “We received feedback from
citizens who maintained that good roads were being asphalted and drains
were being reconstructed. By freezing these projects, the BBMP has
averted a scam and wastage of taxpayers’ money,” the source added.
The
former Mayor M. Ramachandrappa said that the BBMP had not taken up any
“real infrastructure development works”, only asphalting and drainage
works.
“What is the necessity of this? Why should
these works be taken up just ahead of the elections? The BBMP should
prevent misuse of funds by not taking up such works for at least a year.
The funds could be used instead to clear pending bills and the huge
loans.”
He pointed out that this was exactly what P.
Dinanath Shenoy did when he was the corporation Commissioner in 1993-94.
“The outstanding loan of Rs. 20 crore and four months’ pending bills
were cleared by the Commissioner, who refused to permit any new works to
be taken up in the city.”
Political mileage
Opposition
Leader M.K. Gunashekar alleged that the ruling party had got these
works sanctioned only to gain political mileage. “Why was there a delay
in taking up the schemes that were sanctioned a few months ago? What is
the nature of these schemes,” he asked.
Mr. Siddaiah told
The Hindu
the schemes that have been frozen would be subjected to a pre-audit.
“The pre-audit will ascertain if the work is essential. With this, the
quantum of schemes required will come down,” he said.
