Bengaluru: Determined to do something positive to root out the rampant corruption, financial irregularities and shoddy infrastructure projects that are all part and parcel of the BBMP, Yediyur corporator N.R. Ramesh has found what he thinks could be the solution.

According to Ramesh, about 28 per cent of project costs are being squandered at various levels, in the process forcing the contractors to do shoddy work. Both public representatives and BBMP officials, he said, are to be blamed for squandering tax payers’ money.

“Corrupt practices can be eradicated by resorting to online payment of money to contractors for the works executed. Currently, every contractor has to cough up 25 per cent of the cost of the project at various levels in the BBMP,” he revealed.

He stressed that when the system of release of funds is taken online for contractors, certain guidelines must be laid down. After completion of the project, emailing of photographs of the project must be made mandatory.

Completion of the work, he said, must also be endorsed by the assistant executive and executive engineers of that area. The commissioner must route those mails to the concerned zonal joint commissioners and chief engineers to ensure that the project is adhered to as per the contract and regular third party inspections should be conducted at various levels.

The joint commissioner and chief engineer must send a joint inspection copy to the BBMP commissioner for further approval, he said.

If the contractor is not made to cough up money at various levels in the BBMP, he pointed out, the quality of the project can be ensured. It prevents contractors running from pillar to post to get the money released, added Ramesh.

After the joint inspection report by the zonal commissioner and chief engineers concerned, the files must be signed by officials at various levels such as engineers, joint commissioner, assistant controller of finance, deputy controller of finance, chief accounts officer and cheque section within 48 to 52 hours. If this practice is implemented, the BBMP can easily save at least 25 per cent of the project cost and quality can be ensured.

These stringent measures can be implemented for all the projects except construction of buildings and remodeling of storm water drains, said Ramesh.

It’s scams galore in the Palike!

Corruption and scams have become synonymous with the BBMP. Not long ago when the agency was under an administrator the ‘midnight tenders scam’ rocked the state as officials tried to approve tenders worth Rs 1,000 crore after office hours in violation of the rules.

Former mayors, P.R. Ramesh and Ramachandrappa alerted the media to the after dark activity. And following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ramesh, the high court cancelled the tenders and directed the BBMP to float them afresh.

Last year, the Technical Vigilance Committee under the Commissioner (TVCC) unearthed a Rs 1,539 crore scam in three sub-divisions of Malleswaram, Rajarajesh­wari­nagar and Gandhinagar.

It found that contractors had connived with legislators and claimed bills for work not done during the administrator’s period.

The TVCC  recommended a Loka­yukta probe into the matter. This was not the end, however, as yet another scam was exposed by the BBMP’s  standing committee on administration and reforms. While raiding the education wing, it came across  irregularities in the distribution of uniforms and shoes to students in BBMP schools, and in the management of staff and school furniture.

Vageesh, who headed the committee at the time, feared that over Rs 480 crore may have been misappropriated. “There is no official record of the funds allotted by the government since 2006. Neither the education officer, the case officer nor the Inspector can tell you why,” he said. Also, from 2006, an organisation called Crystal had been been given the  contract with all rules and regulations thrown to the wind, the committee said.

The TVCC meanwhile  detected that 30,000 sq ft, more had been estimated under Transferable Development Rights (TDR) by officials from Mahadevapura and Yelahanka zones to favour builders and other vested interests. The value of the buildings was inflated and in some cases roads and government properties too considered to help builders, the report said.