The Deccan Chronicle 07.10.2010
Rs 3,500 cr project scam in BBMPOct. 6: While infrastructure projects have been on a fast track of late in the city, BBMP has come across a mother of all scams in their execution. Auditing has revealed that non-existent infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,500 crore have been approved over the last two years in the city.
The audit done by the state government after concerns were raised in BBMP about the arrears in payments to contractors and other related issues, has revealed that non-existent projects worth Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 2,000 crore were approved respectively during 2008-09 and Rs 2009-10 across all eight BBMP zones, according to sources.
The racket reportedly began when the BJP government came to power in the state and continued in the absence of elected councillors. When projects not covered by the Budget are to be carried out, they must be approved by the council and in its absence.
