BBMP funds leaking fast, Palike chief assures action

Bengaluru: Is there any respite to corruption in the BBMP?
It appears that the BBMP has no respite from corruption. If an executive engineer S. V. Rajesh, could fabricate a work code to release Rs 4.76 crores to a contractor, it just shows the rampant corrupt practices in the BBMP.

In the last decade, the BBMP has lost about Rs 5,000 crores in scams. The BBMP's reconciliation of multiple accounts has unearthed Rs 164 crores from 800 accounts. This shows the lethargic attitude of the BBMP accounts department when it comes to keeping track of its finances.

DC, spoke to BBMP Commissioner, Mr. G. Kumar Naik, and he assured us that the reconciliation of accounts and the GPS- based tax collection system will plug revenue pilferage. Also, the reducing of accounts to a mere 26 will help the BBMP tide over the financial indiscipline.

Meanwhle, there are a number of unanswered questions:
Firstly, how could an executive engineer fabricate a job code and release a whopping Rs 4.75 crores? How will the money be recovered from him?
Prima facie it appeares that the Executive Engineer, Rajesh, along with the help of three others was involved in creating a fake job code to release money to the contractor at the cost of the tax payers’ money. The other three have returned to their parent organization and adequate measures have been initiated to punish them.

As far as the recovery of money is  concerned, The Department  Enquiry will provide an answer to the recovery of money. The inquiry will take its course, to find the engineer guilty of corruption.

Second, How did a cash strapped BBMP not unearth a whopping Rs 164 crores rotting and unaccounted for?
Frankly, unearthing such an amount during the reconciliation of bank accounts isn’t much considering the BBMP’s revenue.

However, this problem was due to the use of multiple accounts and a lack of adequate control over finances for a period of time. This system has created a lot of confusion, so the body has reduced the number of accounts to just 26 to bring about  transparency and accountability.

Third, the BBMP Assistant Commissioner, Mr. K. Mathai, revealed that the BBMP suffered huge revenue losses from advertisements. What measures have been taken to plug the leakage?
Mr. Mathai  is expected to work according to the demands of the situation, rather than preparing reports on   subordinates which will just intimidate or antagonize them.

The bureaucratic set up demands that he get all the work done by his subordinates and not point fingers at them.

If he is not asked to, how can he prepare a report? He needs to engage his subordinates into performing tasks.

Fourth, Has the BBMP taken any action against those involved in the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) Scam by issuing a TDR certificate beyond its jurisdiction?
Even though the TDR Scam occurred before I took over the affairs of the BBMP, it is a fact that I have to accept this since I am at the helm of the BBMP. There are also several complaints pending before the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF). We are waiting for the new TDR rules to be released. The new laws speak of specific punishments and even imprisonment.

 

Disqualify all 198 corporators for false declaration: Activist
An activist, S. Ananda is set to file a complaint with regional commissioner Jayanti seeking disqualification of all 198 corporator, including Mayor B. N. Manjunath Reddy and Deputy Mayor Hemalatha Gopalaiah, for alleged false declaration of assets and liabilities.

Ananda told Deccan Chronicle that as per section 19(1) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act, 1976; every councillor,  within a month after commencement of his term of office, should declare all assets owned by him and any member of this family before the Mayor. He said that he is formally handing over the complaint to the regional commissioner for further action.

All 198 corporators have filed their declarations same as those affidavits filed with the State Election Commission (SEC) while filing their nomination forms. It is unbelievable that even after lapse of two months there is no difference in terms of assets and cash on hand, bank balance. This clearly indicates that all 198 corporators have filed their declarations incorrectly with the Mayor as per section 19 of the KMC Act, 1976, he said.

“As per section 19(2) of the Act, if any corporator files the declaration knowing it to be incorrect, shall cease to be a corporator. Hence I request regional commissioner to restrain them from attending all the BBMP meetings and also to disqualify them as per section 19(3) of the Act,” Ananda said.

 

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