Bengaluru: At a time when the public is still trying to live with the fear of contracting coronavirus, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed FIR against top officers of five new BBMP zones in connection with a whopping Rs 702 crore scam.
The money was released to facilitate projects of drinking water facilities to water starved regions under BBMP jurisdiction. The fund released by the government was to be used for digging borewells and setting up water treatment plants.
The ACB lodged FIR against joint commissioners, chief engineers, executive engineers and contractors of five new BBMP zones namely RR Nagar, Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura, Yelahanka and Dasarahalli.
As many as 9,588 borewells, 979 water treatment plants were to come up in these areas in the years 2016-17, 17-18 & 18-19. The amount of Rs 702 crores was released for drinking water facilities.
The officers colluding with political bosses have billed Rs 16 lakh for setting up a water treatment plant whereas the actual cost was Rs 7.5 lakh.
It was alleged that as much as 80% of released funds were misused. BJP leader N R Ramesh had cried foul over the scam long time ago and sought CBI or CID inquiry into the scam. He had also filed complaints with ACB and Lokayukta in this regard.
