Officials in Belagavi raising money from different depts for hosting winter session: RTI activist

CHIKKODI: With the winter session of the state legislature going on in Belagavi, officials have allegedly been fleecing traders and others to raise money for hosting the elected representatives, ministers and senior officers from Bengaluru.

Social worker and RTI activist Bhimappa Gundappa Gadad, who has written to Assembly Speaker U T Khader and Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, released a Google Meet audio/video in Belagavi of a deputy director of the Animal Husbandry Department asking officials to remit money towards expenses for the ongoing session and can be seen checking with his subordinates Chikkodi, Nipani, Gokak, Mudalgi and Hukkeri about the collections.

Bhimappa Gadad claimed that the Animal Husbandry Department had raised Rs 15 lakh in the district while the Excise, Urban Development, Revenue Department and taluk panchayats have also been directed to raise money.

He said each liquor store in the district was asked to pay up Rs 13,000 as a result of which retail prices were jacked up by Rs 30 for a 180 ml bottle of alcohol. He also said that town panchayats were directed to raises Rs 50,000 each, town municipal councils Rs 75,000 each and city municipal councils, Rs 1 lakh each. In the new taluks, each government office was asked to collect Rs 25,000 while in old taluks, they were directed to raise Rs 50,000. Each taluk panchayat was asked to raise Rs 50,000, veterinary doctors Rs 4,000 each, examiners Rs 2,500 each and medical assistants Rs 1,500 each, Gadag alleged.

“I have lodged a complaint with the chief secretary. The district administration should not make arrangements for boarding and lodging for those attending the legislature session and they should also not be given any allowances from the government”, he said.