Karnataka cabinet takes ‘serious note’ of contractors’ allegations, SIT to probe: HK Patil

BENGALURU: Law and Tourism Minister H K Patil, addressing the media on Friday, said that the state cabinet has taken serious note of the allegations made by the Karnataka Contractors’ Association regarding several public works projects. The allegations were detailed in a commission report submitted to the government and reviewed by the cabinet.

Patil said, “Twenty one decisions have been made and resolutions passed. The Karnataka Contractors’ Association had made allegations and a commission has submitted a report to the government. The report was discussed in the cabinet. Out of three lakh works, 1,729 works have had several allegations made against them. The cabinet has taken serious note of this”.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister HK Patil says, “Government of Karnataka has taken up caste census on the basis of social, educational and backwardness angle. They have submitted their report. Mr Hegde has submitted his report and today that report was placed before the… pic.twitter.com/vxEhZQN15c

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He went on to highlight irregularities in some projects: “In some cases, lesser grants were released, but more work was done. In some places, more grants were released, but less work was done”. The minister added that the cabinet has recommended the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these allegations and suggested that action should be taken within the next two months.

Patil further explained that Justice (retd) Nagamohan Das had been tasked with investigating the contractors’ complaints in detail. “Today, the report of Nagamohan Das, who went into the details of the complaints lodged by contractors, has been submitted. He found several serious lapses. We have decided to constitute an SIT to investigate further and find the truth”, Patil said.

Ahead of this, responding to allegations of the Karnataka State Contractors Association following growing interference by middlemen in government departments, BJP leader and LoP R Ashoka said that it is 200 per cent correct and there is no doubt at all.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashoka says, “…In Vidhana Soudha, the chambers of all the ministers are the collection centres, not the work centre, development centre. They collect the money and send it to the high command…There is no development in Karnataka.… https://t.co/iBvV1Vt8Fq pic.twitter.com/xy0DEDdPF8

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Aiming at the Karnataka government, the BJP leader further alleged that the chambers of ministers have become “collection centres ” as they no longer remain work or development centres. “It’s 200 per cent correct. There is no doubt at all. In Vidhana Soudha, the chambers of all the ministers are the collection centres, not the work centre or development centre,” R Ashoka told reporters.

Sharpening his attack, the LoP alleged that ministers “collected money” and sent it to the high command to retain their posts. He said, “They collect the money and send it to the high command because that their post must be retained. Ministers were retained, the deputy CM was retained, and the congress president was retained. There is no development in Karnataka. They are looting the government’s money. Congress leaders are also saying this…”

On Thursday, Karnataka State Contractors Association president R Manjunath wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleging that the state government does not make payments to contractors based on seniority. In the letter, he mentioned that middlemen’s interference between contractors and government departments has increased significantly. He stated that the government is supposed to release payments based on seniority as per the transparency law, but it is not doing so.

“There are a total of 1.5 lakh contractors in the state, out of which 60 per cent are small and medium-level contractors. These contractors are not receiving payments. Only influential contractors are being paid, and Manjunath questions, “How are the rest supposed to survive?,” the letter reads. (ANI)