Panel to probe how Rs 3,000 crore went down the drain in City

Misappropriation of funds in development of Raja Kaluve or stormwater drains, and other irregularities in the BBMP will be probed into by a special committee consisting High Court Justice and two chief engineers, said Urban Development Minister KJ George, reports Kannada Prabha.

A committee has been formulated, headed by a judge, to inquire into the fake bills, illegal transactions regarding stormwater drains and other irregularities. There is no time limit fixed for the inquiry. But the committee will submit the inquiry report at the earliest, the Minister said.

From 2006 to 2013 Rs 664 crore was spent within the BBMP jurisdiction. Later, between 2013 and 2015 another Rs 280 crore was spent on the stormwater drains. From 2015 to 2017 Rs a whopping 711 crore was released. Yet the problems of SWD continue to persist. Is misappropriation the reason? The answer will be found after the committee submits its report, he said.

When mediapersons asked George, why Bengaluru continues to flood even after Rs 3,000 crore was released since 2006 for the stormwater drains, the minister said that the previous government had not released the funds. This had delayed the work. However, with the Congress government releasing funds, the problems would be solved, he added. A white paper will be released soon after discussions with the officials, which will detail the roles played by the previous government and present government, he said.  

The minister further said that around seven waste recycle plants are being set up to convert waste into manure to tackle growing garbage menace. 

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• bbmp
• kj george
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• karnataka news