Complaint lodged against CM, George for corruption in Indira Canteen project
- BJP alleges gross misappropriation of Rs 65 cr in Indira Canteen, lodges complaints with Lokayukta, ACB
- Criminal cases lodged in ACMM court against CM, Urban Development Minister and senior officials
- KPCC president Parameshwara says there is no need to respond to irresponsible allegations
FollowAlleging misappropriation in Indira Canteen, a State government initiative to provide food at subsidised rates, BJP City Spokesperson NR Ramesh has lodged a complaint with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Lokayukta and a criminal case with ACMM court against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Urban Development Minister KJ George.
Speaking to mediapersons, Ramesh said the project has been formulated to loot the State treasury and directly blamed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Urban Development Minister George for this. He also accused BBMP Special Commissioner Manoj Rajan and Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development, Mahendra Jain for misappropriation of funds. He has lodged a complaint against them as well, reports Kannada Prabha.
The state government has sanctioned Rs 100 crore to build Indira Canteen in all 198 wards of the BBMP. Already, 28 kitchens are being constructed. For each kitchen, Rs 60 lakh and for construction of each canteen Rs 28.50 lakhs are being spent, reports Kannada Prabha. Ramesh wondered if the government was using granite for construction by spending such a huge cost. For, to construct an entire marble kitchen it would cost note more than Rs 2 lakh per square mts but the canteens are being constructed using precast cement slabs at an estimated cost of Rs 2.90 lakhs. When it is possible to construct a good quality building at Rs 1.30 lakh per sq metre, using precast cement construction - that is draining the treasure - is a clear proof of the loot, he explained.
There are various companies engaged in precast cement block construction. Yet, the government has given the contract to KRF Infrastructure India Pvt Ltd of Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. The transparency norms as per the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act have been totally violated. This project is exempted from the tax deferring Rs 12 crore tax, causing loss to the State exchequer, Ramesh alleged.
When mediapersons questioned about it to the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah said there was no need to respond to the allegations about misappropriation in Indira Canteen. "This shows that the BJP is such a liar that you cannot find anywhere in the world."
KPCC president Dr G Parameshwara said "If they have specific documents, let them complain. There is no need to respond to irresponsible statements."
