Civil works shrinks Vasanthapura temple pond from 1 acre 33 gunte to half of its size Encroachment to construct illegal 40 feet road to facilitate builder Muzrai Department officials are hand in glove with temple authorities
In the pretext of development, major illegal activities are being carried out at the Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple pond at Vasanthapura, to facilitate a builder to construct a 40 feet approach road to his property.
The Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple was constructed by the Cholas. A pond, Vasantha Teertha Kalyani, was constructed next to the temple by Shivaji Maharaja’s father Shahaji Bhonsle, during the Marathi occupation of Bengaluru.
Way back in 2013 a builder, Naidu Projects, had approached the temple authorities to construct an approach road to his property, through the Vasantha Teertha Kalyani. The Kalyani was 1 Acre 33 Gunta in size. The Muzrai Department officials first planned a developmental plan of the Kalyani, that reduced it to its half. This was taken up to facilitate the developer to construct a 40 feet approach road to his property.
Strong protest erupted from public and the Muzrai Department Commissioner was forced to cancel the 40 feet road plan through the Kalyani, in 2013 itself.
Involving Infosys
Now, the Muzrai Department approached Infosys Foundation in the pretext of Kalyani development and acquired Rs 2 crore from the foundation. The plan, when implemented, still shrinks the Kalyani to its half in size.
Again in 2011-12, another attempt was made to renew the loot. BBMP officials had come forward to improve the Kalyani at a cost of Rs 50 lakhs. However, in this also discrepancies were found by the Commissioner’s TVCC team. The officials who had prepared an estimate had installed an arch to the temple, MS grills on both left and right sides of the temple, which was in total violation of the Mujrai Act, and hence illegal. The local MLA took the initiative to illegally transfer the sanctioned grant to KRIDL without any rhyme or reason. It is compulsory that any change in plan requires updating the estimate too and job code given accordingly. There are absolutely no records maintained with regard to civil works, technical documents or even in the civil works register. The TVCC report very clearly states that all norms have been thrown to wind.
Unnecessary civil works
It is also found that, in violation of Mujrai Act, RSS walls and concrete roads are constructed at the temple premises and a bill for Rs 40.35 lakhs has been claimed in 2012. Again in 2012 August another bill has been claimed for Rs 13.15 lakhs. The TVCC report has made allegations that both the civil works are illegal and in violation of PWD rules.
Pumping water to siphon funds!
The TVCC report also states that in 2011-12, the temple authorities claimed funds with the pretext of pumping out for dewatering. However, no such works were taken up, no photographic evidence. The water in the Kalyani had dried out on its own for summer.
