Money muddle: Many voices want `corrupt’ BMP dissolved

Money muddle: Many voices want `corrupt’ BMP dissolved
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Going by the magnitude of corruption and its contempt for the rule book, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is fast turning into Bangalore Mamool Palike. No wonder demands for its dissolution are being heard.

The BMP council had been asking for accountability to audit objections without realising that the elected body itself is to be blamed for it. The annual audit reports every year point towards lapses in financial management and over Rs 700 crore has not been accounted for in the last three decades.

The recent audit report is no exception. Bounced cheques continue to be ignored and disbursals continue not to be reconciled.

BMP additional commissioner Gaurav Gupta told this website’s newspaper that financial mismanagement is a valid reason for dissolution of the civic body but the decision is left to the government’s discretion.

While officials must take the blame for the lapse, the elected body has failed in its duty to initiate action against them.

The annual audit report is submitted to the BMP standing committee on accounts, which then has to direct the commissioner to take action against errant officers. But the standing committee has not taken such a step and members continue to raise questions on the issue in the house.

As the peoples’ representatives have not acted in the interest of the BMP, it could be dissolved, said BJP city spokesman S Prakash.

The report of the expert committee appointed by the High Court too has made serious observations about the way BMP conducts itself. The report pointed to the contractor-engineer nexus and said the quality of road works in the last four years was not commensurate with the spending.

The BJP demanded the resignation of primary and secondary education minister Ramalinga Reddy and also the dissolution of BMP.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum however takes the issue more politically than morally. “There are BJP councillors in the BMP. Let them resign before asking for a dissolution of the house,” she said.

On the High Court committee report, all Begum had to say was that she has not obtained a copy. In fact, copies of the report may be obtained easily from the court.

As nothing seems to wake up our city fathers, BMP could as well function under an administrator.