BBMP clears bills for works not taken up

BBMP clears bills for works not taken up

Staff Reporter
Bills for Rs. 44 lakh cleared for works which have not been executed

Mayor recommends suspension of two engineers


Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has cleared bills for Rs. 44 lakh for works which have not been executed by contractors. This was brought to light by P. Dhanraj, Dharmarayaswamy Temple ward councillor.

After Mr. Dhanraj complained about this to Mayor S.K. Nataraj and Commissioner Bharatlal Meena, the Mayor went to the spot for an inspection.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Dhanraj said that he had taken a list of the works executed and sanctioned in the last year from the Assistant Executive Engineer concerned. “The construction of stores on the first floor at Dasappa Hospital was estimated to be around Rs. 20 lakh. Spill over of about 20 per cent of the estimate was added to the bills. Though the contractor, G. Manjunath, has not even completed half the construction, the officials have cleared a payment of Rs. 25.52 lakh,” he alleged.

What is even shocking is that two works sanctioned to contractor R. Shekhar have not been taken up and the bills had been cleared for payment by the AEE and Assistant Engineer Mohan and Executive Engineer Kanakadas. Both the engineers were on deputation from the Public Works Department.

Mr. Dhanraj said that formation and improvement of drains was estimated at Rs. 21.99 lakh, while the pro-concrete inside Dasappa Hospital and improvement of compound wall in the ward office was also estimated at Rs. 21.99 lakh.

“The contractor has not executed either of the works, but has submitted the bills to the BBMP. This is nothing but day-light robbery. I urged the Mayor to bring the officials to book, while initiating stringent action against both the contractors.”

The Mayor, after inspecting works, reportedly directed the Commissioner to recommend the suspension of Mr. Mohan and Mr. Kanakadas, while sending them back to their parent department.

Mr. Nataraj was accompanied by ruling party leader B.S. Sathyanarayana and BBMP Engineer-in-chief Gopalaswamy.