Karnataka Cabinet Acts on Contractors’ Complaints, Forms SIT to Probe Allegations
BENGALURU: The Karnataka cabinet has taken a serious stance on the allegations raised by the Karnataka Contractors’ Association regarding various public works projects. Law and Tourism Minister H K Patil addressed the media on Friday, emphasizing the importance of addressing these concerns. A commission report detailing the allegations was submitted to the government and thoroughly reviewed by the cabinet.
Patil stated, “Twenty-one decisions have been made and resolutions passed in response to the allegations made by the Karnataka Contractors’ Association. Out of three lakh works, 1,729 projects have been accused of various irregularities. The cabinet is deeply concerned about these issues.”
He pointed out discrepancies in the allocation of grants for certain projects, noting that in some cases, more work was done than the grants released, while in others, less work was completed despite more grants being provided. To address these concerns, the cabinet has recommended the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough probe within the next two months.
Patil also revealed that Justice (retd) Nagamohan Das had been assigned to investigate the contractors’ complaints in detail. “Today, the report submitted by Nagamohan Das, which delves into the specifics of the contractors’ grievances, highlighted several serious lapses. As a result, we have decided to establish an SIT to further investigate and uncover the truth,” Patil explained.
In response to allegations of increased interference by middlemen in government departments, BJP leader and LoP R Ashoka acknowledged the validity of these claims, stating that there is no doubt about the situation.
Accusing the Karnataka government, the BJP leader claimed that ministerial offices have turned into “collection centers” rather than places of work or development. R Ashoka, addressing reporters, emphasized that this situation is unequivocally true. He pointed out that in Vidhana Soudha, the offices of ministers are primarily focused on collecting money rather than fostering progress.
Expanding on his criticism, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) alleged that ministers are amassing funds to secure their positions by sending money to the high command. He stated, “Ministers are gathering money to ensure their positions are maintained. The lack of development in Karnataka is evident as government funds are being misused. Even Congress leaders acknowledge this fact.”
In a separate incident, R Manjunath, the President of the Karnataka State Contractors Association, penned a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing the government of failing to pay contractors based on seniority. He highlighted the increasing involvement of middlemen in transactions between contractors and government departments. According to Manjunath, the government is obligated to release payments based on seniority as per transparency laws, but this is not happening.
The letter outlined the plight of 1.5 lakh contractors in the state, with 60% being small to medium-level contractors who are not receiving payments. Only influential contractors are receiving payments, leaving the rest struggling to survive. Manjunath questioned the government’s fairness in this matter, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
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