Commission menace now more than previous govt in Karnataka: Contractors association
Bengaluru, Apr 10 (PTI): Alleging that the menace of commission was now more than the previous BJP government, the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) on Thursday claimed that "unseen hands and brokers" were active in the offices of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and two other senior Cabinet Ministers.
KSCA president R Manjunath said "brokers" were active in Shivakumar's office and he also alleged interference by one relative of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi in the affairs concerning his department.
He further claimed that Minor Irrigation Minister NS Boseraju's son (Ravi Boseraju) "makes all the deals".
While Shivakumar asked the contractors to lodge a complaint in writing, Boseraju and Jarkiholi have denied the allegations.
Interestingly, these comments have come a day after Chief Minister's Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddi's reported comments regarding the level of corruption in the state made news.
The '40 per cent commission' allegation by KSCA had rocked state politics and became a major poll plank for the Congress to wrest power from BJP in 2023 Assembly polls.
"For releasing money (by clearing bills) more percentage (commission) is being taken compared to the previous government," Manjunath told reporters in Chitradurga.
Stating that Jarkiholi is honest, but a "unseen hand" was working, he said in the last three-four months one of his relatives has entered.
"While in the DCM's office, one can't tell who is a broker and who is not, and they approach those who go there assuring that they will get the bills cleared. In Boseraju's case his son does all the dealings," he added.
Manjunath alleged that middlemen were active in various departments, as he also pointed out that contractors are struggling due to pending bills.
He specifically highlighted non responsiveness to their concerns by officials from four irrigation utilities - Visvesvaraya Jala Nigam, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam and Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam, which comes under Shivakumar's water resources department.
KSCA has written letters to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Boseraju and Jarkiholi, alleging that "unseen hands" have vitiated the system in the last 3-4 months.
Despite having decided that small contractors would be paid Rs 5-50 lakh, big contractors are being given special letters of credit (LOC).
The KSCA also asked Siddaramaiah to release Rs 15,000 crore, which is half of all the pending bills.
Reacting to KSCA allegations, Shivakumar asked them to give a complaint to Lokayukta or the government. "We will get the inquiry done. The government is committed to provide a lawful administration, we will not give any scope for bribery. If anyone is involved in such things let them (contractors) give in writing," he said.
Minister Boseraju said he was functioning in a very transparent way in his department and if proved anything on his part, he would resign.
"My son is also into politics. When I'm busy, he receives visitors at my office and talks to them. He has not touched a single rupee so far. He doesn't sign files," he said.
Rejecting the allegations, Jarkiholi said his department has prioritised small contractors.
Stating that the department has the power to issue special LOCs for 20 per centre of pending bills, he said he was ready to take suggestions and improve things based on it.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
