Ensure 'pothole-free Bengaluru' before Saturday: Dr. G. Parameshwar
Bengaluru: The BBMP authorities have been instructed to declare Bengaluru free from potholes before Saturday, informed Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with BBMP officials on Thursday, the DCM said that the High Court judge has lambasted the BBMP over its poor administration.
"As per the deadline was given to BBMP, there would be an inquiry regarding this on Saturday. Instructions have been passed to joint commissioners of eight zones of the city to fill all the potholes in the state capital. Also, to update details regarding potholes filling activity on the BBMP website. The same data will be presented to the high court," he said.
Whitetopping: Tender Sure and Whitetopping project has been in progress for two years. I have instructed the authorities to complete these projects before summer.
This project of 100 km at the cost of Rs 945 crore is in progress. Some roads have not been able to complete work in the backdrop of traffic congestion. Despite the 11-month time, this work could not be completed. Soon, a meeting will be held with the police to allow the Whittopping project.
Senior officials, including BBMP Mayor Gangambike, Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and eight BBMP joint commissioners were present.
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Karnataka procured 16 lakh expired RT-PCR kits during Covid wave: D’Cunha commission
Bengaluru: Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s committee has uncovered significant irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that more than 16 lakh RT-PCR test kits purchased by Karnataka in 2022 under the BJP-led government were either expired or close to their expiry dates.
After irregularities in PPE kit purchases, ventilators have also come under the scanner, with the report highlighting discrepancies amounting to Rs 173.26 crore in purchases made by the Medical Education Department.
The commission has also found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) that cancelled a supply order for one lakh Rapid Antigen (RAT) kits placed with a Singapore-based company in March 2020 — for delay in supplying — has not recovered the Rs 6.99 crore paid to the company towards the order, as reported by The Hindu on Thursday.
According to the 279-page report on procurements made by the KSMSCL that is compiled in part IV of the report, a payment of Rs 148.84 crore was made by KSMSCL to various suppliers and firms towards procurement of RT-PCR kits from 2020 to 2022.
The Commission’s report, as cited by the publication, stated that there were records indicating procurement of RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and Viral transport media (VTM) of a total value of Rs 106.25 crore during the pandemic in Karnataka. However, according to the report, this procurement was made without administrative approval.
“Since the KSMSCL has failed to discharge its obligation and responsibility, the loss caused to the State exchequer to this extent is required to be replenished by the erring officers and/or officials of the KSMSCL as well as the officers and/or officials of the consignee designated laboratories who received the consignment,” the report said, pegging the losses due to expired kits supplied by companies at Rs 3.11 crore.
In response to the report’s findings, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticised the saffron party for profiting from the pandemic. He promised accountability for the irregularities involving PPE kits and ventilators, stating that those responsible would face punishment.
