<p>The state BJP on Wednesday charged that tender norms for a Rs 2,500-crore housing scheme were being flouted to award contracts to those close Housing Minister M Krishnappa and Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) chairman R V Devaraj.<br /><br />Addressing a press conference here, senior leaders Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa charged that the irregularities pertain to the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for building 50,000 houses in the state, being implemented by KSDB.<br /><br />They said tenders were first called for implementing the project on September 12, 2017. A committee headed by the chief secretary divided the projects into 99 packages for implementation.<br /><br />They charged that KSDB technical director N P Balaraju reworked the packages to 43 in violation of rules. The project was awarded to 10 contractors.<br /><br />Shettar said, in December 2017, Devaraj wrote to the commissioner of the KSDB that there were large-scale irregularities in the tender-awarding process. Contractors with fake documents had bagged the project, he said. The tenders were quashed on the recommendation of an internal committee.<br /><br />Eshwarappa said tenders were called afresh and the same contractors had applied.<br /><br />“Short-term tenders have been invited. Why the hurry for such a large scheme? Our information is that Krishnappa and Devaraj have come to an understanding to award the tenders to contractors of their choice and share 10% commission in the entire project,” Eshwarappa charged.<br /><br />However, the BJP has not released any documents to substantiate its charge. Copies of the letter written by Devaraj to the commissioner were released to the media. Shettar demanded that a CBI probe should be ordered to investigate the “scam”.</p>
<p>The state BJP on Wednesday charged that tender norms for a Rs 2,500-crore housing scheme were being flouted to award contracts to those close Housing Minister M Krishnappa and Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) chairman R V Devaraj.<br /><br />Addressing a press conference here, senior leaders Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa charged that the irregularities pertain to the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for building 50,000 houses in the state, being implemented by KSDB.<br /><br />They said tenders were first called for implementing the project on September 12, 2017. A committee headed by the chief secretary divided the projects into 99 packages for implementation.<br /><br />They charged that KSDB technical director N P Balaraju reworked the packages to 43 in violation of rules. The project was awarded to 10 contractors.<br /><br />Shettar said, in December 2017, Devaraj wrote to the commissioner of the KSDB that there were large-scale irregularities in the tender-awarding process. Contractors with fake documents had bagged the project, he said. The tenders were quashed on the recommendation of an internal committee.<br /><br />Eshwarappa said tenders were called afresh and the same contractors had applied.<br /><br />“Short-term tenders have been invited. Why the hurry for such a large scheme? Our information is that Krishnappa and Devaraj have come to an understanding to award the tenders to contractors of their choice and share 10% commission in the entire project,” Eshwarappa charged.<br /><br />However, the BJP has not released any documents to substantiate its charge. Copies of the letter written by Devaraj to the commissioner were released to the media. Shettar demanded that a CBI probe should be ordered to investigate the “scam”.</p>
