Don't blame us for delays, Lokayukta tells BBMP

“Answers by a section of Palike officials seem to defame the Lokayukta. Some officials are expressing helplessness over executing projects, claiming the Lokayukta had intervened in the projects. A case had come up before the Lokayukta regarding a lake in the City, but some officials are claiming that lake improvement projects can’t be continued due to the Lokayukta intervention,” said Hegde.

Citing another instance pertaining to repairs on Vittal Mallya Road, the Lokayukta has written to BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena saying that the complaints investigated by the Lokayukta are regarding the width of the road and surface of the drain.

This aspect has nothing to do with the repair works, and the Lokayukta did not ask the Palike to stall road repair work, the letter states.

The Lokayukta said he would soon submit a report to the government on speed beakers in the City. “The Indian Road Congress and Indian Railway Congress have specified the measurements of the speed beakers. These norms are not being followed while speed breakers are being constructed. As per the norm, the height of a speed breaker should not be more than 10 centimetres. More than 1000 speed beakers with a height of more than 10 centimetres exist in the City,” he revealed.

Referring to various government schemes, Hegde said that some government employees are trying to prevent eligible candidates from getting the benefits of various schemes. He recalled that a woman recently approached him for help, as her husband has been bed-ridden for nearly six years.

“Lokayukta officials acted quickly and helped him get pension under the Disabality Pension Scheme. The entire process was completed within just three days. When the Lokayukta can finish the work within three days, why not the government official?” Hegde questioned.

Of the 350 such applications received by the Lokayukta, 80 have been cleared. “Another 30 will be cleared in a couple of days, and the rest will be processed soon,” Hegde stated.