Alleged irregularities draw CMC chief to ward

Angry residents in verbal duel with visiting officers

Speaking to the residents of the ward, the president attempted at giving explanations for the work undertaken.

The residents, however, were in no mood to listen. “How can we benefit if the work is not undertaken in the area selected?” they mockingly asked Lokesh Kumar.

Surrounding the president, CMC members and officers who accompanied him, the residents complained vehemently about the problems faced by the ward. “There are no roads and drains are in bad condition. Work related to both has not taken place for years,” they listed out and demanded that the CMC undertake developmental work in the ward.

Officers and members of the CMC visited other wards where road development work was not being undertaken, including Anand Layout, Ashok Layout and Venkatarayappa Layout. Here too, the residents informed the officers of their problems, stressing on the lack of good roads and drains.

‘No irregularities’

Nagesh, the assistant executive engineer of the CMC insisted that, contrary to the allegations, there had been no irregularities worth Rs 30 lakh in Kelagina Thota ward. He added that following the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, the money had been utilised for work at places other than those selected.

“The contractors have not been paid the full amount for the work. In some other places, the work is yet to be completed, because of which payment too has not been complete. Only after the work is completed and found to be of the required standard will the full amount be disbursed,” said Nagesh.

‘Falsehood’

The residents, however, refuted Nagesh’s claims, calling the explanation false. “How can the officers conduct work in places other than those selected? How did the CMC go by an unwritten word, when they insist paperwork for everything else?” the residents asked and added that the authorities had also failed to inform the residents of the respective localities of the said changes.

They complained that the Kelagina Thota ward was in extremely bad condition. There were irregularities in all work. “Instead of giving inconclusive explanations and excused, the CMC should take up the work of repairing roads and drains themselves. They should work to solve the problems faced by the citizens themselves,” said the residents.

Letter to DC

Later, speaking to Deccan Herald, Lokesh said he had inspected the condition of Kelagina Thota ward and informed the concerned authorities about the matter.

“If I find there have been irregularities as alleged by the residents, I shall write to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to take necessary action against the guilty,” he promised.
Lokesh said if there were irregularities with regard to the SFC and CMC funds, he would have taken action himself. “But work on the Kelagina Thota ward is being undertaken using money from the Chief Minister’s funds, which come under the purview of the DC.

Therefore, work will be undertaken as per her instructions,” he explained. He added that the officers concerned have said the development work in the wards has been shifted to other places as instructed by the DC.

“In the backdrop of this, I shall write to the DC, and if there have been irregularities, I shall request her to take action against the guilty,” Lokesh said.

CMC members Manjunath and N Balakrishna and resident of Kelagina Thota ward Govindaraja were among those present on the occasion.