BWSSB sinks Rs 25 lakh for launch of rainwater harvesting park

According to the reply to an RTI query by Deccan Herald, the BWSSB has spent around Rs 7,25,500 to set up stalls. The cost includes money spent on fabrication, creating artificial falls, artistic pillars, welcome arch.

After the conclusion of the programme, the pillars were removed from the venue. Sources in the Board said the huge pillars have been kept at the BWSSB office in Peenya and are not used for any other purpose.

The splurging doesn’t end here. A sum of Rs 2.72 lakh was spent to produce a 10-minute film on rainwater harvesting and its implementation.

Another Rs 3.61 lakh was spent for seating arrangements (30 VIP chairs, 300 plastic chairs, 30 dinner tables with cloth and frills), a huge shamiyana, 80 side walls, red carpet spread over an area of 800 square feet, water supply and erection of wash basin, etc.

The bill from Marketing Consultants and Agencies Limited came up to Rs 14,98,426 including service tax and education cess of Rs 1,39,926. 

While a purported bill accounts for money spent to provide breakfast to 800 people, some insiders were doubtful on the number of participants at the function.

The reply also details varieties of biscuits and mineral water bottles given to mediamen. The giveaways were sealed in a packet, which cost Rs 150 each. An amount of Rs 98,500 was quoted for flower decoration and 40 bouquets to be given to VIPs at the event. And no bills were maintained for expenses totalling to Rs 2,49,603.

The BWSSB rushed to open the under-construction theme park to mark the World Water Day celebrations on March 21, 2011. The work was completed only six months after the inauguration.