JOIN USTP chief, EO engage in war of words
TP member B N Byatappa alleged that there were irregularities in the works carried out at the Muduwadi tank under the NREGS. “It has been specified that works worth Rs 3 crore were undertaken at the tank, but in reality not even Rs 30 lakh has been spent,” he alleged and added that several officials and engineers including Grama Panchayat Secretary Shivakumar were involved in the misuse of funds. He called for a Lokayukta inquiry into the irregularities.
TP President V B Udayshankar who seconded the allegation added: “About Rs 19 crore has been reportedly spent for various works under NREGS over a few months. Officials need to furnish details about these works.” He also informed that investigations were carried out into two other similar complaints, but the report were yet to be submitted.
Udayshankar also informed the members that the works at the Muduwadi tank were already stopped following the allegations and added that an inquiry would be conducted.
Reps sidelined
Right at the beginning of the meeting, TP member Yuvaraj expressed his displeasure about the functioning of officials and alleged that they were sidelining the elected representatives.
TP chief Udayshankar also expressed his helplessness about this saying even he was being disregarded by the TP’s executive officer. While EO A Manjunath tried to offer clarifications, Udayshankar was not convinced and this led to an argument between the two. They were pacified by the TP members saying it was inappropriate to discuss these matters at the general body meeting and decided to hold a separate meeting to solve the problem. As the arguments took most of the time, only few issues came up for discussion.
Among the decisions taken were setting up a nodal agency for tax collection and following government orders in the supply of drinking water and fixing metres on street lights.