Scam alleged in BBMP project to instal solar systems

 A complaint filed before the Lokayukta has alleged irregularities in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) project of installing solar system at 125 SC, ST homes. 

The complainant, K Ramamurthy, has alleged that the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRID) not only gave the subcontract to a dubious company but was also in a hurry to clear the bills without completing the solar connections. 

The BBMP has sanctioned power supply through solar system to 125 houses in ward number 131 at Govindarajanagar. Each solar system costs Rs one lakh, and a total of Rs 1.25 crore was sanctioned for the project. The work of installing the solar power system was entrusted to the KRID, which gave the subcontract to Sai Traders. The complainant alleged that Sai Traders was just a name lender and that the local corporator was behind the installation of  the solar system. 

“Only 70 houses have been provided the system, that too without the necessary infrastructure. Every solar system comes with other infrastructure like solar water heater, MS stand, 0.5 HP motor and 500-litre water tank. The systems already installed do not have all infrastructure,” Ramamurthy claimed. 

Neither the BBMP nor the KRID is providing the details about the subcontractor even after repeated applications filed under the RTI Act. The details pertaining to the project such as exact work executed, names of the beneficiaries, their caste certificates are also not furnished, he added.

Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said, “Since the matter appears to be urgent, the BBMP commissioner, the executive engineer of Govindarajanagar subdivision and KRID’s technical manager have been asked to submit their response by October 16.”