Action against Muniratna only after Lokayukta report, chief minister says

Palike files had been seized from MLA's home

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly defended Muniratna, Congress MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, over the issue of the Lokayukta recently seizing over 1,000 files related to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at his residence in the City.

Replying to BJP’s Dr C N Ashwathnarayan in the Assembly on Tuesday, the chief minister said the Lokayukta raided the MLA’s residence on December 27 and seized certain documents. The BBMP officials concerned have been suspended. But the government is yet to receive a report from the Lokayukta in this regard. Appropriate action will be taken against the MLA after receiving the report, he said.

Ashwathnarayan, however, accused the government of trying to hush up the matter. The chief minister has not furnished any information on the raid in his written reply. Instead, information pertaining to irregularities that have happened in 2011 in Gandhinagar, Malleswaram and Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituencies have been given, he argued.

Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar charged Siddaramaiah with protecting the MLA. The question was asked about irregularities in Rajarajeshwari constituency in 2014, but in the reply, information about 2011 has been given. The government is trying to mislead the House, he said. Siddaramaiah retorted saying that the previous BJP government had looted the BBMP and all scams had happened during that period. Not satisfied with the reply, the BJP members led by Shettar staged a walkout.

The chief minister also revealed in his written reply that cases have been booked against Shettar, R Ashoka, S Suresh Kumar, M Srinivas, D Venkatesh Murthy (all BJP) and Ashok Kheny by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force since 2008. Interestingly, a question in this regard was raised by Muniratna.

Garbage processing

To a question by Ashoka on the steps taken by the government to dispose of garbage, the chief minister said steps had been taken to completely process the waste generated in Bengaluru.

Of the 3,500 metric tonnes, about 2,000 MT are being treated at seven waste-processing units. Steps have also been taken to set up three more processing units at Magadi, Giddenahalli and Kogilu to process another 1,500 MT of garbage. The three units will be commissioned in three months, he said. On a complaint that contractors were setting waste on fire in the absence of sites for disposal, he said he had directed the officials to take strict action against such contractors.

Missing files

Public Works Minister H C Mahadevappa informed the Assembly that about 139 files, including 20 ‘A’ category files pertaining to the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, were missing from the department. Show-cause notices have been issued to eight officials holding the post of project coordinators, he said.