District-in-Charge Minister Ramachandra Gowda started the KDP meeting half-an-hour later and within few minutes of the commencement of the meet the house was taken by storm when MLA C T Ravi raised the issue of ‘Ganga Kalyan Yojane’ and officials demanding bribe from beneficiaries to get the benefits of the project.

When Sringeri MLA D N Jeevaraj asked questions with regard to progress in implementation of Ganga Kalyan Yojane in Sringeri, Standing Committee President Radha Sundaresh and Mudigere MLA M P Kumaraswamy tried to answer, slightly supporting the officials. This angered Jeevaraj. “If you have any soft corner for officials do not show it in the meetings,” said Jeevaraj and walked out of the meeting hall.

However, when Jeevaraj came back to hall after a while, Ramachandra Gowda asked him to keep his cool instead of losing his temper every now and then. “Since people of Sringeri had decided not to bribe the officials, no programmes have been undertaken there under this project,” said Jeevaraj demanding ruling from Ramachandra Gowda in this regard.

Jeevraj said that though 25 borewells were sanctioned for Sringeri, not even one has been dug so far.

‘Officials demand bribe’

MLA C T Ravi endorsing the views of Jeevaraj said that officials are demanding bribe from people in each and every stage of implementation of Ganga Kalyan Yojane and due to this people are taking elected representatives to task during Janaspandana programme.

Ravi said that people have informed that a person called Kumar has been demanding bribe from people.

“ I want the District-in-Charge Minister Ramachandra Gowda to ask the officials as to who is Kumar is and what is his connection with the Department,” Ravi said
Tarikere MLA D S Suresh said that a person named Shambhaiah from Shivani hobli has made an argreement with the officials and has sold off pipes and motor given to him under the programme.