Trouble for BJP in Karnataka? Panel detects Rs 3,000 crore scam in now-dissolved BBMP

State Congress is under pressure to make sure that its '40% commission' allegation against the previous BJP regime holds ground. In fact, in a separate report, Justice Das did not find any conclusive evidence on the aforementioned allegation.

Bengaluru: An inquiry commission has confirmed irregularities to the tune of Rs 3,049.35 crore under the now-dissolved Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) between 2019 and 2022 when the BJP was in power.

The Justice HN Nagmohan Das Commission, which was tasked with probing allegations of irregularities, found defects in all 761 works that it examined.

The Commission looked into four categories of works: solid waste management; road development; stormwater drains, plan sanction and occupancy certificates; and lake improvement, Smart City and ward-level works.

"It is clear that huge illegalities occurred in these four divisions of work. Collusion between officials and some contractors cannot be ruled out," the Commission stated and recommended civil and criminal proceedings against those involved.

The Commission also rued that successive governments sat on several inquiry reports on irregularities. "Any future report submitted by investigation agencies will lose its meaning," it said, citing inaction over past probe findings.

Excess payments, remuneration to unauthorised persons who were not given work orders, projects carried out without administrative approvals, non-compliance with tender processes, failure to ensure quality among others were among anomalies detected by the Commission.

On Thursday, the Cabinet deferred a decision on Justice Das' report on BBMP irregularities.

The Congress government is under pressure to make sure that its '40% commission' allegation against the previous BJP regime holds ground.

In fact, in a separate report, Justice Das did not find any conclusive evidence on the '40% commission' allegation. “The ‘40% commission’ allegation may not be 100% true,” he concluded earlier this year.

The report on BBMP, however, may give the ruling Congress enough firepower to go after the opposition BJP.

Double-decker, STPs get nod

The Cabinet approved Rs 9,700 crore to construct an double-decker flyover under Metro Phase-3. This will be a 37.12-km-long Metro viaduct and elevated flyover along the JP Nagar 4th Phase-Hebbal and Hosahalli-Kadabagere lines.

The Cabinet also approved spending Rs 956.67 crore for the construction and maintenance of six new sewage treatment plants (STP) of the BWSSB. The six STPs will come up at Madiwala, Kadubeesanahalli, Kadugodi, Koramangala, Basavapura and Bellandur. The STPs will have a 7-year operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement, which will be finalised through a tender process.