Mysore/Mysuru: Blaming the negligence and apathy of Government engineers for ‘40 percent commission’ charges made by Karnataka State Contractors Association, District Minister S.T. Somashekar said that the charges would never had come up if engineers had prepared estimates in time, issued work orders and cleared bills as per norms.
He was speaking at the quarterly KDP progress review meeting at the ZP Hall here yesterday.
Stating that Legislators have been complaining about delay and lapses in the execution of various civil and developmental works undertaken by RDPR, PWD, ZP, Water Resources, Minor Irrigation and other concerned Departments, Somashekar reiterated that the commission charges would not have come up had the engineers maintained a hold on the contractors, by discharging their duties with assertion, necessary follow-up and responsibility.
Directing the Minor Irrigation Department officials to blacklist such contractors who fail to carry out works despite being issued work order, Somashekar said that any obstructions by the Forest Department regarding road works, should be brought to the notice of the concerned Legislator and the Forest Minister.
Referring to claims seeking compensation for damaged houses, Somashekar said that there are complaints that some people have sought compensation by demolishing their good condition homes under the pretext of rains. There are also reports that some of such persons who demolished their homes have received Government compensation, he pointed out.
Asking the elected representatives not to recommend payment of compensation in respect of such spurious claims, he said that officials must be careful when carrying out a survey of rain damages and property damages.
Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) claimed that roads in several villages coming under his constituency were severely damaged by recent rains.
Urging the officials to immediately carry out road repair works, he said that officials must seek more funds from the Government if the money released is not sufficient.
GTD also urged Somashekar to take measures for clearing of encroachments on Dewan Purnaiah Canal, which have severely impeded smooth flow of storm water. Maintaining that developers and farm owners have encroached upon the 35ft. wide Dewan Purnaiah Canal, he argued that the encroachments had caused breaching of several lakes in Chamundeshwari Constituency and several other parts of Mysuru taluk.
He wanted the Government to order a comprehensive survey of the entire length and breadth of Dewan Purnaiah Canal and clear it of all encroachments.
Periyapatna MLA K. Mahadev said that most of the roads in his constituency were damaged by rains and the people are cursing the elected representatives for their plight.
Claiming that the Forest Department has been placing hurdles for taking up repairs of roads that pass through the Forests, he wanted the Minister to suitably direct the officials in this regard.
Somashekar said that this problem persisted not only in Mysuru, but in the entire State as well. He assured that this problem would be taken up at the Government level for redressal.
H.D. Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadu said that no one in the taluk, including adivasis, were issued Title Deeds for the past four years. He urged the Minister to look into the issue.
MLC C.N. Manjegowda,Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Additional DC Dr. B.S. Manjunathaswamy, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO B.R. Poornima, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Kamala Karikalan and other officials were present.
By blaming the engineers, this minister is making a fool of himself. CURRUPTION IS TOP DOWN AND NOT BOTTOM UP. Does the Govt of Karnataka have any explanation for the PMs mantra on curruption “na kaunga, na kane dunga (will not eat not will I let others eat)”??? After all the BJP is in power in the state and the centre!!!! The association of contractors has done the right thing by going public with this malady of 40% commission, afflicting the state.
@Sridhar
I have to laug at this minister blaming the engineers. They are all in it in varying degrees of demanding the handouts.
I am a contractor who runs services in Mysore city, having moved to this city from Cochin 2 decades ago. Mine is a very specialised construction and other services-based cluster of business, whose services are in demand during Dasara particularly. I have parted with a lot of cash demanded for ‘facilitation’ ( in crude language, bribe) from MLAs, MPs and ministers, to get contracts. Being not a Mysorean and from Kerala, money, business like us are vulnerable- I have to keep ready 2000 and 500 Rupee notes, ready to pay for a variety of these people- each demand a specific handout to get a task done. If I get an income of 10Lakhs for example on a contract after completion, I would have spent at least 2 lakhs as bribes.
Ha, Ha! Is this a joke by this politician thug called the district minister. May be the 40% so called commission apply to these engineers, but his commission will be 60%. Just verify his assets, the houses he wons, the cars and what his family members are up to, which means their spending habits.
These villains enter politics to make money through any illegal means.
This minsiter with MP Simha are enthusiasts in inviting businesses to establish in Mysore city. They are waiting for the Mysore airport expansion. They have lobbied PM Modi to invite the very rich Keralite businessmen from the UAE-which Modi did when he stopped at UAE, a few months ago. He said that he will agree for non-stop flights from Doha to Mysore. The above businessmen currently run the gold smuggling to Kerala as the lucrative side business.
Within 2 years, the MP and this minster will be receiving gold ingots as thank you gifts! More of these gold ingots, if this minister helps them to set up so called legitimate businesses,, for laundering their illegal cash!
correction: minister