BJP alleges corruption in Udupi City Municipal Council

Udupi, Jun 28: BJP leader and former Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat has alleged the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) of indulging in corruption.

Addressing media persons here, Mr. Bhat said that CMC had issued tenders for many works that had already been completed. “Tenders were called again for as many as 174 projects in different parts of Udupi. But in nearly half of these – involving around Rs. 72 lakh – the work had been done,” he said.

Based on a complaint given to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muddu Mohan by the Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti, Mr. Mohan directed the Assistant Commissioner to probe the matter. Based on a report by the Junior Engineer of the CMC, CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao had submitted a statement saying that tenders had been re-issued in some works.

Mr Bhat said the BJP had lodged a complaint with the DC on this issue. “We want a thorough probe and a spot inspection by the Deputy Commissioner,” he said. The BJP would raise this issue in the general body meeting of CMC on Saturday and stage a dharna, he said.

He alleged that CMC president and vice-president were awarding tenders to selected contractors. “The CMC should call for all the works through e-tenders so that the entire process is transparent,” he said.

Mr. Rao denied that he had submitted to the Assistant Commissioner that tenders had been called for some works again. The CMC had done estimates for various projects in February 2014, but due to Lok Sabha elections, they could not be taken up, he said. The tenders were called after the election and there was no irregularity involved. A report was submitted to the Assistant Commissioner with the information sought, Mr. Rao said.

Amritha Krishnamurthy, vice-president of the CMC, said the CMC had taken up some advance works on account of approaching monsoon. Since no payment had been made to contractors, it could not be construed as corruption, she said.