Rs 38k cr dues: Contractors threaten to expose graft

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) has given Chief Minister D K Shivakumar until December to clear pending bills worth Rs 38,000 crore, failing which it threatened to expose what it called widespread bribery in the government.“If we don’t get paid in December, we will expose everything. We will not care if we get arrested,” KSCA president R Manjunath told a news conference on Wednesday.The Association, which represents 1.5 lakh contractors, said it would take out foot marches in all districts.Manjunath claimed that corruption in tendered public works has worsened with increased ‘interference’ by MLAs. He also claimed that genuine contractors were not getting works as most of them go to the “followers” of MLAs.“Earlier, MLAs did not get involved in our matters. They used to seek our help only during elections. Now, 75% of MLAs interfere with our work. For every project costing Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore, we must first speak to the MLAs. Doesn’t the CM know about this?” Manjunath said.Bribery in the form of commission still exists, Manjunath said. “It was there in the previous government and continues in the current one. A commission has to be paid during tender approvals, release of bills and letters of credit,” he said. The percentage of commission depends on the strength of the contractor, he added.Karnataka to introduce points-based driving licence system with suspension to curb traffic violationsThe KSCA said only two departments – public works and Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) – follow a transparent tendering and payment process.Manjunath rued that the Congress and former chief minister Siddaramaiah “used” contractors to come to power. He was referring to the ‘40% commission’ allegation levelled by former KSCA president D Kempanna against the previous BJP government. “The same Siddaramaiah did nothing for us in three years as the CM,” Manjunath said.The Congress government, Manjunath charged, is paying for its ‘guarantee’ schemes using contractors’ money. “They must first repay the money they owe us,” he said.“Neither are we getting money nor work. Let the CM say that we won’t get work. We will consume poison and die. That is the situation we are in,” Manjunath said.Reacting to this in Chamarajanagar, Shivakumar blamed the previous BJP government under B S Yediyurappa for giving “too many” contracts without budgetary allocation. “I agree that contractors must be taken care of. I will think about what to do,” he said.On corruption in tendered works, Shivakumar asked the KSCA to file an affidavit and name those seeking bribery. “I will order an inquiry.”

Source: Deccan Herald