BDA: Wasteful expenditure on the project by Kaniminike
Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್
BENGALURU: The Bangalore Development Authority, which has improperly executed the Kaniminike housing project, has wasted ₹27.24 crore without realizing the demand and without even planning a connecting road. The CAG report said that the expenditure of ₹451.53 crore has not been received.
The compliance audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 2021 opined that the objective of providing housing to the economically backward classes has also not been met.
BDA did not conduct a demand survey at the time of determining the feasibility of the mini-housing project. Thus, even though the project is completed, only 224 flats (15 percent) out of 1500 flats have been allotted. Also, building construction by-laws of BBMP have not been followed in this project. The road in front of the multi-storey building should be 12 meters and there should be a connecting road to the residential units. However, a link road to the Mysuru main road was planned without finalisation. The report details that the road problem has been avoided till March 2022, which is the reason why the demand has fallen to a minimal extent.
That amount should be recovered from the contractor responsible for the additional cost. A complaint has been registered at the police station despite the theft of ₹91 lakh worth of materials stored in the premises. However, it is said that BDA has not taken any follow-up action regarding fixing the responsibility and recovering the loss.
The CAG report recommended that the BDA should henceforth carry out housing projects after guaranteeing the provision of infrastructure including demand survey, connectivity roads.
Improper benefit to land owners:
Disrespecting the court orders, BDA has incurred a burden of ₹29.85 crore by giving undue benefit to land owners in existing and new layouts.
Though there is 19 acres of gomala (grass land) for additional expansion of Sir M. Visvesvaraya layout, out of which eight acres of gomala has been allotted by BDA as two acres each to four persons. The order was quashed by the Special District commissioner on the ground of inadequacy and absence of necessary documents. Later, as per the orders of the High Court, the Special District commissioner conducted a detailed investigation. The BDA has given rights over the land to the owners against the orders of the courts after acquiring Gomala. Due to this, land owners had to be given plots in the ratio of 40:60. This is a burden on the BDA. The CAG report recommended that the government should identify the persons responsible for this financial burden and take action against them.
The deposit amount of ₹1.52 crore paid by the buyer during the auction of the 97th plot in Chandralayout has been refunded on the orders of the BDA Commissioner, in contempt of the legal report. The same other stores have forfeited initial deposits at the auction. Thus, the CAG report suggested to follow strict rule in deposit refund.
Additional cost:
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has not taken measures to prevent corrosion of sewage pipes and the pipes are damaged. Additional cost of ₹40.65 crore due to provision of polymer based protective coating to pipes without taking economical measures. The CAG report said that those responsible for this should be held accountable.
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