Dear All,
Mr. Venkataram, President of Supraja Federation & member of KRIA KATTE had
obtained under RTI all the records relating to asphalting of Rama Iyengar Road
(in Visveswarapuram ward 50 of BBMP) during the year 2005-06 and again in the
year 2006-07 and found that the 2005-06 the designated work was not carried out
on that particular road but used elsewhere by BBMP and in records of BBMP had
mentioned as Rama Iyengar Road. He had filed complaint to Lokayukta and the
case was investigated and Lokayukta had instructed the BBMP to initaiate action
against the concerned officials at the end of last year.
In November 2008 Mr. Venkataram had requested the BBMP Commissioner for an
appointment to discuss some of the irregularties happening in the yearly
Programme of Works(POW) and suggestion to improve the system in a transparent
way, but the then BBMP commissioner ignored his request.
Since there was no response even after six months from the Commissioner
BBMP for personal discussion to re-design the existing system which has been
breeding large scale corruption in Roads, Foot Paths and Drain Works, we
approached Lokayukta Justice N.Santosh Hegde with the attached file seeking his
help. After glancing through our papers, he immediately assured us that he
would call the commissioner to his office for our meeting shortly. The meeting
took place on 5th August 2009 in the chambers of Lokayukta which was very
cordial and meaningful. The Commissioner agreed with our suggestions besides
conceding to, post details of all the works carried out in each ward on the
website. What is more, the Commissioner has agreed to develop one ward in each
zone as a Model Ward.
The following members were present in the meeting chaired by Justice N.Santosh
Hegde:
Representing BBMP- The Commissioner, Sri Bharatlal Meena, Additional
Commissioners(South) Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Ekkeri, Chief Engineer Sri
Srikante Gowda and others.
From our side, Sri S.R.Venkataram, Sri Ravindranath Guru, Sri Ashwathnarayan,
Sri V.R.Sheshu, and self. The text of the suggestions are given
under
SUPRAJAA
Federation of Associations of Visveswarapuram Ward No. 50.Residents Welfare
Association of B.P.Wadia Road, Womens Wing of Crescent Association of
Mohammaden Block, V.V.Puram Residents Welfare Association, Residents
Association of Ramaiyengar Road, M.M.V.Road Residents Welfare Association and
Lalbagh West Residents Association. 301, Brigade Parkview, B.P.Wadia Road,
Basavanagudi, Bangalore – 560 004. Phone: 26506261, 9341240751 E-mail
[email protected]
BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE.
ROADS, FOOTPATHS AND DRAIN WORKS.
The present system of recording and billing by BBMP of the above stated works
which is in practice for decades, is far from satisfactory and has many
loopholes leading to large scale corruption. This needs immediate attention.
All loopholes should be plugged in, and complete transparent system should be
introduced in public interest. With this in view Suprajaa studied in detail a
few sample cases of Roads, Foot paths and Drain works executed by BBMP in the
recent past and found that:
A contractor was paid Rs. 3,60,650 for a road that was not asphalted. On our
complaint, Lokayukta passed strictures and directed BBMP to take action against
the culprits as per rules.
In another case of Drain Works, an amount of Rs. 16.48 lakhs was paid to a
contractor where as the actual work done in accordance with the sanctioned
estimate was only Rs. 6.55 lakhs. There were no documents to support the
alleged work done to the extent of Rs.9.93 lakhs. This case is under
investigation by Lokayukta.
It is high time that BBMP redesigns the existing system that has been breeding
large scale corruption.
Existing System
1. History sheets of roads, footpaths and drains of Bangalore which are
basic requirements DO NOT exist. Without Road Register, it is not possible to
identify the works carried out and also the dates and details of works
executed.
2. Detailed dimensional sketches are not prepared for individual works. Works
are being carried out with JURISDICTION MAP of the Ward with no dimensions.
Even the names of roads are not legible. Annexures 1A &
1B.
3. The present system of placing orders(Schedule – B) on contractors are
very vague. It is a mere consolidated “quantity-cum” rate order instead of
being the replica of the detailed sanctioned estimates.
Annexure – 2.
4. Measurement Book records, which are the only source for payment of
bills, is anything but satisfactory. It is a BUNDLE of ILLEGIBLE SCRIBBLED
SHEETS which can not be verified along with Technically and Administratively
sanctioned estimates. Annexures – 3A & 3B.
5. Duplicate orders exist, one as “Spillover” order and the other as “POW”
order. Apparently no audit system exists.
6. Payments are being made on duplicate orders.
Where is the audit system? Refer Annexure 5.
7. Administrative Approval and Technical Sanctions by the designated
Authorities remain only on paper since payments are made solely based on MB
records. Annexure – 6A & 6B.
8. While replacing covering slabs of Drains with new slabs, old slabs have
never been accounted.Where have those slabs been disposed off ? Are those old
slabs not salvaged? If salvaged, where are the details? The cost runs to lakhs
and lakhs. Annexure –7.
SUGGESTIONS.
1. Maintain Road Register. It shall contain Length and width of each
road, footpaths and drains. Details of each and every work done on that road
should be registered, like Work order reference, estimated cost, date of
commencement of work, date of completion, actual cost incurred, name of
contractor etc.
2. Prepare detailed sketches of each sanctioned work.
3. Issue detailed work order to the contractor(Schedule –B) identical to
the Technically & Administratively sanctioned estimates along with dimensional
sketches.
4. Execute works strictly in accordance with the Technically &
Administratively sanctioned estimates and work orders. Additional works if any
which are not included in the original sanctioned estimates must have separate
Technical & Administrative sanctions with dimensional sketches and a new work
order.
5 Discontinue the present system of MB recordings. All recordings shall
be in the same manner as the item-wise sanctioned estimates, clearly mentioning
the actual quantity of work done against each item.
6. Duplicate orders and double payments can thus be avoided by following
our suggestions of itemes 1 to 5.
7. Classify roads based on scientific and technical parameters and divide
into arterial roads, sub-arterial roads, residential roads, lanes etc., and
arrive at a suitable asphalting specification to each category of road and
avoid wasteful practices. At present no such classifications exist.
8. Drain Works: While replacing old covering slabs, old slabs must be
accounted for, mentioning the quantity replaced in the road register stated in
item 1 above.
9. The site supervisor should always carry a copy of the work order with
details of the work that he executes at site, and the same should be made
available for information to any citizen who evinces interest in knowing about
the work.
S.R.Venkataram
(President)
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