The contractors in Karnataka questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Thawarchand Gehlot over alleged corruption by the BJP government in the state in awarding civil work contracts.
The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, which alleged that there is rampant corruption—“40 per cent commission”—on every government contract, expressed disappointment over the highest offices of the country choosing to look away, despite the association writing a series of letters to the chief minister, prime minister (in July 2021) and the governor.
“The contractors are taking the blame for substandard works in the state. But the corruption in the state has only increased since 2018. We have written several letters to the PM, governor, BJP’s national organisational secretary B.L. Santosh, former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and incumbent Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and personally met the leader of opposition Siddaramaiah, H.D. Kumaraswamay and the governor. But to no avail. Despite knowing that there will be no record to prove the corruption, the politicians ask us for the documents. This is only a ploy to avoid taking action as corruption has been part of every regime. Unless corruption is plugged, there cannot be quality work,” said D. Kempanna, president of the association.
The contractors threatened to stage a massive protest in the third week of January demanding an independent inquiry into the complaints.
The association lamented that pending payments to contractors by various government departments, including PWD, irrigation, BBMP and RDPR, amounts to Rs 22,000 crore.
“The contractors are being made a scapegoat for substandard work, cost escalation and delay in completion of the projects. But one must understand it is a fallout of rampant corruption. The bill payments are kept pending for more than two years, which is badly affecting all the contractors,” said G.M. Ravindra, general secretary of the association.
Welcoming CM Bommai ordering an inquiry into the tendering process and bill payments of all the works exceeding the estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, Kempanna said, “We want transparency in tendering process and new technology to ensure timely bill payments. But nepotism and corruption has pushed out the local contractors to the edge as the government is now entertaining only new licensees from outside states like Andhra and Gujarat. The government is coming up with package system (bundling of works) to keep out smaller local contractors. The tender conditions are being tweaked to favour outside contractors. The Centre has implemented a rule, where all government awards below Rs 200 crore are to be given only to contractors who are Indian nationals. Similarly, the Karnataka government must come to the rescue of local contractors.”
