A whopping Rs 22.36 crore has been spent on maintenance of the Vikasa Soudha and the Multi-Storey building located adjacent to it in Bengaluru over last three years, information obtained under RTI has revealed.
According to RTI activist Bheemappa Gadad, the three-year expenditure made on Vikasa Soudha and the adjacent building is the highest amount spent so far by the government for such purposes. “The Rs 22.26 crore spent over three years is not on construction works, but merely on providing basic facilities in the two buildings and for their maintenance. Already, Vikasa Soudha and MS building have all required infrastructure and basic amenities. Despite this, the officials have spent huge money on unwanted things,” says Mr Gadad.
He alleged that officials and people’s representatives got into a conspiracy to swindle money in the name of maintenance. It is impossible to believe that crores of rupees could be spent on maintenance of buildings, whereas officials have failed to release funds to important projects in Bengaluru, he said.
As per RTI information given by PWD department, at least Rs 10.91 crore was spent on the maintenance of Vikasa Soudha in the last three years and Rs 11.45 crore towards maintenance of MS building. All works pertaining to maintenance of both buildings were allotted to contractors, who paid maximum commission to officials, said Mr Gadad. “It is shocking how officials have spent crores and none of it is of of any use to public,” he said.