‘Scam-sham’ outrage: TVCC chief next on 'netas'’ hit list

After allegedly conspiring to remove Siddaiah from the BBMP, corporators and city MLAs are now gunning for the head of the agency that unearthed the bogus-bill scam.

The elected representatives want the suspension of N Devaraj, chief engineer of Technical Vigilance Committee under Commissioner (TVCC). During zero hour of the BBMP meeting on Wednesday, corporators and MLAs, cutting across party lines, targeted the TVCC report and its chief.

The report has found irregularities to the tune of Rs1,539 crore in works in Malleswaram, Gandhinagar and Rajarajeshwarinagar divisions of the BBMP. The state government has handed over the probe to the CID.

Malleswaram MLA CN Ashwath Narayan targeted ousted BBMP commissioner Siddaiah for directing the TVCC to look into the issue without informing the mayor or the council.

He said he doubted the motive of Siddaiah’s hasty act.

BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda said the BBMP would set up an expert committee that would scrutinise fund allotment and spending in all the 28 assembly constituencies in Bangalore.

He added that he would not disband the TVCC.

‘Palike losing property tax’
At the council meeting, Yediyur corporator NR Ramesh brought up the issue of tax evasion by hotels and lodges.

He said according to the revenue department, there are only 67 star hotels in the BBMP jurisdiction against the actual number of 441 star hotels and 32 under-construction star hotels. Likewise, he said according to BBMP’ records, there are only 676 lodges with more than 10 rooms whereas the actual number is 2,450.

He said the Palike is getting Rs21.1 crore as revenue from these lodges and hotels. If tax is levied upon all the properties under its jurisdiction, it can get as much as Rs225 crore, he claimed.