Struggling to meet the daunting challenge of fighting corruption in the higher levels of the government, the Lokayukta has got a little more muscle. Responding to his persistent demand, the state government approved not only more personnel for the Lokayukta, but also agreed for a special pay hike for his police personnel.
Disclosing this to DNA, Lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde said, “Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has fulfilled my demand for 292 additional police personnel to bolster the institution of Lokayukta. These personnel range from the rank of superintendent of police to constables.”
The state government’s decision came two months after justice Hegde personally met chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and explained his staff needs. He had also urged for a special allowance of 30% of the basic pay for the Lokayukta police as was done in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
However, the state government agreed for a 15% special pay for the Lokayukta cops. According to secretariat sources, though Yeddyurappa was not averse to fulfilling the 30% demand, babus in the finance department pruned the proposal to 15% citing resource crunch.
“We are strengthening our machinery to fight corruption in all districts. The problem of shortage of police personnel would reduce to a large extent when the newly sanctioned personnel join duty,” justice Hegde said.
Meanwhile the Lokayukta has almost completed its second report on the irregularities in mining. “In the first report I had covered about 60 mines in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts. Now, in the second report, I have covered 99 more mines. The focus is on whether rules on awarding mining leases have been violated, whether illegal mining is being conducted, and whether forest lands have been encroached for mining,” he said.
The report is expected to be filed within a month. Based on the investigations so far the Lokayukta has found some senior officials in the mining and geology department violating rules in awarding mining leases.
