The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner is on a hunt. No, not for those evading tax, but for officials of the BBMP, many of whom were issued laptops that they have not yet returned, despite having moved out of the BBMP.
Ironically, among the BBMP officials being sought for the purpose of returning the official laptop is former IT advisor to the BBMP, Dr WM Sivakumar. Letters reminding this senior official to return the laptop have already been sent, but to no avail.
The BBMP has been issuing officials laptops since 2007, but sadly, the civic body has maintained no records of where the laptops are, and which officials have been issued the machines.
One official admitted: “It is unfortunate that no records were maintained, even though the laptops were purchased with public money.”
To make work easier and faster, the Palike had issued over 110 laptops to officers. “Laptops were given to officers who headed departments of the Palike, to facilitate their work.
The idea was that officials could update information and have access to accurate data. It was meant also to protect all confidential data,” one official said, explaining the rationale for issuing the laptops.
“Even though the intention of the BBMP in issuing the laptops was sound, the officers were up to no good with the machines. Many of the officials who were issued the laptops were with the BBMP on deputation, and returned to their parent organisations later.
They went off with the laptops, which they have put to personal use,” said leader of the opposition in the BBMP, M Nagaraj, adding that this has caused the Palike huge losses.
Deputy commissioner (administration) of the BBMP sent a circular dated July 13 to all department heads to provide details of officers using laptops issued by the BBMP.
He has also sought details of the number of laptops in the possession of the civic body. “We have been receiving details of laptops issued from the zonal officers. In another four days, we should be able to tell how many laptops are in our possession, and how many have been taken by officers,” said a BBMP official.
