BENGALURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday promised a delegation of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association that he will put a transparent system in place to curb irregularities in awarding infrastructure tenders and government contracts.
He also told the delegation that the government will introduce a software to clear their pending bills before March 31 every year based on the oldest first and abolish the existing controversial “package system”.
The delegation had met the chief minister weeks after accusing ministers and officials of taking 40% commission for awarding tenders for public works and to clear pending bills. The meeting also comes in the wake of Santosh K Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, dying by suicide after claiming the rural development and panchayat raj department had not cleared bills to the tune of Rs 4 crore.
D Kempanna, president of the association, said Monday’s meeting was fruitful to the extent that the chief minister assured them of cooperation and a system to control corruption. “The chief minister asked for our support and we have assured him that we will extend it to the fullest extent possible,” Kempanna said. “He gave us a patient hearing with regard to our demands, and we hope the suggestions that are accepted will be implemented quickly. ”
At the meeting, the delegation is believed to have given a break-up of the percentage they are forced to pay various departments to get bills cleared. The CM dismissed their allegations and said it is “impossible” that such huge sums are being demanded.
“The CM told us that while eradicating sleaze completely is an impossible task, he would ensure that the levels of corruption are reduced,” said one contractor who was present at the meeting.
Kempanna said the association will take a decision on the future course of their agitation after their executive committee meeting scheduled for May 11.
Denying allegations from sections of BJP, including health minister K Sudhakar, who claimed Kempanna is a “Congress agent”, the association president said he is ready to face any trial or court if that is true. “But if the allegations turn out to be false, let me ask them what punishment will they accept?” he said.
On documentary evidence to prove their allegations that several ministers are demanding kickbacks, Kempanna said the association will release it at an appropriate time. “The government neither asked for it nor did we offer it,” said the 80-year-old.
