Bengaluru: Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning K J George on Friday challenged political opponents to prove their allegations against him. Minister George has said that he would not continue in power even for a minute if the Opposition parties prove their allegations of him receiving kickback from the contractors for the proposed steel flyover.
Participating in a programme organised by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to supply mid-day meal for conservancy workers in Bengaluru west, Minister George said that some Opposition leaders had made allegations against him in a hit and run manner. “The Opposition leaders have been making baseless allegations against me. I want them to prove their allegations. The proposal of steel flyover is not by Congress government but BJP government which had proposed it during its regime. It is the BJP that proposed the construction of the steel flyover. Our government is implementing the previous government’s proposal,’’ Minister George said.
Expressing disappointment over the unnecessary opposition to the construction of the steel flyover by a section of people, the minister said some people were impeding the government from proceeding with the construction of the steel flyover. “Many people have expressed doubts over the cost and other features of the proposed steel flyover. We have explained to them and also cleared all their doubts but some people have approached the National Green Tribunal which had stayed the construction of the steel flyover. Was there any need for them to approach the NGT even after clearing all their doubts on the cost and other issues?’’ the minister asked.
He said the authorities concerned have also explained the reason for the escalation of the cost from Rs 1,300 Crore to Rs 1,790 Crore. “The total length of the steel flyover is 13 km and not 6.7 km. Discussions were held three to four times to talk about the cost of the project. All issues were sorted out in a transparent manner. After taking all precautions and debating all the issues, we have selected L&T for the construction of the steel flyover. I do not know what made some people approach the NGT?’’, he said.
The minister assured to provide a copy of the detailed project report (DPR) of the steel flyover to anyone who had a doubt on the project.
Coming down heavily on BJP for making the BBMP bankrupt, the minister said BJP that was at the helm of affairs during the last tenure of the BBMP Council had presented a deficit budget of Rs 10,000 Crore as against the actual revenue of Rs 3,000 Crore. “The deficit budget made the BBMP to keep pending bills worth of Rs 3,600 Crore to various contractors. The spending on developmental works without a proper thought has made the civic body to mortgage its prime properties to raise funds for the developmental works. We have ordered an inquiry into the misuse of funds during BJP regime at the BBMP,’’ the minister said.
