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Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Massive corruption alleged in housing project in Shiggaon
Haveri: Serious allegations of large-scale corruption have surfaced in the construction of government-approved houses under the Slum Board scheme in Shiggaon Assembly constituency. According to the complaint submitted by the local MLA, houses approved under the scheme are allegedly incomplete, built with substandard materials, and lacking basic amenities, pushing poor beneficiaries into financial distress. The issue came to light after local MLA raised the concern at a recent Karnataka Development programme (KDP) meeting chaired by District In-Charge Minister Shivananad Patil. The MLA highlighted that hundreds of families are left without promised facilities and that contractors have misappropriated funds meant for construction. Following the complaint, Haveri Deputy Commissioner Vijayamahantesh formed a team headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Savanur to investigate. The team, comprising seven officers, visited the project sites in Savanur, Shiggaon and Bankapur towns and submitted a preliminary report to the district administration. According to official records, the Slum Board had sanctioned around 2,000 houses for the Shiggaon constituency — 696 houses in Savanur town at a cost of Rs43 crore, 850 houses in Shiggaon at Rs46 crore, and 454 houses in Bankapur at Rs27.76 crore. The houses were approved under the 2021-22 project plan, with each beneficiary household sanctioned Rs7.2 lakh for construction. However, the probe revealed that while funds were released, only about 20% of houses are fully completed, with around 60% in an incomplete stage for over two years. Beneficiaries claim that contractors supplied only about 50% of the required cement, bricks, and iron rods. Many families have been forced to spend their own money to buy remaining materials and complete the construction. Some have even mortgaged gold ornaments or sold small plots of land to raise money. Adding to their woes, several labourers who worked on these houses have not been paid their wages, according to the report. Beneficiaries allege that despite multiple complaints, contractors have neither paid workers nor supplied the remaining construction material. 'I sold my wife's jewellery to buy bricks and cement to complete my house. But the contractor didn't even pay the workers. Many people like me are living in incomplete houses that leak during rain,' said Sandeep, a beneficiary who accused the contractors and some officials of misusing funds and cheating the poor. Responding to the controversy, Deputy Commissioner Vijayamahantesh said that of the sanctioned 2,000 houses, 200 were cancelled by the government. Out of the remaining 1,800 houses, 1,279 have been completed while about 521 are still in progress. He explained that during inspection, it was found that some beneficiaries themselves started constructing houses using their own funds when contractors failed to supply materials as per the agreement. In some cases, the beneficiaries built bigger houses than the approved 350 square feet, which created disputes over additional costs. Payments worth Rs66 crore have been released so far out of the total project cost of Rs121 crore, and around Rs25 crore is pending. The DC confirmed that the inspection team found only about half the promised materials were supplied and that the Slum Board has been notified about the pending payments and quality issues. He assured that the Assistant Commissioner's report has been sent to the Slum Board's head office in Bengaluru and further action will be decided soon. However, angry beneficiaries say that the investigation must not stop at a report. 'The report will say all is fine. But the truth is, the work is incomplete and of poor quality. Some people are still living in rented houses because their Slum Board houses are half-built. There is no single photograph showing a house fully built and handed over with keys,' said Sandeep, adding that influential officers and contractors have colluded to siphon off funds.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Slew of social infrastructure projects commissioned in Oulgaret
Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan on Monday dedicated to the public a slew of completed social infrastructure projects across low-income settlements under the Union Government's Cities Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) initiative. Various projects executed at an estimated cost of ₹16.72 crore were commissioned during a function at the Pavana Nagar park in Oulgaret. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said these schemes reflected the government's thrust on welfare schemes for the low-income strata. Pointing out that many of the projects dedicated to the public had been pending completion for long, the Chief Minister said the government was not just earmarking funds for civic schemes but also ensuring their fruition. Speaker R. Selvam, MLAs M. Vaithianathan and M. Sivasankar, Local Administration Secretary R. Kesavan, Director S. Shakthyvel and Oulgaret Commissioner A. Suresh Raj were among those who participated. The important projects, included concrete road works in Jeevanandapuram and Weavers' Settlement within Lawspet limits, construction of roads, drainage and parks in Pavana Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, cremation platforms for crematoriums in Palakkaranjavady, Shanmugapuram and Mettupalayam and improvements to the link road to Lambert Saravana Nagar EWS housing project area from Villianur Main Road (NH) and First to Fourth Cross Road at Sudhagar Nagar, Reddiyarpalayam. A park, playground and a compound wall of Slum Board EWS Housing Project Site at Jawahar Nagar, Boomianpet and provision of LPG crematorium in the burial grounds at Shanmugapuram and Pavazhakaranchavady and modernisation of the facility at Mettupalayam were other initiatives. Meanwhile, a press note said with the rapid expansion of urban areas in Oulgaret, people's expectations were also on the rise. The Oulgaret Municipality currently has a population of about 45 lakh and comprises seven Assembly constituencies and 42 wards. Within municipal limits are a central university, engineering colleges, veterinary hospital, government medical college, Kendra Vidyalaya, arts colleges and industrial parks. The completed projects were part of the detailed plans drawn up by Oulgaret Municipality to develop social infrastructure in low-income settlements to the tune of ₹18.49 crore under CITIIS 2.0, a sub-component of the Smart Cities Mission.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Fear of floods haunts Bengaluru slums as monsoon nears
BENGALURU: As monsoon clouds gather over Bengaluru, thousands of slum dwellers in the city live in fear of flooding. Many residents, especially those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas like Bakshi Garden off Goodshed Road, Narasimahaiah Colony near Mysuru Road Satellite Bus Stand, and Vinobha Nagar - all slums built over storm water drains - fear that rainwater will gush into their homes and damage their belongings, besides bringing health issues. The Slum Mahila Sanghatane has raised alarm over poor preparedness in these vulnerable settlements. The organisation has demanded that the Disaster Management Act be fully implemented, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. They suggested that temporary shelters be set up in government schools and community halls, besides health camps with access to clean water and essential medicines. 'We only receive help from Rotary Club and volunteers. BBMP has done nothing,' said Jhansi, a member of the Sanghatane. One of the main reasons cited for the recurring floods is the failure of the civic body to desilt stormwater drains -- a task supposed to be carried out annually. Responding to the concerns, Karnataka Slum Development Board Commissioner Ashok DR said, 'All engineers have been directed to closely monitor slums that are at risk of flooding, and take preventive action. Although slums do not come directly under our administration, we coordinate with local bodies to ensure timely response.' He added that the Slum Board focuses on providing housing, toilets and drinking water. In an endeavour to provide permanent shelter and relief from rain-related issues to slum dwellers, the Slum Board is constructing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), he said.
