Bengaluru:
Social activist and senior BJP leader NR Ramesh has filed a complaint against two Congress ministers in the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, claiming that he has “misused” over Rs 17,000 crore under the rejuvenation and urban change (Amarut) scheme for the central government chief Atal Mission.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Ramesh shared that he has filed a complaint against State Urban Development Minister Bhirti Suresh, Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan, Congress MLA and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (Kuw & DB) President Vinay Kulkarni.
He said, “Complaints were filed with both Lokayukta and Enforcement Directorate (Ed) along with ministers Barerti Suresh, Rahim Khan and Vinay Kulkarni.”
The BJP leader shared that he lodged a complaint against Karnataka Urban Water Supply (KUWS) and Drainage Board (DB), VL Chandrappa and TN MUDURAJANNA chief engineers and city administration (DMA), Prabuling Kavalikatti, Director of Director of IASIA.
The objective of the Amarut Yojana is to improve drinking water supply, underground drainage, sewage management, storm water drains, green zones, parks, and urban transport infrastructure and improve the quality of life in urban areas outside major metros.
“The responsibility of implementation in Karnataka was entrusted to the Directorate of Kuws & DB and Municipal Administration (DMA). For the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Central Government released Rs 16,989.66 crore for Amarut projects in Karnataka.
“In 2024-25, it was released out of Rs 8,989.66 crore, tenders of Rs 5,799.98 crore have been finalized for 137 works and are in progress, while tenders of Rs 3,189.68 crore have been completed for 93 works, but have been completely released, which has been completely released, which has been completely started. Gaya, “He said.
“However, it has emerged that more than 50 percent of more than 50 percent of Rs 16,989.66 crore has been released in the last two years, Urban Development Minister Birethi Suresh, Kuve and DB President Vinay Kulkarni, and Municipal Administration Minister, Mrnmi Jasham,”
“Not almost half of the listed works were executed in the project estimates, yet the funds were withdrawn. Funds were distributed without actual execution of the works. The same sets similar to the photographs of the three-step project were used to prove the completion of several tasks. Pre-determined contractors were provided with special access to abundance.
He claimed that an independent inspection in 27 city corporations/municipalities on the implementation of Amarut Yojana in urban areas in Karnataka revealed that less than 50 percent of the claimed works were not visible on land, claiming.
Mr. Ramesh alleged, “Before the approval of the tenders, ministers Bireti Suresh and Rahim Khan received 15 percent commission, while Vinay Kulkarni took 3 percent.”
He further alleged that more than 50 percent of AMRUT funds were robbed by top officials in KUW & DB and DMA, including Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Commissioner of Urban Local Bodies and Chief Executive Officer of City Municipalities.
Mr. Ramesh, who has filed a complaint with the Governor’s office in this regard, has appealed to the Governor of Karnataka to allow the ministers to prosecution to investigate cases against Barerti Suresh, Rahim Khan and Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni.
Mr. Ramesh has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to investigate the mass “misuse” of the Amarut funds on a large scale.
Mr. Ramesh demanded, “I also demand a high-level judicial inquiry from the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah.”
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
