Times of India: Hubballi: Monday,
April 11, 2016.
The North
West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, Hubballi, which is facing losses due
to alleged inefficient management and handling over the years, has now stoked a
controversy by spending more than Rs 10 lakh to renovate the junior officers'
quarters to accommodate its managing director, without calling for tenders.
NWKRTC, which is reportedly under loss and is finding it difficult to settle PF
and other expenses of retired employees, has spent Rs 10.26 lakh to embellish
the quarters.
Information
sought under the RTI by Aravind Amaljari, SWKRTC CE division, Hubballi, said Rs
10.26 lakh was spent on renovation and repairs, including removing old paint,
replacing broken switches and sockets, repairing electric geysers, fixing
vitrified and ceramic tiles, improving illumination, air-conditioning and other
repair works from January to December 2015. It is said that NWKRTC CE division
has violated the Karnataka Transparency In Public Procurements Act (KTPPA),
1999, according to which tenders should be called to execute work worth more
than Rs 5 lakh. Though NWKRTC had approved of Rs 10.26 lakh to renovate the MD
quarters, it carried out work without calling for tenders.
An employee
of NWKRTC, Hubballi division, said NWKRTC is already facing losses following
stiff competition from private operators and had also failed to maintain the
division efficiently. It should carry out renovation work by preparing a proper
estimate and concrete plan. Why such a big amount was spent on renovation, that
too without calling for tenders, so it raises doubts, he added.
Shivalingaiah,
executive engineer, NWKRTC, CE division, Hubballi, said they have spent Rs
10.26 lakh for renovation and have allotted piecemeal contract.
He said they
have not violated KTPPA as we have accorded piece contracts for Rs 1 lakh and
below Rs 5 lakh, so there was no question of calling tenders. We approved work
for carrying out painting, electricity work, fixing tiles, AC and other work.
Uma Shankar,
chief engineer, NWKRTC, Hubballi division, said they had approved work to carry
out renovation of the junior officers' headquarters as there was no separate
headquarters for the MD. The building is about 60 years old, and in very bad
condition, he added.
R Vinoth
Priya, MD, NWKRTC, said he was staying in the building under renovation, as
there is no separate headquarters for the MD.
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