Times of India: Hubballi: Sunday, 16 March 2025.
Brinjal, generally used as
a garnish, was widely utilised during last year’s Kanakagiri festival, with
records indicating that 2.56 tonnes were consumed at a rate of Rs 75 per
kilogram, amounting to Rs 1.92 lakh. Furthermore, 145 kg of ginger, a spice usually
added in small quantities, particularly in sambar, was purchased for Rs 36,250.
These financial details
were uncovered through a Right to Information (RTI) request. Social activist
Ravi Agoli remarked, “This issue of inflated bills is not confined to the
Kanakagiri festival. Similar instances occurred during the Anegondi festival and
the silver jubilee of the district’s formation last year, where documents were
manipulated, and funds were retracted.”
The financial records for
all three celebrations in 2023-24 highlight these inflated costs.
Ravi Agoli pointed out, “It is not a coincidence that the district in-charge minister Shivaraj Tangadagi oversees the Kannada and Culture Department, where many of these irregularities are concentrated.”
For the fiscal year 2023-24, the allocated budgets included Rs8.23 crore for the Kanakagiri Utsav (scheduled for March 2 and 3), Rs 4.82 crore for the Anegondi Utsav (on March 11 and 12), and Rs1 crore for the Koppal district’s Silver Jubilee celebrations (taking place on March 10 and 12). “These documents indicate that nearly half of these funds were misappropriated,” asserts Ravi Agoli.
District in-charge minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has rejected the allegations. He stated, “Such claims are typical when it comes to large-scale events. Funds are disbursed only after thorough document verification. Since these events were held simultaneously, some confusion may have arisen.”
However, Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy challenges the minister’s rationale. He asserts, “The Kannada and Culture Department, which allocated Rs 8.23 crore for the Kanakagiri festival, was reluctant to release funds for the Anegondi festival, which is equally important as Hampi. Ultimately, only Rs4.82 crore was granted. Even after a year, those who incurred expenses for the festival have yet to receive payment. The minister, who accuses us of unnecessary spending, has not only provided double the funding for the Kanakagiri festival in his own constituency but has also been criticised for misusing half of that amount.”
The RTI response has uncovered notable financial irregularities. The bills for vegetable purchases list an address associated with an aluminium utensils shop. “The bills, amounting to lakhs, were handwritten and contained altered details,” Ravi Agoli states. “The total bill was submitted without a breakdown of expenses, which included a Rs 2 lakh charge. Despite this, the former ADC approved the bills without any objections, leading to suspicions of potential financial misconduct.”
As a result, he has filed a complaint with the Governor, CM, and chief secretary, urging an investigation into the financial details of these festivals and calling for appropriate legal action against any officials and contractors found to be involved in misconduct.
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| During the Kanakagiri festival, substantial financial irregularities were uncovered through an RTI request |
Ravi Agoli pointed out, “It is not a coincidence that the district in-charge minister Shivaraj Tangadagi oversees the Kannada and Culture Department, where many of these irregularities are concentrated.”
For the fiscal year 2023-24, the allocated budgets included Rs8.23 crore for the Kanakagiri Utsav (scheduled for March 2 and 3), Rs 4.82 crore for the Anegondi Utsav (on March 11 and 12), and Rs1 crore for the Koppal district’s Silver Jubilee celebrations (taking place on March 10 and 12). “These documents indicate that nearly half of these funds were misappropriated,” asserts Ravi Agoli.
District in-charge minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has rejected the allegations. He stated, “Such claims are typical when it comes to large-scale events. Funds are disbursed only after thorough document verification. Since these events were held simultaneously, some confusion may have arisen.”
However, Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy challenges the minister’s rationale. He asserts, “The Kannada and Culture Department, which allocated Rs 8.23 crore for the Kanakagiri festival, was reluctant to release funds for the Anegondi festival, which is equally important as Hampi. Ultimately, only Rs4.82 crore was granted. Even after a year, those who incurred expenses for the festival have yet to receive payment. The minister, who accuses us of unnecessary spending, has not only provided double the funding for the Kanakagiri festival in his own constituency but has also been criticised for misusing half of that amount.”
The RTI response has uncovered notable financial irregularities. The bills for vegetable purchases list an address associated with an aluminium utensils shop. “The bills, amounting to lakhs, were handwritten and contained altered details,” Ravi Agoli states. “The total bill was submitted without a breakdown of expenses, which included a Rs 2 lakh charge. Despite this, the former ADC approved the bills without any objections, leading to suspicions of potential financial misconduct.”
As a result, he has filed a complaint with the Governor, CM, and chief secretary, urging an investigation into the financial details of these festivals and calling for appropriate legal action against any officials and contractors found to be involved in misconduct.
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