District minister said the alleged scam of Belagavi Urban Development Authority(BUDA) in auctioning sites will be probed by the senior officials of the urban development department.
Addressing the press conference after hoisting the tricolour at the district stadium here on Thursday, Karjol instructed DC Nitesh Patil to submit a detailed report about the alleged scam within the next three days. “Action will be initiated if it’s proved a scam during the investigation,” he said.
BUDA had conducted manual auction of 112 sites at Sahyadri Nagar, Kumaraswamy Layout, Ramtirth Nagarand Devraj Urs Colony on March 18, 2022. This auction was held just a day after selling 101 sites at Ramtirth Nagar, Kumarswamy Layout and Laxmi Tekdi.
Many local organisations and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had strongly protested the selling of plots through manual auction, calling it illegal. AAP leader Rajeev Topannavar alleged that it was a scam of Rs 100 crore.
According to the organisations, the manual auction had been called without circulating any public notification and the sites sold during the manual auction were at far lower rates, although most of the sites were corner plots. There are also allegations that only a few bidders participated in the auction and they bid without keeping any deposit money with the authority.
Since the issue has taken a political turn in the last few months, the demand for a fair probe has risen.
Following repeated media coverage, Karjol instructed for the detailed probe now.
‘Mahadayi water is our right’
Minister Karjol said 1.72 tmcft from Kalasa Nala and 2.18 tmcft water from Banduri Nala of the Mahadayi is Karnataka’s right. It’s a drinking water project and nobody can stop it. “Following the instructions of the Centre, we have reduced acquisition of land from around 500 hectares to 59 hectares. The centre has already given approval to the detailed project report (DPR). Shortly, we will start the work,” he said.
Public reps should be responsible: Karjol
Commenting about the ongoing gift politics in Belagavi (rural) assembly seat, and an offer of Rs 6,000 to the voters by MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, minister Karjol said people in public life should behave responsibly and introspect. He also condemned the complaint filing by the Congress at a police station based one somebody’s public speech. “By doing this, Congress is showing its immaturity,” he said.
Minister lashes out at Nimbalkar
Minister Karjol was asked about Khanapur MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar’s allegations that the “BJP is playing cheap politics over inaugurating the Kittur Rani Channamma Residential School at Jamboti. Karjol asked who gave authority MLA Anjali Nimbalkar to print the invitation cards without bringing to the notice of the DC, who is a protocol officer. “My name has been added for the inauguration without consulting me. It’s nothing but hypocrisy,” he said.