Karnataka CM forms high level committe to scrutinise tenders after contractor suicide, Eshwarappa's resignation

CM Bommai formed a high level committee to scrutinise tenders above Rs 50 crore. Government officials have also been instructed not to award any works on oral orders.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday formed a high level committee to scrutinise tenders after the fiasco surrounding the death of a contractor, who raised corruption allegations against the then minister Eshwarappa.

The committee headed by a retired high court judge and comprising an economic expert and a technical expert of the concerned department has been constituted to scrutinise tenders above Rs 50 crore.

Addressing a media conference in Shivamogga, Bommai said, "Committee has been constituted under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTTP) Act. The tenders would be awarded only after the committee scrutinises the estimates, tender pre-conditions and other aspects. The committee will start functioning within the next few days. If the number of tenders is too many, then a parallel committee would be constituted to ensure speedy processing of the tenders."

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Government officials have also been instructed not to award any works on oral orders in Urban Development and Rural Development departments.

"Action would be initiated against the concerned Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Section Officers. In rural areas, PDO and EO would be held responsible. Clear orders have been passed in this regard," Bommai said.

Responding to a question about the 'percentage' or commission culture in the government and Santosh Patil suicide case, Bommai said, "It is very important to control this. But the Santosh Patil suicide case is different. Here bills have been claimed after executing works on oral orders. So a thorough investigation is on from RDPR to the Police department. The two issues cannot be equated."