Right now, our grouse is not corruption, but non-clearance of pending bills, says D. Kempanna, president of Karnataka State Contractors’ Association
The Hindu
Contractors are again on a collision course with the Karnataka government. While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors have stopped work, demanding immediate clearance of pending bills, contractors across the State have also warned that they may tread the same path if bills are not cleared soon. The pending bills, cumulatively, have mounted to about ₹25,000 crore in the State. Right now, our grouse is not corruption, but non-clearance of pending bills, says D. Kempanna, president of Karnataka State Contractors’ Association
Contractors are again on a collision course with the Karnataka government. While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors have stopped work, demanding immediate clearance of pending bills, contractors across the State have also warned that they may tread the same path if bills are not cleared soon. The pending bills, cumulatively, have mounted to about ₹25,000 crore in the State.
Amid allegations by Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been demanding a “commission” to clear bills, D. Kempanna, president of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, who led the association’s fight against the previous regime’s “40% commission”, spoke to The Hindu on their demands right now.
Edited excerpts:
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.