Bengaluru: Ashoka flags Rs 112.99-cr lapse in garbage tender

In a letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ashoka alleged that the tender process had continued despite financial department directions. He demanded that the government examine all records relating to the contracts and initiate strict legal action if wrongdoing was established.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka has called for a Lokayukta investigation into alleged irregularities in the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s tenders worth Rs 133 crore for garbage and waste transfer centres, raising questions over security deposits, bidder selection and compliance with Finance Department instructions.

In a letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ashoka alleged that the tender process had continued despite financial department directions. He demanded that the government examine all records relating to the contracts and initiate strict legal action if wrongdoing was established.

Ashoka said the alleged lapses were particularly serious because the project was intended to improve Bengaluru’s waste management infrastructure. He claimed that tender conditions had been violated, additional security deposits had not been collected and financial safeguards had been ignored. He had earlier raised the issue at a press conference, where he said he released documents relating to the process.

The BJP leader pointed to two packages in particular. Package 2, estimated at Rs 55.04 crore, allegedly required an additional security deposit of about Rs 76.79 crore. Package 5 was said to involve a further deposit of approximately Rs 15.99 crore. Ashoka put the total amount allegedly not collected at Rs 112.99 crore.

He questioned how work orders could have been issued without the deposits and sought accountability for the decisions. He also urged authorities to examine the technical qualifications, quoted prices and eligibility of all bidders to determine whether any company had been favoured.

The proposed investigation should establish whether the locations required for the transfer centres were identified in advance, whether statutory permissions were secured and whether the project’s feasibility was assessed before tenders for 21 packages were invited.

Ashoka urged the Chief Minister to refer the matter to the Lokayukta for an independent inquiry. The alleged irregularities remain claims that require verification by the investigating authority.