Bengaluru: The concept of the Legislature Township which was shelved last December, has been revived with Karnataka Legislature secretariat officials visiting a few spots across the city.
This assumes significance in the wake of the government issuing an order handing over ownership of the Kumarakrupa Guest House, Vidhana Soudha premises, Vidhana Parishat premises, Legislators' Home, and Residential Layout of Government drivers at Lal Bagh Siddapur to the secretariat.
With this, civil and electrical works, architectural works, renovation and maintenance would be handled by the Legislature secretariat which will also take over ownership of 2.2 acres of the residential complex of D group employees to build the Constitution Club. The D group exmployees residential complex is in the vicinity of Kumarakrupa Guest House and hence, the secretariat would have no hassles in developing the Constitution Club.
Over 50 acres of government land will be procured to develop the Legislature Township. The government had spiked such an initiative when Assembly secretary S. Murthy wrote a letter in November to allot 100 acres of the Kadugodi plantation for this purpose. When contacted, Speaker, K.B. Koliwad said, "We have only visited three or four spots. Nothing has been decided as yet."
A highly placed sources said that when these buildings were with the PWD department, any work above Rs 5 lakh would be executed through tenders and the Karnataka Transparency in Procurement Act would be applicable. Now with the secretariat taking over the properties, the legislature need not follow any rules to execute projects and there is a possibility of mismanagement of funds, sources explained.
However, Mr Koliwad said he had followed the norms. Is there a possibility of others who become Speaker or Council chairman in future abusing the powers? "We have followed other states and taken over the properties. We can't stop such a process thinking too much about the future," he said. Council chairman, D.H. Shankaramurthy told Deccan Chronicle that though the PWD owned these properties, the legislature used to pay the taxes. "Considering this, Mr Koliwad suggested the idea of taking over. I agreed," he added.
