The Dakshina Kannada Nirmiti Kendra has been accused of diverting ₹24 lakh allocated for concreting the road between Urwa Market and the Scheduled Castes Colony in Kotekani for the road between Veekay Park Apartment and Chilimbi Cross.
It was as per the information procured under the Right to Information Act by activist Shashidhar Shetty.
The funds sanctioned was actually for concreting the 800m road between the market and the colony. Instead it has concreted the road between the apartment and the cross.
'Misuse of funds'
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. Shetty alleged that the fund meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been “misused.” The Social Welfare Department had allocated the work to Nirmiti Kendra in 2014-15. Mangaluru City South MLA J.R.Lobo too had recommended for taking up the work between the market and the colony.
He alleged that the quality of the road built between the apartment and the cross was poor. Its top layer has worn out in less than a year. In addition there are many potholes.
“This is a clear case of misuse of funds and shoddy work execution,” Mr. Shetty, who took a team of reporters to the area, said. Mr. Shetty has filed a complaint to this effect with the Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Sentil S, who is the chairman of the governing council of the Nirmiti Kendra.
Mr. Senthil told The Hindu that he has asked officials to submit a preliminary report of the work initiated three years ago. Action would be taken if the allegations are found true. Mr. Lobo said he was unaware of the change of road.
Meanwhile, the contractor to whom the Nirmiti Kendra assigned the work, blamed it on a local councillor for the change of road. The contractor, who is a Congress activist, said that the top layer would be repaired shortly. He wanted the media not to make it an issue.
