BBMP diverted major project funds for minor ward-wise works: Minister.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), during the last two fiscals, has diverted funds meant for major infrastructure projects to ward-wise works and smaller projects. As a result, payment to contractors has been delayed bringing work on most of the major infrastructure projects, which were a priority for the State government, to a grinding halt.

Bengaluru district in-charge Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy has now written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the funds meant for major projects being diverted for small projects.

The State government, during 2013-14 fiscal, released Rs. 868 crore for projects for which allocations were made in 2012-13 budget. The released funds were credited to a common BBMP account operated by the BBMP Commissioner and the Chief Accounts Officer (CAO), and from there it was diverted to other projects.

G.M. Ravindra, secretary, BBMP Contractors' Association, told The Hindu that most of the major projects were stalled because contractors were not paid for over a year.

THE HINDU