CHENNAI: DMKpresident M. Karunanidhi on Sunday contested the CB-CID claim that it was his government that shifted the concept of construction to the Build-Operate-Transfer basis.

Handing over copies of a letter written by the Commissioner of Municipal Administration in early 1996, an extract of a resolution of the Karur municipal council and an order of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the BOT concept--which forms the thrust of the CB-CID FIR--was mooted by the earlier AIADMK government, and not by him.

In the letter dated January 22, 1996, the then Municipal Administration Commissioner, communicated to the Municipal Administration Secretary the minutes of a meeting relating to construction of a new bridge across Amaravathi in Karur. "In the high level committee meeting held at Madras on 18-10-95 it was informed that the approximate cost for the above project would be Rs.15 crore and the project can be taken up for execution under the scheme of "Build, Operate and Transfer" (BOT) with 90 per cent financial assistance from HUDCO and the balance 10 per centre from the agency selected on tender basis, which will be executing the work as a joint venture... The above proposal of the municipal commissioner, Karur is forwarded to Government with due recommendation for early appropriate orders." Earlier the special officer- administered Karur municipality had requested for construction of a new bridge on December 13, 1995.

The order of the Municipal Administration department (GO Ms.29, dated January 30, 1996) stated, "The Karur Municipality can take up this project with toll collection." and detailed the modalities as to how the project should be executed.

"The AIADMK was in power during that time," Mr. Karunanidhi told presspersons here. "The only connection that I have with the Karur bridge is that the first bridge was constructed the year I was born - 1924," he added.

The DMK chief contended that if any irregularities took place, it was during the AIADMK regime. He said that during the appointment of the consultant, established procedures were violated. It was done by nomination and the tender process was not followed. (Kirloskar Consultants Ltd. was entrusted with the work of preparation of the project report for the construction .)

After the DMK came to power in 1996 and conducted the local body elections, the file relating to the construction of the bridge was sent to the Karur municipality for debate and adoption. After the resolution was adopted, tenders were called for, the lowest bid selected and the contract for construction was awarded to East Coast Construction and Industries. This firm had constructed the Anna Flyover and the new Government General Hospital, he said.

Ruling party's gamble

On a new case filed against him, Mr. Karunanidhi said that it was a "gamble" that the ruling party was indulging in to garner a few votes in the coming elections. He said that he had never spoken about Hinduism or any religion in a manner to hurt anyone's feelings. He had only repeated what Vivekananda and the Paramacharya had said about religion, he said.

On the benefits for HR & CE employees, Mr. Karunanidhi said that these schemes existed during the DMK regime. The benefits that were curtailed earlier were being given now, he contended. On the pension scheme announced, he said that this too had existed earlier. The AIADMK Government had merely extended the scheme.

Asked if the DMK would participate in the Assembly proceedings if it were held on January 13, he said that he would discuss the issue with party general secretary K. Anbazhagan. The DMK had demanded that the session be held at a later date in view of the Boghi festival.

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