The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Action against only a few in KSRTC battery cable scam

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Monday, Feb 16, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Action against only a few in KSRTC battery cable scam

Anil Kumar Sastry

The corporation suspends four officials of only one division

Rs. 6 lakh found misused in Chikmagalur
division alone
While the product is available at Rs. 114 a metre,
officials paid Rs. 291

BANGALORE: While the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has suspended four officials of its Chikmagalur division in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds in the purchase of battery cables after an internal investigation, it is yet to take action against officials concerned of other six divisions where similar cases have been detected.

On June 4, 2008, KSRTC suspended Chikmaglur Divisional Controller Adish, Divisional Mechanical Engineer Yashvanth Kumar, Assistant Accounts Officer Harish Kottari and Assistant Stores Officer Chandramouli, pending inquiry for the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 6 lakh in this division alone.

Meanwhile, the security and vigilance wing of KSRTC launched an inquiry and found similar misappropriation cases in six other divisions, while the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) found misappropriation of funds in its Bagalkot division.

The scam revolved around purchase of battery cable. While the product was available at Rs. 114 in the market, the Chikmagalur division paid Rs. 291 a metre, sources said. While other spare parts had “prescribed lifetime”, battery cables did not as they were subject to frequent “tripping” and resultant burning, they added.

Fire-retardant

Purchase of sophisticated battery cable was necessitated after KSRTC decided to make its buses fire-retardant. The decision was taken after a few buses caught fire on their own at the depots in Bangalore. The corporation then decided to have GI sheets for roofs instead of AVS sheets for all its buses and keep the battery cut-off switches in working condition to avoid any accidental ignition.

KSRTC Director (Security and Vigilance) M.A. Saleem told The Hindu that his department had submitted reports indicating the extent of misappropriation and the persons involved. It was for the Personnel Department to take action, he said.

A senior official of the Personnel Department said that a “high-level” committee was examining the action to be taken against the officials found guilty of misappropriation. He, however, was unable to explain the differential treatment for officials of Chikmaglur division vis-À-vis their counterparts in other divisions.

Indifferent

Shankaranarayana Bhat of Consumer Forum of Balehonnur in Chikmaglur district had sought information regarding the battery cable scam, including the amount misappropriated and the persons involved, under the Right to Information Act in August 2008.

Except furnishing details on Chikmaglur division, KSRTC did not furnish information regarding the magnitude of the scam and action taken with regard to other divisions, Mr. Bhat alleged.

Hence, he filed fresh applications under RTI on February 12 seeking complete details, he told The Hindu.

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