The BBMP commissioner narrowly escaped embarrassment after a city-based civil contractor walked into his office with a court order to confiscate his office furniture for failing to pay Rs45.3 lakh.
The BBMP commissioner narrowly escaped embarrassment after a city-based civil contractor walked into his office with a court order to confiscate his office furniture for failing to pay Rs45.3 lakh.
BBMP civil contractor, Arun Kumar, had carried out civic works at Yelahanka in 2005, which was at the time under the city municipality jurisdiction. When the payment of Rs31 lakh was not made, he approached the court seeking relief.
The city civil court recently passed an order directing the BBMP to clear his debts but the BBMP legal cell ignored the orders.
Kumar again approached the court contending that the BBMP is not honouring the court order.
The court taking strong exception directed Kumar to confiscate the furniture in the BBMP commissioner’s office.
Armed with court officials, Kumar approached the BBMP commissioner to take away the office belongings.
Shocked, the BBMP officials swung to action and paid Rs45.3 lakh, which included the interest.
BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda said that the incident took place due to some miscommunication. Earlier, the area belonged to the city municipality. It recently came under the jurisdiction of the BBMP. This has led to some confusion in the payment of bills, he said.
BBMP Contractors Association president, Srinivas, said that this incident has given some confidence to the other members, given that the BBMP has over Rs1,200 crore pending bills due to the contractors and after a series of protests, the commissioner has agreed to pay them in instalments due to the crunch in funds.
“He has also agreed to our demands like starting an e-procurement scheme for civic work which is more than Rs1 lakh. This would reduce delay in payments to a large extent,” said Srinivas.
Association vice-president Ravindra further added that the association has considered BBMP’s request to release the dues in instalments.
“We will launch a massive protest and even take it up legally like how Kumar did if the BBMP fails to fulfil its promise,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BBMP opposition party leader wrote to the commissioner, stating that the incident has brought disrepute to the BBMP.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}