BBMP corrupt on its home front too

It appears that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is not sparing any part of its jurisdiction without the blemish of irregularities. This time, it is regarding allotment of residential quarters for its own employees.

Many of the BBMP employees are being allotted residential quarters out of line despite the norm that allotment be made as per seniority. BBMP has residential quarters for its officials and workers (A,B,C and D group) in 12 city areas, with a total of 110 homes; and for BBMP employees working in referral and maternity hospitals, the civic body has 23 buildings, with 113 houses in various places in the city.

With the number of quarters being limited, there is a huge lobby for getting the quarters using political influence. On various occasions, the BBMP has violated the guidelines in allotting the quarters for its employees under pressure or influence, while the employees who are in the seniority list are still waiting for the residence.

According to details available with DNA, irregularities pertain to allotment of quarters to C-grade employees even in quarters designated for A- and B-grade employees. For instance, the Mission Road residential quarters is exclusively for A and B grade employees, but due to the pressure and influence, BBMP has allotted it to C-grade employees.

Take this instance about how these irregularities affect the C-grade employees, who remain deprived of residential quarters for almost forever. According to the information procured by DNA through RTI, there were142 applicants for the residential quarters till March 11, 2011. C-grade employee K Puttaswamy, a BBMP stenographer who is now working with BBMP’s major works standing committee, had applied for residential quarters 16 years ago — on June 29, 1996. Although he is the most eligible as per seniority for being allotted residential quarters, he still has not got it.

Puttaswamy who joined BBMP in 1995, in his letter to the deputy commissioner (Administration) on June 27, 2012, has said he is finding it difficult to pay rent from the past 16 years, as in the absence of an allotment of residential quarters he is forced to live in a private accommodation on a high rent.

He has requested that an allotment be made to him soon based on his seniority. In his letter, a copy of which is with DNA, he has alleged that he has repeatedly been ignored for allotment even as residential quarters were being allotted to employees many years his junior, and that he feels cheated.

In a separate case that highlights how these employees have to fight for their official rights, a lower court on August 28, 2012, directed BBMP to allot quarters to another C-grade employee, G Chandrashekhar, who is working as manager at assistant revenue office in Mahalakshmipura sub-division of BBMP. Chandrashekhar had also applied for quarters almost 16 years ago on December 21, 1996, and had to take legal recourse as part of his fight for it.

BBMP commissioner Rajneesh Goel said violating the seniority in allotting residential quarters is wrong. “The Supreme Court has also issued guidelines regarding allotment of residential quarters, stating that exception will be considered only in certain exceptional cases. I will inquire into the list and take action,” he said.

Interestingly, BBMP had framed guidelines for allotment of residential quarters for its employees on June 26, 2007, when Dilip Rao was the BBMP administrator (in the absence of a BBMP council). These guidelines were submitted to then chief secretary, urban development department for approval. But despite repeated requests (on July 2, 2008, and January 11, 2012) for approving these guidelines, they are still pending before the state government.