BENGALURU: A damning report submitted by Upa Lokayukta Subhash B Adi, accessed by Express, shows how money meant for cattle shelters and fodder supply was grossly misap propriated.
According to the report, the officials did not follow the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act in procuring fodder and construction of goshalas and did not maintain records to justify spending.
There was no record of even mode of spending, by way of cheque or otherwise. The accused officials did not provide fodder to cattle as per norms and did not maintain books of accounts or actual stock of fodder.
Instead of setting up pucca roofs at goshalas, revenue officials built cheap temporary roofs using coconut leaves. They produced false bills of fencing around goshalas, purchasing tarpaulins etc.
COW ATE THE FENCE?
The government had earmarked D10 lakh for each goshala. Indicating how money was splurged for non-fodder purpose, the enquiry report revealed that in Sira taluk, for instance, one goshala spent D55,959 on stationery and 4,650 on flexes. Officials had no bills to show money spent on medicines for cattle or toilets for their owners.
One bill showed money spent for erecting shamiana for a local MLA’s meeting. In another goshala at Turuvekere, `16,700 was spent on printing pamphlets andD2.43 lakh for erecting barricades around the goshala. But no barricades were found.
Similarly, D12,714 was shown for buying tarpaulins but again these were missing. At a goshala in Pavagada taluk, D1.50 lakh was shown for erecting barbed wire fence but there was no fence at all.
126 officials in the dock
The Upa Lokayukta has issued notice to 126 officials including assistant commissioners Tabassum Zaheera, Tumakuru division, Prajna A, Tiptur division, Anitha Lakshmi, Madhugiri Division and tahsildars, revenue inspectors, veterinary doctors, etc., seeking explanation for the misuse of funds.