BENGALURU: The sorry state of affairs in the Karnataka State Choultry, a state government accommodation for devotees visiting the famous pilgrimage Mantralaya in Andhra Pradesh to have darshan of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, has prompted Upa Lokayukta Justice KN Phaneendra to take up suo motu cognisance and register a case.
Based on the directions of Upa Lokayukta Justice K N Phaneendra, the Raichuru Lokayukta police have submitted a report to Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa under whose jurisdiction Raichur falls, has registered the suomoto case.
The choultry with 50 rooms- 40 non-AC and 10 AC, lacks basic amenities like cleanliness, hot water and drinking water. Sewage around the building stinks and is a mosquito breeding centre.
Devotees shared their tale of woes with Lokayukta police officer after Justice Phaneendra took cognisance of the poor condition of the government accommodation. Choultry manager, Anjaneyalu, was absent when the Lokayukta police visited the place on February 24.
The Lokayukta police were told that monthly maintenance of Rs 15,000 per month is not sufficient for the maintenance of the choultry, and no steps are taken for the installation of solar panels as geysers are not functioning. The Lokayukta’s police report stated that the pathetic condition was due to the inaction on the part of the Muzrai Department of the State.
Registering the case against manager Anjaneyalu and assistant Narasanagowda, treating it as maladministration under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, the Upa Lokayukta directed to forward a copy of the complaint along with their police report to Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria and Commissioner Sharath B, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Deputy Commissioner of Raichuru and also to Muzrai Minister and Raichuru District In-charge Minister for necessary action.
KEY QUESTIONS
Upa Lokayukta sought answers from the Manager of Karnataka State Choultry by April 28 to the following questions for the last three years:
What was the amount of maintenance fund released?
How much money was spent on the same?
How much rent was collected?
What is the methodology of booking rooms?
Devotees staying in the choultry are being provided free meals or breakfast?
What is the amount, if any, collected from the devotees in the form of kaanike?
How much grant was received from the government for meals/breakfast for devotees and spent?