BENGALURU: Even before its launch, the Bengaluru Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) is mired in controversy. The state department of collegiate education, which is authorised to release funds for the establishment of BASE, has written to the Karnataka State Higher Education Council that it cannot release the requested fund for technical reasons.
Commissioner for the Department of collegiate education Dr Ajay Nagabushan has written an official letter in which he has raised several issues. A copy of the letter, which is with Express, reads, “There is no administrative approval given for the plan and estimation, despite this, the amount has been paid to Karnataka Housing Board. There is no finance officer appointed for the institute to take care of accounts, a regular director is yet to be appointed. When this is the situation, the funds cannot be released and the same was brought to the notice of the concerned authorities in our first letter. Despite this, it has come to our notice that `106.96 crore has been paid through cheque to Karnataka Housing Board. The collegiate education department will not be responsible for any other problems or issues in future.”
The IAS officer’s move of writing the letter has, however, not gone down well with the state higher education minister Basavaraja Rayareddi. He has warned the commissioner of collegiate education “not to interfere in such issues”.
At a press conference, Rayareddi said, “The officer is no way concerned with the Ambedkar School of Economics and retired IAS officers have been appointed to look after the project. He was not even a member of the higher education council earlier. I only made him one of the members after taking charge of higher education portfolio.”The minister said the officer lacks information about the project. “He is not aware of the Cabinet’s approval. He has written the letter due to lack of information. I told him it is not a child’s play,” Rayareddi added.
However, the minister did not answer when asked if the higher education council has powers to recommend for release of funds or interfere in the financial matters of projects.
Dr Ajay Nagabushan refused to comment.
BASE to be launched on October 4
The BASE will be launched on October 4. Ex-prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be coming to inaugurate the classes for academic year 2017-18. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and RBI former governor Dr C Rangarajan will be present.