BBMP allegedly misuses funding under SBM

BENGALURU: Swachh Bharat Mission has one of the richest fundings yet. However, where is it actually going? 

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly misusing Rs 108 crore allocated by the Government of India under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The central agency has filed a complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002, and has written to the Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka, requesting an internal investigation report as well as all relevant documents.

The BBMP allegedly diverted roughly Rs 92 crore of the Rs 108 crore, released between 2015 and 2018, to activities that were not part of the sanctioned project. The Anti-Corruption Bureau was the first to receive a complaint alleging grant misuse. Mani Singh, Joint Director, ED’s Bengaluru zone, requested a full report, including the identities of officers engaged in the investigation, in a letter dated December 20, 2021, from Rakesh Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department.

On December 30, 2021, the Additional Chief Secretary wrote to Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commissioner, BBMP, urging him to share the relevant information as soon as possible. He also instructed Gupta to assign an officer to work with the ED on a case-by-case basis.

The ED’s letter primarily claims that the Rs 108-crore money was spent for government-unapproved programmes. It wants to know what work was done and how much it cost. The letter also requests the identities of officers and contractors engaged in the alleged fund misappropriation, as well as their current positions, addresses and phone numbers.