Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 21: "State government amended 'Transparent Act' and enforced the bill on June 29, 2017 providing reservation for SC/ST contractors under SC/ST quota," said Karnataka SC, ST contractors association, state president, Mahadeva Swamy on Monday on August 20.

Speaking at Udupi press club, he said, “As per the quota, 24.1% construction work will be provided. A gazette notification was passed by the state government. It is clearly mentioned in the order that while distributing work orders, they should not divide work of Panchayath Raj department. But they are divided and have been assigning the construction work to their known people."

He further said, “They are calling for tenders for package of construction. Works are given to KRIDL and rehabilitation centers. The total budget project is Rs 50 lacs. These works are supposed to be given to SC/ST contractors. But no one has taken action against this.”

“It is a violation of Transparent Bill, of which the gazette notification has already been passed by the government. According to the law Section 23, if anybody violates the norms, he is liable to be fined with Rs 5000 and three years in jail. Another 2016 Transparent Act says that the department should not call tenders for small construction works,” he said.

Mahadeva Swamy on behalf of SC/ST contractors' association also demanded that concerned authority must take an action against those erring officials.

U Parameshwar, district president, SC/ST contractors' association, S Narayan, vice-president, Kamalaksha, treasurer, Dhananjay Kundar, organizing secretary, P Puttaswamy, state organizing secretary were present.