Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, has raised serious allegations of corruption in a massive ₹613 crore plan to rent sweeping machines for Bengaluru. The Bengaluru North MP has demanded an immediate investigation into what she describes as a potential scam involving the city's civic bodies.
The Controversial Tender Details
The Greater Bengaluru Agenda Coordination Committee (GBACC) has proposed renting 46 sweeping machines for a period of seven years at a staggering cost of ₹613 crore. According to Karandlaje's allegations, this arrangement appears heavily skewed against public interest and raises multiple red flags about financial propriety.
In a detailed social media post, the Union Minister pointed out that the rental cost significantly exceeds what it would take to purchase these machines outright. "The total cost of purchasing these machines would be around ₹120 crore, but the GBACC is planning to spend ₹613 crore on rental," Karandlaje stated, highlighting the enormous financial discrepancy.
Financial Irregularities Exposed
The mathematics behind the deal reveals shocking financial implications. Karandlaje's analysis shows that the GBACC plans to pay approximately ₹1.90 lakh per day for each machine over the seven-year contract period. This daily rental cost is substantially higher than market rates for similar equipment.
Furthermore, the Union Minister questioned why the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) couldn't purchase the machines directly, given the massive savings this approach would offer. "If the machines were purchased instead of rented, the BBMP could save hundreds of crores of public money," she emphasized in her statement.
Political Reactions and Demands
Shobha Karandlaje has not only exposed the alleged irregularities but has also taken concrete steps to address the issue. She has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to intervene and order a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The BJP leader has demanded that the state government immediately cancel the tender process and conduct a thorough review of the entire proposal. Her intervention comes amid growing concerns about transparency in urban infrastructure projects and public fund utilization in Bengaluru.
This controversy emerges at a time when Bengaluru is grappling with multiple civic challenges, including garbage management issues and infrastructure development. The sweeping machine tender, meant to address cleanliness concerns, has now become the center of a major political storm.
The allegations have put the state government and civic authorities under pressure to justify the massive expenditure and explain why a rental model was preferred over outright purchase when the latter appears more financially prudent.
