Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 11: Karnataka Lokayukta officer Ganesh Rao on Wednesday March 11 visited various spots within Udupi CMC limits to investigate allegations of poor quality of work, irregularties and misappropriation of funds.

The Lokayukta official conducted the inspections based on a complaint filed by Nityanand Volakadu, chief secretary of Udupi district Nagarika Samiti, on December 9, 2014 with the Karnataka Lokayukta.

In his complaint, Volakadu had alleged that out of the 173 works in 35 wards during 2012-2013, 41 works were completed and two still in progress, and works worth over Rs one crore were done even before calling the tenders.

He also alleged that most of the works, including road development, were of poor quality, and that the funds granted for the works were misappropriated.

In the complaint, he named former CMC commissioner Srikanth Rao, former DC Pattana Shetty, junior engineers of CMC Diwakar and Ashwini, and project director in DC's office V Prasanna.

The complaint also alleges that some of the CMC members are hand in glove with contractors and are involved in major scams and illegalities.

Based on the complaint, Ganesh Rao is understood to have visited various spot including the CMC office. However, no details of the probe were divulged and CMC engineers refused to comment.

Speaking to media persons, complainant Nityanand Volakadu said that apart from poor quality of work, he had also complained about illegal constructions, and added that such things should stop.