Startup founder says BBMP sought bribe for water connection, gave official & unofficial options
In a shocking revelation, a Bengaluru-based startup founder has come forward alleging that officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demanded bribes for road-cutting work related to getting a water connection. Ravichandra Reddy, the founder, claimed that the officials presented him with two options: an “official” payment with a bribe or an “unofficial” payment, where he would have to restore the road himself.
According to Reddy, the road cutting was necessary as the water pipeline was located on the opposite side of the road, and he needed to connect it to his startup’s premises. However, when he approached the BBMP officials for permission, they demanded ₹80,000 as the official payment, with an additional ₹20,000 bribe. Reddy was taken aback by the demand and decided to explore other options.
The officials then presented Reddy with an “unofficial” option, where he could pay ₹40,000, but he would have to restore the road himself after the road-cutting work was completed. This meant that Reddy would have to bear the additional cost of restoring the road, which would have added to his overall expenses.
Reddy’s allegations highlight the rampant corruption prevalent in the BBMP and the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs and citizens in getting basic amenities like water connections. The fact that officials are openly demanding bribes and presenting unofficial options is a clear indication of the lack of transparency and accountability in the system.
The BBMP’s role is to provide basic amenities like water, sanitation, and roads to the citizens of Bengaluru. However, the corruption and red tape in the system make it difficult for people to access these services. The demand for bribes and the presentation of unofficial options are not only illegal but also unethical and unfair to the citizens.
Reddy’s experience is not an isolated incident, and many entrepreneurs and citizens in Bengaluru have faced similar problems in getting water connections and other basic amenities. The corruption in the BBMP has been a longstanding issue, and despite efforts to reform the system, it continues to persist.
The Karnataka government has launched several initiatives to improve the ease of doing business in the state, but the corruption in the BBMP remains a major hurdle. The government needs to take concrete steps to address the issue of corruption and ensure that the BBMP officials are held accountable for their actions.
In recent years, there have been several instances of corruption in the BBMP, including the infamous TenderSURE scam, where officials were accused of inflating costs and awarding contracts to favored contractors. The scam led to a major overhaul of the BBMP’s tendering process, but the corruption continues to persist.
To address the issue of corruption, the government needs to implement a transparent and accountable system for granting water connections and other basic amenities. The system should be designed to minimize human interface, and the process should be simplified to reduce the scope for corruption.
The government can also consider implementing a online portal for applying for water connections and other basic amenities, where citizens can track the status of their applications and pay the required fees online. This would reduce the need for human interface and minimize the scope for corruption.
In conclusion, the allegations made by Ravichandra Reddy against the BBMP officials are a clear indication of the rampant corruption prevalent in the system. The government needs to take concrete steps to address the issue of corruption and ensure that the BBMP officials are held accountable for their actions. The implementation of a transparent and accountable system for granting water connections and other basic amenities is essential to improve the ease of doing business in Bengaluru and provide basic amenities to the citizens.
Read the full story here:
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/bengaluru-startup-founder-flags-alleged-bribe-demands-in-road-cutting-permission-to-get-water-connection-13782156.html/amp
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