BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam on Tuesday suggested that the civic body's accounts be brought under the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Replying to members at the BMP Council meeting, the Commissioner said this will also bring the BMP under the scanner of the Public Accounts Committee of the State Legislature. "I have written to the Government in this regard," he said.

The Commissioner's suggestion came after members from all parties criticised the bureaucracy for not taking measures to recover funds from officials who have taken excess "advance credits" but have not submitted no-due certificates.

Audit objections

"Audit objections of over Rs. 960 crores have been raised against several officials since 1965. Most of them have either gone back to their parent department or have retired. What measures are being taken to recover the excess amount from them?" Azadnagar corporator B.T. Srinivas Murthy asked.

Pointing out that there are several audit objections against officials who are on deputation to the BMP from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. in the past three years, Mr. Srinivas wondered why the BMP should not recover the excess amount from them.

"The officials say they do not know the whereabouts of the retired persons. But these officials have been regularly drawing their pension from the BMP. This is ridiculous," he said.

The Commissioner replied that under the Karnataka Municipalities Corporation Act, he is authorised to file cases against the defaulting officials.

"We are issuing notices to all defaulting officials. They are expected to reply to the notices and if their reply is not acceptable, the advance credit drawn by them can be recovered," he said.

"The officials will be allowed to appeal before the district courts or the State Government and if these authorities rule in favour of the BMP, I can file cases against them," he explained.

Notices issued

Admitting that there are several lapses in the BMP's accounts for the past 10 years, the Commissioner said show-cause notices were issued to 227 officials last month for not submitting no-due certificates.

Additional Commissioner (Finance) P.K. Srihari said the salaries for January of these officials have been held back.

The advance credit bills issued by the BMP for 2005-06 to officials of various ranks range between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 15 lakhs, he said.

"While a Joint Commissioner has drawn Rs. 11.5 lakhs for the Pourakarmika Day celebrations, another top official has drawn Rs. 15 lakhs for the Kempe Gowda Day celebrations. We have issued notices to all these officials for not submitting no-due certificates," he added.

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