7 months ago
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A State-appointed enquiry has uncovered extended fiscal and administrative irregularities successful the Kalyana Karnataka Human Resource, Agriculture and Cultural (KKHRAC) Society, with the researcher describing the alleged mismanagement arsenic 1 of the biggest misuse of funds successful Karnataka successful three-year play from 2020–21 to 2022–23.
The report, prepared by retired IAS serviceman Sudhir Kumar, was precocious submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (The Hindu has entree to a definite information of the report.)
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge had repeatedly questioned the functioning of the KKHRAC Society and the alleged irregularities linked to it. The nine was acceptable up during the erstwhile BJP government, with elder BJP person and erstwhile Rajya Sabha subordinate Basavaraj Patil Sedam arsenic its president.
After the Congress returned to powerfulness successful 2023, Mr. Kharge wrote to the Chief Minister seeking a ceremonial investigation. The Chief Minister subsequently ordered the probe.
According to the findings, the KKHRAC Society created what the study calls an ‘entirely illegal’ eighth entity named the ‘Sub-Region of Kalaburagi–Sedam’. This sub-region was formed without the cognition oregon support of the State authorities and functioned arsenic if it were an further territory nether the Kalyana Karnataka region. The enquiry notes that Sedam Taluk and 4 neighbouring taluks were grouped and treated arsenic a abstracted territory for the intent of readying and money allocation, contempt having nary ineligible sanction.
It whitethorn beryllium noted that Sedam is the location municipality of Mr. Sedam.
The study states that this unauthorised sub-region received unusually precocious allocations, astatine times adjacent much than immoderate of the 7 morganatic districts of the Kalyana Karnataka region. Annual expenditure statements reviewed by the researcher amusement that fiscal flows to this sub-region consistently exceeded what immoderate of the different districts received, raising questions astir the rationale and the process done which the funds were diverted.
The study besides notes that elder officers successful the Planning and Finance Departments did not enactment to close these irregularities adjacent aft discrepancies began to look during 2021–22 and 2022–23.
Across the 3 years from 2020–21 to 2022–23, the nine spent much than ₹322 crore retired of the full funds available. This fig includes the astir ₹300 crore released by the authorities arsenic grants arsenic good arsenic the slope involvement earned connected those grants. The annexures reviewed by the researcher amusement that expenditure successful Sedam Taluk and the 4 taluks grouped with it was unusually precocious crossed each 3 fiscal years nether scrutiny. In 2020–21, spending successful this clump was already higher than successful Bidar, Ballari and Vijayanagar, and lone somewhat little than the levels recorded successful Koppal.
The signifier held successful 2021–22, erstwhile expenditure successful these 5 taluks exceeded that of Bidar, Koppal, Ballari and Vijayanagar, and came adjacent to the amounts spent successful Yadgir and Raichur. In 2022–23, though the magnitude spent successful the sub-region was little than successful the erstwhile 2 years, it inactive surpassed fractional of the idiosyncratic expenditure recorded successful Yadgir, Raichur, Ballari and Vijayanagar.
The enquiry besides draws attraction to the mode the nine utilized a spending caput labelled ‘President’s Discretion’, nether which much than ₹25.85 crore was spent crossed the 3 fiscal years examined. A important stock of this magnitude was directed to Sedam Taluk, reinforcing the investigator’s presumption that funds were being channelled successful a signifier that favoured the country carved retired arsenic the unauthorised sub-region.
The study recommends that the State authorities initiate disciplinary and transgression proceedings against the officials who took portion successful the alleged diversion of funds. It besides suggests that enactment beryllium considered against backstage individuals, non-officials and retired authorities employees who were associated with the nine and whitethorn person played roles successful the process.
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