Bengaluru, 15 June

Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Monday alleged that the state government's proposed solid waste management tender worth Rs 39,437 crore would impose a long-term financial burden on Bengaluru residents and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, the BJP leader claimed he was prepared for any investigation and had already sought a CBI inquiry into the tender process.

"I have already said I am ready for any investigation. I have already sought a CBI probe. I am prepared to provide all documents to the CBI. But who has to grant permission? The state government has to," he said.

Ashoka urged Bengaluru residents, resident welfare associations, and civil society groups to launch a letter campaign against the project by writing to the governor, the chief minister, and the president.

Claiming to have exposed a Rs 39,437-crore scam, he alleged that the project would burden citizens for decades and accused the Congress government of attempting to push through a long-term contract despite having less than two years left in office.

"This concerns Bengaluru's future for the next 30 years, not merely the next 30 months. Those currently in power may have only around 23 months left in office, but they are inviting tenders that will bind the city for 30 years and beyond," he claimed.

Alleging irregularities in the proposed waste management project, Ashoka said, "The Congress seems to have devised a way of making money from garbage. For the Congress high command, this may be political baggage; for the people of Bengaluru, it is damage."

The BJP leader stated that he had submitted representations to the Governor and a high-level committee, requesting an examination of the tender and an impartial and accurate assessment of the project.

Rejecting suggestions that his opposition to the project was politically motivated, Ashoka said, "I have no personal gain or loss whether DK Shivakumar remains CM or not. My concern is that this garbage-related burden should not fall on the people of Bengaluru."

On the proposed land acquisition for the Bidadi township project, Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was "ignoring the concerns of farmers and proceeding with the project despite widespread opposition."

Touted as India's first AI-powered integrated township, the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township is one of Chief Minister Shivakumar's ambitious projects.

Official sources stated that it is expected to cover approximately 7,481 acres, spread across nine villages in the region.

"Thousands of farmers have come out in protest. While Congress leaders speak about national issues involving Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they remain silent on the injustice being done to farmers by their own government in Karnataka," he claimed.

Citing delays in the development of Kempegowda Layout, he questioned the government's ability to execute another large-scale project.

"Now they are proposing another large layout project and moving ahead with the Bidadi project. They are issuing notifications, calling tenders and deploying police, even though they have barely one year and eleven months left in office. How can they complete such projects within that time?" Ashoka asked.