The Bangalore Mirror, in its story Blinded by the lights, makes mention that in the Belagavi PWD division, the decorative street lights cost ₹ 83,296 per pole.
The Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Registered Contractors’ Association has submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Secretary, drawing attention to the rampant corruption within the PWD.
A contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that the same contractor who was executing a project in the Belagavi division for Rs 83,296 per pole including GST, had quoted Rs 1,20,000 excluding GST for the Chitradurga division, simply because the PWD Superintending Engineer had approved a similar cost for Shivamogga division.
The contractors’ intention is to protect the taxpayers’ money from being wasted. They are calling on the higher authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure that the taxpayers’ money is not squandered.