Indira Canteen, Nagarothana schemes irregularities to be probed, says BSY

Bengaluru: The state government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged misuse of subsidy by operators of Indira Canteens in Bengaluru and a separate probe into suspected irregularities in urban renewal initiative Mukhya Mantri Nagarothana schemes.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa ordered an inquiry in this regard at the cabinet meeting held on Monday, August 27.

In a letter written to BH Anil Kumar, additional chief secretary of the urban development department, Yediyurappa said, “There are allegations that the contractors have inflated the number of people eating at these canteens and are cheating the government on subsidy. Therefore, an inquiry is necessary.”

“Between November 3, 2016, and June 30, 2019, works worth thousands of crores have been taken up in BBMP jurisdiction. Most works are alleged to have been awarded to contractors who quoted 32% more than estimated costs,” Yediyurappa added.

Indira Canteen was Siddaramaiah’s pet project when he was the CM. Two firms, Rewards and Cheftalk Food & Hospitality Services, have been maintaining 174 Indira Canteens and 15 mobile canteens in BBMP limits. The state partly bears the cost of every meal served here, paying around Rs 7 crore in subsidies each month.