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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board FILE PHOTO |
The government is set to constitute an inquiry committee to look into a number of corruption charges against Sharat Chandra, who is close to the Gowda family.
A highly-placed source said the committee to look into the dealings of the chairman would be in place shortly.
Confirming this, ecology and environment minister Krishna Palemar said, "Sharat Chandra is doing a lot of illegal things saying the board is an independent body. The charges are serious and may land him in jail. But, before all that we have to put an end to his 'Tughlaq darbar'.
The government has levelled 13 charges against Sharat Chandra, including favouring the land sharks by regularising their illegal buildings and extending the benefits of Fifth Pay Commission to the contract labourers in the board.
"The steps taken by the chairman are not only illegal, but have also caused a loss amounting to hundreds of crores, to the board," said the source. "The irregularities may have made the officials in the board richer, but the board has languished."
According to the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1978 and Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1983, a high-rise building must get a licence from the pollution board prior to the construction.
The Acts are so stringent that any violation attracts a criminal case.
Regularisation
Sharat Chandra has allegedly regularised more than 60 such buildings by levying a mild administrative fee. He has not initiated criminal procedure against the violators.
"The government is convinced that the violators have paid heavy kickbacks," said the source. "It is a multi-crore scam as the violators' list includes bigwigs in the real estate business."
IT giants like Wipro, HCL, Mindtree, and leading developers like Prestige, L &T reportedly figure in the list.
Another serious allegation against Sharat Chandra is that he has extended the benefits of Fifth Pay Commission to 164 contract labourers who are not eligible to continue in the service for more than a year. These workers are not only continuing in service, even after the expiry of their contract, but have also allegedly been assured of confirmation of their service by the chairman.
Last week, the board created 13 new posts to promote the officials, defying the minister's order and that was the flash point.
"The chairman is going beyond his limits," said Krishna Palemar. "I have asked the environment secretary to submit a report on this. He is expected to give the report in a day or two. And based on it we will announce the inquiry," he added.
Responding to the development, Sharat Chandra said, "They are most welcome to conduct an inquiry. If the inquiry is conducted impartially, I am sure they will extend my services by another ten years. Such is my contribution to the board."
Caste factor
Sharat Chandra, who is a Vokkaliga, is known to be close to Deve Gowda, a prominent leader of the community.
When JD(S) was a partner of the previous government, the pollution board was filled with officers from the community. All the nominated members too were from the same caste. The member secretary was a close relative of Gowda.
His son Kumaraswamy nominated four members from the community after he stepped down from the CM's post, last year. Now, Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, seems to have settled scores. He has nominated a Lingayat as the member secretary, after sacking Gowda's relative. It is also said that the government will cancel all the nominations made by Kumaraswamy.
Fence eating the field
The list of building owners violating Water and Air Act and then illegally getting their buildings regularised, includes chief minister Yeddyurappa and forest minister Krishna Palemar.
Land Links Builders & Developers, owned by Krishna Palemar, had violated the norms in Mangalore and the building was regularised after the company paid a nominal administrative fee to the board.
Yeddyurappa's son is a major stakeholder in PES Institute of Technology & Management in Shimoga.
The building was regularised even after it violated the rules and no criminal procedure was initiated.
"When they themselves are wrong, the whole development will turn out to be a joke," said Sharat Chandra.
"Let them go ahead and time will teach them a lesson," he added
