Bengaluru, March 24 (NationPress) Senior BJP figure and Leader of Opposition, R. Ashoka, on Tuesday accused the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of engaging in a significant corruption scheme linked to the e-Khata system.

During a session in the Legislative Assembly, Ashoka asserted that a “racket” exists within the Bengaluru civic agency, where officials are allegedly soliciting bribes for processing e-Khata applications.

He noted that despite the Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative, the civic administration in the city has significantly worsened.

In a particular instance from HBR Layout, Ashoka mentioned that a property owner, who had legally acquired a site through auction, was reportedly coerced into paying bribes for the conversion of his property to e-Khata.

Although an initial payment was made digitally, the application faced repeated rejections, compelling the owner to pay additional sums. Even after fulfilling payment requirements, the matter remained unresolved, with no assistance from authorities, he claimed.

Ashoka further alleged that such corrupt practices are widespread throughout the city, including Devanahalli, where officials are purportedly demanding as much as Rs 50,000 for the issuance of e-Khata.

He also stated that intermediaries, including a retired official, are operating parallel systems to expedite approvals for substantial fees.

Expressing concerns over governance issues, Ashoka pointed out that BBMP officials have issued auction notices for properties even when taxes have been paid, describing it as proof of a “mafia” operating within the system. Many citizens have approached him with grievances.

In a broader context of civic concerns, Ashoka criticized that Bengaluru, which generates nearly 65 percent of the state's revenue, is grappling with severe infrastructure challenges. He highlighted unfilled potholes, poor road conditions, and mismanagement of garbage, despite claims of substantial budget allocations.

The BJP leader condemned the government's inaction regarding the city's waste management crisis, revealing that thousands of tonnes of garbage remain unprocessed due to a lack of operational dumping yards. He also emphasized the critical staff shortages across BBMP departments, which are detrimental to service delivery.

Additionally, Ashoka raised alarms over delays in the issuance of Occupancy Certificates (OC), asserting that millions of buildings remain unused due to procedural obstacles. He questioned the rationale behind granting construction approvals if OCs cannot be issued.