District Minister Krishna Palemar has informed that “The permanent sea wall
construction works for which a Rs 900 crore project has been chalked out, would begin
shortly.”
Though political leaders have been oft and again stating since the past two decades of
finding permanent solution to the problem, they have been a mere eye wash. But now,
Palemar saying that the funds have been released, tender process was on and that works
would commence soon, gives one the impression that the project would begin soon.
When a leader from the district Vasanth Salian of the “ I am the Government” notoriety
was the fisheries minister, a delegation led by him had even been to France on a pleasure
tour on the pretext of studying French technology of raising sea wall.
But there was no mention of French technology later on and the authorities had tried to
wash their hands off the problem of sea erosion by merely dumping huge boulders.
But now Palemar who is holding the same portfolio is saying it is not French , but
German technology that would be adopted to raise the sea wall. As Palemar too has
referred to a foreign technology, there still remains a fear if even this project would be far
from reality!
But the curiosity at present is whose bank balance would increase with this project of
finding a permanent solution to the problem of sea erosion. Following the unprecedented
deluge that hit north Karnataka last year, the government has entrusted the rehabilitation
woks of the affected to some Sangh Parivar organizations.
Though the government had released several crores for housing purposes, even until now
most of the affected people do not have proper shelter. The Chief Minister himself has
admitted this fact.
The government has officially admitted that the housing programmes were incomplete
not owing to paucity of funds, but due to the disinterest shown by those who were
awarded the contract, to complete the projects on time.
But neither the government nor the ministers concerned have until now made public the
exact amount released for the purpose, and the amount that has been spent for the same.
As per a revelation made by former High Court judge Justice MF Saldanha in his recent
book, the BJP government has been awarding contracts of various projects to hardcore
Sangh Parivar men and that this was mafia style operation.
Most of the funds that are released goes towards empowering the Sangh Parivar men.
None can confirm that the funds released are being utilized in the right direction. The
truth will be revealed if the bank balances of Sangh Parivar leaders and activists are
checked, says Justice Saldanha.There is no reason to disbelieve the words of Justice
Saldanha who is also the Chairman of Transparency International, when he says the
above fact is justified at the outset on seeing the luxurious living style of the Sangh
Parivar men.
After all the coastal districts are the strong holds of the Sangh Parivar. If Nagpur is the
national headquarters of the Sangh Parivar, it is Mangalore for Karnataka.
Therefore, the main agenda is to fatten the purses of the Parivar men on the pretext of
releasing hundreds of crores of rupees for sea wall construction and then use them as
‘fighters’ during the next elections.
If a list of those who won the contracts for various developmental works in Mangalore
city corporation and other local administrative bodies ever since the BJP government
came to power, is made public, then it would reveal that the projects are meant not to
benefit people , but for the advantage of the Parivar men.
In this backdrop, it may not be any exaggeration to say that half of the funds that may be
released for sea wall construction would enter the pockets of these men.
If this should not happen, then the people of the district should place forth a demand to
the government to maintain transparency in the operations by providing every minute
detail regarding the project, contractors and the funds released. A citizens’ audit should
be ensured for this project. ( There is a need for citizens’ audit in a similar fashion for
every project that is implemented with the tax payers’ money)

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