Date:09/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/09/stories/2003050902860400.htm

Southern States - Karnataka

'Make report on Udupi ZP public'

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore May 8. The Chairperson of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), Manorama Madhwaraj, has urged the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, to make public the report of the Lokayukta probe into the large-scale corruption and misuse of funds in the engineering section of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat.

The former minister has, in a letter to the Chief Minister, said that in June 2002 she brought to his notice the corruption in zilla panchayat. Prompt action was taken on her complaint and a Lokayukta inquiry was ordered.

Ms. Madhwaraj, who is a former MLA from Udupi, said the people of Udupi District were surprised that although 11 months had passed, the outcome of the Lokayukta inquiry had not been made known. She said the Chief Minister stood for transparency in public life and on several occasions made public reports of inquiries.

The release of the Lokayukta report on the affairs of the panchayat would build confidence in the public mind about the administration. Ms. Madhwaraj demanded that the guilty should be punished irrespective of their position.

The people of Udupi District would welcome any such decision by the Chief Minister. Her demand is not without political significance.

The Udupi Zilla Panchayat is ruled by the Congress and the party has a strong base in the district. The Udupi Assembly seat is held by U.R.Sabapathy and the Udupi Lok Sabha seat by Vinayakumar Sorake of the Congress.