Yatnal smells ‘15% cut’ scam in Shivamogga airport work

Senior BJP member Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Wednesday claimed that he smelt a “15% cut” scam in the execution of airport works in Shivamogga, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s home district, and alleged that the State government has been discriminating in allocation of funds to the airport in Vijayapura.

During the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Yatnal said the government had given administrative approval for ₹383 crore to the airport in Shivamogga and only ₹220 crore to the airport in Vijayapura. He alleged that the Public Works Department escalated the cost of the airport in Shivamogga by increasing the allocation above 15% of the tender to “get cut in the execution of works”. Moreover, the airport in Shivamogga would get facilities such as cargo transport, night landing, and 350-metre runway for landing Boeing and other big aeroplanes round the clock and these have been denied to the Vijayapura airport, Mr. Yatnal said.