BRS MLC alleges Rs 100-crore bunker bed scam in KGBVs, exam irregularities at OU

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan has alleged massive irregularities in the Education Department, claiming that over Rs 100 crore was misappropriated in the procurement of bunker beds for Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

Hyderabad: BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan alleged large-scale irregularities in the Education department, stating that over Rs 100 crore of public funds was swindled in the purchase of bunker beds for Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs).

He also pointed to alleged irregularities in examinations conducted for law students of Osmania University, questioning the callousness of the authorities and silence of the Congress government.

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At a press conference in Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan said around 45,360 bunker beds for KGBVs were procured at Rs 35,830 per unit, inflating the total cost to nearly Rs 160 crore. He stated that similar beds were earlier supplied by local MSMEs for Rs 12,000-15,000, putting the excess burden at over Rs 100 crore on the State exchequer.

The BRS MLC questioned the pricing structure, pointing out that steel usage per bed had been reduced from about 95 kg to 75 kg in the latest tender. “When material weight drops, cost should come down. Instead, it has tripled,” he said, alleging manipulation of eligibility norms to sideline local manufacturers and favour specific companies associated with ruling party leaders.

Stating that KGBVs were funded under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan scheme in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the State, Sravan said the issue involved national taxpayers’ money. He urged Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to press for CBI and CVC inquiries and called for a judicial probe into the tender process.

He also raised concerns over alleged irregularities at Osmania University. He stated that examinations held for two separate law courses i.e. a five-year programme and a three-year honours course in law, were conducted on February 25 and February 27 respectively. He said both the question papers were identical, despite being distinct examinations.

Calling it evidence of administrative failure, Sravan accused the government of mismanaging the education sector and demanded a probe into the callousness of the authorities concerned in preparing the same question paper for two law courses in exams conducted on different dates.