<p>The government on Sunday constituted two committees to scrutinise tenders over Rs 50 crore and to study the political representation of backward classes.</p>.<p>The tender scrutiny committee (TSC) is being set up to ensure transparency and curb irregularities in the tender process, according to the government.</p>.<p>It will be headed by retired High Court judge Justice Rathnakala, with the retired secretary of Water Resources Department B G Gurupadaswamy and retired director of state accounts and audit department K Nandakumar as its members.</p>.<p>TSC was approved by the state Cabinet in November last year to clear all tenders above Rs 50 crore before they are floated by government<br />bodies.</p>.<p>During the review, the committee is expected to prevent exaggeration of funds required and check the cost escalation of projects. </p>.<p>The committee was constituted close on the heels of 40 per cent kickback allegations by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association.</p>.<p>The government had said that it was required due to complaints of huge variations in estimates proposed while floating tenders. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Political representation</strong></p>.<p>A commission headed by Justice Bhaktavatsala will conduct a study on the political representation of other backward classes (OBCs).</p>.<p>Retired IAS officer C R Chikmath will be a member of the Commission. It was constituted based on the three-prong formula recommended by the Supreme Court in a case related to ensuring suitable representation for OBCs in Panchayat Raj institutions and urban local bodies.</p>.<p>The government had discussed the issue at an all-party meeting on March 23 and 31, where it was decided to hold the elections to these institutions only after making provisions for reservations for these communities. </p>.<p>The commission would make suitable recommendations after studying the political backwardness of these communities. </p>
<p>The government on Sunday constituted two committees to scrutinise tenders over Rs 50 crore and to study the political representation of backward classes.</p>.<p>The tender scrutiny committee (TSC) is being set up to ensure transparency and curb irregularities in the tender process, according to the government.</p>.<p>It will be headed by retired High Court judge Justice Rathnakala, with the retired secretary of Water Resources Department B G Gurupadaswamy and retired director of state accounts and audit department K Nandakumar as its members.</p>.<p>TSC was approved by the state Cabinet in November last year to clear all tenders above Rs 50 crore before they are floated by government<br />bodies.</p>.<p>During the review, the committee is expected to prevent exaggeration of funds required and check the cost escalation of projects. </p>.<p>The committee was constituted close on the heels of 40 per cent kickback allegations by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association.</p>.<p>The government had said that it was required due to complaints of huge variations in estimates proposed while floating tenders. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Political representation</strong></p>.<p>A commission headed by Justice Bhaktavatsala will conduct a study on the political representation of other backward classes (OBCs).</p>.<p>Retired IAS officer C R Chikmath will be a member of the Commission. It was constituted based on the three-prong formula recommended by the Supreme Court in a case related to ensuring suitable representation for OBCs in Panchayat Raj institutions and urban local bodies.</p>.<p>The government had discussed the issue at an all-party meeting on March 23 and 31, where it was decided to hold the elections to these institutions only after making provisions for reservations for these communities. </p>.<p>The commission would make suitable recommendations after studying the political backwardness of these communities. </p>
