The Rs 42 Lakh Table & Chair: A Tale of Waste at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha

Prepare to be utterly astonished, because the details emerging from Karnataka regarding public spending are truly eye-opening. Can you even fathom a government spending a staggering Rs 42 lakh – yes, you read that right, four point two million rupees – on just a table and a chair? It sounds like something out of a satire, doesn't it? Yet, this is precisely what happened for the Speaker's dais at the majestic Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

This rather shocking revelation comes courtesy of a vigilant RTI activist, T. Narasimha Murthy, who has meticulously uncovered these figures. We're talking about expenditure incurred way back in the financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15. But here's where the story gets even more bizarre: this incredibly expensive set of furniture, procured at such a colossal cost, was, believe it or not, never actually used. Not once! Imagine that – millions spent on something that just sat there, probably gathering dust.

And then, as if the situation couldn't get any more perplexing, the very same high-priced table and chair were later, rather unceremoniously, declared "unfit for use." After all that money, all that fuss! Naturally, they had to be replaced. What replaced them, you ask? Well, much more sensible, and dare I say, appropriately priced, furniture. It truly begs the question: how on earth did we get here in the first place?

The procurement process itself raises a whole host of red flags. The initial purchase was made from a Mumbai-based firm, M/s Wooden Touch, and here's the kicker: it completely bypassed the standard, rigorous tender procedures. The reason cited for this deviation? "Urgency." Now, while urgency can sometimes be a legitimate factor, spending Rs 42 lakh on furniture without proper tenders, only for it to be deemed "unfit" and unused, stretches the definition of "urgency" beyond belief, don't you think?

This entire episode underscores a deeply concerning lack of accountability and prudence when handling public funds. It's our money, after all, and to see it potentially squandered on such a scale is, frankly, disheartening. Mr. Murthy's efforts are commendable, and his findings undeniably point towards a pressing need for a comprehensive and swift investigation. The public deserves clear answers, and anyone found responsible for this colossal waste must, without a doubt, be held to account. It's not just about a table and a chair; it's about trust and transparency in governance.