Avasta! KRFB in a bind over painting

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Officials of Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), who usually take up various tedious tasks related to maintenance of roads, have an unusual task at hand now - to get rid of a painting without causing loss to the exchequer.
'Avasta', a painting by renowned artist B D Dathan has landed the KRFB in trouble after the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) sharply criticised the purchase of the art work.The KRFB has decided to conduct an auction at its office at Kowdiar at 11.30am on Monday after they found it as the only way to address the adverse audit observation the board had received.
The board purchased the painting from Dathan around four years ago on the demand of the then member secretary and PWD secretary T O Sooraj for refurbishing his office. However, the CAG last year severely censured the purchase of the painting without permission from the government and utilizing Rs 90,000 for it from the Kerala road fund. "The Act or Rules do not provide for incurring of such expenditure by the board and the action also violated the provisions of the Kerala Financial Code, which stipulates that purchase of portraits for public buildings requires sanction from the government. Thus, the utilisation of Rs 0.90 lakh from the Kerala Road Fund for furnishing the office of the secretary, PWD, at the government secretariat was irregular," observed the CAG report, and asked the KRFB CEO to take necessary action for valuation and disposal of the painting.
When Sooraj was relieved from the post of PWD secretary after he faced cases for amassing wealth disproportionate to his income, the painting was returned to the KRFB office, where it was placed safely at the cellar till the CAG noticed it.
The base price of the painting is Rs 90,000. Those who quote more than the base amount through sealed letter or at the auction can buy it after paying the total amount within three days. Those who wish to see the painting before auction has to take prior appointment and visit the KRFB office.
Sources said that the auction will be a low-key event as they have no intention to hurt the renowned artist, who has no involvement in the entire issue.