The Hindu : Kerala News : `House panel should probe pipe deal'

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Friday, Apr 22, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

`House panel should probe pipe deal'

Staff Reporter

Chandy shielding corrupt: Achuthanandan

PALAKKAD: The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, has demanded a comprehensive inquiry by an Assembly committee into the allegations of corruption in the Rs. 650-crore purchase of pipes for the Japan-aided drinking water scheme.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan also sought an inquiry by the Assembly committee into the move by the KSEB to buy electric posts at a cost of Rs. 200 crores. When there is already stock of 2 lakh electric posts, the decision to buy 10 lakh electric posts is questionable, he said.

Norms flouted

He alleged that the State Government had flouted the norms with regard to purchase of pipes for the Rs.1,800-crore Japan-aided drinking water supply scheme. The Water Resources Department had allegedly modified the tender conditions to favour certain pipe supply companies, he alleged. Such "large-scale corruption was with the knowledge of the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, he said.

"The difference between the former Chief Minister A.K. Antony and Mr. Chandy was that Mr. Antony did not directly involve in such deals whereas Mr. Chandy, who was the fund raiser for the UDF, was reluctant to take action against such deals by his Ministers."

This is evident from his reluctance to order an independent inquiry into the question paper scam. The Vigilance inquiry has brought out the involvement of officials in the matter of the question paper printing contract. However, the Chief Minister is not ready to conduct investigations into the matter to bring out the involvement of the former and the present Education Ministers, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Promise not kept

He said the Chief Minister had failed to honour his promise to farmers on purchase of paddy. Instead, he helped rice mill owners buy the paddy at Rs.500 a tonne against Rs. 750 fixed as support price. This is because the rice mill owners are learnt to have contributed liberally to the fund mobilised for the rallies by the Congress, the Opposition leader said.

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