Karnataka - Raichur   

Maintenance work on TLBC's distribution channels stalled

Staff Correspondent

BJP to file writ petition seeking a thorough investigation

RAICHUR: The Government has stalled the proposed maintenance work of the distribution channels of the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC), following complaints of malpractices found in calling tenders.

Disclosing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, R. Thmmaiah, former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shankargouda Harvi, president, and Trivikram Joshi, general secretary of the district unit, said that they will file a writ petition in the High Court of Karnataka seeking a thorough investigation into the alleged malpractices. They said they had collected necessary records and submitted it to the Leader of the Opposition, B.S. Yediyurappa, to raise it in the Assembly and demand an inquiry into the alleged misuse of funds. When the issue was raised in the Assembly, the Government promised to look into the allegations, they said.

The BJP leaders said that they also had unearthed another scandal entertained by the officials of the department while implementing maintenance work in TLBC's distribution channels. The department has finalised a proposal of implementing the maintenance work in the distribution channels at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 crores. However, the officials at the Munirabad zone have flouted norms while calling for tenders.

They said that they found this while verifying the records with the Sindhanur Irrigation Division in respect of implementation of maintenance work of the distributary channels. The official concerned was forced to call for tenders after the issue was raised in the Assembly. They said that the issue was brought to the knowledge of the Principal Secretary of the Water Resource Department, A.T.M. Naik, who ordered the authorities concerned to cancel the tenders. Subsequently, the division on Tuesday issued a notification cancelling the tenders, they said.

Mr. Thimmaiah said the Deputy Commissioner, Tushar Girinath, also withdrew the foodgrains allocated to the department in response to a complaint lodged by the BJP. He said the Deputy Commissioner should book criminal cases against the officials concerned.

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Maintenance work on TLBC's distribution channels stalled

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