BANGALORE: The Public Accounts Committee of the State legislature has asked the Minor Irrigation Department to tighten its internal auditing system to check the misuse of funds in the execution of projects.

The committee's report on the department (2004-05) was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. K.S. Eshwarappa of the BJP, who is now the Minister for Water Resources, headed the committee. The committee has noted that the Government has failed to punish officials responsible for irregularities in the procurement of goods. The department should initiate action when cases of irregularities are reported to it, the committee said.

The Minor Irrigation Department should commence work on projects only after the land acquisition process is completed. There is delay in the implementation of projects on account of litigation over land acquisition, which results in escalation of the project cost, it said.

Referring to lift irrigation projects, the committee said many projects are not functioning at full capacity on account of low voltage.

It has recommended to the department to take steps to improve the quality of power supply. The department could even consider the use of diesel generators to ensure water for irrigation.

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