GULBARGA: Referring to the purchase of micro-polythene sheets in the Bennethora and Chulkinala projects, an expert committee has in its interim report pointed out that the research wing of the Government had, in 1995, banned the use of the micro-polythene sheets in irrigation projects.

The three-member expert committee, headed by retired Accountant General H. Jalihal, was appointed by the Government to investigate alleged irregularities in NABARD-assisted irrigation projects, including the Bennethora Major Irrigation Project, the Amarja Medium Irrigation Project, the Lower Mullamari Medium Irrigation Project, the Chulkinala Medium Irrigation Project, the Maskinala Medium Irrigation Project and the Vatehole Medium Irrigation Project in the State.

The committee was also to verify the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General which had pointed out several irregularities in these irrigation projects.

Sheets not used

Despite the ban, the project officials purchased micro-polythene sheets worth Rs. 21.83 lakhs, the committee said and added these sheets had not been used so far. The committee's report also pointed out that the officials of three projects — Bennethora, Amarja and Chulknala — had violated the prescribed purchasing procedure laid down by the Government while buying mild steel footbridges, concrete measuring boxes, "msv" notches and "gci" sheets by paying an excess sum of Rs. 2.41 crore.

Citing an example, the report said 100 mild steel footbridges for the Bennethora project were bought at a cost of Rs. 1,58,500 per unit as against a payable rate of Rs. 44,950 per unit. The excess amount paid for the footbridges amounted to Rs. 1.13 crore.

The material was purchased at locally quoted rates which were high in comparison to the rates prescribed.

The quantum of the material bought could have been procured at a cost of Rs. 1.05 crore but the project officials had paid Rs. 3.47 crore, the report said.

The committee said the officials had thrown all canons of financial propriety to the wind while making purchases for Bennethora project in 1997-99 and 2000-2001.

Superintending engineers, chief engineers and other officials in the irrigation zone had exceeded their powers. The committee also felt that no correct estimation of the requirement of material for the projects had been made.

Sanction

The report pointed out that the official who was Superintending Engineer between April 1999 and September 1999 had given sanction for the purchases on every working day, at times two sanctions on a day.

The committee said that the Bennethora project officials had found a way to divert the excess material to other projects without proper indent.

The report pointed out that the Bennethora project officials had thrust the excess material on the Sulepet division of the Lower Mullamari Project. Other divisions, however, refused to receive the material as they did not require them.

The report said the officials had failed to draw up a proper plan of action for the timely use of the material purchased over a period of four years at a cost of Rs. 21 crore.

The material purchased had been dumped in office compounds, open yards and in some cases, godowns and irrigation colonies, without adequate security.

The committee said material worth Rs. 5.74 crore had been purchased in all, though their use was in doubt. The Government was likely to lose Rs. 17.75l crores in the Bennethora, Amarja, Chulkinala and Lower Mullamari projects because of purchases made between 1997 and 2001.

While the Government acted partially by suspending more than 20 officials, including engineers of the Bennethora project, action on the findings of financial irregularities in the Amarja, Chulkinala and Lower Mullamari projects is still awaited.

(Concluded)

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