Southern States
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Karnataka
Jayaprakash Hegde seeks probe into UTP
By Our Special Correspondent
BANGALORE, DEC. 2. The former minister and independent MLA from Brahmavar Constituency, Mr. K.Jayaprakash Hegde, has demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the Upper Tunga Project (UTP) as reports indicated that there was misappropriation of funds.
He said here on Saturday that the statement on the special audit report made by the Minister for Water Resources, Mr. H.K.Patil, was contradictory and confusing particularly on the issue pertaining to the payments made to contractors. While the minister had stated that Rs. 115 crore was paid to contractors, in reality only Rs. 67.80 crore had been paid, and the balance was yet to be accounted for.
The State Government had opted for a special audit of the accounts pertaining to the Upper Krishna and the Upper Tunga projects and the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor- General of India revealed that a huge amount of money was either unnecessarily spent or had been paid to the contractors without the work being executed. Referring to the Upper Tunga project, the Irrigation Minister had stated that the State Government could recover the money from the contractors since the work was still in progress, and that the excess amount paid could always be adjusted towards the works yet to be completed.
Mr. Jayaprakash Hegde said that the contractor who had been paid in excess for a certain section of the Upper Tunga Canal works had already completed the work assigned to him. Where then was the question of recovering the excess amount from him? It was, therefore, obvious that the Government had chosen to look the other way despite being aware that funds were ``being siphoned-off.''
Referring to the Indi canal works in the Upper Krishna project, he said the Water Resources Minister should clarify the misappropriation and irregularities in the works between the 11th and the 13th km. length, and between the 30th and the 68th km. length of the canal. The contractors concerned have gone beyond the scope of the work stipulated in the agreement at their own cost and risk. The payment for these works was objected to by the members of the board of management. Irrespective of the protests, the authorities paid Rs. four crore to the contractors. To drive home the point of transparency in administration, especially in the Irrigation Department, the Government should immediately give a clarification," he added.
On the Singtalur Irrigation Project, Mr. Jayaprakash Hegde said the project estimates were prepared in an arbitrary and hasty manner, bypassing the opinion of technical experts, who said it was not feasible. Initially, the lift irrigation project was estimated to cost Rs. 600 crore but following certain changes the project was now estimated to cost Rs. 1,200 crore.
He called upon Mr. H.K. Patil to take note of the recommendations of the K.C.Reddy Committee which had been asked to look into the feasiblity of the project. "The money raised from the people through public bonds should be properly utilised. The Government should consider the feasiblity of the project and ensure that the people's money is safeguarded," he added.
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