BJP forms 9-member panel to probe irrigation dept 'scams'

Hubballi, May 26: Targeting Water Resources Minister M B Patil, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa said the party’s nine-member committee headed by former minister Basavaraj Bommai will look into alleged irregularities in the irrigation department, including the release of water from Almatti dam’s dead storage to Jindal company.

Terming the irrigation department as the most corrupt, Yeddyurappa told reporters on Thursday during the BJP’s Janasamparka Yatra in Dharwad district, that the committee will also look into how the estimated cost of the

Malaprabha canal modernisation project was increased from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,200 crore.

Yeddyurappa said the committee, which includes BJP leaders Pralhad Joshi, Govind Karjol, Murugesh Nirani,

C C Patil and others, would conduct a spot inspection on May 30 and 31 to ascertain the facts. The party would then draw up plans for a protest related to irrigation issues.

Yeddyurappa said the water resources minister had failed to even maintain the water level required for drinking purpose in dams, and that there was an allegation that water from Almatti dam’s dead storage was sold to Jindal.

“The estimated cost of Malaprabha canal modernisation was increased without reason, and an engineer who objected to it was transferred, alleged Yeddyurappa. The BJP state president said the chief minister and the irrigation minister, who are in nexus with contractors, are involved in corruption.

This government has stopped the practice of preparing estimates under the supervision of an experts’ committee, Yeddyurappa charged.

The Congress government is running a “Tughlaq Durbar, neglecting public interest, and only focusing on looting the treasury”, he alleged and said an enquiry into alleged irregularities in all irrigation projects would be ordered as soon as the BJP comes to power.

“We would be happy if M B Patil becomes the KPCC president, as that would ensure that the Congress, which is a sinking ship, would sink faster,” Yeddyurappa said.

He also said he was ready to apologise to state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, if he proved that he (Yeddyurappa) was behind the complaint lodged against him with the Income Tax Department.