Disgruntled by the inaction of higher authorities, the Jana Sangrama Parishat (JSP) has planned to launch an indefinite satyagraha outside the office of Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) here from Wednesday seeking punishment to officers, contractors and elected representatives involved in drinking water scams in Deodurg taluk.
Addressing a media conference here on Monday, Raghavendra Kushtagi, State working president of the outfit, said the satyagraha would be peaceful. “Since I can’t stand or sit for a long time due to my age, I will simply lie down on the floor at the CEO chamber doors while the remaining activists stage demonstrations outside till the authorities come up with concrete measures on our demands,” he said.
Immediately placing public servants involved in the scam under suspension pending enquiry, blacklisting contractors and initiating measures to recover the money misappropriated by them, and booking criminal cases against the contractors and elected representatives in rural local bodies who are involved the scam are the three major demands, he added.
The misappropriation
According to Mr. Kushtagi, a total of Rs. 42 crore had been misappropriated in the name of implementing various drinking water projects in Deodurg taluk including the Union-government-funded National Rural Drinking Water Programme over a period of time.
“In response to our RTI filings, Raichur ZP authorities have claimed that a sum of Rs. 42 crore was spent for specific drinking water projects in Deodurg taluk over a period of time. They also claimed that all the projects had been completed and people in 39 villages were getting clean and safe drinking water. In a reality-check done by an independent team of our organisation, however, we found that no project has been completed and no village is being provided with drinking water under these schemes," he alleged.
Inaction:
Mr. Kushtagi lashed out at the Deputy Commissioner and CEO for their ‘inaction’ despite repeated reminders and appeals for the last one year.
“We have met Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil at least ten times in the last one year and requested him to look into the scams and punish the culprits. But, he did nothing. After M. Kurma Rao took charge as CEO, we met him too several times and sought action. He too did nothing. These IAS officers are acting at the behest of local political leaders who are involved in the misappropriation of public funds,” he charged.
JSP leaders V.A. Malipatil, Bheemaraya Jaradabandi, T. Basavaraj, Eeranna Bhandari and others were present.
