The state government, on Saturday, ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department into the alleged Rs. 190 crore scam in installation of water testing laboratories and purchase of water testing equipment in 146 taluks. This comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) levelled the allegation.
Owing to blatant violation of tender rules and rampant corruption in the allotment of tenders, the government has cancelled all tenders for installation of water testing laboratories in 66 locations.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil announced that the Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation officials flouted tenders rules and allowed contractors to execute works. The CID would probe into allotment of tenders, he said.
On Friday, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar had alleged rules under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act 1999, had been flouted and tender was awarded to M/s Prasad Rayipati Environ to set up 146 water testing laboratories in taluks under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme. The BJP leader demanded Mr. Patil’s resignation for awarding contract to a firm by flouting the rules.
