Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar on Tuesday said he would order a probe, if there was any substance in the allegation about misappropriation of funds while procuring steam boilers for government schools for the midday meal scheme.
The Minister added that directions had been issued to the officials to refer any irregularity to the Lokayukta.
Replying to Maritibbe Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) during a discussion on the issue in the Legislative Council, Mr. Ratnakar said the pilot scheme under which steam boilers would be supplied was announced in the State Budget last year.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had agreed to provide Rs.10 crore for the purpose.
Tenders were invited for supply of materials under the project.
Mr. Ratnakar said he was opposed to the process of inviting State tenders and favoured district-level bids. The government had deposited the funds in the account of SDMCs without making the payment directly to the supplier, he noted.
