High drama prevailed at the office of the Lokayukta on Monday following confusion over accepting a complaint against the chief engineer against whom irregularities during the renovation of Tunga canal had been alleged. After a four-hour drama, the complaint was received and an inspection ordered.
While the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa refused to file the complaint at the counter, he asked Registrar N. Balakrishna to receive the complaint. Incidentally, Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi, who has jurisdiction over Shivamogga where the alleged irregularities have taken place, was not approached.
For nearly two hours, Mr. Eshwarappa sat in the Registrar’s chamber, urging him to take the complaint while the latter sought time for a preliminary scrutiny of the complaint. Mr. Balakrishna told The Hindu that an inquiry officer conducted a preliminary scrutiny of the complaint after which the complaint was accepted. The inquiry officer has directed the local Lokayukta police official to conduct a spot inspection and submit a report, following which further action would be taken.
Allegations
In his complaint, Mr. Eshwarappa alleged that the contractor, who bagged the tender of Rs. 127.3 crore to renovate Tunga canal, had started work even without an MoU with the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. He also alleged that there were irregularities in awarding the contract as per the KTPP Act, 1999.
Meanwhile, R. Rudraiah, Managing Director, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd., issued a clarification in which he claimed the tender was issued as per the Act. However, he said he had sought a report on how the contractor could begin work without the MoU and based on the report officials would be punished.
