BJP sees irregularities in water unit project

The BJP members in the Legislative Council alleged massive irregularities in the execution of the pure drinking water unit project by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department and demanded the constitution of a House Committee to probe the charges.

The discussion witnessed heated exchange of words between the ruling party and the Opposition BJP members forcing Council Chairman K Prathap Chandra Shetty to adjourn the House twice and then ultimately for the day.

It all started with Raghunath Rao Malkapure (BJP) raising the issue during the Question Hour. He said the project, aimed at installing reverse osmosis machines to provide pure drinking water in villages with a population of more than 2,000, is a total failure.

Hundreds of units have been sanctioned, but not installed and hundreds more have remained non-functional, he charged.

Leader of the Opposition Kota Srinivasa Poojary said there has been misappropriation to the tune of hundreds of crores in the execution of the project and demanded constitution of a House Committee to probe the charges.

In reply, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said it was decided to set up 18,582 pure drinking water units and in this, 16,166 units have already been installed.

As many as 2,000 units are in various stages of installation and only 588 have remained non-functional, he explained.

He said there are some lapses and a technical committee, headed by water expert Capt Raja Rao, has been constituted to probe the same. The panel is expected to submit its report by March 15 and based on the recommendation of the committee, the government will decide on its next step of action, he added.

However, the BJP members did not relent and stuck to their demand for a House Committee and trooped into the well of the House. GThen, Chairman Shetty adjourned the House for the day.