BJP MLA urges Guv for probe into water supply scheme scam

BJP MLA Mohinder Singh Thakur in Himachal Pradesh has alleged a major scam in execution of the twin lift water supply schemes involving an expenditure of about Rs 51 crore and urged Governor Acharya Devvrat to order simultaneous probes into the matter by CAG and SIT.
In a memorandum to the Governor, the former state minister and the Dharampur MLA alleged that the twin lift water supply schemes -- Kanda Pattan-Sarkaghat with a length of seven kms and Kanda Pattan-Beed Patta Smosh (11 kms) -- were sanctioned in 2012 and the then Superintending Engineer (SE), Irrigation and Public Health at Sarkaghat, allowed laying of pipelines for both the schemes simultaneously from Son Khud where the flow of water was very strong.

The memorandum said as per information procured through RTI, the rising mains of both the schemes were badly damaged due to the strong flow of water, butin the records, the entry of excavation and jointing works had been shown separately which, it claimed, pointed towards "connivance" of the department with the contractor.
Thakur alleged the erring contractor has been awarded a Rs 60-lakh contract for removing the pipes and taking them to the left bank and he has been using the same damaged pipes by welding them which should be stopped immediately.
He urged the Governor to immediately order a special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) into the matter and constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to fix culpability of the engineers who were allegedly hand-in-glove with the contractor.

He also urged action against the SE who permitted the laying of rising mains in Son Khud and asked the department to stop using the old damaged pipes.
"There is resentment among the people in the area and if an immediate enquiry is not ordered, the government would be squarely responsible for the consequences, especially the law-and-order problem likely to erupt due to the insensitiveness of the authorities, he cautioned.