BMIC: Govt to legally examine irregularities

BANGALORE, DHNS:

Public Works and Power Minister H D Revanna on Saturday declared that the government would legally examine if there were any irregularities in the proposed Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure corridor project and initiate action in case of lapses.

“We will not allow covering up of any irregularities in the project,” the minister told reporters in Bangalore. When his attention was drawn to the allegations levelled by his father and JD (S) National President H D Deve Gowda that largescale irregularities had taken place in the project, he sought time to examine the matter. He said he would look into the allegations that compensation was yet to be given to farmers whose land had been acquired for the project.

The minister said the Public Works Department had prepared a Rs 25-crore project for filling up pot-holes on the state highways and main district roads in the state. Tenders had also been invited to complete the pot-hole filling exercise within a month. Besides, Rs 10 crore had been released for repairs of bridges. The department had also decided to extend some of the benefits being given to its workers under the Employees’ Welfare Fund to the construction labourers of contractors who execute departmental works, he said.

The family members of construction labourers of the contractors would be given a compensation of Rs 50,000 in case of death in harness. He said the department was not handing over any construction work to the Land Army Corporation as it was not happy with the latter’s quality of construction.

The minister denied allegations that several villages were yet to get round-the-clock power supply despite an announcement in this regard by the government on June 18. Only villages in Kolar district were not getting 24-hour supply due to some problems in the network and steps were being taken to upgrade the system, he said.