Mysore/Mysuru: Stating that irregularities running up to 25 percent of the cost  in the implementation of Ganga Kalyana scheme has been discovered in Mysuru district, the Legislative Council Special House Committee Head Dr. Y.A.Narayanaswamy said action will be taken against those officials found guilty. He was speaking to press persons after holding a meeting with officials of various implementing Corporations and Boards, at Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Hall here yesterday.

He pointed out that the Legislative Council which held a prolonged debate on the alleged irregularities in Ganga Kalyana scheme, decided to form this Special House Committee to discover the extent of irregularities that is said to have taken place in the past five years.

Noting that the Committee is touring the entire State for an inspection of records and digging of borewells, Narayanaswamy said Mysuru is the fifth district that the Committee has visited.

Noting that about 70,000 borewells have been dug since the scheme was introduced in the State, he said that nearly 7,000 borewells have been dug since 2018-19.

Maintaining that the Committee has gone through the records pertaining to the digging of borewells, Narayanaswamy said irregularties up to 25  percent has been discovered and the Government has been recommended to take action against guilty officials.

Contending that the scheme was introduced for the betterment of lives of people belonging to SC/ST communities, he regretted that official apathy has derailed this ambitious and very significant scheme.

Highlighting that some of the irregularities found pertained to  incorrect or fake entries of borewell rigging depths in records, digging of borewells at lands  other than those of beneficiaries, purchase of poor quality motors and cables, non-installation of motors, flaws in invitation of tenders for borewell digging, rampant violation of ‘No water, No money’ norm etc., he asserted that action will be taken against all officials who are involved in irregularities.

Continuing, Narayanaswamy said that apart from recommending action against errant officials, the Committee will also recommend the Government on  more effective and appropriate implementation of the scheme. The Committee will also come up with certain suggestions on transforming the entire mechanism and module concerning  implementation of the scheme.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation, Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation,  D. Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation, Minorities Development Corporation and Adijambava Development Corporation, Karnataka Bovi Development Corporation and  Karnataka Taanda Development Corporation are the prominent Government agencies that are tasked with the execution of Ganga Kalyana Scheme.

Committee Members  M.A. Gopalaswamy and K. Pratapsimha Nayak, Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bagadi Gautham, ZP CEO A.M. Yogesh, SP R. Chethan and other officials were present.