Scandal Rocks Indira Gandhi Canal

A major scandal has come to light in the realignment and maintenance work of the Indira Gandhi Canal project, causing losses amounting to crores of rupees. Despite the involvement of both the Congress and BJP, as well as farmer organizations, there has been a noticeable silence on the matter. Despite the specified BIS standards, there have been discrepancies in the tender rates for construction works. The National Vigilance Team has demanded a special investigation from the state government.

In the closure and construction work carried out in the IG Canal project this year, it has been revealed that there has been significant corruption. Recoveries of crores of rupees have been made from contractors for various reasons including poor quality materials like cement, rebar, HDPE black sheet, substandard construction materials, inadequate safety provisions, and lack of monitoring by officials. Despite specifying the exact quantity of sand to be extracted per tower, there have been variations in the actual amounts extracted.

The lack of proper monitoring has led to compromises in the quality of construction materials used. In some cases, subpar cement or insufficient quantities of rebar have been used, leading to potential cracks and structural weaknesses. The black HDPE used for the bed level should have met specific standards, but due to lack of monitoring or fraudulent practices, the specified quality has not been maintained.

Due to these issues, not only has the work been delayed, but the quality of the construction has also been compromised. The negligence in maintaining proper monitoring and quality control has resulted in a significant loss of revenue, as well as potential safety and structural concerns.

The National Vigilance Team has written a letter to the state government, attaching copies of tender documents, to highlight the corruption and irregularities in the construction works. The letter points out that while the canal project had been allocated a substantial budget, the discrepancies in the tender rates and compromised quality have led to substantial financial losses.

The Indira Gandhi Canal project, which involves realignment and maintenance of the main canal, various branches, and feeder canals, has been ongoing for several years. Despite the initial promise, the project has been plagued by corruption and substandard workmanship. The lack of accountability and proper oversight has led to significant financial losses for the government.

If the state government fails to address these issues promptly, the matter could be escalated to central investigation agencies. The involvement of political parties and farmer organizations adds to the complexity of the situation. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these allegations and take appropriate actions to rectify the situation and prevent such incidents in the future.