Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Sep 25: In the midst of controversies and allegations of corruption in the Yettinahole project, the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd (KNNL), which is handling the project, has issued a clarification stating that the entire process of calling tenders and approving the project was transparent and without any wrongdoing.

KNNL stated that the clarification became necessary as 'various news reports and propagandas have created wrong impression about the project in the public mind'.

The KNNL states, "As 28 taluks in nine districts including Chikkaballapur and Kolar face acutedrinking water shortage, the state government through the KNNL has taken up the project to supply 24.01 TMC water to the affected places.

"An administrative approval was given for the project on July 13, 2012 with an outlay of Rs 8323,5 crore. In the first stage tender worth Rs 3,269.5 crore was called through e-procurement. On January 21, 2013 technical as well financial bids were called," the statement adds.

"The committee of directors, which had the powers to decide the tenders took a decision on December 12, 2013 in the 61st directors' meeting, not to honour any tenders citing the directives from the government as the tenders did not comply with the rules. On December 31, 2013, tenders were called for a second time in five packages. On January 27, 2014 and on February 13, 2014 technical and financial bids were opened. Later in the 62nd directors’ meeting in February 2014, the directors gave approval for the same. On December 17 the same year, an administrative approval was given at an outlay of Rs 12,912.36 crore. The work is currently in progress," the KNNL stated.

KNNL asserted that all the tenders were called as per the prevailing rules and high level of transparency was observed.

The statement comes in the wake of allegations by senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary who claimed that Yettinahole project was a 'major scam' and demanded a CID probe into it. Responding to the claim, health minister U T Khader has said that he would bring the demand for probe to the attention of the chief minister.