Bengaluru, May 9 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday denied any irregularity in establishing water-testing laboratories in the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department.
Speaking to reporters after taking part in a function to mark Kalasha Prathistapana of the renovated Kalikamba Kamateshwara Swamy temple at Nagarthpet here, he refuted BJP leader Jagadish Shettar’s accusation of corruption in awarding the contract to set up the laboratories.
The chief minister, however, said a CID inquiry had been ordered into the matter and action would be taken if anybody was found guilty. Interestingly, RDPR Minister H K Patil on Saturday admitted to the scam and announced the cancellation of the Rs 71-crore tender for setting up 43 water-testing laboratories. Shettar had suggested that the contract was awarded to companies owned by an individual named Prasad Rayapati by breaking all rules.
He also demanded Patil’s resignation.
The chief minister refused to comment on unauthorised parking of funds in various banks by the RDPR department. The funds were meant for rural drinking water supply schemes, including opening pure drinking water supply units. When asked when was he planning to reshuffle his council of ministers, Siddaramaiah said he would do that after visiting drought-affected parts of Karnataka.