KOCHI: The Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court on Thursday ordered Quick Verification (QV) against Kerala Water Authority (KWA) MD and 17 others on a complaint alleging graft in the construction of Chempanal check dam at Karoor in Kottayam and the water distribution project implemented as part of Jalanidhi programme.
The court has ordered the VACB to conduct QV against 18 persons based on a complaint filed by retired superintendent engineer and Idukki regional project manager P K Jacob.
The respondents include KWA MD Ashok Kumar, Karoor grama panchayat secretary, project commissioner Mariya T Joy, contractors T D Chandrasekharan and Biju Augustin. The Jalanidhi project - funded by the World Bank and other international organisations - is being implemented by the Thodupuzha regional project management in Idukki and Kottayam districts.
Around 75 per cent of the fund for the project is allotted to the regional project management. To ensure sufficient water in the wells in Karoor grama panchayat, a check dam - 30-metre long and 1.5-metre wide - was constructed.
However, it is alleged the construction of the check dam was not allotted to the contractor who quoted the least amount.
The petitioner alleged the construction of check dam was not carried out scientifically. “As the mixing of raw materials was not properly done, the check dam wall has developed cracks,” the petitioner stated.
Similarly, in the Adimali water distribution project, Rs 5 crore was allegedly diverted from the funds allotted for laying pipeline and water tank construction.
Instead of steel tank, concrete tank was constructed and low quality pipes were used. In all, Rs 20 crore was allotted for the project, the petitioner stated.
The court has ordered the VACB to complete the QV within a month.