Saturday, April 1, 2023
  • Login
The South First
Advertisement
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Karnataka » After denial, BJP government in Karnataka orders CID probe in suspected Ganga Kalyana Yojane scam

After denial, BJP government in Karnataka orders CID probe in suspected Ganga Kalyana Yojane scam

Karnataka Congress leaders have asked on why only one corporation was pulled up when eight others were involved in the ₹441-crore scam.

Bellie ThomasbyBellie Thomas
Published:24/12/2022 6:56 am
A A
A borewell being dug under the Ganga Kalyana Yojane scheme

A borewell being dug under the Ganga Kalyana Yojane scheme

After repeatedly denying the probability of a scam in one of the most popular schemes under the Social Welfare Department, the BJP government in Karnataka has now ordered an inquiry into it.

The government, led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, ordered on Friday, 23 December, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to initiate a probe into a suspected multi-crore scam.

Under the scanner is the government’s own arm — the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation — which comes under the Social Welfare Department and Backward Classes Welfare Department.

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is meant for schemes for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes in the state.

Karnataka Congress leaders have raised questions on why only one corporation under the SWD was in the docks while all eight others were involved in the suspected ₹441-crore scam.

In an official communication to the Additional Secretary Home Department, the secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department, P Manivannan stated that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had directed the initiation of a CID probe into the irregularities of officials from the Dr BR Ambedkar Development Corporation who had flouted rules by accepting forged and illegal documentation for granting tenders in the Ganga Kalyana Yojane during the years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Manivannan added that the CID should investigate all the tenders that were executed along with the participants, and stringent action would be initiated against the offenders, including officials from the department.

The Congress’ allegations

On Friday, Congress leader and former social welfare minister Priyank Kharge tweeted that the government that was in denial for so long about the multi-crore scam had now ordered a CID probe.

He added that minister Kota Shrinivas Poojary should not shield his predecessors and officials responsible for the scam.

The Govt which was in denial for so long about the multi crore Ganga Kalyan Scam has now ordered a CID probe. Sri @KotasBJP should not shield his predecessors & officials responsible for this.#40PercentSarkara is an anti SC/ST regime. pic.twitter.com/IIzWAZS3FK

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) December 23, 2022

Kharge told South First: “It has been more than a year since we started telling the government that there was a massive ₹441-crore scam in the Ganga Kalyana Yojane across all corporations, where people forged documents and work orders and got contracts.”

He added: “When we brought this to the state government’s notice, the minister kept denying it. The Congress stands vindicated here.”

He went on to ask: “Why is only the Dr Ambedkar Development Corporation being probed when all the corporations are involved in the scam? The BJP government is looting the money meant for SCs and STs.”

Kharge, in May this year, alleged that some contractors furnished forged documents pertaining to income tax and works executed in sinking 14,500 borewells worth ₹441 crore in the SWD.

He demanded at that time that a sitting high court judge should investigate the matter, claiming that a fair investigation could not be expected from the state government.

The former minister also alleged that the irregularities took place in connivance with the tender scrutiny committee as well in consultation with the minister.

According to the scheme for the backward classes, the cost of sinking a borewell is ₹84,000, but the government was billed ₹1.93 lakh per borewell, Kharge pointed out.

The CID officials are yet to register a case and summon officials from the Dr BR Ambedkar Corporation who served during the years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Additional Director General of Police (CID) Sharath Chandra said: “We are yet to receive a communication from the Home Department.”

What is the scheme?

The Ganga Kalyana Yojana is a Karnataka government scheme wherein the development corporations identify the beneficiaries, sink borewells, and register the applications with relevant documents to BESCOM subdivisions for energisation.

BESCOM creates the necessary infrastructure and arranges for power supply to the borewells, which can be utilised for pumping water to crops, which in turn benefits farmers belonging to various communities.

Under this scheme, irrigation facilities are provided to agricultural lands held by the small and marginal ST farmers by sinking borewell, followed by installation of pump sets and accessories with due energisation.

The unit cost is fixed at ₹4.5 lakh in the Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Tumakuru districts, where the groundwater table is depleted. In other districts, the unit cost is ₹3.5 lakh.

The unit cost comprises of energisation cost of ₹50,000, a loan of ₹50,000, and the remaining amount is a subsidy.

Where borewell-drilling is difficult, open wells are dug, followed by the installation of mono-block pump sets and accessories with due energisation, and the unit cost is fixed at ₹1.5 lakh.

Further on, irrigation facilities are provided to the lands held by small and marginal ST farmers from a nearby river or canal by drawing a pipeline from the water source and installing a pump motor and accessories with due energisation.

Here, the unit cost is fixed at ₹4 lakh for the units consisting of up to 8 acres of land and at ₹6 lakh for units up to 15 acres of land. The entire cost under the scheme is treated as a subsidy under the Ganga Kalyan Yojane.

The scheme was started in 1983 with the government ruling that it was the social responsibility of it and BESCOM to energise the backward farmers’ pump sets.

Don't miss our top stories!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more information.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recommended For You

Ex-JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy joined BJP
Karnataka

AT Ramaswamy, who quit as JD(S) MLA, joins BJP; shot in arm for saffron party in Hassan

April 1, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual misconduct
Tamil Nadu

Kalakshetra sexual misconduct: Police unable to reach accused assistant professor Hari Padman

April 1, 2023
Bengaluru to Chennai Vande Bharat Express Review
Andhra Pradesh

Prime Minister Modi to flag off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat on 8 April

April 1, 2023
The deceased was found hanging in a room at the coaching centre where he was enrolled on Monday afternoon. (Wikimedia Commons)
Tamil Nadu

What is wrong with India’s higher education system? IIT-M research scholar dies by suicide

April 1, 2023
BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for hate speech in Ram Navami Yatra
News

Ram Navami yatra: BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for hate speech in Hyderabad, 2 days after Mumbai

April 1, 2023
Kaniminike-Sheshagiri Halli plaza on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.
Karnataka

Bengaluru-Mysuru Express Highway: NHAI hikes toll fees, and then reverts to old rates

April 1, 2023

Top Stories

Ex-JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy joined BJP

AT Ramaswamy, who quit as JD(S) MLA, joins BJP; shot in arm for saffron party in Hassan

April 1, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual misconduct

Kalakshetra sexual misconduct: Police unable to reach accused assistant professor Hari Padman

April 1, 2023
BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for hate speech in Ram Navami Yatra

Ram Navami yatra: BJP MLA Raja Singh booked for hate speech in Hyderabad, 2 days after Mumbai

April 1, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

G20 in Kumarakom

G20: Kumarakom shows world how global conference can be hosted in sustainable manner

April 1, 2023
Ex-JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy joined BJP

AT Ramaswamy, who quit as JD(S) MLA, joins BJP; shot in arm for saffron party in Hassan

April 1, 2023
Kalakshetra sexual misconduct

Kalakshetra sexual misconduct: Police unable to reach accused assistant professor Hari Padman

April 1, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our