Drinking water project scam during BJD rule alleged; Odisha RTI outfit demands probe

In the name of mega drinking water projects, massive scams occurred during Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, alleged Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan, an RTI outfit. 

The outfit, on Thursday, demanded a review of the conditions of all mega drinking water projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore entangled in corruption and action against the non-Odia contractors and corrupted officers. 

As per the information shared by the office of the superintending engineer of the RWSS department in Jajpur district, Rs 335 crore for drinking water projects in Badachana and Dharmasala blocks, Rs 178 crore for Dasarathapur block, Rs 247 crore for Binjharpur block were sanctioned, alleged the RTI outfit. 

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“Rs 900 crore was spent on drinking water projects in seven blocks of the district. All the projects are in a pathetic state. At the project sites, there are none but two to four security guards of two contractor firms named Megha Engineering and KEC. They have taken more than the agreement amount. Similarly, they, in cahoots with the RWSS officers have taken money many times more than the percentage of work done. We demand the state government should form a task force, order a probe and take action against the RWSS officers and the said contractor firms,” said Sarveswar Behura, member, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan.

No comments were received from the BJD.