VB inquiry down to 8 irrigation projects

Chandigarh, The Vigilance Department has narrowed down its investigation to eight of the 42 canal and drainage projects “of top most priority” after the Irrigation Department did not respond to its queries.
Of the 27 projects under the VB lens in Malwa, it will be investigating only seven. In Doaba and Majha, the bureau has trimmed the number of projects from 15 to just one.
The revised list of projects also includes Kakkar Manj canal in Amritsar.
The VB has sought information on administrative and technical approval for projects, tender notices, pre-bid meetings, comparative statements, work orders and bills. The projects were executed by contractors Gurinder Singh, Pushpinder Singh Sidhu and Khara contractors.
A communication to the department last week pointed out that the bureau had not received any reply to its July 3 communication. The Vigilance said the probe was marked following complaints of corruption in several projects.
Chief Director (Vigilance) BK Uppal has asked engineers to continue doing their job without fear.
Sources in the bureau said, “Protests are pressure tactics to stall the investigation. No innocent will be harmed. At the same time, seeing the technicality involved in the matter, the case might be shifted to the CBI.”
Engineers said they were being harassed for decisions, for which they were not responsible. The decision to “not split work tenders so as to hasten the work” was taken in a meeting presided over by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, they said.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the engineers’ associations of the Irrigation Department will continue its agitation till August 7. Subsequently, engineers will proceed on a mass casual leave.
The bureau is randomly questioning the department staff, which are surprised that the vigilance wing of the department has not been included in the investigation.
BP Singh Brar, president, JAC, said: “The VB’s tone in the communication shows that the exercise smacks of vendetta politics against the previous SAD-BJP government.”