Irrigation project: 23 officials suspended for irregularities

Gulbarga, Apr 21 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has suspended 23 officials in connection with irregularities in the Bennethora irrigation project to the tune of Rs 20.23 crore, and withheld the pension of 13 of them, Water Resources Minister K S Eshwarappa informed today.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the government had taken the action against the officials, including 13 retired engineers, based on the report submitted by the Expert Committee appointed to go into the irregularities.

He said both the Expert Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General had found that irregularities had been committed between 1995-2001.

Mr Eshwarappa informed that Rs 49.29 crore had been allocated to complete the project, situated about 30 km from here and hoped that it would be completed by March next.

Later, the minister inspected the project site.

UNI BSR/DP RG RL KN2151