ED issues notice to BBMP over irregularities in installation of water treatment plants

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demanding that the civic body discloses the financial details pertaining to its digging of bore wells and installation of water treatment plants taken up between 2016 and 2019.

A case is being pursued by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe alleged irregularities in the process involved in the digging of bore wells and installation of water treatment plants taken up between 2016 and 2019.  BJP leader NR Ramesh had claimed that there had been irregularities to the tune of Rs 400 cr in the BBMP in the drilling of bore wells and installation of Reverse Oxidation (RO) plants.

In May 2019. Ramesh had taken this complaint to the erstwhile Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). However, the Karnataka High Court (HC) had scrapped the ACB in August and ordered that all cases of the ACB, to be transferred to the Karnataka Lokayukta. So incidentally, the Lokayukta is also investigating the case now.

Since the alleged scam involves about Rs400 cr, the ED has also got involved, registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). A November 25 ED notice had sought the details of the number of bore wells drilled and the number of water treatment plants installed between 2016 and 2019 in all BBMP wards. It also asked the civic body to provide details about suspected persons in the case.

“The Enforcement Directorate is investigating a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against the Joint Commissioners, Chief Engineers, Executive Engineers, Corporators and Contractors of five Zones / wards of BBMP (Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Yelahanka, Bommanahalli) in the ECIR/BGZO/13/2022," ED notice to BBMP read. BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath said that he had nominated an Engineerin-Chief as the nodal officer and that the requisite details are being provided to the ED.

He confirmed that the ED notice was the direct result of Ramesh’s complaint to the ACB on the issue back in 2019, adding that the federal body has become involved because of the quantum of the alleged irregularities.