Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson D. Sravan Kumar on Monday alleged irregularities in recent tenders called by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Sravan Kumar alleged that HMWSSB Managing Director M. Jagadeeshwar called tenders worth Rs. 53.98 crore pertaining to water reservoirs and sewerage lines in Shapurnagar, Gachibowli, Yellamabanda, Borabanda, SR Nagar, Lalaguda and Hussainsagar Tattikhana areas. He said although the Managing Director was empowered to call for tenders worth up to Rs. 50 lakh, he called the tenders in open violation of the rules. Board’s Director (Operations) Ram Mohan was also involved in the irregularities, he alleged.
The TPCC leader claimed that the irregularities were pointed out by the Chief Minister’s Office itself. The CMO also directed the Board to take corrective steps to weed out the discrepancies found in the tender process. However, nothing has been done yet, he alleged.
Sravan Kumar said that tenders worth nearly Rs. 54 crore should have been approved by the Board, which is chaired by the Chief Minister while the Municipal Administration Minister is the Board’s Vice-Chairman. However, all rules were flouted to execute the tenders. Accusing Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao of making hollow claims on curbing corruption, he demanded CBI probe into the alleged scam. He also demanded immediate suspension of Board’s Managing Director and Director (Operations).
He also condemned the arrest of former MP Ponnam Prabhakar and other Congress leaders during a protest at Karimnagar on Sunday. (INN)