Govt plans to take legal action against L&T, says Priyank Kharge

Taking serious note of the inordinate delay and poor implementation of 24×7 drinking water supply project by construction giant Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) at Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi, the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Kalaburagi in-charge Priyank Kharge said the government was exploring options to take legal action against the company.

Addressing the media at Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Mr. Kharge said the matter would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting and a decision would be taken on action to be taken against L&T.

“L&T’s work on 24×7 drinking water supply projects in Hubballi, Belagavi and Kalaburagi is not satisfactory. The company recklessly dug up the city’s roads and did not backfill them properly after laying the water pipes. Last year, two children died after falling into the pit dug by the company. We had two meetings with company officials and they didn’t work things out. I have requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to initiate legal action against the company. The prime minister preferred to summon the company officials and discuss the issue again, as the water supply projects were crucial for three municipal corporations. The chief secretary had summoned the managing director and vice-chairman of the company and discussed the matter. We will take up the matter in the next Cabinet meeting and take a decision on further legal action to be taken against the company,” Mr Priyank said. He added that the government should also consider the negative effects of sudden legal action without making alternative arrangements for water supply.

During the review meeting held at the district administrative complex later in the day, the minister once again said that the government would take the erring construction company to court.

“Words are not enough for these people (L&T officials). They deserve strict legal action. Retaining lower level engineers in the company and berating them does no good. Ripping all current projects away from the company and preventing it from participating in the bidding process for future projects can serve as a lesson. Some government officials earn their salary from taxpayer money and work for the company. Such officials will also be dealt with severely,” Mr Priyank said.

Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil and Legislative Council Member Jagdev Guttedar were present.