Probe into Rs 75-crore water supply project in Manimajra ‘compromised’: AAP

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The party alleged administrative, technical, and financial irregularities in the project, and claimed such mismanagement could not have occurred without the involvement of top officials and influential politicians.The Rs 75-crore 24×7 water supply project in Chandigarh’s Manimajra — inaugurated last year by Union Home Minister Amit Shah — has come under the scanner, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) now demanding a court-monitored probe by either the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).In a memorandum submitted to UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday, an AAP delegation led by its Chandigarh president Vijaypal Singh called the ongoing vigilance inquiry “compromised and directionless,” and alleged that senior bureaucrats and political figures were exerting pressure on investigators.“We are not satisfied with the scope and progress of the current investigation,” the party said, adding that only a transparent, independent probe under the supervision of a senior judge could restore public trust.The party alleged administrative, technical, and financial irregularities in the project, and claimed such mismanagement could not have occurred without the involvement of top officials and influential politicians.The AAP also pointed out that it had raised the issue in the Municipal House, and that even its own Mayor had boycotted the project’s inauguration function in Manimajra, which was attended by Home Minister Shah. The Mayor had also opposed the project on the House floor.In a pointed jab at the BJP, AAP questioned the shifting position of the party’s Chandigarh unit president Jatinder Pal Malhotra. “Can BJP councillors dare to call a special session and cancel the project altogether,” the party asked, seeking clarity from the ruling party.The vigilance inquiry reportedly began after Malhotra himself flagged the project in a letter to the Centre, noting that despite the high-profile launch on August 4, 2024, Manimajra residents had not received regular water supply even for a single day. Instead, residents complained of receiving dirty and undrinkable water.Story continues below this adSources said the vigilance team is examining which Municipal Corporation officials were in charge of the project, how the Rs 75 crore budget was spent, and where materials were procured from. The inquiry, they added, was initiated on directions from the central government.Calling the situation a betrayal of public trust, the AAP reiterated its demand for an impartial investigation to expose those responsible. Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:chandigarh