Panaji, July 6: RTI activist Sudip Narayan Tamankar has submitted a complaint to the Police Inspector of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), demanding an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Tar (Moira) River Flood Mitigation Project in Mapusa.

In his complaint, Tamankar stated that the Water Resources Department had undertaken the project to mitigate recurring floods in Mapusa, Guirim and Bastora through river desilting, widening, construction of embankments and installation of 42 sluice/flap gates. The project was originally sanctioned at around ₹46 crore and awarded to Bagkia Constructions Pvt. Ltd., but its cost has reportedly been revised to nearly ₹76 crore, an increase of about ₹30 crore.

The complaint raises several allegations regarding the execution of the project. It claims that earthen embankments are being constructed without proper layer-wise compaction and that earth has been dumped indiscriminately without adequate quality control, moisture testing or laboratory verification. It further alleges that large quantities of dumped earth have been washed back into the river during the current monsoon, reducing the waterway and worsening flooding instead of preventing it.

Tamankar has also questioned the award of four separate desilting works of approximately ₹25 lakh each, despite desilting already forming part of the original contract. He has sought an investigation into the alleged duplication of work, splitting of contracts and financial propriety.

The complaint further seeks scrutiny of the project’s technical sanction from ₹46 crore to ₹76 crore, compliance with CPWD Works Manual provisions, the source of earth used for embankment construction, soil testing, borrow area approvals, quality control measures and payment procedures.

It also calls for an inquiry into the preparation of Running Account (RA) bills before and after the transfer of the concerned Assistant Engineer and the circumstances surrounding the transfer.

Tamankar has urged the ACB to conduct an independent technical and financial investigation, stating that if the allegations are substantiated, they may indicate technical negligence, violation of codal provisions, improper contract management, avoidable public expenditure and possible loss to the public exchequer.

Stressing that the project is intended to protect thousands of citizens from recurring floods, he has demanded a transparent and impartial inquiry to ensure accountability and safeguard public funds.