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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai, kin got Rs nearly 5 crore in ‘kickbacks' in Delhi Jal Board case: ED
The Enforcement Directorate's investigation into a money laundering case involving IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai has claimed that nearly Rs 5 crore was allegedly routed to his account and that of his mother-in-law from six firms. The alleged transactions took place during his tenure as CEO of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), when he is accused of favouring a firm in a tender process, it is learnt. Last May, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government had booked the six firms and government officials on charges of corruption in the case. The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the same case. Rai could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. The investigating agency wrote to the ACB earlier this month, mentioning a 'maze of complex transactions made by the firms'. The letter, signed by the Assistant Director, Delhi Zonal Officer-I, said that based on the ACB FIR dated May 11, 2024, registered under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC against the six firms — M/s Eurotech Environmental Pvt. Ltd; M/s Ayyapa Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd; M/S Khilari Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd; M/s GSJ Envo Limited; M/s Shubhash Infraengineers Pvt. Ltd; M/s Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd — and other unknown government officials/public servants/private persons etc, an ECIR dated May 13, 2024, was recorded by the ED. The letter claimed that during the probe, it was 'revealed' that Rai, when posted as Chief Executive Officer of the DJB, had awarded a tender to various contractors. 'However, the terms and conditions of the tender were restrictive, which resulted in favouring one technology provider — M/s Eurotech Environmental Pvt Ltd. Investigation revealed that funds to the tune of Rs 1.52 crore were received in the bank accounts of Rai and his mother-in-law… from a proprietary firm, AN Enterprises (Prop. Nagendra Yadav), which were transferred through a maze of complex transactions starting from M/s Eurotech Environmental Private Limited (a technology provider company in the said tender) and its related entities,' the letter claimed. Further, during the investigation, the letter alleged certain transactions were found where M/s Eurotech Environmental Pvt Ltd and Director of M/s Ayyappa Infra Project Pvt Ltd Satish Varma paid Rs 4.82 crore (including Rs 1.52 crore mentioned earlier to Nagendra Yadav and his associates in the form of commission etc.) The ED also shared a note containing details of these transactions. The Indian Express emailed five firms named in the note but did not receive a response. Senior officials in the ACB stated that sanctions for prosecuting some people under Section 17A have been sought. 'We received the letter from the ED and are investigating the matter,' an ACB official said. 'While sanctions have been issued for some individuals, approvals for others are still pending. Our investigation had earlier revealed that some firms were favoured,' the official further added.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Sewage in tap water': DJB told to take remedial actions
A report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found a 'high level' of E. coli bacteria — microbes from human and animal excreta — in drinking water supplied to A1 Block, Janakpuri, by the Delhi Jal Board, as per an order of the National Green Tribunal. 'The report of the CPCB clearly reflects that high levels of total coliform and E. coli have been detected in five samples,' states the July 16 order by NGT's Principal Bench, comprising chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Sudhir Agarwal and expert members A. Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad. The tribunal was hearing a plea by the area's residents' welfare association about the DJB's supply of water mixed with sewage. The CPCB had collected and tested six samples from the area. The RWA stated in the petition submitted in March that the sewage pipeline in the west Delhi locality is blocked, and the line supplying drinking water is corroded, allowing sewage to mix with the potable water. The NGT directed the DJB to fix the issue and provide clean water from an alternative source until the issue is resolved. 'Outdated infra' On June 4, the DJB submitted an affidavit to the court stating that it would finish the repair work on the sewage pipeline by June 30 to prevent the supply of contaminated water. It also told the court that the sewerage and potable water infrastructure were over 40 years old and that the process of replacing them as a 'permanent solution' would be initiated after the monsoon and completed within six months of awarding the contracts. In its order last week, the green court noted that the water samples taken on June 30 were found to be 'highly contaminated' with 'Hence, prima facie, we find that the action in terms of the [DJB's] undertaking has not been taken,' read the order. The NGT also noted that the DJB's counsel 'tried to dispute' the report suggesting high levels of E. coli bacteria. It asked the CPCB to 'take fresh samples and submit the sample analysis report promptly'. On July 19, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the the government will overhaul the water pipelines within a year.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Delhi Jal Board orders joint drive to control dengue sprsead
NEW DELHI: As Delhi enters the peak monsoon period, the Delhi Jal Board has directed its estate managers to launch a citywide sanitation and anti-mosquito drive to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. The move comes after CM Rekha Gupta raised concern over an early spike in dengue cases during a recent high-level meeting. An official DJB order has called for urgent action to prevent mosquito breeding in and around all its establishments, including offices and residential colonies. Estate managers and drawing and disbursing officers have been instructed to coordinate with the MCD and the Health Department to roll out preventive measures promptly. 'All are aware that the rainy season has arrived... helpful for mosquitoes of Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria etc. It is our duty to prevent mosquito breeding,' the communication stated. The directive mandates regular cleaning of water-prone equipment sites and areas where water may accumulate. A special sanitation and fogging drive has been ordered, and any negligence will invite strict action, with full accountability on the concerned officials, DJB warned.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Centre to provide Delhi 800cr for sewers
New Delhi: To give a push to Delhi's efforts to provide sewage connections to every household in the capital, central govt will provide Rs 800 crore to the city under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme 2.0. Officials said the money will be spent on strengthening the sewage network in the city's unauthorised colonies. They added that Delhi govt has planned to install around 2.5 lakh sewer connections in unauthorised colonies and other residential areas. The money will also be spent on other initiatives such as recycling and reusing 50 million litres of water per day and increasing sewage treatment capacity. The proposal aims to curb the flow of untreated water into the Yamuna coming from over 410 unauthorised colonies and over 100 urban villages across seven assembly constituencies in the capital, benefiting approximately 35 lakh residents. "While the Centre will provide Rs 804 crore under the scheme, the rest of the funds for the project will have to be arranged by DJB from its own funds," an official said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Increasing the overall sewage treatment capacity to prevent untreated discharge falling into the Yamuna is one of the major plans of the Rekha Gupta-led BJP govt. Officials said the expenditure finance committee under the Union ministry of finance recently approved DJB's proposal for the construction of 40 decentralised sewage treatment plants and the extension of sewer lines in Outer Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 3,105 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Franklin India NFO Investment Franklin Templeton India AMC Learn More Undo Officials said the Centre has asked Delhi govt to conduct audits of sewage treatment plants to ensure optimum utilisation. "Delhi was also advised to work holistically for Yamuna rejuvenation and septage management, and to have a clear sludge processing strategy to work out its reuse and processing," the official said. Delhi govt has allocated Rs 9,000 crore in the 2025-26 budget to the water and sewerage sector. Another Rs 500 crore has been set aside for the repair of STPs. There are 37 STPs under DJB, of which 18 are under degradation for increasing the overall treatment capacity of sewerage treatment. A senior Delhi govt official said DJB has also been working on the Interceptor Sewer Project, which is aimed at trapping all the drains and diverting the wastewater to the closest STP. There are several drains that have not been trapped yet, resulting in a large amount of sewage entering the Yamuna directly.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Water contamination in Janakpuri: NGT asks CPCB to collect fresh samples
New Delhi: After Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) once again found faecal coliform and E. coli in water samples collected from five houses in Janakpuri's A Block, National Green Tribunal pulled up Delhi Jal Board for not taking remedial measures. The tribunal has asked CPCB to collect fresh samples after the local residents claimed that a report from a private laboratory showed a high level of water contamination. The tribunal is hearing a plea based on the grievance of the residents welfare association in A1 Block, Janakpuri, who claimed that they are not receiving fresh drinking water that meets the requisite norms. The tribunal, in an order dated July 16, observed that the report of CPCB clearly reflected that a high level of total coliform and E. coli was detected in five samples. "At this stage, it would be worth noting that the tribunal in the previous proceedings dated May 30 took note of the fact that the original application was pending for the last three months and the issue relating to the supply of sewage-mixed water was not remediated by DJB. The tribunal also recorded the statement of the chief engineer, DJB, for giving an undertaking within three days in the form of an affidavit that the problem will be remediated and none of the residents will get the supply of water having faecal coliform and E. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hear better, live easier Amplifon Book Now Undo coli," said the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The tribunal further said that DJB would continue to proceed with the remedial measures. "It has also been suggested by counsel for the applicant that to solve the immediate problem, the supply of fresh water can be made from the Haiderpur water plant. Let this also be examined by DJB," said NGT.
