The Karnataka government is set to order a fresh investigation into alleged bribery and corruption in the modernisation of sub-canals connected to the Narayanapura Right Bank Canal in Raichur district after receiving a three-volume review report on the project.
The report was submitted to Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Friday by a high-level committee headed by retired Karnataka additional chief secretary S.R. Umashankar. The committee reviewed an earlier inquiry report prepared by the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission, which examined the canal modernisation works.
The project involved the modernisation of sub-canals numbered 1 to 18 branching from the Narayanapura Right Bank Canal. The canal system is intended to support agricultural activity in Raichur district, making the quality, execution and oversight of the works directly relevant to irrigation delivery and farming communities.
According to the report, the earlier inquiry covered allegations of bribery and corruption in works carried out across five government departments, including the Water Resources Department, between July 26, 2019, and March 31, 2023. The Nagamohan Das Commission specifically investigated the modernisation works on the Narayanapura Right Bank Canal and submitted its report to the state government on March 12, 2025.
The Karnataka government constituted the Umashankar-led review committee on August 19, 2025, to examine the findings of the earlier commission and submit a detailed assessment. The committee comprised six members and a member-secretary and prepared its conclusions in three volumes.
After accepting the report, Cheluvarayaswamy said the document had only just been received by the department. He said the earlier commission’s report had identified the need for an investigation into the works and that the government would order further investigation in accordance with the recommendations of the review committee.
The supplied report does not specify the alleged financial irregularities, officials or contractors named in the review findings, the estimated value of any suspected loss, or the precise nature of the next investigation. It also does not state whether any disciplinary, recovery or criminal proceedings have already been initiated.
The next formal step is the state government’s order authorising the investigation. Its scope, investigating agency, terms of reference and any action against individuals or firms will determine how the review report translates into accountability for the canal works.
