"As it is a big enquiry involving various departments and non-public servants, I have requested the government to issue a notification under section 18 of the UP Lokayukta and UP Lokakayukta Act", UP Lokayukta Justice (retired) N K Mehrotra told PTI.
He said that the government has also been requested to provide an agency for assistance which has police powers.
"I have send a letter to the government in this regard yesterday", Mehrotra said.
The request has been made after the state government asked the Lokayukta to probe into alleged financial irregularities into purchase and supply of sandstone used in construction of various memorials and parks in Lucknow and Noida, officials said here.
The state government has asked the Lokayukta office to conduct an enquiry into purchase and supply of sandstone for construction of memorials and parks after preliminary enquiry by the vigilance department, they said.
The government has asked the Lokayukta to probe into the involvement of government departments, officials and suppliers.
As per the preliminary enquiry conducted by the vigilance department the then joint director of Directorate of Geology and Mining S A Farooqui had written a letter to the managing director of Rajkiya Nirman Nigam in July 2007.
Stating the pink variety of sandstone was selected for memorials, Farooqui asked a consortium of mining leaseholders in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts for its availability.
The then joint director asked the RNN to enter into an agreement with Shahi Marbel Corporation Makrana, Rajasthan, for delivery of sandstone to Lucknow.
The report said that while leaseholders claimed to have been paid Rs 75 as labour charge, Rs 20 for loading, royalty and sales tax, on paper the labour charge was shown at Rs 150 per cubic foot.
With 11,330 cubic metre sandstone supplied between July and December 2007, it said, 24,282 cubic metre was supplied between January and November 2008.
