Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Feb 13: PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma has ordered a high level inquiry into nearly Rs 12 crore scam in Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), which was responsible for conduct of quality check of water in Jammu and Srinagar cities and other measures.
Surprisingly, soon after Mr Sharma ordered an inquiry into the scam, Executive Director of CCDU Najeebullah, who happened to be a retired Chief Engineer, resigned from his post. The Minister has, however, not accepted his resignation so far.
Mr Sharma told the Excelsior that a high level committee, which would conduct the inquiry into (mis)utilization of Rs 12 crore worth funds during just 110 days i.e. from August 9, 2012 to December 31, 2012, would be headed by Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu, KK Gupta.
Other members of the Committee are Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic) Srinagar and Ganderbal, Fida Mohammad Farooq, Chief Accounts Officer (CAO) in the officer of PHE Chief Engineer, Jammu, Krishan Singh and CAO in Chief Engineer, PHE Office in Srinagar, Abdul Hamid.
Mr Sham has asked the high level committee to look into all aspects of massive Rs 12 crore expenditure in short span of time and come out with an exhaustive report for initiating further action in the matter.
Sources said the new PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister during high level review of the CCDU was surprised to find that the Agency had spent Rs 12 crore in such a short span of time.
The CCDU was responsible for developing State specific information, educate and communicate strategy for reforming initiative in water and sanitation, improve capacity development of functionaries at different level, address water quality issues, monitor water quality by taking random samples, ensure sanitation and hygiene, conduct door to door campaign and create awareness among the masses on water hygiene.
Sources said the PHE Minister has asked the high level committee to check working of CCDU and inquire as to how Rs 12 crore were utilized in the few months.
Whether the amount was utilized as per action plan or not and how the works were executed would also form part of the Enquiry Committee, which has been asked to complete its job within the minimum possible time, sources said, adding that the PHE Minister would initiate further disciplinary action against the officials on the basis of inquiry report.
“The case could also be handed over to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) depending upon the nature of the scam after findings of the panel’’, sources said.
They expressed surprise over the fact that Executive Director of CCDU, Najeebullah resigned from the post the same day the Minister ordered an inquiry into the purchase of Rs 12 crore in just 110 days.
“This has aroused further suspicion over the massive expenditure in small period of time’’, sources said, adding that Najeebullah was a former Chief Engineer, who had been reemployed by the Government and appointed as Executive Director of CCDU.
However, sensing mischief by the Executive Director by submitting his resignation after the inquiry, the Minister decided not to accept it.
The resignation of the officer has been rejected, sources said, adding that the officer would be made accountable for expenditure of Rs 12 crore.
“We would go into all details of the expenditure of Rs 12 crore including the works, which were executed in just 110 days , the schemes which were implemented and efforts taken to maintain hygienic water supply’’, sources said, adding that it could turn out to be the major scam.
Worthwhile to mention here that only a couple of days back, Sham Sharma had held a high level review of CCDU during which he came to know about the expenditure of such a massive amount within the few days and decided to go for a high level probe, which he formally ordered today.
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