Enquiry ordered into MLA’s allegations of corruption against Engg Deptts’ officers

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 13: Substantiating the general perception that dishonesty has remained deep rooted in the different organs of the State, Member of Legislative Assembly of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has leveled serious allegations of corruption against the officers of Engineering Departments with substantial proof thus forcing the administration to order an enquiry to be conducted in a time bound manner.
He has highlighted how the engineers of key departments are throwing the norms to the winds for conferring or obtaining undue benefits and those who are supposed to ensure strict compliance to the rules are acting as mute spectators.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting of Udhampur district held under the chairmanship of Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Doda-Udhampur-Kathua constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh two days back, BJP Member of Legislative Assembly from Chenani constituency Dina Nath Bhagat leveled serious allegations against officers of the Engineering Departments and Development and Planning Section of the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Udhampur office.
With sufficient proof placed in the meeting, the MLA pointed out that several roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have turned nullahs mainly for want of proper maintenance, sources privy to the proceedings of the meeting said, adding the MLA sought an enquiry into the maintenance of the PMGSY roads on the ground that such roads are virtually of no use for the people because of their pitiable condition.
He also placed on record certain documents indicating how the engineers of the Rural Development and other departments have been exaggerating the works recommended under the Constituency Development Fund of MLA and MP with the sole objective of conferring undue benefit upon the contractors and obtaining pecuniary benefits. The MLA also put the Development and Planning Section in the office of the District Development Commissioner Udhampur in the dock by alleging lack of proper monitoring of utilization of CDF and MPLAD funds.
Keeping in view serious allegations of corruption, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, who is also District Vigilance Officer, vide communication No.Compt/DVO/244-48 dated September 12, 2016 has ordered surprise check of records pertaining to the CDF and MPLAD.
He has appointed Anil Kumar Sharma, Divisional Officer, State Pollution Control Board Udhampur as enquiry officer to make a surprise check in the Development and Planning Section headed by Chief Planning Officer in the office of DDC.
“The enquiry officer shall look into the allegations of corruption leveled by the MLA and after proper checking of record lying with Development and Planning Section shall submit report within a week’s time”, reads the communication of District Vigilance Officer, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
The enquiry officer will be assisted by Pardeep Pandita, AAO in the office of DGM JKPCC Udhampur and Vinod Kumar Badyal, Naib Tehsildar Udhampur shall perform the Magisterial duty during the surprise check, the DVO order said.
When contacted, MLA Chenani Dina Nath Bhagat said, “the officers of certain departments are not cooperating in ensuring utilization of CDF and MPLAD funds strictly for the works recommended by the elected representatives of people”. “Moreover, there is no mechanism to ensure submission of Detailed Project Reports for the schemes and projects of immense public importance”, he added.
Quoting some instances of corrupt practices, the MLA said that the scope of various works recommended by him under CDF was enlarged by the engineers of Rural Development Department on their own with the sole objective of conferring or obtaining undue benefits. “Moreover, I have sufficient proof to indicate that estimates of the works are kept on higher sides by incorporating certain unwanted components just with the intention to benefit the contractors”, he added.

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