Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 17: A high level Enquiry Committee, constituted by PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma, to look into irregularities worth Rs 12 crores, or even more, in Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) that was responsible for quality check of water in Jammu and Srinagar cities has established large scale bungling in the Unit including assignment of all activities to a single Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
The NGO named WEMTEP, based at Jharkhand, had been made a payment running into crores of rupees but the CCDU failed to provide the record to the Inquiry Committee, intentionally or unintentionally, with the result that the Panel was unable to see whether codal formalities and other requirements of the standing rules had been adhered to or not.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the CCDU didn’t supply the record deliberately to the Inquiry Committee for the fear of further expose of its nexus with the NGO.
After getting a report of the scam, Mr Sharma on taking over affairs of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department from his party and Cabinet colleague Taj Mohi-ud-Din had ordered a high level inquiry into working of the CCDU.
The Inquiry Committee comprised KK Gupta, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Jammu as Chairman, Fida Mohammad Farooqi, Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Circle, Srinagar-Ganderbal, Krishan Singh, Chief Accounts Officer, PHE Jammu and Abdul Hamid, Chief Accounts Officer, PHE Kashmir as members.
“A single NGO (Jharkhand based WEMTEP) had been assigned the entire responsibility of conducting almost all activities of the CCDU programme in the State creating a sort of dominance/monopoly. This developed slackness and casual approach in execution of the programme as evidenced during on-spot interaction of the Committee with the participants including teachers, ASHA workers, Panchayat members etc,’’ the report signed by all four members of the Committee said.
The Inquiry Committee pointed out that it had submitted a detailed questionnaire to CCDU vide letter No. IFCJ/EC/170 dated 3.4.2013 followed by a reminder vide letter No. IFC/EC/227 dated 5.4.2013 and letter No. IFCJ/EC/311 dated 6.4.2013 but it failed to respond or produce any record till the Committee compiled its report with the result verification regarding codal formalities and other requirements of the standing rules having been adhered to or not couldn’t be done.
Sources said the financial irregularities could even cross Rs 12 crores as were anticipated earlier in the CCDU. They could be more, they added.
“The CCDU has not engaged any account knowing person to prepare/check the accounts and advise on financial and other related matters. The details of manpower required to be engaged by the NGO for implementation of support activities of IEC and HRD based on approved pattern have not been verified by the CCDU,’’ the Committee said.
It added that the Bond, which was to be executed and accepted under the payment schedule clause of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has not been signed by the first party i.e. the CCDU. “Whether the CCDU has approached Secretary or Director of Rural Development Department for conduct of activities at Panchayat level on conjugation with RDD as per MoU was not forthcoming from the records’’.
The Inquiry Committee has also pointed out that no tax had been deducted from the payments made to the NGO even though the State Service Tax, as applicable from time to time, had to be deposited on the service rendered with the Commercial Taxes Department.
“The delegation/sanction for drawing of the schedule of payment allowing 60 per cent of total approved amount as advance payment to the NGO under MoU is not forthcoming from the study of the records. This very clause has resulted in disadvantage with regard to the exercise of control over working of the NGO and streamlining of its activities,’’ the report said.
Sources said that all this might have been done deliberately to benefit the NGO and, in turn, loot the public exchequer.
The Inquiry Committee pointed out that Village Water Sanitation Committees, which were required to be constituted under the guidelines/MoU and which were claimed to have been formed by the NGO were not active in the respective areas for furthering the basic motive of developing awareness and consciousness among village folks regarding importance of safe water consumption and sanitation for development of a healthy society.
“Even the Sarpanchs and Panchs hadn’t been educated to make them realize and appreciate the essence and importance of the programme and thereafter be actively involved in furthering awareness among the common masses,’’ the report said.
The CCDU and the NGO, which had to display hoarding, wall writings, banners etc for awareness and education of general public in tune with the motive of the programme were not observed conspicuously and the funds were swindled.
The training sessions on water safety had been rushed through just to complete the formalities and even the kits hadn’t been distributed at some places for test check.
Worthwhile to mention here that 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 had not accepted his resignation.
Rs 12 crore worth funds had been misutilised during a time span of just 110 days i.e. from August 9, 2012 to December 31, 2012.
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 didn’t rule out the possibility of the case pertaining to misappropriation of funds being handed over to the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) after the PHE Department and other experts go into the report thoroughly.
Meanwhile, Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra, who had reserved the right to constitute a House Committee in the PHE irregularities on the demand of some members has circulated the report of the Inquiry Committee among all members of the Upper House to go through the recommendations and submit opinion on setting up of the Committee.
Mr Malhotra had deferred the decision of setting up of House Committee on the assurance of Sham Lal Sharma that inquiry reports would come within a month.
“One of the Committees constituted to look into working of the CCDU has submitted its report and the PHE Department has given it to the Council Secretariat. I have circulated findings and recommendations of the Committee among all Council members to elicit their views before proceeding further,’’ Mr Malhotra added.
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