District Admn orders probe
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 18: The malpractices in execution of Government works have surfaced in Rural Development Department (RDD) block Nangali Sahib in Poonch district during the year 2019-2020 with Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Poonch ordering a probe into the matter.
According to sources to dupe the State exchequer and throwing all norms and rules to winds the block officials have kept one development work in two plans for the financial year of 2019-2020. Not only this, the officials and engineers of the Department maintained such a monopoly that the MGNREGA work sanctioned for one Mohalla in the block has been shifted to another Mohalla by the concerned Junior Engineer and Panchayat Secretary of the area without seeking approval from the competent authority after violating all the norms and codal procedure, sources added.
They said, besides the first installment of money sanctioned for the construction of house of one beneficiary under Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna (PMAY) in the same block has been credited in the account of another person by the officials of the RDD Bandi Chachian Panchayat in Poonch. The fraudulent approach of the working of the officials of the Department has generated a lot of public resentment in the area who said that claims of the Government to contain corruption and corrupt officials are confined to their statements only as nothing visible has changed on ground.
Divulging the details, sources said in Panchayat Takia Sharief falling under Block Nangali Sahib, Poonch one work namely construction of tractor road Hariwala to MS Kamaldari in Ward Number 7 has been reflected in Panchayat MGNERGA 2019-2020 plan under rural connectivity at S.No 10 and the same work has been repeated at the serial number 1 of the same Panchayat under approved 14 FC Plan for the year 2019-2020 thereby a double entry has been made for the same work. Interestingly, Rs four lakh have been earmarked in both MGNERGA and 14th FC Plan for the work under the same title for the same financial year with an ulterior motive of fraud, sources added.
Taking serious note of the same the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC), Poonch vide his letter number ADDCP/PS/67/764 dated 14/2/2020 has sought an explanation from the Block Development Officer (BDO) Nangali Sahib that how double entry has been made. BDO has also been asked to explain whether the payment has been made under both the schemes or not. The letter further reads that in case the payment has not been made the same be stopped till further orders, sources added.
Sources said the officials and engineers in the Block have maintained such a monopoly that without seeking approval from higher-ups in the Department they have shifted work sanctioned under MGNREGA from one Mohalla to another Mohalla in violation of all standing rules and norms.
The villagers of Bandi Chicha Takiya Sharief have also made a complaint in this regard to District Development Commissioner, Poonch alleging there in that the work on harvesting tank to be constructed near the land of Fazal Hussian in Mohalla Kalsi Ward No 2 has been shifted to Mohalla Gogwali in the land of Gulzar Ahmed, son of Sian Mohammed without any approval from competent authority by the concerned JE and Secretary Panchayat after misusing their official position.
The ADDC Poonch, while taking serious note of the same and the malpractices in the Block has sought an explanation from BDO concerned vide his letter number ADDCP/PS 75 dated 10/2/2020 asking him as to how the approved work has been shifted from one place to another without the approval of competent authority.
The ADDC has also issued directives to BDO Nangali Sahib to take stringent action against the concerned JE and Panchayat Secretary in this regard and submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) in his Office without further delay. The BDO has also been directed that pending inquiry the salary of the JE concerned and Panchayat Secretary should be withheld.
In another case of malpractice in the block, the construction of house under Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna Scheme was sanctioned on the name of Mohammed Kabir, son of Noor Mohammed of Panchayat Takiya Sharief Bandi Chechain over two years back but the first installment of money has been fraudulently credited in the account of another person by the officials of the block.
Though Noor Mohammed has been running from pillar to post for justice but no one at the helm of affairs has come to his rescue and sorting out the matter. The file was processed by the concerned Panchayat Secretary two years back and all formalities were completed in this regard. But the Secretary of the Panchayat in league with dealing assistant of the block had swindled this amount after debiting the money in the account of another person fradulently. The Inspector of the Panchayat Block Nangali Sahib has sought an explanation from the Secretary Panchayat and also taken up the issue with higher ups.
When contacted Assistant Commissioner, RDD Poonch, Rajesh Lakhan said that he had joined the Department some days back and hence has no knowledge of it. But after the issue was brought in his notice he took it up with higher authorities and Department will definitely take action against erring officials.
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