BDOs defy submission of verification report
Avtar Bhat
POONCH, Dec 27: Defying the directives of higher ups, the Block Development Officers in Poonch have constantly delayed the submission of report regarding physical verification of works executed under MGNREGA scheme to clear the pending liabilities for mason and material, while hundreds of the job seekers are running from pillar to post for years together for release of their payments.
Sources said though a Committee was constituted by the then District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Rahul Yadav under the chairmanship of Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing (REW) Poonch for the physical verification of MGNREGA works executed in the district during financial year 2016-17 and 2017-18 but till date no report was submitted by the Committee to the higher ups for release of pending payment which amounts to over Rs 3.50 crore.
Sources said the Executive Engineer in his capacity as the Chairman of the Committee had written umpteen letters to the concerned BDOs of the district to do the physical verification of works executed in their respective jurisdiction but they failed to comply creating a row within the functioning of the Department.
The Executive Engineer, however, brought the matter in the notice of Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Poonch turning his attention towards the issue and seeking directives to BDOs for compliance but much to the chagrin of the hapless masons and material suppliers, no headway was made in making the physical verification of works executed till date.
Sources said even ACD Poonch in his letter of July 20 this year has asked the Executive Engineer REW Poonch to submit the photographs and certificates of works executed duly signed by respective BDOs and report should reach to his office within ten days after his letter, still no action has been taken till date by the subordinate offices.
The Executive Engineer, REW in his letter on August 28 this year to District Development Commissioner, Poonch has said despite giving umpteen reminders to concerned BDOs regarding physical verification of works he did not get any positive response from them. The letter further mentioned that he had accordingly informed the ACD, Poonch in this regard but instead of issuing directives to the concerned BDOs who have failed to provide photographs and made physical verification of the works done in their respective blocks, he (Executive Engineer) alleged that he was being targeted and even held responsible for non compliance on the part of BDOs.
The Executive Engineer in the letter further mentioned that under these circumstances the final report to be submitted to District Development Commissioner’s Office will be further delayed due to non compliance of the directions by the concerned BDOs.
The Executive Engineer has also categorically mentioned that without the geo-tagged photographs and certificates by the BDOs, the further course of action can’t be taken in this connection on the basis of which the final report will be made.
The Executive Engineer seeking immediate intervention of DDC , Poonch in the matter has appealed him to issue directives to the concerned BDOs to submit the verification report without further delay.
According to sources, the payment to the tune of over Rs 3.50 crore are a liability against the Government under the scheme which failed to release the same till date due to certain unavoidable reasons.
Sources said the laborers and masons whose payments are pending over these years are running from pillar to post for the release of the same but to no avail as the authorities at the helm of affairs are unnecessarily adopting delaying tactics in submission of verification report.
Sources said that despite the directives of higher ups in Civil Secretariat to District Development Commissioner Poonch seeking the physical verification report by concerned BDOs they failed to submit the same for reasons best known to them.
Meanwhile, the masons and material suppliers whose payments have not been paid over the years are up in arms against the high-handedness of the BDOs and the Department saying for settling their personnel scores they have put them to unnecessarily harassment and humiliation.
While questioning the role of the Department, they said “What is the fun of launching such public welfare schemes by the Government, which instead of welfare are putting people to unnecessary trouble and hardships”.
However, District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Inderjit told Excelsior that the liabilities are of 2016-17 and 2017-18 amounting to Rs 3.50 crore. He said the delay in the release of payment was as the Administrative Department, when approached for release of payment had asked that the concerned DCs may get execution of works verified.
He said the payment for about 750 works are pending, the verification process is now underway and the final report will be submitted within 20 to 25 days.
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