Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 25: Drawing the attention of the Govt towards massive financial and other irregularities committed in the execution of River Tawi Barrage project and plunder of public money as exposed in special audit Report of Finance Department, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman, Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and former Minister has sought initiation of appropriate criminal proceedings against all those involved in this scam.
He said that the special audit ordered by Finance Department and conducted by top officers of State Govt had not only found glaring irregularities in the execution of the said project but fiscal violations and financial impropriety of grave order which needed immediate attention of authorities concerned.
He expressed dismay that despite the public exchequer having been robbed of crores of rupees by a corrupt mafia operational in the system, no action had been initiated with the Audit Report having been thrown under the carpet.
“The fact that some powerful people were involved in the scam should not deter the Govt from proceeding against the culprits,” Singh said.
Expressing concern over the huge mobilization advance given to the outside executing agency named M/S GVR Infra Projects Ltd which abandoned the work midway on the said Barrage project, Singh called for fixation of accountability and immediate recovery of advance payments.
“It was further intriguing that payments had been made from time to time for works which did not correspond to the terms of contract and advance payments had also been made for works which had not been executed even till date,” regretted Singh.
The NPP leader said that poor quality work was another issue of concern with huge damages having been caused to the existing structure as reported by the special audit team.
Urging upon the Governor to take strong note of the huge scam, Singh sought stern action against all those associated with the project since its launch.
Maintaining that the River Tawi Barrage Project had great importance for Jammu in view of its tourism potential as well as agricultural promotion, Singh regretted that the significant scheme too had collapsed under the weight of highly corrupt regimes.
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