Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Feb 24: Even as Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Ghulam Nabi Balwan had taken cognizance of a report published in February 17, 2016 edition of Early Times, exposing a multi-crore carriage scandal in hydraulic division, Kishtwar, allegedly involving top officials of the department, the officials at the helm of affairs are yet to submit him documents related to various works executed by the department from 2010 to 2013 at exorbitant carriage rates in violation of the codal procedure as fixed by the department vide government order No 156-PW(R&B) of April 1, 2010.
As per details available with "Early Times", the DC was yet to get details from the officials of the concerned department who were alleged to be gaining time to misrepresent facts, official sources said.
As already reported, the sample estimates duly sanctioned by Drawing and Disbursing Officer of Hydraulic Division, Kishtwar, as per Ts. No. 9BRGF for December 2012 amount to Rs 2,63,450. The carriage charges were allegedly paid at the rate of 400 pc to 450 pc above the schedule rate fixed by the department vide government order No 156-PW(R&B) of April 1, 2010.
Similarly, in Ts No 11/NABARD of 1/2013 amounting to Rs 54,800, similar practice was adopted by the officials where carriage charges were paid on exorbitant rates by the department, sources alleged.
The documents reveal that during these years, DDOs, with active help and assistance of their technical staff, allegedly siphoned off corers of rupees on various estimates passed by these officials on account of carriage of material by head load/mechanical transport from April 1, 2010 to ending December 2013 in utter violation of the scheduled rates.
The documents also reveal that for purchasing stone, bajraee, sand and other allied items from the government registered suppliers, no quotations were invited by the officials at the helm of the affairs and it was felt that the material thus used in the sanctioned works might also have been purchased on higher rates and could have caused a huge losses to the state exchequer. This needs to be probed by a high level committee. |
