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Seeking huge cuts, Edu Deptt refuses payment to contractor 8/21/2016 10:48:17 PM AB Sharma Early Times Report RajOuri, Aug 21: Corruption is scaling new heights in this frontier district of Jammu province. Even as a poor contractor has been seeking release of his pending payment due to him against construction of the building of Government Middle School Gandoh, the Education Department officials have refused to make payment arguing that he owed more "commission" than the pending amount. In 2012-13, on the unanimous decision of the Gandoh villagers, the work for construction of school was allotted to Vishwanath, a local contractor. The work to the tune of Rs 8.34 lakhs was allotted to him but the payments were made in piecemeal. "In the absence of proper payments from the government from time to time, I managed to completed the work with great difficulty," the contractor said. In 2015, he completed the construction and handed over the building to the Education Department. But till date, only 6.63 lakhs had been released in favor of the contractor. When the contractor visited the office of concerned Zonal Education Officer for release of pending payment to the tune of around Rs 2 lakhs, he got the shocker of life. "I was told that I have to pay separate commission to the clerks and the ZEO totaling to 30 % of the total cost of construction. When I told that this much commission will be more than the pending payment, the officials told me that I have to pay back to them from the money already released," the contractor said. "Why have you come for money? Infact you have to pay back from what you have already taken," the officials said. Vishwanath pleaded that he was a poor man and could not pay 30 % commission. "I have already taken loan for construction of the school building. Interest has gone high due to delay in release of payment. Instead of feeling sorry for the delay, the officials want to fleece me," he told Early Times. He said despite the personal intervention of concerned MLA, Ravinder Raina, the Education department has refused to release the payments. When contacted, the Chief Education Officer, Rajauri, Muhammad Altaf, asked why did the contractor go to media if ZEO Sunderbani Shamsher Singh was asking for bribe. "Ask the contractor to file a complaint in my office, we will look into the matter," the CEO told Early Times. Meanwhile, the contractor appealed Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Education Minister Naeem Akhter and the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to intervene in the matter.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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