| 'Nepotism, political patronage pave way for corruption' | | AEEs, AEs staying in home district for over a decade | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: Over a dozen of Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) and Assistant Engineers (AEs) are over staying in their home (Poonch) district for over a decade using political and bureaucratic connections. Moreover over in officials' records they keep playing hide and seek with their choice postings in four sub-divisions of Public Works (R&B) Department division Poonch.
According documents data available with Early Times obtained through RTI Act, most of officials and officers in PWD, R&B have been staying in same district for decades. "AEEs, AEs and JEs stayed in Mandi, Mendhar, Poonch and Surakote sub-divisions of PWD, R&B Division Poonch, or in PMGSY or REW but in same district for over a decade", information obtained through RTI reveals.
As per sources in the department these have connection with higher level officers of department either through touts. "They preferred to stay in their home district and have earned huge wealth by using unfair means", said an official, wishing not to be named.
He said that one of AEE has good connection among bureaucratic circle, and he time and again named some of the officers he has association. "He (AEE) he always claims that no one can transfer him, because of his brother in-law, who is a senior bureaucrat in state administration", the official said, adding that on same pattern other engineers are also manning their posting in home district for decade.
According an Information Seeker who filed a RTI in the office of Executive Engineer, PWD, R&B Division, seeking detail of posting of AEEs, AEs, JEs and other staff posted in the division, but it took around three months for the PIO to furnish the sought detail.
"On 26th April, 2019, I filed the RTI application seeking reply of above mentioned queries but the PIO (EXn PWD, R&B Poonch) didn't reply of same. On 19th June 2019 I file first appeal in the office of (Superintending Engineer) Rajouri and finally on 10th August 2019 I received reply from the PIO", the information seeker said, adding that though despite his first appeal the PIO's office try to put the information on hold for some more time.
"According to despatch date mentioned on reply the office compile the reply 20/07/2019 and but was 26th July, 2019, six days latter and it was delivered on 10/08/2019 at my residence", the information seeker added.
He said that the alleged lawlessness in PWD, R&B department spoiled the department and development both together. "With re-organisation of J&K, we (people) hope the new rein will fix all the wrong doing of past, and those who got undue benefits out of prevailing anarchy. Governor's administration should direct the ACB to conduct survey of property belongs to these over staying local engineers in Poonch district", he claimed.
Commissioner Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Khurshid Shah could not be contacted for his version. |
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