PWD Divisions and Sub Divisions of Poonch and Rajouri under scanner of anti graft agencies; Huge funds released over the years for non existing works

PWD Divisions and Sub Divisions of Poonch and Rajouri under scanner of anti graft agencies; Huge funds released over the years for non existing works

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH/RAJOURI: It’s a well known fact that PWD Department in Poonch and Rajouri districts got funds in thousands of crores over the years for various development activities, but their full usage on ground has remained a big mystery till date.  Under SDRF, BADP and many non plan activities, Crores of rupees were swallowed by tainted officials of the department in maximum  Divisions and Sub divisions of Poonch and Rajouri districts. Highly placed sources  in the department told “POONCH TODAY” that under SDRF and BADP activities,  crores of rupees were withdrawn for non existing works. Even payments were withdrawn repeatedly on same works and  there are large number of such cases. In PWD Division. Rajouri and Nowshera besides under Sub Divisions like Surankote, Mendhar and few others in Rajouri district, tainted officials earned like anything on the name of SDRF works. On the name of annual and special repairs, funds in several lacs were misused. On optical fiber cable laying activities, telecom companies gave huge funds to PWD Department in both the districts, but department never brought in public that how those funds were used on the ground. There are reports that few closed Contractors were given out of the benefits in lieu of hefty commissions. The horrible state of affairs of PWD in both the districts can be gauged from the fact that in a short span of time, few PWD officials became overnights crorepatis. Even bills were passed of those works which are still not on the ground. Successive X.EN’s PWD Rajouri and PWD Nowshera released payments of some doubtful works after indulging in hand in glove activities. Even, both the Executive Engineers violated RTI act fearing exposure of their misdeeds. An Assistant Executive Engineer in Mendhar sub division  is running a petrol pump on the name of his relative. Corruption in Surankote and Mendhar sub division came to limelight time and again but those sitting at helm preferred to maintain silent. On Mandi Phagla road, huge payments were made repeatedly but that road is still incomplete even after several decades.  Since the issue of corruption in PWD has become a most common issue and as  a result, many top officers of anti graft agencies are having a hawk eye on PWD department in both the districts  and a strong action on erring officials  seems to be in pipeline.