Srinagar, Apr 6: In a startling disclosure that has come to fore, the District Development Commissioner Kupwara in an official memo has accused Additional Commissioner Kashmir of demanding “gratification” for release of funds.
In a communiqué to the state Chief Secretary, DC Kupwara has alleged that Additional Commissioner (Kashmir) sought “bribe” from Joint Director Planning of DC office Kupwara for release of funds. The money, according to him, was to be utilized to clear liabilities of the works, damaged by floods in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district in 2010. Copies of the communication have also been sent to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Principle Secretary to Chief Minister and Financial Commissioner Revenue.
Pertinently, Greater Kashmir had on April 3 reported that the official inquiry into the flood restoration works by the field agencies in district Kupwara had revealed that most of the works for which the funds were sought turned out to be “fictitious.” Curiously, the inquiry was conducted by the Additional Commissioner, Kashmir.
DC Kupwara while contesting the inquiry report, has in his communication to the CS termed it “biased.” The report, according to him was submitted by the Additional Commissioner directly to the Chief Secretary with a “malicious intent”.
“He (Additional Commissioner Kashmir) called Joint Director Planning of DC Kupwara office and demanded gratification for pushing through the papers (seeking release of funds),” DC Kupwara’s letter to CS bearing number DCK/PS/2011/8252-58 dated: 9. 11.2011 reads.
“In the absence of Shri Asgar Samoon (Divisional Commissioner), Shri Abdul Majeed Mir was officiating as Divisional Commissioner Kashmir. The instant statement (work-done liabilities) was taken hold of by Shri Abdul Majeed Wani and staggered on his table till October 2011. In between he called for the Joint Director Planning of DDC Kupwara. When he found that the concerned officer has shown declination for his proposition for extraneous considerations for pushing up the papers, he felt slighted and rushed to Kupwara for purported verification of the (flood) loss without taking the Divisional Commissioner into confidence,” the letter further reads.
The contents of the official memo further reveal that district administration Kupwara was kept in dark on random checks carried out by the Additional Commissioner.
“He did not take on board concerned DC and other senior officers including SE R&B, SE Hydraulic and concerned Xens who had compiled the statement of flood losses instead he relied on the statement of Patwaris, linemen and sundry persons.” the communiqué reveals.
The DC Kupwara did not stop here and questioned the route taken by the Additional Commissioner for submitting the inquiry report.
“After compiling the report he (Additional Commissioner) bypassed the routine official channels - Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Commissioner/Secretary to Government Revenue Department and submitted the report directly to Chief Secretary,” reads the memo.
Investigation by this newspaper revealed that DC Kupwara sent the memo after Additional Commissioner in his report pointed out that there were large-scale irregularities in the flood restoration works executed by different government departments in Kupwara district. Additional Commissioner’s report says that out of 483 works, which administration claimed to have undertaken, cross-check was conducted of 75 works.
“However, among them, 65 works were not executed. While in 10 other works, only 10-20 percent restoration work was carried out,” it says.
Pertinently, the district administration Kupwara had approached divisional administration to release the funds for clearing the work-done liabilities. The DDC Kupwara vide his letter number, DDCK/ Flood Restoration/ 2010/4886-88 dated: 25-08-2011 had claimed that Rs 11 crore were spent on the restoration works.
“Kindly refer minutes of the State Executive Committee Meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary J&K State on 18th of July 2011 issued under endorsement NO: REV/ER/41/2010 Dated: 9-7-2011 regarding the subject cited above. In this connection, the sector-wise/scheme-wise utilization of funds received under CRF for undertaking relief/ rescue measures alongwith utilization certificate and latest work done is enclosed with the request to kindly release Rs 1126.74 lakh under CRF for finalization of the work-done claims of the concerned executing agencies,” the requisition letter reads.

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