Bandipora, Mar 22: The people of Chandaji in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district have accused the officials of Public Health Engineering department of embezzling huge amount of money while executing a Water Supply Scheme in the area.  
 Locals said the officials in the department in connivance with the contractor had allegedly laid substandard and broken pipes during the execution of the scheme few months ago.
 “The officials and contractor laid thousands of substandard pipes which are broken and have claimed to have completed the work on the Chandaji Water Supply Scheme,” the residents said, adding the project was taken up under the NHPC’s rehabilitation programme. They said that several broken pipes were also scattered in the area.
 Sources in the PHE said the contract was also allotted in violation of the norms. “The contract was given to one who has been the ex-supervisor of the department in violation of the rules,” sources said, adding “the department didn’t invite any tender to execute the work and issued directions on work order bases.”
 PHE Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din has ordered an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of funds. “The Chief Engineer PHE has been asked to investigate to see as to how the funds have been utilized in the execution of the WSS,” sources added.
 Earlier, the District Development Commissioner Bandipora Manzoor Ahmed Lone also ordered an inquiry and framed a Committee headed by Additional District Development Commissioner to investigate the matter.
 “DDC constituted an inquiry team head by the Additional District Development Commissioner, Ghulam Muhammad Barkaboo, which revealed huge embezzlement in the execution of the work on the scheme,” sources said.
 The team, according to sources, submitted the report to the DDC revealing that most of the PHE schemes in Bandipora exist on papers only.
 The investigating team revealed that pipes laid in the Chandaji WSS were damaged and substandard. "About 4000 pipes of the size of three to six inch which have been laid from Chandaji to Chandaji Chek, covering a distance of about seven kilometers, are nonfunctional.”
 According to the residents, the work on the WSS worth Rs 58 Lakh was started by the PHE Department after National Hydroelectric Power Corporation approved funds under its Rehabilitation Plan. “It is highly unfortunate that the funds for the execution of the scheme have been embezzled,” the locals said adding the government should take stringent action against those involved in it.  
 The Engineers in the PHE Sub-Division told Greater Kashmir that the work on the Chandaji scheme has been completed.
 “We have utilized Rs 36 lakh on the scheme. The pipes are scattered as the area is hilly. We will look into the matter to find the reality,” PHE Subdivision Bandipora, Assistant Executive Engineer told Greater Kashmir.
 Admitting that he visited the area on the directions of PHE Minster, PHE Chief Engineer, Ghulam Rasool Zargar, said “I visited the area, but haven’t prepared the report yet.”
 When asked to comment upon the alleged embezzlement in the execution of work on WSS, Zargar remained tight lipped. “I can’t say anything as the report is yet to be prepared.”
Minster takes action, suspends Engineer
 After coming to know about the alleged embezzlement in the execution of the scheme, Public Health Engineering Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din has initiated an inquiry and promptly acted against the PHE officials. The Minister has asked Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir to look into the funds utilization by the Bandipora PHE in Execution of the Chandaji WSS.
 When contacted, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said “An inquiry has been initiated into the embezzlement, besides an engineer has been put under suspension.”  “I have asked the Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir to look into the matter and put up with facts,” Taj added.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST