Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 29: Embezzlement of several crores is faced in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, where Collector had made payment against river embankment and forest land. Moreover, even non-existing structures were shown demolished and compensation worth crores of rupees released.
According to documents available with Early Times payment of crore of rupees made against factious cases by the then Collector, Ganderbal.
"Whereas, one Bashir Ahmad son of Suna Khan resident of Thune Tehsil Kangan was entitled to receive only an amount of Rs 7, 01,155 as 80% compensation of Shamilat Sec-5 (Hasbbirasad) land measuring 2 Kanals 14 Marlas, but was wrongly paid a huge amount of Rs 45, 18,000 and asked him to deposit excess amount of Rs 38,16,845 in District Treasury Ganderbal under major account head 8443- Revenue Deposit within 5 days positively", notice issued by ACR Ganderbal, No DCG/Leg/11/1742 Dated 11-03-2011 read.
Sources said that the action was taken only after lot of hue and cry was raised by general public against the major embezzlement. "As per law, the Collector could straight way effect recovery of excess payment. and the issuance of recovery notice was unwarranted as the recovery notice helped him to manage a stay order from J&K High Court and the issue rests in the court and nobody follows it", sources said, adding that the procedure helped ACR to grab huge amount.
"Before release of compensation, the ACR had to fully satisfy himself that only property land is counted for compensation", sources said, and added that even payment against river embankment, forest land were made.
"Even the River Sindh Embankment/Forest Land/Land belonging to USHP Kangan has been shown as property land and sold to PMGSY project and thus illegal compensation shown made in criminal conspiracy of ACR with other revenue officials", they added. They said that PMGSY Project Thune to Badipathri Kangan was never taken up by the executing agency despite payments worth crores of rupees fraudulently drawn.
However, in February 2011, the then Revenue Minister, Raman Bhalla had ordered the Divisional Commissioner to investigate the matter. "But the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir preferred to sleep over the issue", they alleged.
"Meanwhile, the Tehsildar Ganderbal was asked to probe the matter and in his detailed report bearing No 132/WBN/l 1 Dated 05-03-2011, the Tehsildar confirmed that River Sindh embankment /forest land/state land/USHP land has been shown as property land and fraudulent payments made to the fictions beneficiaries", sources said, adding that even non-existing structures were shown demolished by said ACR and compensation released worth crores of rupees.
"Non-existing fruit bearing trees, especially walnut have been shown standing on the land acquired for various projects in Ganderbal", they alleged.
Sources urged upon Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti to conduct high level probe into the embezzlement. "The matter has been brought into notice of Chief Minister through a letter written to her few days back", they added. |
