| Seeks probe into frauds by BJP workers | | Under pressure to facilitate bungling, RDD official calls it quits | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 26: Allegedly under pressure of MLAs, an official of Rural Development Department has tendered his resignation to ACD, Udhampur, seeking probe into frauds being committed by some BJP workers in connivance of the department officials.
According to sources, Ravinder Singh, Gram Rozgar Sewak, Panchyat Chore Panjian, Block Khoon has tendered his resignation to Assistant Commissioner Development Udhampur.
"The official in his resignation, submitted to ACD, has alleged that he was being threatened by officers of Rural Development Department and BJP Leaders who are indulging in loot of RDD funds", sources said, alleging that large scale frauds and irregularities being committed in the implementation of various schemes including MG-NREGA.
"The official was unable to adjust himself from the very beginning in an atmosphere where corruption was all pervasive and felt like resigning on several occasions but was stopped by friends and relations", they said, and added that besides loot of funds by the reckless officials by preparing fictitious bills, there was connivance between the officials and local mates and the departmental inputs and other materials were also pilfered and looted.
"In majority of the works being done by the RDD, inflated bills were prepared and the proceeds of the illegitimate bargains shared", sources said and added that the official was deeply pained to notice that even the MG-NREGA scheme named after Mahatma Gandhi, who fought all his life like corruption, was being abused by corrupt people for minting money.
"The official was feeling suffocated during the last few months in which two of his colleagues namely Sandeep Padyal Technical Assistant (TA) and Rajinder Prasad VLW, who also is Account In-charge and Panchayat Secretary of Chore Panjian Panchayat of Block Khoon started threatening him of dire consequences including transfer to remote area by taking the name of BJP politicians and local MLA in case he did not "fall in tine" and stopped resisting them in their irregularities", sources said, and added that the TA Sandeep's father named Gopal Singh claiming himself to be a BJP Leader threatened him to co-operate with the corrupt officials or face consequences He said that persistent pressures, threats and harassment to him to sign fake bills had exhausted his patience and forced him to resign.
"Construction work pertaining to lane drain was executed in Chokidar Mohalla, Panjian Part-I in Block Khoon which costed Rs. 3.50 lacs. The aforesaid civil work, the actual consumption of cement was 50 bags but the fake bill was raised for 180 bags by the concerned officials including Sandeep Padyal and Rajinder Prasad in collusion with one local mate Ram Chand", sources said, and added that likewise in another construction of lane drain Part-II in the same area of Chore Panjian was executed with a cost of Rs. 4.00 lacs.
When contacted Assistant Commissioner Development, Udhampur, Joginder Singh acknowledging allegations leveled by the GRS, he said that inquiry would be conducted.
"I received an application, and accordingly, probe will be ordered to check the credentials of allegations", he added. Director Rural Development Department, Pradeep Kumar when contacted said that he was not aware about it. |
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