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| Ticketing scam surfaces in Kokernag MC | | After Pahalgam | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
anantnag, June 26: After Municipal Committee (MC) Pahalgam, a major ticketing scam worth lakhs of rupees has surfaced in MC Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
According to details, the contractor who has been allotted the contract of collecting entry free from commercial vehicles has been caught charging private vehicles illegally.
The MC Kokernag has set up entry point at Hangalgund, Kokernag, and is charging Rs 30 from each private vehicle through contractor Reyaz Ahmad Rather illegally, locals informed Early Times.
They said that private vehicle owners are being handed over receipts against the amount. A video recorded by one of the private vehicles shows employees of the contractor collecting entry fee from private vehicles.
"We are charging every private vehicle and spare the residents of Breng, Kokernag and some employees," the entry fee collectors can be heard saying to private vehicle owners who questioned them for collecting the entry fee from private vehicles.
When contacted, Executive Officer MC Kokernag, Imtiyaz Ahmad admitted that the contractor was collecting entry fee from the private vehicles illegally.
"I have issued a corrigendum and now I will not allow him to collect entry fee from private vehicles" he said.
The officer shared shocking details with Early Times and hinted that it was 'mega scam'.
"On April 1, the contract of collecting entry fee from commercial vehicles was allotted to the contractor, but then on April 18, MC Kokernag issued a rate list of entry fee," he said.
Prior to allotting the contract, the MC should have issued the rate list.
The rate list of MC Kokernag, a copy of which is with Early Times, authorizes the contractor to collect entry fee from private vehicles carrying goods, but the contractor with the help of employees and officials of MC misused the same and collected entry fee from all private vehicles from April.
The Executive Officer also revealed that the auction for 'entry fee collection contract' wasn't done in a transparent manner. "They manage it locally. Some two three people come and offer low bids and get it easily. A good competition can actually raise the bid amount and open auction should be held," he said.
However, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Farooq Ahmd Rather continues to prefer silence and isn't in a mood to take cognizance of reports of irregularities.
Earlier this week, the sweeping staff of MC Pahalgam held protests against the committee officials accusing them of using fake receipt books for swindling money collected as entry fee from vehicle owners.
Sweepers had spotted some employees of MC Pahalgam burning a huge quantity of receipts books what they called 'fake receipt books' and were being used to mint money.
In both the cases, state exchequer has so far reportedly suffered a loss of over Rs 1 crore. |
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