| JE demands Rs 30,000 as commission from contractor for clearing bills | | Corruption ruling roost in RDD Poonch | | Rajesh Tandon
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 26: A Junior Engineer of Rural Development Department Poonch has allegedly demanded bribe of Rs 30,000 from a contractor for clearing his bills for water tank construction in MandiPalera of Poonch district. Mohammad Ismail, the contactor, while narrating his tale to Early Times informed that a work for construction of water tank was allotted at the cost of Rs 2 lakhs for MandiPalera under 14th FC. “My wife is a panch and we got sanctioned work of water tank and after completing the construction work, I approached the concerned Junior Engineer for making bills for the work done but JE demanded Rs 30,000 as commissioner for clearing the bills,” he alleged.
Contractor further said that when he approached the senior officials of the department in this connection, the employees of the department came in front to back the alleged JE and some employees advised him not make issue and asked him to pay the commission to the JE. “I have spent Rs 2 lakhs for the construction of water tank, and now JE is demanding bribe, later other officials will also make same demand then how would I fulfil their insatiable greed,” he alleged.
Interestingly, when issue of corruption demanded by JE was highlighted by the contractor, the alleged JE got arranged a meeting through some in his favour, where some people were seen praising the alleged JE. The contactor demanded action against the JE so that corruption be curbed from the department as such officials are the main roadblock in the development.When the Reporter Talk To ADC poonch He said Action will be taken against the official once the complaint is Received by the office and action will be taken
When contacted theJE, he ruled out any such allegation against him and said that there were clear instructions from the XEN not to clear payment until proper inspection of leakage of water tank is done.
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