Bashir Assad
JAMMU, Feb 16: Seven days after a probe panel was directed to bring out the truth behind the allegations of gross misappropriation of funds in PHE department under Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), within a stipulated time of 15 days, the probe panel is yet to receive documents from the CCDU office in Srinagar, thereby, hampering the process of fact finding.
Sources told Early Times that the four member panel headed by Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu, KK Gupta has shot two letters to the CCDU Executive Director, Mir Najeebullah asking him to provide all the requisite documents to the panel, however, the CCDU has reportedly cited the curfew in Srinagar as the reason for delay in submitting the documents which include physical and financial details of spending of Rs 12.27 crores during last three months or so.
Sources said though CCDU has a camp office in Jammu also at Channi Himmat (House No. 263, Sector 1), however, the organization has denied having any documents at the camp office.
Sources said that the committee was finding it very difficult to go into the details as no documents have been submitted by the organization as yet. They said since the implementation of "Save Drinking Water" project involves four departments viz PHE, Health, School Education and Rural Development, the panel has to ascertain the facts from all 20 districts through the respective Deputy Commissioners. But, they added, this was only possible when CCDU submits the documents to the panel. Sources said, the panel comprising of CE, Irrigation & FC, KK Gupta, SE Hydraulic, Srinagar and Ganderbal, Fida Mohammad Farooqi, Chief Accounts Officer with CE PHE, Jammu, Krishan Singh and Chief Accounts Officer with CE, PHE Kashmir, Abdul Hamid Kumar met here recently to deliberate on the issue. The panel besides sending letter to the CCDU also communicated it verbally to submit the documents at the earliest because the panel has to work in time bound manner.
The committee has asked the CCDU management to provide documents pertaining the implementation of "Save Drinking Water Project" and also the copy of the agreement, if any, with the Jharkhand based NGO, Wemtep through which the agency has implemented the project in the State. It merits a mention here that Wemtep has been employed in coordinating the programs with CCDU and on an average Rs 14 crore have been annually released in favour of the said NGO for last three or four years. Sources said that Minister for PHE took a review meeting of the PHE department last week during which he smelled rat when the Executive Director CCDU, Mir Najeebulah failed to provide details about huge spending during last three months forcing the Minister to order probe into the matter. However, the panel has been asked to go into the details of spending in CCDU since 2009. Pertinently soon after the probe was ordered, CCDU Executive Director Najeebullah offered his resignation, which was rejected by the Minister. He was directed to continue till the panel submits its report to the Government.
The then State Health Minister Sharma said, "We want to bring transparency, accountability and best services to the people in drinking water supply, irrigation and flood control sectors". |
