Ajay Sharma
Katra, Oct 13: In the same old narrative of appointments through backdoor, it is the account of those having been accommodated by authorities at the helm of Irrigation Department, albeit in the year 2002-2003. If the appointments having been made in complete violation of the government order issued in 1994 that imposed blanket ban on appointment of daily wagers in the state, the present dispensation has simply allowed things to continue rather than correcting the irregular practices by the previous regime. The appointments so made, no matter as daily wagers or casual laborers , are now an eyesore for many, who demand these to be dismissed and eligible persons be taken through proper channel.
According to sources around 8-9 persons were accommodated through backdoor for a project to be taken up for construction of a canal in village Nohoti of tehsil Sunderbani in Rajouri district in the year 2002-03 . The selection was no random instead on a strong recommendation allegedly made by the then minister of state for PHE Irririgation Dr Romesh , a senior Congress leader from Nowshera Sunderbani . Interestingly , they were appointed much ahead of the work started on the project. The minister had directed the then DE Nowshera.
The aberration or the irregularity so happened is on more than one account. One that the step was in violation of the government order aimed at imposition of ban on appointment of casual laborers or daily wagers . Moreover , all the persons so appointed by the concerned officials got the jobs, though on temporary basis , were taken through backdoor, implying no normal procedure was adopted for their selection. Even as the concerned authorities obliged their political bosses by appointing them ahead of take off of the said project for the Canal. However, the most ironic part of the whole story is that the work on the project has been stopped since for varied reasons. It has crossed the stipulated deadline and the concerned authorities over a period of time have failed to get the work started ahead, inadequate funds being the core reason for all hurdles it is facing.
While the work on the project is standstill, the appointment of daily wagers and continuance only amounts to hoodwinking the government and loss to its exchequer. Area sarpanch, while pleading for commencement of the work for the canal has sought these appointments through backdoor to be dismissed and selections made afresh by sticking to norms and rules so that deserving unemployed people get opportunity. |
