Javaid Naikoo
SRINAGAR, Feb 19: Despite repeated attempts to bring the matter of Srinagar face lifting scam to the notice of Minister for roads and buildings (R&B), the concerned minister seems least interested to bring facts to fore.
Despite setting four deadlines for forming a committee to probe the scam, he allowed the scam to flourish by taking refuge in his `weak memory'.
The Minister, Abdul Majeed Wani after missing four deadlines set by himself in connection with Srinagar face lifting scam exposed by Early Times last year finally on 14/12/2013 while talking to Early Times said that he has a weak memory and does not know any allotments which as per document details were sanctioned from the office of the Executive Engineer of R&B divisions 1 and 2 of Srinagar for different roads across the Srinagar on the eve of Darbar move for face lifting which include painting of centre lines, painting edge lines, painting of police beats, polls and washing of curb stones etc.
Among the allotments worth crores which include allotment for the face lifting of Abdullah bridge under allotment number 650-54 dated 12/04/2013 with an estimated cost of Rs 44,992, allotment of contract for face lifting of road by way of painting centre and edge line at various spots from Bakshi Stadium to Abdullah bridge under allotment number 181-85 with an estimated cost of Rs 63,747, face lifting of road by way of painting of curb stones, electric poles from Bakhshi stadium to Abdullah bridge under order number 328-32 dated 6/04/2013 under estimated cost 1,10,449, allotment of contract for clearance of drains and face lifting of Northern foreshore road under allotment number 156-60 dated 4/4/2013 under estimated cost 1,96,986, allotment of contract for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from UNO office to Taley Manzil under allotment number 7567-71 dated 4/07/2013 with an allotted cost 1,07,849, allotment of contract for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from Nehru park to end of dual carriage way under allotment number 7562-66 dated 04/07/2013 with an allotted cost 1,26,426, clearance of drains and face lifting of road from Taley Manzil to Raj Bhawan under allotment number 7557-61 dated 4/07/2013 with an estimated cost 63,357, allotment for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from dual carriage to Kral Sangria under allotment number 151-55 dated 4/4/2013 with an estimated cost 58,745, allotment for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from Jan Bakery to Nehru Park under allotment number 1296-300 dated 23/04/2013 with an estimated cost 88,898, allotment for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from Cheshmashahi junction to Parimahal including botanical garden under allotment number 7828-32 dated 9/07/2013 with an estimated cost 57,874, allotment for clearance of drains and face lifting of road from Kral sangria to Nishar garden under allotment number 323-27 dated 6/04/2013 under estimated cost of 78,972, allotment of contract for clearance of side drains, washing of kerb stones, painting of kerb stones, police beats, iron ralling, marking of zebra crossing, stop lines, edge lines, broken lines, face lifting of side walls from New secretariat gate to Batamaloo bridge under allotment number 25648-52 dated 25/03/2013 with an allotment cost of 93,037, allotment for clearance of side drains, washing of kerb stones, painting, from Budshah bridge to exchange road crossing on M.A road under allotment number 6627-31 dated 25/06/2013 with an estimated cost 98,568, allotment of contract for clearance of side drains, washing and painting of kerb stones, poles, grills from Poloview to M.A road under order number 793-97 dated 16-04-2013, with an estimated cost of 1,43,002, allotment for clearance of side drains, washing and painting of kerb stones, from exchange crossing to Poloview on M.A road under order number 171-75 dated 04/04/2013 with an estimated cost of 1,69,942, allotment for clearance of side drains, washing and painting of kerb stones, ralling, poles from Sonawar to M.A bridge under allotment number 7221-25 dated 29/06/2013 with an estimated cost of 70,942, allotment of contract for clearance of side drains and washing of kern stones from Ram Munshi Bagh to Poloview under order number 8437-41 dated 15/07/2013 with an estimated cost of 1,49,681 have been sanctioned by Executive engineer R&B construction division, IInd and copies of such allotments were also send to concerned officials as well.
Sources said that an inquiry was started after Early Times exposed the scam and carried stories repeatedly on the matter, however, few blue eyed contractors after using their political influence succeeded to convince the Minister and all the concerned highly placed officials and ultimately resulted in share of swindled money among contractors and officials of R&B department as per an agreement decided before the allotment of works.
Pertinently after exposing the scam on 18/10/2013, R&B Minister while thanking Early Times for bringing the matter in his notice set one week deadline to inquire the matter, however, after this deadline concerned Minister after missing four deadlines finally on 14/12/2013 said that he does not know about any such allotments and expressed an excuse of his busy schedule. |
