Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 5:In Kalakote Block of district Rajouri, the family members and relatives of officials of the Rural Development Department have become millionaires, and huge unaccounted payments under MGNREGA have been made to them.
Sources familiar with the matter informed Early Times that huge embezzlement has been done by the officials of Block Development Office (BDO) Kalakote.
"A Management Information System operator in block office has made payment worth several lacs in favour of his real brother, who is a shopkeeper", sources said and added that as per norms only authorised vendors are eligible to make supply in the department, but in Kalakote rules are being violated by the officials.
"The cousin of another official, a junior statistical assistant (JSA) has become huge beneficiary of MGNREGA as a vendor from another block", they said and added that embezzlement of public money does not stop here.
"A Rajouri based friend of, Junior Engineer, posted in Kalakote block is also beneficiary of huge payment under MGNREGA", they said an and added that the JE's friend who is a transporter, suddenly landed in list of vendors, and got huge payment.
Sources further said that there are several cases of embezzlement committed in the block. "Funds meant for development of rural India, under political patronage is being drained by the officials, recently several officials from Kalakote block were placed under suspension by the then Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, but due the political interference the suspension was revoked mysteriously", they added.
BDO Kalakote, Jagan Nath when contacted said that no payment has been made in favour of unauthorised vendors.
But contradicting, the BDO's version sources said that a probe needs to be done to expose the misdeeds of the officials of Block Development Office Kalakote. "Entire detail of payment made by BDO Kalakote are available on MGNREGA website, and other details regarding relation between officials and vendors can be verified though ground verification", they said. |
