Early Times Report
Jammu, July 27: More skeletons have been tumbling out from the cupboard of former PDP-BJP coalition government tenure and this time it is related to the mysterious procurement and distribution of 47,500 fruit plants from Kashmir valley and then to distribution in 12 blocks of Jammu.
Moreover, the fruit plants which were procured from a particular nursery of Kashmir valley are usually not grown in valley and there are allegations that the whole supply and distribution of these plants were done on papers only, on the dictates of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader. According to documents, vide order number DRDJ/Plants/2016-17/2215-2229 dated 7/7/2017, issued by Directorate of Rural Development Department (RDD) Jammu, supply order was given to Bhat Kissan Nursery (Kulgam) for supply of plants of Guava, Mangoes, Lemon, Amla and Orange to various blocks of Jammu.
A total of 500 plants of each variety were supplied to 12 Block Development Officers of Jammu. A total of 25,00 plants were supplied to each BDO of Pragwal, Bhalwal, Arnia, Suchetgarh, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Mathwar, Maira Maderian, Chowki Choura, Kharah Balli, Samwan and Khour.
Interestingly, on one hand such variety of plants are not grown in Kashmir valley and as per order the BDOs of Jammu district were directed to plant these saplings immediately within the panchayat on the same day and concerned BDOs shall made identification of beneficiaries as well protected Panchayat land and pit digging should be done in advance as per Horticulture Department specifications/norms.
The BDOs were directed to arrange protection of plant and watering of plant as per norms of Horticulture department besides BDOs were also asked to pay the cost of bills issued in duplicate by the department.
Sources in the department alleged that these 47500 plants were purchased in papers only that too on the directions of a PDP leader as there was some agreement between the nursery owner and the PDP leader. "The office of Director as well as BDOs were duty bound to obey the dictates of the PDP leader from the nursery", sources said, adding that at ground level, no such plants were even available in the nursery and were not supplied and neither planted in any block of Jammu district but only the money exchanged the public exchequer to the kitty of PDP leader as well as the owner of the nursery", sources alleged. Officials in the department have appealed Governor secretariat to order an enquiry into the matter, so that the people involved in the bleeding of public exchequer would be punished. |
