| Rajouri: Official takes commission, refuses to clear bills | | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 13: A Technical Assistant (TA) and a Gram Sevak in block Kalakote of Rajouri district are bleeding the state exchequer as well the local contractors who have completed works in their respective Panchayats.
Sources informed Early Times that the Technical Assistant and the Gram Sevak, despite taking huge commission in advance, blackmailed a contractor to constructed a culvert in Dhalyote-B Panchayat of Kalakote block.
"They took Rs 40,000 in advance for culvert work amounting Rs 3 lakh. After completion of the work, the total work amount was reduced to Rs 2,40,000, as the contractor refused to pay more commission to the Technical Assistant and the watcher-turned-Gram Sevek", said an official familiar with the matter. He further said that the contactor who is facing huge loss brought the matter into the BDO's notice.
"If the matter is not redessed earliest, the contractor may knock the door of ACD, Rajouri and even the Director RDD Jammu", the official added. He said that the Technical Assistant has made bogus payment in favour of his friend who is from another block, and as per rules, he cannot be beneficiary of Panaar Panchayat of Kalakote block. "He made a payment of Rs 8 lakh in favour of his friend who is from block and tehsil Siot", they added.
Presently there are two Technical Assistants in Kalakote block, and both of them have been holding charge of 5 Panchayats each. "The TA, two month ago, took Rs 30,000 from one of contractor from Kharak Panchayat and had promised to finalize all the bills within week. Two months have gone but my bills are nowhere. I visit him daily, but now he is demanding more commission", said a contractor, adding that the TA has fixed cut of 20 percent commission. "But it is not possible to pay huge commission to get cleared the bills", the contractor said. |
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