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| R&B, PMGSY Deptt submits fresh request for 95.05 lakhs | | Multi-crore Marwah snow clearance scam | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 27: Crores have been withdrawn in Marwah Sub Division of Kishtwar district for snow clearance during the past few years despite the fact that the men and machinery had been provided by the Mechanical Division of the Department.
Data available with early Times reveals more than 2 crore had been withdrawn for snow clearance while in some case the RDD department under MGNRGA had also withdrawn huge payments on account of snow clearance in Marwah and Warwan blocks.
The sources said that in a well planned conspiracy involving the senior officials of the department, the demand note for providing the funds to the tune of several lakhs has been forwarded to senior officials for snow clearance everywhere and after getting the requisite money, the corrupt officials posted in the area spent negligible amount for clearance of snow and swindled lakhs of rupees-the share of which is later divided from top to bottom.
As per the previous practice, Executive Engineer PWD (RB) Special Sub Division vide letter No. EE/PWD/M/ 2672-73 Dated 3-1-2019 address to Superintending Engineer, PMGSY Circle, Batote demanded funds to the tune of Rs. 95.05 Lakhs in respect of PMGSY Division Marwah for clearing snow 7 slips on roads from Mulwarwan to Nowapachi (59.35 Lakhs), Inshan to Margi (8.40 Lakhs), Inshan to Besmina (5 lakhs) and Margan Top to Mulwarwan (22.30 Lakhs).
In his letter the officials stated that the area traverses through a very high altitude and tough terrain, requires opening for the general public of Marwah and Warwan on war footing bases due to tremendous pressure from the government added that the road have been also opened and restored in the month of April and May 2018 for transportation of essential commodities and food grains.
The letter further stated that the report of the damages has been submitted by the department vide letter No. EE/PWD/M/ 600-01 Dated 2-6-2018 and EE/PWD/M/ 1803-05 Dated 26-09-2018 so that 95-05 Lakhs liability in this division on account of snow clearance, slips, rocks slides of the agencies engaged as well as of Mechanical Department for the machinery deployed.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Chief Engineer PMGSY JKRRDA Jammu for favor of information and necessary action regarding release of funds.
Speaking to "Early Times" the local contractors from Kishtwar term the amount demanded as exaggerated. They added that the corrupt babus withdraw money fraudulently in the name of snow/slip clearance every year.
The contractors said that the amount spent on snow clearance withdrawn in last several years is very huge which is more than the cost & expenses on advance snow clearance machines used in snow clearance on various roads in Kashmir Division.
They said that the department clears the snow at the time when only few inches of snow were left behind to accommodate the huge funds provided by the government for this purpose.
Some people even called it a major scandal and demanded setting up of the committee to look into the matter. They also called for withholding of the amount demanded by the Special Sub Division Marwah vide letter No. EE/PWD/M/ 2672-73 Dated 3-1-2019 henceforth, beside also called upon the authorities for transfer of the employees posted in the years since last several years by replacing them with honest officers of the department. |
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