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| Marwah R&B Special sub division 'den of corruption', seeks Rs 85 lakh for snow clearance | | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 17: After allegedly withdrawing several lakhs during the past few years on the name of snow clearance, surprisingly the PWD (R&B) officials while sitting at homes made a consolidated damages report with regard to damages caused due to heavy snowfall w.e.f 2-11-2018 to 8-2-2019 while the whole area is cut off from rest of the state from the month of November 2018 itself. As per the details available with "Early Times", the Marwah and Warwan Valley and the roads leading to these areas are under heavy snow cover which ranges from 4-10 feet of snowfall at different place since last more than two months and surprisingly Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Spl Sub Division Marwah vide his letter No. EE/PWD/M/3034-36 Dated 13-2-2019 address to the Superintending Engineer, PMGSY Circle, Batote demand Rs. 85 Lakhs on account of damages to the road from Mulwarwan to Nowapachi (Pakage No. JK04-28), Inshan to Margi Road (JK04-56), Inshan to Basmeena Road (JK04-142), Ikhala block boundry Kishtwar to Lopara (JK04-167), Nowapachi Dherna upto Hanzal (JK04-166), Yurdoo to Qadrena (JK04-49) and Margan top block Boundry Anantnag to Mulwarwan (JK04-260).
As per the said letter, snow, glacier & avalanches are the main cause of the damages to these roads while at the same time, Executive Engineer stated that roads under PMGSY of this division falls in the area of frosted zone and the roads remains blocked for about six months due to heavy snowfall in the area which also causes the occurrence of avalanches and heavy slips and glaciers on these roads.
The sources said that the letter seeking Rs. 85 Lakhs for snow damage is an attempt of open loot of state exchequer and added that no official of the department visited the area since it witnessed seasons first snowfall in November last year and added that then how come the officers managed to prepare the damages report when Margan top and Warwan is under the snow cover of 8-10 feet.
The sources said that the letter instead of addressing the real issues has been written to siphon off the money on the name of road damages added that government should take note of the prevailing corruption that is going on in the department since years together.
Speaking to "Early Times" the local contractors from Kishtwar once again termed the amount demanded as false added that the corrupt babus are withdrawing several lakhs of rupees fraudulently on the name of snow/slip clearance every year.
"How they reach this figure when whole area is under snow cover-- It could be more" said the contractors. 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.
It is pertinent to mention that more than Rs. 2 crore has been withdrawn by Marwah Special Sub Division on the name of 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 told the "Early Times" 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 every year and after getting the requisite money, the corrupt officials posted in the area spent negligible amount for clearance of snow, while at the same time swindle lakhs of rupees-the share of which is later divided and share 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 for release of funds to the tune of Rs. 95.05 Lakhs in respect of PMGSY Division Marwah for clearing snow 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 basis due to tremendous pressure from the government added that the road was 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 Rs. 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. |
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