Despite releasing payments in several crores, Irrigation Department has no official record 

Despite releasing payments in several crores, Irrigation Department has no official record

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH: Strange, but true that office of Irrigation and Flood Control Poonch has no official record of payments released for various works under different schemes during the last six years. Successive Executive Engineer’s, AEEs, AEs, JES and office clerks  looted government exchequer in crores from fake works shown on paper. Many inquiry committees were formed, but those who were deputed by the government to conduct the inquiry also shared the bounty with tainted officials of Irrigation and Flood Control Department. A RTI applicant approached department seeking information on different financial aspects of department, but, despite running from pillar to post, department failed to provide the information. Even Superintending Engineer orders were not obeyed by X.En, AEE, JE and office clerks. Highly placed sources in the department told “POONCH TODAY” that few tainted officials posted in the department looted everything. Even, a former legislator of Poonch district, once approached X.En and directed him to released Rs 10 lakh on any work to his favourite worker. The said legislator was fully aware of all the misdeeds of the department. Near S.K bridge Poonch, department spent money on paper in several lacs, but on ground, nothing concrete was done. The state of affairs in Irrigation department can be gauged from the fact that powerful contractors are running the department and main purpose of officials posted there is to earn commission from them. They have nothing to do with work on ground or quality of work done. Near S.K bridge, a large chunk of Irrigation canal was captured, but the department did nothing. Moreover, culverts were also captured, but no action has been taken yet against the culprits by the department. Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu also appreciated the working of Irrigation department Poonch and it shows that commission goes up to the top level. A high level inquiry is needed from the government to detect massive frauds in several crores that were scripted by few tainted officials posted in Irrigation Department Poonch and non availability of record indicates that such frauds are continuously going on.