Multi-crore PWD store scam in Rajouri and Nowshera divisions? Part-III; Crorepati X.ENs, Storekeepers looted money
POONCH TODAY NEWS
RAJOURI: In reality, both the PWD divisions of Nowshera and Rajouri remained a “Goldmine” for corrupt officials of PWD division and behind the curtains, few officials from anti graft agencies were also adjusted properly to hide the store scam. Despite collecting more than Rs 148 crore, there is no record available of payments made to various firms from where materials were purchased. Even indents showing the details of material used in different works lying no where in the office. Just on the name of RTI, tainted Executive Engineers of Rajouri division hoodwinked many RTI applicants and provided them other records not pertaining to the store. Executive Engineer Nowshera division, who is known in the department for showing hollow arrogance, also violated the transparency act at will and still does that. Even, in his office chamber, he directed his subordinate officials not to comply with the RTI act come what may, because he is also fearing exposure of a big store scam. Large number of fake bills in several lacs in the name of J&K Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation, Ltd, were cleared. On paper, huge material was purchased from various firms, and that money was used by tainted PWD officials of both the divisions of Rajouri and Nowshera. Even material worth crores was sold outside just to earn illegal money by storekeepers with the involvement of tainted engineers. Under various heads, many fake bills were also passed with the involvement of successive Executive Engineers, AEEs and JEs. This store scam in Rajouri and Nowshera divisions is just a tip of an iceberg and many similar scams are lying beneath the carpets. Even on the purchase of Bitumen, tainted Engineers also passed huge bills, but on ground, huge compromise was made in blacktopping of various roads in Rajouri and Nowshera divisions and the issue of poor quality blacktopping work on various roads came in various media platforms over the years. From the store only, several lacs of cement bags were sold out illegally, but on paper, they were shown to be allocated for different works and majority of those works were never executed on the ground. Even some fake bills in several lacs were also cleared in favour of Steel Authority of India by Executive Engineers of PWD Rajouri and Nowshera divisions. Payments made in favour of JAKFED, Steel Authority of India, J&K Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation need to be investigated by the government as reportedly, crores of rupees were misused by tainted Engineers and Storekeepers posted in both the division of Rajouri district. This PWD store scam in Rajouri and Nowshera division is a very big scam but unfortunately, over the years no attention was paid to it, reason, successive Executive Engineers, Superintending Engineers and Chief Engineer’s Jammu got their due share behind the curtains. A high level inquiry is needed into this multi crore store scam and those responsible for scripting this must be brought to justice for murdering the tax payer’s money.
