Those involved in Scams worth hundreds of crores in RDD Poonch still not taken to task by the government; Various financial frauds, backdoor appointments still unattended
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: A few days ago, many BDOs were transferred by the J&K government as the top officials sitting at the helm of affairs in RDD wanted to give an indication that transparency and performance matter in the department. But in reality, this was a routine exercise and nothing else.
Over the last few years, scams worth hundreds of crores were scripted under different schemes in RDD Poonch with the involvement of the ACD office, BDOs, inspectors, JEs, secretary panchayats, and others. Even the office of Executive Engineer REW played a big role in scripting those big scams. A number of Secretary Panchayats close to power corridors enjoyed holding charge of many Panchayats, and still, there are some Secretary Panchayats and JEs who are looking after the number of Panchayats, thereby earning handsomely. It was the duty of a few RDD officials to take heavy money from PMAY applicants and applicants under various schemes. As the people in far-flung areas are not so educated, these tainted RDD officials took advantage of their lack of education and minted several lacs in commission only under various schemes. Some PRIs also remained part and parcel of various scams. The government has claimed transparency in RDD work, but the tainted officials have found new ways of earning money in the name of online work activities under various schemes. Alone in the PMAY scheme, massive blunders were scripted, and if an investigation is carried out by any anti-graft agency, a big scam worth hundreds of crores will come out. Highly placed sources within the department told “POONCH TODAY” that those who remained involved in various multiple scams also managed to form good contact with those from the anti-graft agencies, and this was the reason that not a single inquiry was initiated against any ACD, BDO, technical assistants, secretary panchayat, GRS, or other employees. Crores of rupees were swallowed up by the officials in the name of model villages and other schemes in the district. Even a powerful political leader reportedly grabbed a big RDD asset in Poonch Block, but the department officials failed to get it back, showing the horrible state of affairs in the department. Such things show that even some political leaders remained part and parcel of big scams and used to shield their men and political machinery in the department by forming good links with the civil administration. Many people were also recruited by the top officers through backdoor means under the influence of money in the department, but no inquiries were conducted against any of them as this issue is still unattended by the government. The Commissioner/Secretary of RDD is considered a hard taskmaster, but the question arises: will she inquire about the massive wrongdoings that were scripted in the department that is expected to touch hundreds of crores? A few of the secretary panchayats, BDOs, ACDs, and other staff members earned heavily, but only through commission and other fraud bills; no inquiry was ever conducted against the erring officials. The ombudsman appointed by the government for years also failed to detect any scam because, reportedly, they were also adjusted by the erring RDD officials, panchayat wise. There is no transparency in the department, as opined by the locals. They said that even without paying commission, nobody is ready to get their job done. Despite having full information about many scams totaling hundreds of crores, nobody at the helm of affairs in RDD is ready to bring to book those who remained part and parcel of such financial frauds. It is a very sensitive matter, and the UT government of J&K needs to appoint an inquiry commission to detect many scams worth thousands of crores only in the Poonch and Rajouri districts.