Tainted RDD officials known for scripting multiple scams never taken to task by the government; Various backdoor appointments are still unchecked
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: On the one hand, the UT government has introduced transparency at all levels, but the shrewd RDD officials from top to bottom have their own style of working, and this is the reason that they are still calling shots in the department, even through the transfer industry.
Although many transfers took place in the department to give an indication that transparency and performance matter in the department, in reality, it 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, X.En REW, inspectors, JEs, secretary panchayats, and others. 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 not a single inquiry was initiated by the government against any ACDs, BDOs, Technical Assistants, Secretary Panchayat, GRS, or other employees who remained part and parcel of various frauds. Crores of rupees were swallowed up by the officials in the name of model villages and other schemes in the district. Some 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 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. 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, and this silence raised a big question mark for those sitting at the helm of affairs in the department.