Unhealthy financial practices again started in Thanamandi Municipality with the full support of Executive Officer, Locals demand a high-level inquiry

Unhealthy financial practices again started in Thanamandi Municipality with the full support of Executive Officer, Locals demand a high-level inquiry

POONCH TODAY NEWS

RAJOURI: Though the Urban Local Bodies department always remains in the news on one or another issue, in district Rajouri, Thanamandi Municipality and Rajouri Municipality top the list of various financial frauds. Executive Officer Rajouri and his team members scripted massive financial irregularities under different schemes, but those malpractices remained under the carpet as the concerned officials did all illegal acts silently. E.O. Rajouri Municipality, who is also looking after the charge of Thanamandi Municipality, has started misusing government funds in the name of various purchases related to Thanamandi Municipality.

Highly placed sources in Rajouri municipality, pleading anonymity, said that massive financial frauds were scripted in Rajouri municipality over the years, but no action has yet been taken against those who remained part and parcel of various financial frauds. The present incumbent also followed the old tradition of unhealthy financial practices, and now he has an additional charge of the Thanamandi municipality. On getting this opportunity, the E.O. has started misusing his financial powers and is involved in unnecessary purchasing of items just to hit financial favors indirectly. Highly placed sources in the department told “POONCH TODAY” that during recent times, maximum foul plays were executed with the full support of the Executive Officer in the Thanamandi municipality. At various places in the area, a number of illegal constructions have taken place, but the concerned executive officer failed to take action against them. Locals of the Thanamandi Municipality said that they requested the government time and again to initiate an inquiry into massive embezzlement of funds under different schemes by the concerned officials, but no action has been taken by the government yet. A temporary employee of the Rajouri municipality, pleading anonymity, said that they hardly get regular salary despite running from pillar to post. Some officials who are not holding important positions said that the entire Thanamandi municipality has become a den of corruption, and the E.O. Rajouri, who got an additional charge of the Thanamandi municipality, is also sailing in the same boat as he has started using funds in a haphazard manner in the name of purchases. Moreover, a huge compromise was also reported in maximum developmental works under the different schemes with the involvement of municipality officials both in Rajouri and Thanamandi. Locals have demanded a high-level inquiry from the government into the purchases of this financial year to detect a high-level financial scam in both the municipalities that were scripted by E.O. and his blue-eyed officials silently. The matter of unhealthy financial practices also reached the office of the Director of Local Bodies Jammu, but no action was reportedly taken by the Director against the erring officials, including the E.O. Will the government swing into action by ordering a high-level inquiry into the issue to book erring officials who misused government funds without any proper planning?