Tasaduq Rashid

Kulgam, Sept 23 (KNS): At the time when authorities were engaged in keeping the deadly Covid-19 pandemic away, corruption started to consolidate its roots in Municipal Committee (MC) Frisal of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district with the nexus of officials within the department.
Kashmir News Service (KNS) has learnt from its reliable sources that MC Frisal has withdrawn an amount of 1.17 lakh fraudulently against the works which has been never done on ground.
Sources said that in the month of February, March 2019, MC Frisal Kulgam placed order for wall paintings and erection of banners in the limits of MC Frisal against however the company Deva & Co who according to invoice number 507 dated 11.02.2020 withdrew an amount of 117646 against the work done, shown on documents.These works never existed on the ground level.
“The scam in which lakhs of rupees were looted illegally got matured due to covert support of officials within the department”, sources told KNS.
They added with the nexus of then Executive Officer, Head Assistant and Junior Assistant, Deva & Co. managed to swindle lacs of rupees mischievously from the public exchequer.
They also added that when inspection was set into motion no such work was existing within the limits of MC Frisal.
When the matter was brought up with Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir (ULBK) Riyaz Ahmad Wani, he assured necessary action against the involved officials.
“I’m going to initiate an enquiry and will constitute a team who will seek report from the present Executive Officer and others. Whosoever will be found guilty in the matter will be dealt strictly?”, Wani assured.
Earlier ,same scam was unearthed in Municipal Committee (MC) Shopian and the same Director guaranteed appropriate action against the involved for which he had constituted a high-level enquiry committee who was directed to submit their findings within a short period of time, however the matter seemed hushed-up by the officials as no probe report was made public till date.
Meanwhile, senior citizens and civil society member of the district have expressed resentment and surprise over back to back scams in MCs and no action taken by the authorities concerned.
Furthermore the present Executive Officer of MC Frisal has reportedly cancelled the order of sucker and dozens of street lights after found them “unmatched” with the specification prescribed by the officials approved in the order.
Sources informed KNS that the present Executive Officer MC Frisal has taken tough stand against corruptive officials and has currently cancelled an order that procured sucker vehicle and 50 street lights.
“The official after founding the specification of the material inadequate and inferior in quality withdrew the order and material is currently lying in the premises of the said office”, sources told KNS.
Senior citizens of the district and members of civil society have sought Lieutenant Governor’s attention in the matter and have appealed to put an end in this menace which has rotten the work culture in Government departments across UT. They also appealed LG that officials working with sincerity and dedication for the wellbeing of the people should be encouraged and those pampering corruptive elements should be thrown out. (KNS)