Will ACB File An FIR In Rs 90 Lakh Tube- Well Scam In Budgam?

Budgam: Authorities are yet to file a formal complaint in connection with Rs 90 lakh tube well scam in BK Pora block in Budgam. Sources have told this scam is not only restricted to BK Pora block of Budgam but there are many blocks in J&K where the Mgnrega funds have been misused. Will newly created Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) file an FIR in this case, is the question people here are asking. As reported already reported, intervention of State Information Commission (SIC) had exposed corrupt practices of a Block Development Officer (BDO) in B K Pora in Budgam district as she was found to be involved in making purchases against the MGNREGA norms.

The SIC passed an order dated 27.01.2016 in second appeal No.SIC/K/SA/112/2015 titled Abdul Manan Bukhari V/s PIO/BDO Block B.K. Pora in which the SIC had directed Secretary to Government, Rural Development Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu, DDC Budgam and Director, Rural Development Department, Kashmir to hold a time bound enquiry into the procurement of material for Tube Wells/Dug Wells amounting to Rs 90,08,235 by BDO, Block, B.K. Pora and were also directed to take appropriate action.

Abdul Manan Bukhari sought copy of the detailed report submitted by the Committee constituted for the purpose and also information about the follow up action on the basis of the said report. The 2nd appeal came up for hearing before the SIC on 11.09.2018.

Syed Abdul Basit PIO/Asstt. Director, Planning, Directorate of Rural Development Department Kashmir and appellant Abdul Manan Bukhari attended the hearing. The PIO furnished a copy of the report submitted by the Committee headed by District Panchayat Officer (DPO) , Bandipora constituted to enquire into the procurement of material for Tube Wells/Dug Wells amounting to Rs 90,08,235 by BDO, Block, B.K. Pora.

In the said report, the Committee had observed that the records were not made available to them for scrutiny by the BDO Block B.K. Pora. The Committee had detailed certain payments made by the BDO, but at the same time observed that these figures are not final given the fact that all the records were not made available. The PIO (BDO BK Pora) failed to spell out what further action has been taken by the Director, Rural Development Department, Kashmir pursuant to the submission of report by the Committee.

The appeal again came up for hearing before the SIC on 11.09.2018 Syed Abdul Basit PIO/Assistant Director, Planning, Directorate of RDD Kashmir and appellant Manan Bukhari attended the hearing. During the last hearing, the Commission had expressed its reservations about the enquiry report submitted by the Committee headed District Panchayat Officer, Bandipora in which the Committee had clearly indicated that the concerned BDO did not cooperate and did not provided relevant records to the Committee for examination.

In order to arrive at a logical conclusion in the matter, another Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Director (Adm) with Deputy Director (Planning) and Accounts Officer (DRDK) as its members was constituted on the direction of SIC vide order dated 19.09.2018 to conduct a thorough enquiry into the matter. The Committee concluded its enquiry and submitted it report on 26.09.2018, a copy of the said enquiry report was also furnished to the Commission.

The PIO further informed that the report of the said Committee is under examination and further course of action will be taken.

In the enquiry report, the Committee headed by Joint Director (Adm) Directorate of RDD Kashmir concluded that tube wells were installed in Block B.K. Pora in violation of activities covered under MGNREGA and BDO concerned was having no authorization from any competent authority to take up the said activity and purchase of material at his own level.

The Committee accordingly recommended that the matter be referred to some investigating agency for thorough probe besides taking disciplinary action against the then BDO, Shereen Sofi, AE, Tanvir Ahmad and Dealing Assistant Abdul Gani Teeli forthwith.