Amid speculation that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which investigated the infamous National Highway-74 Scam having submitted its report to the chief secretary, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has categorically stated that the guilty would be punished.
In response to questions asked by the media persons at the State secretariat on Wednesday, Rawat said, “I have stated it earlier as well that no one, whether a junior level officer or a senior, would be spared if found guilty.” The CM further said that the investigating agency is working on the NH -74 scam.
It is learnt that the SIT, investigating the multi crore scam involving Udham Singh Nagar district, has submitted its report to the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh. The scam was said to have occurred during the years from 2011 to 2016 when work on widening of the Haridwar- Bareilly National Highway (NH – 74) was taking place. In collusion with the corrupt officers, the agricultural land was allegedly shown as non-agricultural lands in the revenue records. In gross violation of the norms, compensation amount, increased up to 20 times, was provided to the farmers whose lands were acquired for the project. The scam occurred in the process of land acquisition and grant of compensation to the land losers living in Kitcha, Jaspur, Kashipur and Sitarganj areas of U S Nagar district. The scam was unearthed first by then Kumaon Commissioner Senthil Pandian. After the scam came to the fore, the State Government recommended a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, with the Centre not accepting it, Trivendra Singh Rawat Government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the scam that is dubbed as a super scam.
Many State Government officers associated with the revenue department and the district administration have so far been arrested for their alleged involvement in the financial irregularities in the land acquisition and compensation payment process.
Speculations are swirling after the SIT submitted its report to the chief secretary that names of some senior level officers figure in the report as involved in the multi-crore scam.
Rohingyas in Haridwar, claims BJP MlA
With political slugfest on illegal immigrants or infiltrators gaining stridency across the country, the Khanpur MlA Pranav Singh ‘ Champion’ has alleged that Rohingya Muslims are sneaking into several areas of Haridwar district.
Known for sparking rows, the BJP MlA told journalists at the State secretariat in Dehradun on Wednesday that the presence of Rohingyas in Haridwar is a very serious issue and both the central and the State security agencies should look into the matter seriously. Champion said that he would take up the issue of the presence of Rohingyas in Haridwar with the Chief Minister, state director general of police (DGP) and the State Home Secretary. Asking the Congress president Rahul Gandhi to refrain from politicising the issue, Champion said that Rahul should take lesson from the ex PM Indira Gandhi who was alert on the matter of illegal immigration in the country.
Asked to comment on the concern raised by a BJP MlA on the presence of Rohingya Muslims in Haridwar, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that there is no official information about their presence in the State.