The Central Public Works Department ( CPWD)’s Engineers Association has accused CEO of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Niteshwar Kumar for using derogatory language against their two engineers and illegally detain/arrest of them for delay in completion of a project. The Association also urged the Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to probe the matter against Kumar and SSP Ramban. The CEO of SASB is considered close to Lieutenant Governor Sinha.
In a letter sent to the Housing and Urban Affairs minister, the CPWD Engineers Association demanded that IAS officer and CEO of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Niteshwar Kumar and SSP, Ramban simply misused their authority and to take necessary action as deemed fit as per service rules against them for of abusing local engineers and forcing their "illegal detention" for 10 hours.
The copy of the letter was also marked to the Secretary, Housing and Urban Affairs and Directorate General of CPWD.
This incident took place on May 25 when SASB CEO, Nitishwar Kumar, visited Chanderkote in Ramban district where the CPWD is constructing 18 cluster type dormitories for the shrine board.
As per the letter, during the inspection, Kumar, lost his temper, Seemingly on account that some pending finishing works.
He used derogatory language and hurled abuse on CPWD officers. Not satisfied with this act of his, he further ordered, verbally, to SSP Ramban to arrest/ detain the Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer of CPWD.
CPWD superintending engineer, Mohan Lal wrote to Jammu & Kashmir chief secretary eight hours after the two engineers were “detained” by the Ramban police giving details of the sequence of events while seeking immediate intervention for the release of two engineers.
The letter said that his high handedness become all the more grave because he himself is mainly responsible for delay in work. SASB has been delaying the release of funds to CPWD ever since the project was sanctioned. Payments to the contractors had been delayed by 2 to 3 months due to this reason despite submission of details by CPWD to SASB from time to time. Even at present, against revised sanctioned amount of Rs 47 cr., SASB has released only Rs. 32 cr funds to CPWD till date.
“Despite constraint of funds, CPWD and its contractors have completed major work, considering the importance of this project work, even though there is clear mandate that no work will be executed if funds are not made available to CPWD by the concerned Govt. organization. Kumar, an economics graduate, should himself be well aware that no work can be carried out without timely investment of funds,” the letter said.
The Engineers Association condemned the act of Kumar to give illegal verbal orders to arrest CPWD officials on duty, and SSP,Ramban for following CEO's verbal instructions without application of mind and without any legal basis and arresting and keeping CPWD officials in police custody for 10 hours.