BJP leader Ravindra Jugran has accused Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who is also the power minister, of promoting corruption in the power department of the State. Citing the case of UJVNl managing director SN Verma being made an accused of the Suvarn Rekha Project scam that involves Rs21 crore by Jharkhand Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), he alleged that several officers involved in scams have been given important positions in the power departments-UPCl, UJVNl and PITCUl-thanks to the CM’s connivance.
He demanded a CBI or a high level judicial probe inquiry into the power department scam. He sound surprised over Verma being retained in his senior position despite what has happened.
He said that the State Government is frittering away huge power potential of the state by foisting corrupt officials in important posts in UPCl, UJVNl and PITCUl. This aside, the State Government has been promoting some junior officers, by-passing the seniors in the above departments to boost the wide-spread network of corruption.
“Rawat has been holding on to the power portfolio since he became the Chief Minister of the State. He has been remaining mum despite the print and electronic media laying bare the corruption network eating into the revenue of the power departments. We are aghast that no action has been taken against the corrupt officials though the state has been incurring losses in terms of revenue to the tune of crores. We are convinced that he has a share in the pie which is why he is indifferent to the graft that is bleeding the power departments white,” the BJP leader said.
He further said a full-fledged probe is needed to expose things. “No inquiry can expose the reality unless the corrupt officers are removed,” he said.
He further said surprising them all, Jharkhand Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) had registered a graft case against the present UJVNl managing director SS Verma. Verma has been made an accused of the Suvarn Rekha Project scam that involves Rs21 crore. “Despite this, Verma is being allowed to cling on to the post of UJVNl managing director. He should be removed from his post immediately and a high level judicial inquiry should be conducted against him,” the BJP leader said.