Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe irregularities in the purchase of survey kits, including pulse oximeter and thermometer, at inflated rates by several gram sabhas on the suggestion of district panchayat officers.
The SIT is headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Renuka Kumar. Its two other members are Secretary (Health Education) Amit Gupta and Secretary (Urban Development) Vikas Gothwale.
The team has been asked to submit its report within 10 days.
In June, the state government had asked all gram panchayats to purchase a set of infrared thermometers, a pulse oximeter and sanitisers to check coronavirus spread in their villages. These panchayats were also asked to make the purchases from the fund of the Finance Commission.
Later, it surfaced that in districts like Sultanpur and Ghazipur, the survey kits were purchased at exorbitant rates.
The district panchayati raj officer of Sultanpur purchased pulse oximeter and infrared thermometer at an inflated rate of Rs 9,950 against the government’s prescribed rate of Rs 2,880. Similarly in Ghazipur, the survey kits were purchased for Rs 5,800. On September 7, the chief minister suspended the panchayat raj officers of Sultanpur and Ghazipur.