Even after an enquiry pointed towards irregularities and swindling of funds in construction work by district rural development department in Muzaffarnagar, the senior officers took no action and even patronised the errants.
After the matter was brought to the notice of State Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman, the Principal Secretary (Panchayati Raj) was instructed to suspend the guilty and conduct a probe so that action could be taken against the guilty and their ‘patrons’.
Talking to `The Pioneer’ on Saturday afternoon, Usman said that a social activist of Muzaffarnagar had filed an appeal informing how officials indicted in Muzaffarnagar, managed to evade legal action. He claimed that during construction of non-metal roads in Shahpur area, the officials and the Panchayat Chairperson suphoned off the funds by claiming that the work had been completed. The complainant also said that while no work was carried out, the entire budget was exhausted.
Two years back, acting on the complaint of the activist, a probe was conducted by Project Director (Rural Development Department) at Muzaffarnagar, VP Srivastava. The probe revealed that the then Block development officer of Shahpur, Amrendra Pratap Singh, Junior Engineer, Sanjeev Dixit and clerk, Mahendra Singh were guilty alongwith Panchayat Chairperson of Shahpur, Anita Devi.
Bricks to lay the road were claimed to be purchased from brick kiln at Bhairu Kala and Rs 3.11 lakh were paid but the probe indicated that the payment was never done which pointed of forgery. The enquiry revealed that the payment to labourers was actually paid for another work.
Even as Srivastava recommended action against the accused and wrote to the CDO, Muzaffarnagar urging stringent action, realisation of funds from them and reminded him several times, nothing was done. What is more, the DM, Muzaffarnagar was also apprised of the bungling but he too chose to look the other way for unknown reasons.
The SIC said that finding the matter to be a larger conspiracy and nexus between officials, he has now recommended action against those held guilty. The Principal Secretary (Panchayati Raj) has been aksed to probe and take action against all the officials and those who shielded them.