Vigilance Organization arrested tow officials from Public and Works Department on the charges of corruption.Vigilance Organization said that the arrests were made on the basis of an enquiry conducted into the allegations of glaring irregularities and gross violation in allotment and execution work of a bridge in 2012 on Thalora Sartari road (at Dugee Khad) including construction of approaches was allotted at a much higher cost of Rs 92.75 lakhs than the advertized cost of Rs 81.70 lakhs in which only two contractors Ashok Kumar and Harminder Singh participated.“The concerned Superintending Engineer PWD (R&B) Circle, Udhampur instead of re-tendering the work in order to ensure fair competition allotted the work to their blue eyed contractor namely Ashok Kumar. Verification has further revealed that the Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Circle Udhampur and Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Udhampur in league with each other subsequently allotted remaining works of Rs 177.28 lacs without calling tenders. However, in order to cover up their illegal acts have accorded 03 post facto approvals for Rs Rs 60.00 lacs, Rs 42.08 lacs & Rs 60.00 lacs and besides 01 additional work order of Rs. 15.20 against the said work was allotted to the same contractor. The verification revealed that the accused officers/officials have grossly exceeded their monetary limit.”
“Verification has also revealed that the other tendered work namely dismantling of existing 41.50 mtr steel grid motorable bridge over Khu nallah on Udhampur Ramnagar road and its re-launching on Thalora Sartari road over Dugee Khad including laying of RCC bed plates and deck slab was also allotted at a higher cost of Rs 28.01 lacs against an advertized cost of Rs 22 lacs in which only above said blue eyed two contractors participated and work was allotted to contractor Harminder Singh by Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Udhampur. No rate analysis has been done by the said officials to arrive at the reasonability of rates thus making all the allowed rates doubtful. On the basis of said verification a case under FIR No.06/2017 u/s 5(1) (d) r/w 5 (2) J&K P.C. Act Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC was registered in P/S VOJ on 27-02-2017 against D.D. Gorkha then Superintending Engineer, PWD(R&B) Circle, Udhampur, P.S Sehgal the then Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Reasi-Udhampur, Circle, A.K Gandotra then Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Division, Udhampur, U.K Sharma then Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Division, Udhampur and accused beneficiaries namely Shri Ashok Kumar and Shri Harminder Singh. On the prima facie establishment of offences against the accused officers namely D.D. Gorkha then Superintending Engineer, PWD(R&B) Circle, Udhampur, P.S Sehgal the then Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Reasi-Udhampur, Circle, U.K Sharma then Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Division, Udhampur and A.K Gandotra then Executive Engineer PWD(R&B) Division, Udhampur they have been arrested in the above cited case for detailed questioning regarding their involvement in the said case. (CNS)