Bhopal: Vigilance chief technical examiner probe report has pointed out irregularities in the execution of drought relief projects in Bundelkhand. CET R K Mehra has submitted his inquiry report to water resource department following the direction of the High Court to probe into the alleged anomalies.
The UPA government in the year 2010 had allocated Rs 3860 crore Bundelkhand Mitigation Package for the drought affected region. A sum of Rs 881 crore was allocated to WRD for the construction of dams and water bodies. The package was extended to five district of Sagar division comprising Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhattarpur and one Datia district also.
However as the work progressed, several irregularities surfaced in the projects. Keeping rules and guidelines at bay, the WRD officials designed and executed the projects which would prove beneficial to them. A number of people who lacked competence to execute the project were also appointed.
Social activist Pawan Ghuwara had brought to notice of the higher authorities rampant corruption in the implementation of drought package. However, all their complaints fell on deaf ear and no action was taken to check the irregularities. Seeing no action coming, Ghuwara moved High Court and filed a petition seeking probe into the anomalies. Acting on his plea, the court directed the authorities to conduct inquiry into the complaints.
The CTE conducted the investigation randomly and found various irregularities in the work carried out under the project. Dams constructed under the project were of poor quality and could not withstand water pressure. They literally served no purpose as their utility was not more than 10 per cent, the CET report said.
The CTE R K Mehra informed that after the investigations the report had been forwarded to the engineer-in-chief of WRD for further action against the officials responsible for anomalies. WRD ENC Rajiv Kumar Suklikar informed that they have received the report of the CTE and that they were serving notices to the concern officials.
