Arfat Khan
JAMMU: Pandemic caused by deadly covid19 has turned into blessings for some officials of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Institution who allegedly have join hands with some greedy NGOs to loot state exchequer kept for purchase and distribution of face mask for vulnerable citizens in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
It’s unbelievable to see how some NGOs and crooked officials are fearlessly indulged in such corrupt deeds especially when the entire humanity on earth is in constant anxiety and fear due to the deadly corona virus, asserted one officer of RDD preferring anonymity.
For Lieutenant Governor Girish Chander Murmu it’s the finest case to be handed over to Anti Corruption Bureau and CID for its in-depth investigation as grave irregularities in a well organised manner has been committed in purchase of face masks at highly exorbitant rate when the same in the finest quality are available in Jammu city at just Rs 9 on the sale counter of some vendors, added sources.
Interestingly, the whole nexus of this disaster funds loot is revolving around one private entity namely Rajeeev Nanda who claim himself to be the relative of one IAS officer posted as Commissioner- Secretary in the UT J&K, said one DC preferring anonymity.
Notably, as JKGN deepen its nose to investigate the magnitude of funds misappropriation in this hurriedly oriented face mask purchase, from person claiming to be Bureau Chief of Sahara News Channel to some officers have offered a ‘pound of flesh’ to this editor from the looted exchequer to abort this story.
Deviating from the core assigned task of distributing masks to the vulnerable families falling under Antyodya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority House Holds (PHH), the concerned officials of RDD who primarily holds the key to purchase has shifted the entire focus on monetary side of face masks business.
The case in reference is district Kathua where the administration after purchasing bulk face mask has dumped the same inside a room in DC complex.
The entire show is being managed by one O.D.Attri who brags of close proximity with D.C Kathua O.P.Bhagat and ACD Narayan Dutt Shastri.
Though as per the norms each district has constituted a committee comprising of District Treasury Officer, XeN PWD, AD Handloom and Assistant Commissioner Development with DC as its Chairman.
However, sources disclosed that as a practice, the concerned ACD is finalising the rate of face mask in consultation with Karyakhaas BDO without the knowledge of other committee members and in some cases the samples of face mask are also approved on Watsapp.
If sources are to believed from finalising rate to maintaining receipt register and distribution, the irregularities are galore in purchase of face maskd disclosed one member of face mask purchase committee in Jammu.
In some districts same face masks purchased at different rates while in other, the face mask which is supplied by one vendor for Rs 10 in one district was supplied at Rs 18 to Rs 20 in other district, disclosed insiders of RDD.
A tailor in Jammu from whom one NGO procured face mask @ Rs 10 has managed bill of Rs 14 and Rs 18 respectively. This ribbon supported double layered good quality cotton mask is normally is normally supplied through devious means in most of the districts.
This blue eyed guy namely Nanda is playing pivotal role in supply of face masks generally in entire UT of J&K and especially in Jammu division by first fixing high rate with different ACDs and then collect the order from SHGs and NGOs at rate as lowest as Rs 8 and finally supplied the same to different districts at much higher rates.
Then in a criminal conspiracy, this private entity paid the pre negotiated amount to the vendors after filling his pockets with the difference amount, said sources.
It’s worth to mentioned here that under disaster management funds, the LG led administration has sanctioned nearly Rs 20 crore to be distributed among 20 DCs for providing face masks to 71.87 lakh identified persons in state falling under AAY/PHH categorise while 42.24 lakh under NPHH N excluding category.
The government should hand over the matter to CID to verify the stock registers, records pertaining to face mask purchase, physical verification of face mask kept in the rooms and prominently the random verification with village inhabitants independently to ascertain the reality about distribution of face masks to BPL villagers, said one district treasury officer on condition of anonymity.
Tragically, the RDD which supposed to play significant role in making LG’s objective a ground reality has miserably failed to delivered the masks at the door steps of Gods forsaken citizens and confined themselves only to monetary related task where the rates of face mask are mutually pre negotiated to the desired level.
When contacted Director RDD Sudershan Kumar refused to talk on this matter and put the ball in the court of concerned DCs.
(To be continued)