By Arfat Khan
JAMMU: The matter of gross irregularities in face mask purchase highlighted by the web news portal JK Global News has got appropriate attention of the Raj Bhawan.
The LG G.C.Murmu has took serious note of the alleged embezzlement of funds in purchase and gross irregularities in distribution of face mask as published in series by web news portal JKGN and ordered an in-depth enquiry’ reveals highly placed sources.
Now, the enquiry is under way. But to unravel this well built nexus, the authorities need to focus on the facts that why face masks with same quality and specifications which were purchased @ Rs 10 in Kathua under the Chairmanship of District Magistrate O.P.Bhagat as well as by District Samba authorities under the supervision of DC Rohit Khajuria in a transparent manner were purchased @ Rs 18 to @ Rs 20 in other districts of Jammu division.
For fixing laxity in distribution which was the most significant step in face mask purchase, the authorities should also took into consideration the fudging of data and inventories in distribution of masks to the indentified vulnerable families in several blocks of Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Jammu, Ramban and Kishtwar districts.
It would not be out of place to mention here that JKGN during its investigation has observed that the distribution was quite effective in Kathua, Samba, Poonch and Doda districts.
In these districts, the task force under the chairmanship of DC and officers of RDD which includes concerned ACDs and BDOs have reached out to every house to provide a set of face masks to the identified families.
But, as we move to other districts, the villagers admits that till date no such face mask was provided to them.
Under supply and quick utilisation of funds meant for face mask purchase in districts including Jammu, Rajouri, Udhampur, Reasi, Kistwar and Ramban also needs authority attention.
Significantly, the investigation ordered by the Raj Bhawan into alleged irregularities in face mask purchase will remain inconclusive unless the authorities handed over the task to CID to unearth who is Rajeev Nanda and how this private entity claiming himself as relative of one IAS officer has influenced the bulk supply of face mask at highly exorbitant rates in districts like Ramban, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Jammu, Reasi and Udhampur.
Cracking the modus operandi coined by this blue eyed man is the key to unravel the entire game plan in swindling crores of pandemic funds sanctioned by the LG for providing face mask to poor fellow citizens in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.