JAMMU: There are allegations of rampant corruption against some lower echelon officials on the name of callibiration of oil tankers in Jammu and “discreet” silence adopted by higher ups especially Commissioner-Secretary and Controller, Department of Legal Metrology clearly indicts as an attempt to foil initiatives of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha as well as Chief Secretary, A.K.Mehta for ensuring corruption free governance in newly born Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharing a video wherein a peon namely Yougal Kishore of Legal Metrology Department, Jammu was clearly seen as demanding and accepting money from owner of M/s JK Callibiration, Narwal as bribe for referring vehicles for callibiration, sources said ” The peon in video coerced the owner of JK Callibiration to pay Rs 450 per oil tanker as commission which he allegedly collected on behalf of one Assistant Controller, Jammu.
Blaming the higer ups in LMD for shielding the corrupt practices, scores of oil tanker drivers while airing their grievances pertaining to corruption prevailing on name of callibiration in LMD office Jammu alleged “The department have kept Rs 650 as fee for callibiration but the peon Jugal forced us to pay Rs 1000 as ‘Kharcha Pani’ for him as well his boss”.
Demanding intervention of LG office and Chief Secretary, the aggrieved owners of oil tankers demanded an enquiry against the corrupt officers as well as their masters who still are controlling the affairs of Legal Metrology even after transfer from the said department. “The LG office should order secret enquiry against the officers/officials in question and retired them under deadwood policy for encouraging open corruption in a crucial department which deals in securing interest of consumers, asserted Ranjit Singh, oil tanker owner.
Trampling under feet LG’s Manoj Sinha slogan of corruption free governance, the concerned officer namely Jaideep Singh Sambya is running the department of LMD as his personal fiefdom, alleged another driver.
The drivers of oil tankers further said that officials posted in LMD office Narwal are forcing us for measurement at newly opened Callibiration point which they alleged was opened at the behest of Jaideep Singh Sambyal.
This new point was deliberately opened after the owner of JK measurement refused to meet demands of some officials for hike in commission for referring oil tankers for callibiration, alleged an owner of oil tanker, preferring anonymity.
Last year, through the President of Oil Tankers Association we lodged complaint with LG office for corrupt practises. But, later the President withdraw complaint against Jaideep Sambyal, Assistant Controller LMD, Jammu as well as owner of JK Callibiration Narwal as part of behind the curtain deal with later, said one driver of Oil tanker preferring anonymity.
There are nearly 3000 oil tankers and the concerned officials in LMD, Jammu used to collect Rs 800 per tanker which comprises Rs 450 from JK Calibration during measurement at Narwal and Rs 350 from driver while charging Govt fees at LMD office located behind RTO office Jammu, alleged another member of Oil Tanker Association, Jammu.
Repeated attempts to seek clarification of Assistant Controller (Callibiration), LMD namely Jaideep Singh Sambyal on the issue couldn’t succeed as he remained elusive to our calls.