Bungling of funds in sanitation, renovation works done by Relief Org.  

Bungling of funds in sanitation, renovation works done by Relief Org.

Accused XEn, Officers enjoy patronage, inmates PKs await govt’s action
Jammu, August 20:
Internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits, housed in different colonies development by the Relief Organisation (M), await government’s action against corruption the then Executive Engineer and other officers, as despite an enquiry ordered by J&K Government in 2017, the accused of financial bungling of funds to tone of Crore of rupees managed to douse the matter.

In 2017 the then Executive Engineer Relief Organisation (M) Jammu Ashok Kumar Kikloo and other officers involved in the financial bungling went Scot free by greasing the palm of some leaders who raised the issue for their own gain.

“They (leaders) have nothing to do with the helpless Kashmiri Pandits (KPs). Housed in accommodation provided by the government at Purkhoo, Muthi, Jagti and Nagrota camps. We are living in miserable conditions”, said a KP from Jagti Camp, adding that few self-styled leaders raise issues of KPs for their own benefits not for the community.

“From the very first day, when these colonies were developed, sub-standard material was used here. And later it became a precedence for the successive officers of the Relief Organisation, who despite being from Kashmiri Pandit community, who looted state’s exchequer in name of welfare schemes”, he said, adding that in a similar case that caught media as well as the government’s attention in 2017, when the Executive Engineer allotted renovation works at exorbitant rate.

“He extended a contract for sanitation works in colonies developed for displaced Kashmiri Pandit without approval from government, it is also alleged that the sanitation works allotted NGOs at exorbitant rates. The Relief Organization without approval from the state government, inked the contract that had expired by 31st March 2017”, they said.

They said that several NGOs were outsourced for sanitation works in TRTs for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community in Jammu region.

They further said that for this purpose, the Relief Organisation used to pay Rs 12.5 lacs monthly to the NGOs. “Since the contract expired on March 31, 2017, no further approval was sought from govt, and Executive Engineer, Relief Organisation, Ashok Kiklloo on his own extended the contract”, they said and added that it took a huge toll on state exchequer.

“Instead of inviting tenders through transparent manners, i.e. e-tendering, past’s practices are being preferred, tender notifications usually publishes in the papers that are not easily accessible for the bidders”, sources said and added only those who have connection with administration of the Relief Organisation can avail tender notification.
He said that the state government had at that time made mandatory that tenders for government works above Rs 1 lac be invited through e-tendering.