Sarpanchs, Panchs protest against PHE

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 19: Despite tall claims of the J&K UT Administration of transparency and accountability, the Public Health Engineering Department sublet the work worth Rs 40 lakhs to the relative of an engineer, having no experience of work.
The Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area who are not being taken into confidence by the Department today staged protest at the office of SDM Thannamandi and demanded inquiry into the matter. They said a Water Supply Scheme of village Mangota of Tehsil Thannamandi, has been started throwing all norms and regulations to wind.
While talking to media Ch Abdul Aziz Sarpanch Mangota B, Gulzar Bi Sarpanch Mangota A, Mohd Rafiq Naib Sarpanch Mangota A, Panchs Abdul Qayoom, Shamim Akhter, Mohd Latif, Zakir Hussain of Mangota and Mumtaz Ch Advocate have raised serious allegations against AEE Zulfiqar Choudhary, TO to X-En PHE Rajouri of misusing his official position and causing great loss to Govt exchequer by not following the due norms and regulations which are necessary to follow in execution of works.
The Sarpanchs and Panchs have demanded that a transparent and independent enquiry must be initiated to ascertain the facts. They have further alleged that the Junior Engineer concerned has refused any information about the matter. They have further said that such bizarre things must be checked so that the loss of Govt exchequer can be checked.
The agitating Sarpanchs and Panchs were pacified by SDM Thannamandi Mukhtar Ahmed and he assured that he will take up the matter with higher authorities immediately and till then the work will remain suspended on the said Scheme of Mangota.
XEn PHE, Rajouri said that the tender was allotted to M/s Chenab Construction whereas the work was sublet to brother of AEE and he has ordered for suspension of said work till Contractor himself reaches the spot.