Controller recommends professional agency probe
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 24: Yet another case of major embezzlement has been unearthed in the Legal Metrology Department (LMD) where two Working Standard Laboratories went missing notwithstanding construction of the same on papers and release of lakhs of rupees for the each lab.
More ironic is the fact that even the Utilization Certificate (UC) in this regard was submitted to the Government of India, which had funded the construction of these labs under Centrally sponsored scheme ‘Strengthening Legal Metrology Infrastructure of States/UTs’ during the 11th Five Year Plan.
Unearthing this embezzlement and a few more in the Legal Metrology Department, Controller LMD J&K, M Akbar Wani has formally recommended to the Administrative department for investigation into the misappropriation of Government funds through some professional agency like Anti-Corruption Bureau or CBI.
Under the Centrally sponsored scheme, six Working Standard Laboratories (WSLs) were to be constructed in J&K, three each at Transport Yard Jammu and Bemina Srinagar. In the financial year 2009-10, Rs 150 lakhs (Rs 25 lakh per WSL) were released by the Central Government as Grant in Aid and required additional fund (Rs 237.57 lakhs) for the completion of these Labs was provided by the State Government.
The big fraud recently came into notice of Controller LMD J&K when his office was preparing the Utilization Certificate of the balance amount, which was supposed to be submitted to the Government of India.
On being enquired about status of the three Working Standard Labs constructed at the Legal Metrology complex in Transport Yard Jammu, the Controller was informed by Deputy Controller SS-Lab Jammu, Jaideep Singh Sambyal that there are only two WSLs in the complex.
Surprised over this, the Controller immediately sought status of WSLs in Bemina Srinagar also from Dy Controller-Enforcement Kashmir, Muzafar Ahmad Wani, who too replied that instead of three, only two WSLs are functional there.
While having on spot visit of both the places, it emerged that only four WSLs were constructed instead of six; two at Transport Yard Jammu and two at Bemina Srinagar. The maps prepared by the executing agency also indicate two WSLs at Transport Yard Jammu and two at Bemina Srinagar.
However, as per the records of the correspondences made with the Central Government and the State Government, six WSLs have been constructed . Even the Utilization Certificate submitted to Government of India in the year 2013, under No. LM/C-Accts/22/2009, dated 30-12-2013 also certifies that this amount has been utilized for construction of six labs.
“The missing of WSLs is a mystery. Though as per the scheme, the WSLs should have been completed within the Central assistance i.e Rs 25 lakh each, the amount was enhanced many times through State funding,” read the official communication, forwarded by Controller LMD J&K M Akbar Wani to the Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, apprising the later about the major fraud and seeking investigation through some professional agency, having expertise in this field.
Also raising a question mark on the integrity of Deputy Controllers and Joint Controllers earlier posted at Jammu and Srinagar , the Controller LMD, in his communication, has further said that these officers never bothered to bring such frauds to the notice of higher authorities.
“Despite the valuable assets like Mobile Weighbridge Testing Cranes were idled for more than 10 years, Mobile Testing vans/enforcement vehicles are grounded for more than 10 years, instead of six WSLs, only four were constructed, the Deputy Controllers and Joint Controllers posted at Jammu and Srinagar never bothered to bring such incidents to the notice of higher authorities,” said the communication, adding that integrity of all such officers is doubtful and needs to be dealt accordingly.
As already reported by the Excelsior, Mobile Weighbridge Testing Cranes of LMD were idled for more than 10 years while Mobile Testing Vans were grounded for the last 13 years under a conspiracy to benefit erring businessmen.
The missing of two labs is the third major fraud recently unearthed in the LMD. “This department seems to be full of puzzles; nobody knows what will emerge in coming days,” observes the Controller in his communication No.LM/C-Acctts/70/2018, dated 23-04-2021.
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