Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 22: Establish-ing that some hidden hands are hell bent to shield the officers facing departmental enquiries, two committees constituted by Tourism Department to conduct probe into shutting down of Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway Project in Srinagar and Rajouri Development Authority (RDA) scam have failed to complete the investigation even several months after the lapse of the deadlines. In three other enquiries also, no progress has been made and guilty officers remain unpunished.
This has been revealed by the Tourism Department itself in the status report furnished to the State High Court in response to the directives issued vide orders dated February 29 and March 17 this year in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
According to the status report, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, the issue regarding Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway Project at Srinagar came into discussion during the meeting of Departmental Related Standing Committee-IV on Tourism Department convened on December 28, 2015 under the chairmanship of MLC Vibodh Gupta.
The DRSC of the State Legislature desired to have enquiry into the closure of Makhdoom Sahib Ropeway Project. Accordingly, a committee headed by Director Tourism, Kashmir and comprising of Superintending Engineer, Medical Engineering Department, Kashmir, Financial Advisor of Tourism Department and Executive Engineer, Inspection Division, Power Development Department, Kashmir was constituted by Secretary to Government, Tourism Department, Farooq Ahmed Shah vide Government Order No.496-TSM dated December 31, 2015.
The Committee was asked to examine the appropriateness of the selected technology and equipment for the Ropeway Project; examine whether the process of bidding for the technology and equipment was done in accordance with the laid down procedure; look into the factors, both macro and micro, which led to the development of snag in the equipment as a consequence of which the ropeway had to be shut down; verify whether there is any electro-mechanical defect in the equipment used in the ropeway system and suggest rectifying measures which would make the ropeway functional in a secured manner.
The Committee had to submit its report along with the recommendations by or before January 31, 2016 but report is still awaited, reads the status report. However, it has not been mentioned as to what steps have been initiated to ensure that the Committee headed by Director Tourism completes task assigned to it and what were the hurdles in meeting the deadline.
Similarly, vide Government Order No.TSM/DA dated January 20, 2016 Joint Director Tourism Jammu was appointed as Enquiry Officer to look into the complaint against Mohammad Javid Khan, the then Chief Executive Officer, Rajouri Development Authority, Kushal Chand and Devi Dass, the then Executive Engineers of RDA and Gurcharan Singh, the then JE RDA.
The allegations against these officers and officials were that during their posting in the Rajouri Development Authority several works were executed in blatant violation of the laid down guidelines in order to confer undue benefit upon the contractors. “The report, which was to be submitted by January 31, 2016, is still awaited”, reads the status report filed by the Tourism Department. In the absence of report, the guilty officers remain unpunished.
The third enquiry was ordered against Yasmeen Khan, Incharge Director SKICC and others in the month of November last year and the Director Tourism Kashmir vide communication No. PS/04/DTK/443 dated March 15, 2016 submitted report to the Administrative Department for necessary action. However, the report is still under consideration in the Tourism Department.
As far as fourth enquiry is concerned, the Enquiry Officer, Joint Director Tourism Kashmir vide letter No. PS/14/10/JTD dated March 7, 2015 submitted report and on April 15, 2015 the report was forwarded to the Vigilance Wing of the General Administration Department with the request to place the matter before the committee, which was constituted vide Circular No.48-GAD of 2000 dated December 13, 2000 for the decision.
However, the GAD returned the file with the advise to wait for some time till conclusion of the investigation by the Vigilance Organization. “But the Vigilance investigation has not been concluded till date”, sources said.
Vide Government Order No.140-TSM of 2014 dated March 24, 2014, Joint Director Tourism was appointed as Enquiry Officer to look into the complaint against Mohammad Akhter Wani, Senior Assistant in Tourism Development Authority, Bhaderwah. The report was forwarded to Director Vigilance vide letter dated July 16, 2014 for further necessary action. Since then the fate of the report is hanging in balance.
From the perusal of the status report, it is clear that all out efforts are being made to shield the tainted officers.
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