Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 1: Several heads may roll in the Poonch ICDS supply scam as a joint team of Police and Revenue officials led by a Magistrate on the directions of DC Poonch M H Malik today sealed three stores of ICDS Project Mendhar and found over 75 quintals of expired/ sub-standard `Dalia’, a large number of packets of Dalda Ghee and more than 100 bags of rice of very poor quality in these stores.
Dropping hint that already Vigilance has registered a case in connection with sub-standard supplies to Poonch district and seizure of some stuff in Jammu about two months back, Minister for Social Welfare Bali Bhagat said that a big unholy nexus has been unearthed in the ICDS supplies in Social Welfare Department in this district particular district. This is another connected case with the seizure of massive rotten stuff at Mendhar today. High level inquiry has been ordered under DC Poonch and several heads may roll with its outcome within a couple of days.
“Nobody is going to be spared, stores have been sealed and samples taken. Even on the packets/ bags, it was clearly mentioned that their expiry date was over. This matter is of very serious nature. Utter negligence on the part of concerned staff has been proved. They have to face Government action,” the Minister said.
Reports from Mendhar said that a joint team of Revenue officials and Police led by Tehsildar / Magistrate Salam Din on the directions of DC Poonch reached ICDS office Mendhar at around 12.30 pm and asked the staff to lead them to their stores. CDPO Mendhar Parveen Choudhary and Incharge Nutrition Clerk, Mushtak Ahmed led them to nearby store where rice bags had been dumped. The team Assisted by Naib Tehsildar, Mendhar Aftab Hussain Shah and police team by Sub Inspector Sunil Kalsi found total 106 bags of rice of very poor quality. The rats had torn many bags and stuff was lying in bad shape.
Then the raiding team asked the ICDS staff to show them their store where `rotten Dalia’ is stored, the officials refused to own the stuff and claimed that it did not belong to them and they had not got it stored anywhere. The Magistrate then called owner of shop, Satish Sharma. He told that ICDS officials have taken his shop on rent and they have stored the stuff for the last 8-9 months. The police team asked for the keys but Clerk Mushtaq and CDPO refused to have any knowledge about the key, then on the directions of DC Poonch, the lock was broken and nearly 75 quintal rotten Dalia packets were found stored inside. It was clearly marked on the packets ” ICDS Supply District Poonch’ … `Not for Sale’ and Packing Date as Feb 2015. The Magistrate and police got irritated over the behavior of the ICDS staff. They pulled up the local ICDS staff and asked them to face the music for their misdeeds. They sealed this store and then moved to third store where highly sub-standard rice stuff and more than three dozens of Dalda Ghee packets were lying. Dalda packets had manufacturing date 2012 and was supposed to be consumed within six months.
Most of the packets had been damaged by the rats. The Magistrate sealed this store also and forwarded the report to the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch MH Malik. These private stores/ shops belong to Satish Sharma and Shah Mohd from Mendhar and Haji Niaz from Sagra in Mendhar.
The DC Poonch, Mr Malik when contacted said that on the directions of the Minister for Social Welfare action has been started. Three stores have been sealed and a team led by Incharge ADC Poonch Shafiq Ahmed will hold inquiry and submit report within three days. Three more officers including Distt Employment Officer Poonch, District Litigation Officer and Tehsildar concerned are the members of the Inquiry Committee. He said action would certainly be taken against the officials for this major lapse and matter of utmost negligence.
Mission Director, ICDS J&K, H A Yattoo said that action has already been initiated. Till this evening, nobody has been suspended or attached. By Monday an action would be taken against the guilty officials of the department. He said in yet another case of similar nature in Poonch, State police has taken cognizance and action is certain. Minister himself is monitoring the developments, Mr Yatoo maintained.
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