Dealing with the corrupt
The government last week ordered a high-level probe into irregularities committed in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY) in Kashmir Valley.
The Housing & Urban Development ordered an independent enquiry into irregularities committed in implementation of the scheme after an officer, who was tasked to probe the matter, recommended a full-fledged inquiry into the matter.
The Managing Director, Housing Board who was tasked to conduct the proceedings has recommended a full-fledged enquiry by a committee of officer to be headed by a Valley-based officer who can look into the gamut of irregularities committed during implementation of PMAY- Urban.
Based on the recommendations of Kotwal, the government has constituted a panel headed by Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir to look into the matter. Its other members are Joint Comissioner( administration) Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Financial Advisor , Lakes and Waterways Development Authority and executive engineer of the concerned Urban Local Bodies.
The probe that has to be conducted needs to get serious in its task and verify whether eligible beneficiaries were sponsored and sanctioned for availing housing units under beneficiary-led Individual House Construction of PMAY-U in respect of all the districts of Kashmir as per the verification list submitted by Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Srinagar Municipal Corporation submitted through the concerned deputy general managers or uploaded on portal.
Though this seems to be a daunting task but the matter being serious needs a well drafted and planned probe to get to the base of all corrupt practices that have crept in while implementing this scheme.
Fighting corruption and helping it on its way out of Jammu and Kashmir has been one of the main planks of the dispensations that have took over after August 5 last year.
Though the administration besides the PMAY-U has handed over the investigation of major scams in Projects Construction Corp (JKPCC) to Crime Branch (CB) of the state police, but so far no FIR’s have been registered which the administration had directed the CB to do immediately.
The allegations leveled against various top officials and the corruption cases that have surfaced in various other departments also need to be taken care of and time bound enquiries may be ordered to get all those officials involved to face the law of the land.
The government at present needs to wake up to the mess that has been a result of interference by top political bosses of the time and see to it that the guilty do not go scott free. It is also obligatory for the Lt Governor led administration to take the issue to its logical conclusion within a stipulated time so that the guilty are punished.
KV Network
