Acting swiftly on a complaint of alleged misappropriation of state government funds in hiring water tankers to supply drinking water by the officials of Jalshakti department in Theog area, the state government has put ten officials of the department under suspension.
Former Theog MLA and senior CPM leader Rakesh Singha on the basis of information sought through RTI information had alleged misappropriation of funds by certain officials of the Jalshakti department to the state government, following which Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnohotri, holding the charge of Jalshakti department, had directed the vigilance department to inquire the allegations .
Singha had alleged, “The registration number of vehicles used for supplying water were those of scooters, motorcycles and cars, including a vehicle belonging to a senior government official; the tankers distributing water in villages shown were in villages without having roads, and every year nearly Rs 12 lakhs was siphoned off in this manner; an amount of Rs 1.13 crore was embezzled,” Singha claimed.
On the basis of preliminary findings allegations of misappropriation of funds meant for supplying drinking water have been substantiated and ten officials suspended.
Those put under suspension include Executive Engineer, Matiyana, Ashok Kumar Bhopal, Executive Engineer of Kasumpati Division Basant Singh, SDO Matiyana Parneet Thakur, SDO Koti Rakesh Kumar, Kotgarh SDO Vivek Kumar, JE Theog Mast Ram, JE Lafughati Suresh Kumar, JE Matiyana Neem Chand, JE Sudarshan (retired) and Fagu JE Sunil Kumar.
Mulkesh Agnihootrio said, “We will not tolerate any lapse or corruption and strict action will be taken against people found guilty of any wrongdoing, the minister has also directed to black list the contractors involved.”
