M A I N   N E W S

4 panels to probe irrigation scam
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 2
Following directions from the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the authorities concerned have decided to set up four committees for further probing the multi-crore irrigation scam in the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) remodelling project. The remodelling project is worth Rs 178 crore of which Rs 100 crore has already been released.

The committees will work under the overall supervision of two Chief Engineers. Capt Amarinder Singh wanted the investigations into the scandal to be completed within a month or so that further action against those involved in the scam could be taken accordingly.

Informed sources said with a view to minting money, first most of the earthwork was done at the project. Certain regulators were kept untouched. While at certain places regulators were provided though these were not required.

Mr Sukhjinder Singh Sandhu, Chief Engineer, who is under suspension because of this scam, was transferred from the project in the beginning of this year but his transfer was cancelled within a few days. Why was the transfer order cancelled? Only the authorities concerned can answer this question.

The UBDC network caters to the irrigation needs of 13.43 lakh acres in the Majha belt, especially Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. It is a lifeline for the farming community in that area.

Mr Bhagat Singh Sandhu, Adviser to the Chief Minister on irrigation-related projects, told The Tribune today that what had come to light about the scam so far was only a tip of the iceberg. During the preliminary investigation made by a special committee headed by him, only about 20 per cent of the work was inspected. “We are on the job of shortlisting officers for the committees so they could start investigations at the earliest possible”, added Mr Bhagat Singh.

“After the preliminary inquiry, I returned from the project site a totally shattered man. I was unable to believe that while handling the remodelling project, the UBDC network has been completely ruined”, said Mr Bhagat Singh. On the basis of his report, the Chief Minister had ordered the suspension of Chief Engineer, Sukhjinder Singh Sandhu and three other senior engineers.

The UBDC network is one of the best in the country. It was designed in 1890 by Mr Kennedy, a renowned engineer expert in irrigation works. While designing it, a provision was made for a self -flushing system to clear silt deposits. A lot of silt used to flow into the system from the Shivalik ranges, which was carried by water to the fields making them fertile”, said Mr Bhagat Singh, who worked as Superintending Engineer and Chief Engineer of the UBDC in 1974-75 and 1984-85, respectively. “But all that stands damaged. You name any fault of irrigation engineering and you will find it in the UBDC network now in its remodelled portion”, he claimed.

When asked how the faults would be removed and the network restored to its original glory, Mr Bhagat Singh said first the inquiry would be completed. After it, a study-cum-research team would be set up. On the basis of the report of the study team, corrective measures would be taken to set the system right.

Informed sources said when the special inquiry committee proceeded to the project site to make preliminary investigation on October 27, all tricks were used to prevent the visit to the site. Even water was released in the canal to cover up its bed. Committee members had to tell the authorities concerned to stop the flow of water in the canal to carry out inspection. Inspection berms of the canal were made unmotorable allegedly by ploughing these obviously to stop the committee members from going there.

VB unearths promotion scam 
Accuses Gurdev Badal of perpetrating it
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 2
The Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau (VB) has claimed unearthing of a promotion scam that allegedly took place in the state agriculture department during the tenure of the sitting MLA and former Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal between 1997 to 2002.

As many as 135 employees have reportedly benefited from the scam, in which promotions were allegedly made by Gurdev Singh Badal. Sources disclosed to TNS here today that the bureau had sent a detailed report about the beneficiaries of the promotion scam to the government and strict action, including demotion, could be ordered in the near future.

The SP (Vigilance) Mr Kanwarjit Singh, said here today that during the week-long questioning of the former minister, evidence of embezzlement of special grant amount given to an MLA of the state had been found.

Talking to reporters today, the vigilance officer said the investigation had found at least 20 fake grants given by the former Agriculture Minister. He was given Rs 5 lakh in his five-year tenure for distribution to the public but it was found that he allegedly pocketed most of the amount himself. He said more entries in this regard were being examined.

Giving details of the alleged promotion scam, Mr Kanwarjit Singh said the vigilance investigation had found that at least 18 employees, including Joint Directors, Deputy Directors and several Chief Agriculture Officers were given promotions, allegedly at the former Minister’s behest, in utter violation of the laid-down procedures and rules

Along with these 117 beldaars were promoted to the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Agriculture Department in violation of the rules. Only 20 per cent of these could be promoted as per the procedure. Even the mandatory Depatmental Promotion Committee was not constituted.

The vigilance officer claimed to have confiscated records of a telephone number officially allotted to a Joint Director in the state Agriculture Department but was found installed at the residence of the former Agriculture Minister at Chandigarh.

The Vigilance Bureau has also confiscated passports of Gurdev Singh Badal, his son Kewal Singh Badal and their two relatives. It claimed that more evidences of land-grabbing involving the former minister had been found.

Mr Kanwarjit Singh said besides the 197 acres of forest land found in the illegal possession of Gurdev Badal’s relatives in Kotumra village, near Jagraon, it had been found that 245 acres at Gaun Sianh ke Khan Mohammad village was also under his illegal possession.

He said the possession was yet to be restored to the Forest Department. The Vigilance Department had got a written statement from the Forest Department officials in which they had stated that they could not remove the encroachment earlier because of political pressure.

He said the vigilance was on the look out of Bhagwant Singh Gill, PA to Gurdev Badal who had reportedly fled the country. He is being accused as the middleman in the alleged illegal deals.

Meanwhile, Chief Judicial Magistrate Arunvir Vashisht, today sent Gurdev Singh Badal to judicial remand till December 16. He turned down the request of further extension in police remand of the accused made by the Vigilance Department.

The Vigilance Bureau has denied allegations of torturing Gurdev Singh Badal during questioning.