Chandigarh, April 4
Several senior engineers, who handled the Rs 180-crore Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) remodelling project have been found involved in the scam pertaining to the project. Among them are a Chief Engineer, certain Superintending and Executive Engineers, besides a number of junior officers.
The total project was worth Rs 180 crore out of which Rs 100 crore was released in 2001. As much as 75 per cent of the funds for the project have been given by the Union Government. Remodelling work has been taken up to increase the water carrying capacity of the canal network, known to be a lifeline for Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts.
Official sources told The Tribune today that the report is being given the final touches. It is likely to be submitted to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh by month end. The Chief Minister had earlier asked the inquiry panel to submit its report by the first week of January. Later the date for submission of the report was extended twice.
It may be mentioned that four senior engineers, including Chief Engineer, Sukhjinder Singh Sandhu, have been under suspension since November last year on the basis of the preliminary report into the scam.
“In fact, the Chief Minister wants that every detail in the inquiry report should be checked again so that those involved in the scam should not have any excuse to say that action has been taken against them without any substance”, said the sources.
However, in official circles of the Irrigation Department doubts are being raised over the delay in the submission of the inquiry report. They claim that it is being done to save those who are on the verge
of either retirement or promotion. “But action can also be taken after retirement in case any wrong doing is found. And there will be no promotions till the inquiry report is submitted,” the sources asserted.
The inquiry panel is headed by Mr Bhagat Singh Sandhu, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Irrigation and canal related matters. Mr Sandhu has been assisted by Mr Jasbir Singh, Chief Engineer (Vigilance) and Mr R.P.S. Yaduvanshi, another Chief Engineer from the department, and their immediate staff.
As many as 750 estimates of various works have been examined. All tenders have been scrutinised and tender registers checked. However, only 100 works have been inspected on a random basis. Otherwise, it would have taken one year to complete the probe, the sources said.
One of the officers involved in the conduct of the inquiry said the entire canal section had been affected because of the faulty execution of various works as those handling the project were more interested in completing earth work the inspection of which could not be made after a certain period.
A number of “pucca” works were not a part of the original design prepared for remodelling but these were created for questionable reasons. “The inquiry panel has taken serious note of all infructuous works created without any rationale” said the sources. Relatives of certain senior officers were working as contractors on the project, it is learnt.
Though a large number of officials were involved in the scam, the inquiry panel has focused only on the officers having decision-making powers. “Such officers who passed unjustified estimates with regard to “pucca” works are responsible for playing havoc with the network,” said the sources, adding that they should be taken to task first.
