SIT begins probe into Panipat streetlight scam
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, January 3
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by Urban Local Bodies Minister Anil Vij to inquire into the alleged streetlight scam in Municipal Corporation, Panipat (MCP), has started its probe.
Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Karnal (MCK), a member of SIT, has sought details of installation and maintenance of streetlights in the past four years in the city.
The Chief Engineer in his letter to Commissioner, MCP, has written that the staff is not serious in providing the record he has sought.
THE CASE
Ruling party councillors had alleged a huge scam in the installation and maintenance of streetlights in the city during the general House meeting on August 10
Panipat Municipal Corporation Commissioner Om Prakash had constituted a special committee headed by councillor Dushyant Bhatt to inquire into the matter
Following the reports of the special committee, ULB Minister Anil Vij directed an inquiry into the matter and also constituted SIT headed by the ULB Director
Notably, ruling party councillors had alleged a huge scam in the installation and maintenance of streetlights in the city during the general house meeting held on August 10. Om Prakash, Commissioner, MCP, had constituted a special committee headed by Councillor Dushyant Bhatt to inquire into the matter.
The committee chairman submitted the inquiry report during the urgent general house meeting held on December 21 after which the House decided to send this streetlight scam matter to the State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) for inquiry within three months.
Following the reports of the special committee, ULB Minister Anil Vij directed an inquiry into the matter and also constituted SIT headed by Director, ULB. The Chief Engineer at Karnal and Chief Accounts Officer at Gurugram are the members of the committee. Chief Engineer Ramesh Madhaan, a member of SIT, sought detailed record related to streetlights in the past four years from MCP officers on December 23 and December 26 but the record was not provided to the committee member properly, said sources.
The Chief Engineer, MCK, in his letter to Commissioner, MCP, said the MCP officers were providing record in instalments. He also wrote that a related officer be deputed to provide the complete record — as XEN Rahul Punia has been directed — along with a certificate by the Superintending Engineer that the complete record has been provided to him.
Ramesh Bagri, SE, MCP, said complete record which was available with us has been sent to Chief Engineer, MCK, and the certificate he sought would be sent soon. Some files have also been sent on Friday, he added. Ramesh Chand, Chief Engineer, MCK, said the inquiry would be conducted on the pattern of the reports of the inquiry conducted by the councillors’ committee.
“I have sought detailed record of streetlights in the past four years, but MCP officers have not sent the complete record,” he said.
