BUNJWAH April 17:–The general public of Bunjwah alleged mass scale irregularities and misappropriation in RDD Block Bunjwah wherein the administrative unit is lying defunct since from last three years, despite the matter brought into the notice of higher authorities several times and also through print and electronic media. Alleging misappropriation of funds meant for various developmental works and for the betterment of the society the whole nexus is being running from AC rooms/Kishtwar under the active involvements of higher officers wherein crores of rupees are being embezzled and misused by the officers of Block Development Office Bunjwah and elected representatives of Block Bunjwah by withdrawing more than 04.00 Crores on account of material component.
Highly placed source informed that Officers/Officials has enrolled PRIs, their family members and their closed associates as vendors (material supplier) along with some other blue-eyed persons by enrolling them dummy vendors across all panchayats of Block Bunjwah including Patnazi A, Patnazi B, Kither, Nali, Binoon, Mori, Tipri, Jawalapur and Kewa.
As per the financial statement of RDD Block Bunjwah Rs 423.94 lacs of rupees has been withdrawn on account of material supplied for the year 2018-19, 2019-20 and going on meant for developmental works, in the name of some PRIs, their family members and their close associates on basis of commission system. These vendors are used by concerned officers to loot the state exchequer without taking works on ground as per the guideline of RD&PR department.
A whistle blower filed an RTI application on 27/01/2021 and seeks the information regarding the material payment withdrawn during 2018 to 2020, but BDO Bunjwah did not made any response despite the applicant filed First Appeal before Assistant Commissioner Development Kishtwar to un-earthen the scam in-front of public.
In response to an RTI, BDO Bunjwah vide BDOB/2020-21/625 dated 15/03/2021 stated that Office is having 03 Laptops, 01 Desktop, 01 Printer, 01 Genset, 01 Transformer, 01 invertor, 01 Battery Tublar and 01 Photostate machine. As per details avaiable of official expenses, BDO Bunjwah stated that office expenses w-e-f March 2015 is as during 2015-16 Rs 14000, 2016-17 Nil, 2017-18 Rs 7000, 2018-19 Rs 13000, 2019-20 Nil, and 2020-21 Rs 6000 and administrative expenses is Rs 20000 is made quarterly. The monthly rent of office establishment occupied in Bunjwah is Rs 8500/month w-e-f 01/12/2016 wherein the accommodation is lying in defunct position and nexus is being run from Kishtwar.
In Oct 2020 during Block Diwas program in Bunjwah, Sarpanch Panchayat Mori Block Bunjwah, Mohd Ali, endorses such words publicly, “that from the starting of RD&PR, Commission system runs RD&PR, weather it is online or offline, if you don’t believe Go and Check and it is not new thing in Block department”. These words were endorsed in presence of Tehsildar Bunjwah and other Senior Other Officers, but no action was taken against by the authorities.
Beside all these Public of Bunjwah registered a complaint through J&K Governor Grievance Cell vide Reference ID: 999001801519 Dated 15/01/2021, regarding the running of whole nexus and alleged misappropriation of funds. The complaint was forwarded to Kishtwar Administration on 18/1/2021 and was forwarded to ACD Kishtwar on the same day. The ACD Kishtwar writes that the matter is being enquired and after the completion of the same the action as warranted under law shall be initiated accordingly and dispose of the complaint on 24/01/2021. The applicant on 25 /01/2021 puts the reminder un-satisfied response and submit a detailed reason and facts on Online Grievance Portal. The complaint was against forwarded to Kishtwar administration on 28/01/2021and on 23/03/2021 ACD Kishtwar writes that vide letter No. ACDK/2020-21/7457-58 dated 23/03/2021, BDO Bunjwah has been directed to submit detailed factual report along with documentary evidences within three days as earlier ACD Kishtwar vide No. ACDK/2020-21/6706-6707 dated 17/02/2021 details were sought from BDO Bunjwah but no response was made.
The complainants while talking to media, said that officers of Block Office Bunjwah to hide their scams and nexus are misleading the higher authorities and JK Grievance Cell. Adding that when even we approach BDO, He shows us the way and ask that go where you want, I don’t care about anything. The complainant said that we mentioned their feedback of not satisfied and put the remarks that concerned BDO Bunjwah is misleading the Cell by submitting false information’s. They had also sought transparent enquiry in this matter through team of investigating agencies. Adding that without knowing the facts from complainant or initiating any enquiry against the culprit who are alleged involved in mass scale embezzlement of funds meant for general public why complaint is again and again dispose offed.
The amount more than 04.00 crores have been withdrawn without execution of works or lesser executed works across Block Bunjwah. The whole amount is being withdrawn from 2017-18 to March 2020 without paying a single penny to deserved persons. In one of the glaring example same name was repeated in all heads including Job Card registration, Vendor registration (material supplier), Skilled, Semi-Skilled Labour, Forest Right Committee member and others including one of the close relative of PRI members and impersonating the dignified post of PRI in all functions.
It is important to mention that office is lying in defunct position and all the accessories, office record and some furniture’s are being shifted to Kishtwar without any official notification and to run the whole nexus from AC rooms/Kishtwar despite the rent of accommodation is paid more than 8500/month that is also great loss to state exchequer.
Meanwhile a whistle blower informed that the matter was various times brought in knowledge of higher officers but no positive response came to be seen. Adding that in march the matter was brought in knowledge of Commissioner Secretary RDD Sheetal Nanda IAS, regarding the office and misappropriation of funds and running of whole nexus from Kishtwar, Sheetal Nanda IAS, assured that positive outcome will come within days and I will look personally look in this matter but unfortunately no response was seen and no action was taken against the culprits involved in running of whole nexus.
The general public of Bunjwah has demanded a transparent enquiry into amount withdrawn without execution of works or lesser executed works from 2017 to un-earthen the huge scam and registration of FIR against culprits involved in running of nexus from AC rooms Kishtwar. It is important to mention that RTI Applicants and Complainants had knocked the door of Anti-Corruption Bearue Jammu and submitted all the evidences and proofs regarding the office establishment and running of whole nexus with active involvement of elected representatives, PRIs and higher authorities.
