Minister Krishan Lal : Irregularities worth crores of rupees found in installation of iron benches, hand pumps in Israna constituency
Haryana’s Development and Panchayat Minister Krishan Lal Panwar has given instructions to suspend Israna’s BDPO, accountant, assistant and two junior engineers with immediate effect after they were found involved in a scam of iron benches, hand pumps and water coolers installed at public places in his own Israna (Panipat) Assembly constituency.
Taking strong action, the Director of Panchayat Department has suspended these officials with immediate effect.
Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said Block Committee Israna’s Chairman Sh. Harpal Malik had complained to him that the department’s BDPO and other employees have committed irregularities in development works. When this matter came to his notice, an investigation was conducted and irregularities were found in the installation of iron benches, hand pumps and water coolers at public places worth several lakhs of rupees. He said this could possibly be a scam of Rs 3 to 4 crore, which will be investigated now.
He informed that the accused who have been suspended include Israna’s BDPO Vivek Kumar, two JEs, an accountant and an assistant. Minister Krishan Lal said the accused themselves also accepted the embezzlement of about Rs 23.8 lakh. The accused asked someone to complete this work for about Rs 23.8 lakh. After this, Minister Krishan Lal Panwar himself talked to that person and stopped him from doing so and the whole matter was brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, who has now asked to deposit the recovery of this amount in the account through the CEO of the District Council with immediate effect.
The minister said the department has adopted the policy of zero tolerance against corruption and this is a big action. He said in future also if such cases are found, an investigation will be done and no corrupt person will be spared.