27 irrigation projects in Malwa on Vigilance radar

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24

More heads are likely to roll in the Irrigation Department after the booking of six engineers for misappropriation of funds meant for desilting at Harike as the Vigilance Department has sought papers of 27 more projects.

Six engineers, including Chief Engineer (Canals) Jatinderpal Singh and contractor, have been booked for causing Rs5.47-crore loss to the exchequer during the desilting of the Harike headworks barrage at its guide bundh (embankment). Other projects under scrutiny have been executed largely in the Gidderbaha, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Fazilka areas.

All projects under study in the list have been executed in different parts of Malwa, mainly Gidderbaha, Ferozepur and Fazilka. One project has been carried out in Ropar and one shown in the Tarn Taran division (Majha), too, has been carried out at Ratta Khera and Midda villages in Malwa.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the engineering associations of the Irrigation Department continued their ongoing agitation against the Vigilance Bureau for allegedly registering fake cases by organising a dharna at Ferozepur today.

After a six-day dharna at the state headquarters here, demonstrations are being organised at different offices of the state. The committee comprises of the PSE Class I Association, AMIE Engineers Association, Diploma Engineers Association, Council of Diploma Engineers Association, Draftsman Association and Ministerial Association (PISCA).

President of the JAC BP Singh Brar said, “The Vigilance Bureau is seeking projects details of works carried out nearly a decade ago, which is virtually impossible. This clearly shows that the move is being carried out as vendetta politics against the previous government.”

At the same time, the Vigilance Department in a formal communication has said it received complaints/information about rampant corruption in the Irrigation Department. Chief Director BK Uppal has asked the engineers of the Irrigation Department to cooperate with the Vigilance Bureau in the larger interest of public as well as the state government and focus on the pending/ongoing works without any fear.

Sources in the bureau said, “Many among the protesters fear that their names might appear in the remaining projects so they are trying pressure tactics to stall the probe. We have only pointed out blatant violation of laid-down procedures. In case no one did anything wrong why worry. In fact, at one point of time we were thinking of shifting the case to the CBI.”

The JAC has threatened that the members would go on a mass casual leave in case their demands are not met by August 7.