Book officials, contractors for graft: Govt

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

The state government has issued directions to the authorities concerned to register criminal cases against officials and contractors in connection with corruption-related matters, and recover Rs 40.94 lakh from them.

The directions came on the recommendation of the Vigilance Bureau (VB).

A government spokesperson said the first matter related to the use of substandard material in the construction of the Lahoria Chowk-DCM Mill Gate road in Hisar.

The VB inquiry revealed that a contractor, who bagged the tender for road construction, used sub-standard material in connivance with the then Executive Engineer, Sub-divisional Engineer and Junior Engineer of the Haryana Agriculture Marketing Board, causing a loss of Rs 32.13 lakh to the state exchequer.

The second matter is related to the irregularities in several works in Panchkula. The works were covering of bridges by iron sheets and frames, demolition of an old bus queue shelter, making sheds for vehicles and installing signboards under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It was found during the VB inquiry that the irregularities caused a loss of Rs 8.81 lakh.

The spokesperson said the state government had directed the departments concerned to recover the amount from contractors and initiate action against one Executive Engineer, two Municipal Engineers, and three Junior Engineers for causing irregularities.