R&B Kishtwar throws all norms to wind allot works worth lakhs without inviting tenders

S.N.HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: Throwing all norms to the wind the Public Works Department is reportedly swindling lakh of rupees by executing development works worth lakhs through some blue eyed contractors in violation of prescribed guide lines and norms. Be it Ghulam Nabi Azad’s tirade against corruption or Umar Abdullah’s corruption free administration, the slogans of transparency does not seems to have much effect in some of the departments working in this remote mountainous district, which is already battling discriminatory and step motherly treatment at the hand of successive governments.
Informed sources told Bold Voice that R&B Division Kishtwar is executing works through some blue eyed contractors that worth lakhs of rupees without inviting tenders. Sources further disclosed that in recent past the work on Hullar link road was started by an unknown agency without any NIT. Aggrieved with the same a deputation of local contractors approached the Executive Engineer and requested him to issue order for the stopping the illegal and unauthorized work going on. On listening the contractors the X-en Kishtwar directed Asst Executive Engineer vide a letter to stop any un authorized construction but despite the orders from the concerned authorities the work was not stopped by the agency as it was learnt that the work was being executed in proxy by a close kin of one of the political heavy weight. Sources have further disclosed that the work of walling in Donadi – Bonjwah road has also been allotted to some bye eyed contractor with out floating tenders and the agency has started extraction of stones at site. Not only this, to favour few individual various roads are being constructed without adopting the proper procedure of acquisition etc whereas the old under construction roads regarding which all the requisite formalities stands completed decades ago are being ignored. The Executive Engineer Kishtwar while confirming the news has said that most of the works are being executed after floating the tenders. When asked about the Donadi Bonjwah road Xen showed his ignorance and said he has no knowledge of the allotment or execution of the work.