Headlines appearing in newspapers since past about a year as regard several frauds alleged in construction of large number Haryana state government buildings by Public Works Department at Ambala, now action is being taken by the government to register FIR against the construction firm for recovery of Ra 126 crore in as many as 16 projects. However, three officers of PWD (B&R) supervising the work including Executive Engineer, SDO and Junior Engineer were suspended by the government after detecting frauds. Investigation reveals, senior officers of the department at Chandigarh in-spite of complaint and recommending action against alleged accuse responsible for embezzlements for amount worth crores of rupees in several projects the file remained dumped or hanging from one table to another for months to save concerned alleged accuse or the reason best known to them. The matter was much opposed in Vidhan Sabha session by the political parties in opposition and the frauds adversely affected the reputation of ruling BJP-JJP government in the state.
Rs 66 crore alleged fraud in construction of International standard football stadium in The War Heroes Memorial Stadium Ambala Cantt in which payment for amount worth crores of rupees were released to the suppliers by the officers of PWD (B&R) handling the projects on the basis of fake bills when building material including huge steel stocks were not supplied by the firms which severely affected the reputation of not only PWD (B&R) in the state but also ruling state government. Among other frauds detected in construction of several important government projects at Ambala include over Rs 13 crore alleged fraud in construction of Mini Secretariat at Ambala, alleged fraud worth over Rs 7.74 crore in construction of building for Homeopathy College at Chandpura near Ambala Cantt.
There was another alleged fraud attracted headlines in newspapers for amount worth over Rs 14.23 crore in construction of residential houses for doctors and para-medical staff of Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt constructed on Jagadhari Road. PWD (B&R) officers released payment worth crores of rupees to suppliers of building material and the construction firm on the basis of fake bills when no material was supplied. Surprisingly, the department had shown construction work in six storey buildings in this roject whereas there were only two and three storey buildings in this project. The alleged fraud worth over Rs 2.28 crore was detected in construction of additional 100-Bed ward inside Civil Hospital Ambala cantt, Fraud of value worth over Rs 1.86 crore was detected in construction of Government Women College building at Ambala City, alleged fraud of value worth Rs 6.89 crore detected in construction of academic and administrative block in diploma college at village Lakhnaura Sahib near Ambala City and embezzlements of funds were found in few other minor projects for construction and repair of roads in the district.
Residents of Haryana want to know why higher authorities in state government failed to take stern action against accused involved in embezzlements for amount worth crore of rupees, except merely suspended three officers in the department instead of pushing them behind bars, why the complaint against corrupt officers forwarded from PWD (B&R) Ambala for action remained dumped in Chief Engineer’s office at Chandigarh for months without any action suspecting a conspiracy to save alleged accuse in the case now demanding immediate action against big fishes involved in scams.
