SATISH HANDA
The file of the case of alleged fraud worth about Rs 46 crore detected in Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij’s one of the dream projects International Football Stadium in War Heroes Memorial Sports Stadium Ambala Cantt in which Superintending Engineer PWD (B&R) recommending immediate suspension of three officers: Executive Engineer, Sub Divisional Officer and Junior Engineer involved in embezzlements along with the contractor submitted to head office on October 12, 2021 remained dumped without any action for the last about three months saving alleged accused for reasons best known to them in-spite of the fact during preliminary investigation allegations against three were confirmed which clearly indicates that alleged accuse are blessed by senior bureaucrats or a political leader or some influential persons.
During recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister Dushyant Chautala to Ambala on the inauguration of a function when media persons raised the issue, he assured all those officers or contracting firm involved in this fraud or any conspiracy will not be spared at any cost. He assured action against those managed to dump this file for months, taken no action and kept him in dark. Information reveals, tender for construction of International level football stadium in sports complex at Ambala Cantt was released and finalized in 2017 with the project cost worth Rs 40 crore and work was delayed for a reason or the other and the rates initially quoted in the offer were revised three times by concerned officers till the project cost of the tender revised nearly three times to Rs 115-16 crore. Chautala assured to check the case thoroughly to find out under whaich circumstances the case delayed and amount of tender contract was increased so much.
Information also reveals that only 13500 quintal steel was used in this project as against 33000 quintal steel specified to be used in tender contract and accordingly payment was released to the supplier on increased rates from time to time by officers of the department thus violating the terms specified in the tender. Question arises why no action has been taken to suspend officers of PWD (B&R) department allegedly involved in embezzlements during construction of football stadium when Superintending Engineer had indicated their suspension by the Chief Engineer office at Chandigarh and action not taken against the contractor and the tender was revised three times caused heavy financial loss to the state government.
