Lokayukta chief engineer asked to inspect works executed at DG&IGP office

Upalokayukta has ordered Chief Engineer Lokayukta to inspect and submit a report on 17 works executed at the office of State Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) on Nrupatunga Road.

A complaint was filed by activist T J Abraham stating that works were split only to avoid Transparency Act. The work orders were issued on March 23 and the money was released on March 31 falsely claiming that the works have been executed.

The complainant stated that with an intention to get the amount released from the budgetary allocation made for the year 2014-2015 before March 31, fake tender work was shown, entrusted and huge amount has been misappropriated.

About 17 works at the office of the DG&IGP were commenced and completed by showing break-up of figures of less than Rs 5 lakh each with an intention to avoid application of the provisions of Transparency Act and also to withdraw the said amount without any actual work executed as such, the complainant stated.

The records produced along with the complaint shows that the amount was released from the office of the DG&IGP as per the letter dated December 22, 2014 to Executive Engineer of Building Division. The work orders were issued to contractors on March 23 and the money was drawn from the treasury within seven days on March 31. The complaint stated that the works mentioned in the work order are repetitive.

“The complainant states that there are such similar instances of misappropriation of public money particularly at the end of financial year, just to withdraw the amount allocated in the previous budget.

The complaint also alleged that one contractor Anil Kumar, who got a majority of works, is the brother-in-law of Assistant Engineer Public Works Department Puttaswamy. It appears that instead of inviting consolidated tenders as per Transparency Act, Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer have awarded contracts by showing several piece works for less than Rs 5 lakh,” Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said.

Chief Engineer (Technical Audit Cell Lokayukta) Anil Kumar along with Executive Engineer and Superintendent Engineer visited the DG&IGP office on Wednesday evening and inspected the works claimed to have executed. Upalokayukta has directed the Lokayukta Chief Engineer to submit a report by May 14.