Himachal: Jal Shakti Department Accused of Selling Transformer, BJP Leader Asks for Vigilance Probe
Mandi, 25 February : Facing complaint of selling transformer, officials of Jal Shakti Department of Himachal Pradesh are standing under gravest allegations of corruption and misconduct, installed under Kanda Patan Uthaau Drinking Water Scheme in Darwad area underofficer incharge Tihra subdivision of Mandi district. State BJP media co-incharge, Rajat Thakur, who disclosed these allegations, also demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and urged to the state vigilance department to probe the issue.
Rajat Thakur, who made a sudden visit of the drinking water scheme on October 21, held a press conference in front of the media and directly accused the officials of the Jal Shakti Department of selling the transformer. He posed multiple queries about the location of essential machinery, pointing out that equipment had been removed under dubious circumstances. I was also worried as the disappearance happened only after the officials of the department such as a junior engineer and a pump operator were immersed in their work.
The Allegations: The Missing transformer and sale of transformer
The transformer in question was laid as part of the Kanda Patan Uthaau Drinking Water Scheme, a project designed to provide steady water access to the inhabitants of Darwad and its surrounding areas. The transformer is a key part of the kit required to run the scheme, as this is what provides the electricity to the water pumps that bring water to the local communities.
The transformer has been missing since then and local news reports suggest that officials of the Jal Shakti Department sold it off. “It is hard to believe that a huge item like this could vanish without any paper trail or corporate explanation whatsoever, that it fell into the hands of a junior engineer to a pump operator to other personnel in the department,” he asked.
“The vanishing of this transformer brings into play serious issues about the integrity and transparency of the officials concerned. Requiring four men to turn off a multi-million dollar pump and turning it on for a man protecting 350 people is truly unsettling, especially that it was under the eyes of staff on the field (the junior of the engineer and the pump operator). This is a thing which needs immediate inquiry,” Thakur said at his press meet.
BJP Leader Asks For Investigation
Demanding immediate action, Rajat Thakur urged the state government to immediately initiate an official vigilance inquiry in this case. Addressing his letter to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, he appealed to them for their intervention to probe the charges of corruption against the officers and ensure fair investigation. Among Thakur’s demands- an immediate suspension of the concerned officials involved in the matter, until the investigation is completed, so that there is no interference in the inquiry process.
Thakur then asked: If a LASI radar can be used to explain such things, how credible would such explanations be? He regaled us with details of a conversation he had had with the Assistant Engineer in charge of the Tihra subdivision (this is less the position in charge of the reins and more someone who tries to rein in the laws of nature). Dharampal told Thakur that the transformer was being moved to a different site and had toppled off the vehicle used to deliver it as the vehicle was damaged.
Thakur rejected that explanation, saying the assertion was an attempted cover-up of the incident. “The justification provided by the Assistant Engineer in this regard is totally unbelievable and further raises questions on the genuineness of this transfer. We cannot take it at face value, particularly given the serious accusations of corruption against the department,” Thakur said.
The Call for Accountability
The BJP leader vowed to take the necessary steps if the matter was not dealt with correctly, saying that they would not tolerate continuing corruption in the Dharampur region. If the Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department in Mandal Dharampur did not lodge any complaint in the police regarding the missing transformer, he would question the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and the state Vigilance Department and demand a clear order for a complete investigation.
“The manner of corruption here in Dharampur is rampant and it is guide line that government should take action. Promises to hold a huge protest and make people aware of the ongoing corruption if the officials involved do not face consequences.
He added that the case was just the tip of the iceberg and that information would continue to emerge in the days ahead. Thakur, on the other hand, vowed to fight for transparency and integrity in working of the Jal Shakti Department and the other Government Departments.
Jal Shakti Department response
Jal Shakti Department officials have yet to release an official statement in response to the allegations regarding the transformer going missing. But department insiders have indicated that the matter is under internal review, with the department potentially looking into it.
According to the Assistant Engineer, Dharampal, who was named in the case, he did not do anything wrong and claimed that lifting the transformer was only for carrying purpose and the same information he provided to Rajat Thakur. But this explanation has not done much to ease the fears and suspicions surrounding the incident.
There has been no immediate transmission of any particular decision or action by the Jal Shakti Department, and the output of any resolution is yet to be seen, amid a backdrop of ongoing amassed frustration from local residents and the BJP as to the accountability shown and accountability sought from the department over the matter, or a statement explaining the situation.
Outrage everywhere and political responses
Residents and political leaders have expressed outrage over the allegations with many speculating on the quality of work among officials with Jal Shakti Department. As expected, there have been active posts on social media such as Facebook regarding this case and the request from the citizens to have an independent investigation into the missing transformer as well as the money corruption in the government projects.
In such a situation, the opposition parties have also joined in on the chorus, demanding that the state government take prompt action and calling to book the officers if any of them mislead this case. It has also strained already contentious relations between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP, who accuse each other of overlooking corruption and mismanagement of government-run schemes.
What’s Next: Will There Be Accountability?
While this investigation is still ongoing, the residents of Himachal Pradesh, especially the locals in the Mandi district, are keen to know. Corruption in the Jal Shakti Department is a serious concern, especially considering the Kanda Patan Uthaau Drinking Water Scheme is of utmost necessity for the local residents. You only cover up to October 2023 in data, and without accountability and oversight, vital infrastructure projects will be affected, putting residents at risk of unreliable access to clean drinking water.
The demand of Rajat Thakur for vigilance inquiry and suspension of the concerned officials is indicative of how public opinion is getting irked from handling of such matters. As to whether the state government will move for action is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain — the winds are shifting and the residents of Mandi and beyond are taking note.
In the case of the missing transformer of Kanda Patan Uthaau Drinking Water Scheme, serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement have been raised against Jal Shakti Department. Rajat Thakur alleges an even larger violation of the rules regarding government transparency and that, in his eyes, has led to a crisis at Distant Watch: Where is the transformer? All eyes will be on the state government as the investigation unfolds, and it cannot afford to brush this matter under the rug; the officials involved in any wrongdoing must be held accountable.
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