Srinagar: The State Vigilance Commission (Svc) investigating irregularities in construction of schools under SSA, has found huge violation of norms in construction of buildings.
The PDP led government had asked the commission to probe the misappropriation of funds for construction of schools under SSA and to book those who are involved in misusing the Government exchequer.
The said issue was also raised in Assembly in the recently concluded session by one of the members.
Sources informed KNS that though the investigation is still on, but the commission has observed that there are scores of such buildings where violation in norms has taken place. At this point of time though I am not supposed to share more details but yes huge violations have taken place with respect to soil testing, non fulfillment of codal formalities and in the structural designing, a source maintained.
Meanwhile one of the senior officials of the State Vigilance Organization said that they had also investigated three similar cases. In three similar separate cases, vigilance organization has detected misappropriation worth lakhs of rupees. We have detected misappropriation of 37 laks in the construction of building at North Kashmirs Baramullah Distirct under SSA.The case was investigated and concluded, one of the senior officials of the vigilance organization insisted not to be named said and added that the case has been referred to the government for departmental enquiry and punishing the accused.
Meanwhile sources said that in many districts almost all the Codal and procedural formalities had been violated in the SSA Programme in Jammu and Kashmir while making the purchases and constructions across the state.I must tell you that a good number of school buildings and classrooms remained incomplete as the funds were either diverted for other purposes or had no account at all. There was zero monitoring of the residential bridge camps and alternate schools. An umpteen number of training sessions were held under the SSA but only few utilization certificates were submitted or advance utilization certificates were submitted at the year end to see release of funds unauthorizedly, one of the insiders of the school education department said and added that the public money was looted in various other forms under the guise of SSA.
He said once the HRD ministry had frozen all the accounts of the Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan as the officials had failed to submit the report about the location and parking of the funds released by the centre.
Sources said that some contractors had also brazenly constructed building in violation of the original planning permits.
One of the government official admitted that money for centrally sponsored scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was misused. Unfortunately, we had to initiate enquiry into irregularities found in SSA functioning, the official maintained.
According to the official figures available with the KNS, in the year 2009-10 the central government has released Rs 37,363.27 whereas the state government has released Rs 18,051.00 in which Rs 54,869.73 was utilized by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
In the year 2010-11 the central government has released Rs 40,358.79 and the state government has released Rs 45,914.00, and Rs 8,000.00 has been received under 13th finance commission in which the Sarva Shiksha officials utilized Rs 64,000.94. cr In the year 2011-12 the central government has released Rs 30,070.51 and the state government has released Rs 39,600.00, and Rs 8500 has been received under 13th finance commission in which Rs 104,722.28 cr was utilized by the Sarva Shiksha unit of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is patient to mention here that in the year 2015 the State Vigilance Commission had also detected alleged embezzlement in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal Schemes in J&K and had directed SSP Crime Branch Srinagar to register a formal case against teachers involved in case.
SVC has directed SSP Crime Branch Srinagar, for registration of formal case against teachers involved in misappropriation of funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal Schemes, the statement of SVC had said. (KNS)
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