Date:15/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/15/stories/2007111559100400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

18 PR staff suspended

Special Correspondent

They had allegedly drawn bills for certain works without seeking approval of the ZP

HYDERABAD: The State Government on Wednesday placed under suspension 18 employees of the Panchayat Raj Department in Karimnagar for allegedly drawing bills for certain works without seeking approval of the Zilla Parishad. Panchayat Raj Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy told reporters here that based on a detailed inquiry report submitted by the Karimnagar Joint Collector, the State Government recommended suspension of the 18 officials and also wrote to the CB-CID to order a probe into the scandal, where the PR engineers and non-officials fraudulently withdrew Rs. 17 lakh.

Explanation sought

An explanation was also sought from the Chief Engineer (Quality Control) for not making mention of the officials involved in the scandal.

Mr. Diwakar Reddy said that the Karimnagar Collector had written to the Chief Engineer, Panchayat Raj explaining how some engineers of the PR wing of Zilla Parishad in collusion with non-officials took up works of Rs. 1.26 crore in Karimnagar. Works to the tune of Rs. 37 lakh had been completed.

The Panchayat Raj Engineer-in-chief verified the allegations and wrote to the Government confirming the scandal, the Minister said. He said while the Government had recommended suspension of the guilty officials, it felt that only a CB-CID probe would bring out other facts.