GANGTOK, : Sikkim Vigilance Police have registered a Prevention of Corruption
Act case against five State government engineers regarding the incomplete
sewerage facility project at Namchi and surrounding areas.
The
case was registered on April 15 under IPC sections 409, 420, 467, 471, and
201read with section 13,(1), (C), (D) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
As
per Vigilance officers, the case is registered against Mani Kumar Rai,
RajdeepRai, Ramesh Subba, Tara Raiand KhemLalChettri. All were then engineers
of various seniority levels of Water Supply & PHE department posted at
Namchi during the project tenure.
A
consultancy company and other suppliers are also named in the Vigilance case.
It
was informed that the case is related to project of year 2009 for construction
of sewerage facilities and treatment plant at Namchi and surrounding areas. The
project cost was Rs. 1097.64 lakh (Central and State share of 90:10) and
executed from 2009 onwards.
As
per the project, the two Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) were to be
constructed at Boomtar and Kamrang in Namchi. The two STPS are yet to be
constructed and even the land required is not acquired before execution of the
work.
Further,
an additional grant of Rs. 178.42 lakh was sanctioned.
It
was informed that only 55% of the total work has been executed till date. The
work done so far is installing DI pipes only.
Sikkim
Vigilance Police on April 17 conducted a search at the residences of these
individuals, Enviro Associates & Consultancy, and suppliers including their
offices. Some relevant documents are reported to have been seized by the
Vigilance Police and the case is said to be under investigation.
