Srinagar: Anti Corruption Bureau has unearthed a major corruption in the dredging of the flood spill channel of the Hokersar wetland- a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance on Srinagar outskirts.
The dredging project was initiated to enhance the flood-carrying capacity of the spill channel in the aftermath of the devastating 2014 floods, aiming to mitigate future flood risks in Srinagar. Known as the “Queen of Wetlands,” Hokersar plays a critical ecological role and is home to numerous migratory bird species.
The ACB, acting on credible inputs, conducted a joint surprise check that revealed serious irregularities and professional misconduct in the execution of the project. Following the investigation, an FIR was registered, and three officials—two Executive Engineers and the then
Assistant Executive Engineer of the Flood Spill Channel Division Narbal—were arrested.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) ACB, Javaid Hassan Bhat, said the enquiry conducted has uncovered serious lapses on the part of public officials and a private contractor company.
He said the findings reveal that tenders were invited in July 2018, for the work and construction
of a channel across Hokersar Wetland.
The work was allotted in favour of M/S REACH Dredging Ltd. for Rs. 2055.565 lacs by Chief
Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir with the provision that no material shall be dumped within the periphery of Wetland.
Despite major works being executed based on altered parameters through a Letter of Intent (LOI), the work was awarded based on original advertised quantities and costs, with no clarity on dumping sites or the disposal of excavated material.
The findings of the enquiry also revealed that significant variations in transportation leads (ranging from 8 km to 18 km) were clubbed together, allowing undue payments for transportation of excavated material, most of which was allegedly not disposed off as per the NIT, SSP Bhat said.
“The manipulation of the specifications of work and quantities resulted in financial loss amounting to Rs. 2.30 crores (approx.), to the state exchequer, excluding royalty and minor mineral costs and further damage to the ecology of the wetland. The losses will be over Rs 5 crore,” he said.
The three officials Siraj-Ud-Din Shah and Ghulam Ahmad Beigh, the then Executive Engineers Flood Spill Channel Division of Narbal and Irfan Ahmad Reshi, the AEE Flood Spill Channel Division Narbal among others, colluded with the contractor company M/S Reach Dredging Limited thereby caused huge loss of funds to the state exchequer and defeated the purpose for which the dredging in the wetland was initiated, he added.
Based on these findings a case under sections 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of
Corruption Act and section 120-B/RPC has been registered and investigation set into motion,” the SSP said.
Meanwhile, the ACB registered another FIR in illegal building permissions that were issued by the then Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). The ACB initiated legal action following a verification prompted by a complaint from the Intizamia Committee of Masjid Shareef, Gagribal Boulevard.