ITANAGAR, Aug 24: A group of local residents, led by former Pakke Kessang MLA Techi Hemu, filed an FIR at Itanagar Police Station against the Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Chief Engineer, PWD, Western Zone, alleging destruction and manipulation of official documents and criminal misconduct in connection with alleged corruption in the department.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Hemu said the group was in possession of RTI documents concerning alleged irregularities in the project ‘Improvement/Upgradation of the 62-km Pakke–Seijosa–Itakhola road’, sanctioned under the North Eastern Council (NEC).
He alleged that the project involved large-scale financial irregularities and said the group had earlier submitted a written complaint to the State's Chief Vigilance Officer against the then Chief Engineer, Western Zone, PWD, Dubey Dolum; SSW, Western Zone, PWD, Hage Bida; SE, Bobia/Sagalee Circle, PWD; and the managing director of the construction agency.
According to Hemu, the complaint alleged, among other things, conspiracy in preparing fabricated Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and revised estimates and creating work scopes for works allegedly having no physical existence at the sites, with the intention of fraudulently drawing public funds.
He said that following the complaint, the Vigilance Department had directed the Principal Secretary, PWD, to furnish comments on the allegations within one month. A reminder was subsequently issued, but the department had not furnished its comments to the Vigilance Department, preventing further action on the complaint, he claimed.
Hemu further claimed that information obtained through RTI regarding the correspondence between the Vigilance Dept and the PWD revealed that the Chief Engineer, Western Zone, PWD, had reportedly not received any communication from the Vigilance Department.
He said the latest FIR was filed in view of the alleged discrepancies and sought appropriate investigation into the matter.