By: Sameer Lone
Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has sought a detailed report from the Rural Development Department into the “Pulwama Street Lights Purchase”.
According to the official sources, the Rural Development Department (RDD) has been asked to investigate the matter and come up with a detailed report to find out the wrong doings.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang Kondbarao Pole told Precious Kashmir that he has directed the Director Rural Development Kashmir to investigate the matter and submit a report within a stipulated time.
“Once the report is submitted, we will examine it and take the further course of action,” P K Pole said.
It may be recalled that this newspaper recently reported about a major streetlight scam that had surfaced in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district as the officials had, according to sources, purchased streetlights allegedly at exorbitant rates only to benefit some blue-eyed contractor.
It was revealed that the streetlights were purchased without following proper procedure for tendering.
“The highest price of a street light installed by the RDD cost Rs 14000, while the officials in Pulwama bought them at more than Rs 24000 when the similar light costs only Rs 12000 to Rs 14000,” sources had said.
It was also reportedly said that the office of the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) office had released half of the payment to the contractors before the execution of the work.
Following this, the DDC members refused to install the lights in their constituency and Halqas that forced the district administration Pulwama to put the process of installation of the lights on hold.
