Construction Scam in Hr Education Department, Governor to likely order probe

Jammu and Kashmir Government is likely going to order a high level into 'allotment of works' in Higher Education Department.

As reported earlier by Early Times, a major construction scandal has surfaced in the Higher Education department of state where construction works to the tune of over Rs. 151 Cr have reportedly been sanctioned without seeking mandatory administrative approval and without seeking DPR's (Detailed Project Reports) from government owned construction corporations.

Moreover, most of the construction works have been allotted in violation of the codal formalities to Jammu and Kashmir Police Housing Corporation (JKPHC) some of whom are over 7.50 Crores, for which approval of Governor office is mandatory, but even Governor House was bypassed by the department.

As per reliable sources, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik has himself taken a strong note of ET report and high level committee is being constituted to probe the matter.

According to sources the Higher Education department had approved a total of 24 construction works to the tune of Rs. 151.60 Crores for various government degree colleges. Out of these, 11 construction works to the tune of Rs. 64 Crores were allotted to Jammu and Kashmir Police Housing Corporation (JKPHC) without getting the mandatory administrative approval, sources alleged.

Out of total 24 works, 8 works are higher than Rs. 7.50 Crores and the Amended Jammu and Kashmir Book of Financial Powers reads, "Administrative Approval (AA) in respect of works/projects above Rs. 750 Lakhs, including cost of any residential building under plan/non plan shall be accorded with the approval of Chief Minister/Governor after the concurrence of Planning and Development Department/Finance department".

Sources alleged that no such approval was sought by Higher Education department from Governor' office, while according sanction of such works to various colleges.

Principals of various GDCs, pleading anonymity said that they had forwarded DPRs sent by other construction agencies such as R&B, JKPCC but the department officials, while sidelining their proposals, allotted works to JKPHC, whose DPR was not even submitted by the colleges.