Uttarakhand SIC recommends CBI probe into 2010 Mahakumbh preparations
2 Apr, 2015A series of applications were filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking certain information regarding the central funds sent to the state government for the 2010 Mahakumbh preparations at Haridwar. The applicant, Ramesh Chandra Sharma, referred to an amount of Rs 565 crore released by the Centre to the state for the preparations. Out of this amount, the applicant alleged that there was no account of Rs180 crore which were said to be diverted for other purposes by the state government.
Referring to CAG audit, he alleged that out of the 311 works worth Rs 565 crore which were sanctioned to 34 departments of the state, many remained incomplete. He claimed that 54 works worth Rs 180 crore remained incomplete during the fair causing inconvenience to devotees. He also alleged that the nodal officers were lackadaisical in not depositing funds in the mela officer account which is not being enquired by the state government.
After looking into the complaint, the Uttarakhand State Information Commissioner Anil Sharma has written a letter to the principal secretary to CM, Om Prakash, which has been duly received by him. Sharma has recommended a CBI enquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds worth Rs180 crore during the preparations of the 2010 Haridwar Mahakumbh. The Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand N Ravi Shankar said that the details of recommendation are yet to be studied.
Readers may recall that the SIC had earlier recommended a probe in another case in the past. Please refer to “Uttarakhand SIC orders CBI probe done into alleged irregularities in NRHM” Read more at: http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/uttarakhand-sic-orders-cbi-probe-done-alleged-irre#.VRwf7PyUe1U