Srinagar, April 22: Accusing the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) of laps Rs 450 crore during the last financial year, contractors demanded action against incompetent engineers. During a press conference in Srinagar, Arshad Ahmed Bhat, Secretary, Central Contractors Coordination Committee, said that although the Srinagar Municipal Corporation was set up a century ago to provide development and civic services in the city of Srinagar, but it has turned rest house for officers due to incompetent engineers. President Municipal Contractors Union (Sartaj) Arshad Ahmed Bhat said that this incompetent engineer has been stationed at the same place for the last two decades and has taken this Civic body hostage, as a result of which not only People but also contractors are facing a lot of difficulties.
Arshad Ahmed Bhat, citing an example, said that after the incompetent of Executive Engineer SMC Right river works division is in this department for 22 years, the investigation was started and one of his engineer friends was an investigating officer, but was later transferred to the Metropolitan City.
Expressing astonishment, Arshad Ahmed said that the said engineer was given additional charge in SMC, while there were many competent officers in SMC. He said that the said incompetent officer in the Right River Works Division had lapsed 90% of the funds during the last financial year
He disclosed that the said executive engineer had issued a tender for the financial year 2021-22 in the year 2022-23, so that he could hide his incompetence. Secretary JKCCCC alleged that despite investigating four cases of bribery and non-DPC promotion against the said executive engineer, he was given important responsibility and additional charge.
Bhat said that the SMC Commissioner had with great difficulty arranged funds for the development of the city and facilities to the citizens but due to incompetent engineers the efforts of the Commissioner SMC were also in vain. He demanded Principal Secretary Urban Development and Housing Dheeraj Gupta and LG Govt to immediately show doors these incompetent engineers so that the dream of development in the city could be fulfilled.
Arshad Ahmed said that soon a delegation of the Central Contractors Coordination Committee will leave for Jammu to meet top officials and officials of Anti-Corruption Bureau and brief them on the demands and situation.
