- Bribe Fighter
- 12 years ago
- 3690 views
Ups and down of OSD
Office of the Chief Engineer, Assam Irrigation had a deserted looks, till the joining of its new Chief Engineer in the financial year 2005-05, who came from the Diphu Division, a biggest Irrigation Division ever exist in entire Assam. The then Superintendent Engineer at the Diphu Division/Circle, directly superseded and jumped total 35 No’s of Engineers, those are absolute seniors to the said and became CE on the behest of the Minister of Irrigation and Government of Assam in altogether. Certainly, the said CE might have jumped 35 No’s, but the same have the extreme sticking by power and burning desire to make things work and happened, when everybody fails. During the AGP Government, under the Minister of Irrigation, the entire Department and the Office of the Chief Engineer wear a deserted looks and for even a regular engineering maintenance work the Office had to search for Contractor from other Departments of similar Engineering capability. There were no funds nor any works left in the said Department and even some time back the Assam Government had proposed to marge the said Department with its original/mother Organisation i.e. State PWD. The Indian National Congress came into power after a gap of 5 years, in the year 2001 toppling the most unreliable and incompetent AGP Government. The said Government made various changes in the matter of Development, revenue generation for the state and sustained peace and prosperity, law and order was put to place, which unabatedly brought them back to power in consecutive term in the year 2005.********** L transferred from Diphu Division irrig. to the post of CE irrigation, Assam. As entire Assam was prospering the Irrigation Department under the statement ship of the said, it began to bring in funds at an amount of `. 800’00’00’000/Financial year wise percentage particular in the AIBP schemes. The said Chief Engineer, not only able to bring in funds but also started making calculation on putting Assam Government on the safer side from investing it 10% mandatory share under the AIBP pattern of sharing schemes by both Centre and State. His innovative maneuver had started giving dividend and a rush of Contractors could be seen, those who even deserted once. This funds bring from Centre, had given an undoubtedly and incomparable high marks to the CE, especially in the Political Class and Bureaucratic level in the state. The said retired from his post in the year 2010 but the State Government retained him as OSD Irrigation on special AIBP matters. His retention as an OSD was made in hurry even without making and Cabinet Approval. Instead of proper 6 months as OSD under Government Guidelines, his tenure as OSD remained for complete 2 years exceeding all norms and office rules. His benevolent approach towards the Government had paved his Election Ticket from the ruling INC for the Assembly election in the year 2011 again superseding the seating INC MLA from LAC-9 (Sonai). During his tenure as both CE and after OSD, the entire matter of AIBP used to rest at his consent. The said even dictated the awards of Contract of works to his likings and dislike. The then Minister of Irrigation, Assam **********, was just a rubber stamp with the OSD as Pandora Box. The OSD, ********** had sourced various tactics during his tenure, which enabled his to earned lots of accredits and accolades proclamation from all Political Class, being fond of the said. Following which the CE and OSD became sole order to appoint and award tender to contractors of his choice only. His main practice is to collect 5.5% of the entire project cost in advance and later he himself do all the file works not only at the State Level but also developed a unattainable reputation with Delhi. Contractors working under the CE irrigation on AIBP never felt to do office work as every things were ready made against payment at various levels throughout the state. An initial 5.5%, followed by a 2% of expenditures at the site disputes (If any), and then pay 25% of each bills to the Division, under which the bills were to be drawn. The amounts of percentage against Land Development, Jungle Clearance & Land acquisition were shown as to be the State Shares to each works under AIBP, for the release of Funds from Centre share. There, were extreme rush, just the like the Gold Rush happened during 18th Century in the North America and then the one at South Africa. This writer being a business felt to try out one with the same and approached the Office. Immediately on fulfillment, obviously not of tender required technicality but of the bribery, I am been allotted a initially Head Work amounting 1.38 crores. Then again on all fulfillment, I am awarded with Head Work of estimated Cost 2.30 crores. Altogether, I had to make an advance payment of ` 18 lakhs against both the said works. The most amazing part is that, the AIBP schemes was launched way back in 1975 and then got a break in the Midpoint and again started from the year 1998. wherein. The central Government few changes in the AIBP and maintained a special conditions for the NE Region States and drought areas. In general, the sanctioned were made against Major and Medium Irrigation works, but in the NE case they started providing funds to minor schemes. Further, to maintain the regulations with the Chief Engineer and not allowing any works to tendered by the Government, each works were designed and fabricated to remain below 5 crore costing level, so that this could be handle by the CE office. Now, the OSD became a seating MLA and INC got an overwhelming majority of 78 MLAs in Assam State Legislative Assembly in the year 2011. The third successive INC government had no choice but to give up the Department to it veteran MLA from ***********. The entire scenario of prospective soon started facing all troubles with the New Minister. Every works started facing shortage of funds and irregular payments. The payments once paid to the OSD became dormant and out of reach, contractors begun lobbing around the new guard and soon became subject of fresh 5% payer, additionally for any bill payments. There, started incident of fights and brawl amongst Officials at the Office of CE and Contractors. May of the officer, once right and left hands of the then OSD went gone undergrounds. One of such incident had caused the suicide of Mr.********* of Tezpur Irrigation, Division at Sonitpur District, in the State of Assam. Now, it is yet to see, how many such suicide are to be committed by the Officials and Contractors of Assam Irrigation Department. The time had reached its ultimate and there had to be a full stop from corruption. The State needs relief from the worst disease of corruption that had engulfed whole of Assam, through each and every Government Branch and its Departments, District and Blocks level. Three is no spare for any life from the present situation in the State of Assam, we all are busy in making money by right and left. But, have we realized that very soon we all shall die and leave behind the remains of our next generation to face the brutal and most horrified evil truth created by us running after money and failed to ********** the needs of money to corruption. We take birth, and our return calculation begins from that very moment, but we seem to be careless on to the facts of eternal truth, ********** being Mortal. The Great Astronomical Scientist from USA, through his TV series COSMOS aired by DD, had said that once we take birth, we take lease of the world from the generation to come. Therefore, we have no right to leave a traits of corruption for our next gen. Writing this entire matter, I began to feel great as an Human being and relieved very much from burden that was heavy in heart. I believe, that with this confession I can even got and face the charges and even make testimony to investigation, if any request. Further, I am at present fighting corruption in the present scenario that is in random practice at OIL sector both in case of Public and Private. I know that my life is in danger after the petroleum and irrigation disclosure, but I give least bother and give no thoughts to that. I live and I die. Truth Prevails.