EXPOSE NOW (PART-5)- Major Scam of Corruption: Engineers Paid Crores on the Basis of Photocopies

– The multi-crore fraud game of M/s Jagdish Prasad Agrawal

Jaipur/Udaipur: In the fifth part of ‘EXPOSE NOW’s’ special investigative series, we are uncovering the corruption game in the Som-Kamla-Amba Dam project of Dungarpur district under the PHED Udaipur division, where public money worth crores was looted by flouting rules. The project was supposed to be completed in July 2023, but even after a delay of 27 months, the public has not been able to get the full benefit of the scheme intended for 151 villages. The contractor neither deployed engineers on-site, nor provided insurance, nor provided digital monitoring software. Despite this, instead of imposing penalties, the department provided ‘undue benefits worth crores’ to the contractor at every step.

‘Kindness’ on Photocopies, Original Documents Missing:

The most shocking revelation has occurred in point number 6. According to the rules, original invoices are mandatory for payment, but here the contractor merely handed over photocopies, and the ‘generous’ officials of the department issued checks worth crores. Neither was the e-way bill checked, nor was it verified whether the material actually reached the site.

The ‘Saga’ of Crores being Written with Pencil:

See the height of tampering with government documents—entries in the Measurement Books (MB) were recorded in pencil so that they could be changed if necessary. Many pages were left blank in 56 Measurement Books, and cuttings were made in several places. The officials did not even consider it necessary to sign these fraudulent records.

Audit Report: Massive Irregularities in PHED Udaipur (Project Division-II):

1. Open Violation of Technical and Financial Rules:

• Benefit provided to the contractor by not deducting distance: During the laying of the pipeline, the length of valves and other specials used was not deducted from the total length of the pipeline, resulting in potential overpayment to the contractor.
• Payment of crores on photocopy bills: Contrary to the contract conditions, payments were made based only on photocopies instead of original invoices. A lack of e-way bills and delivery notes was also found.
• Missing records without signature and date: Dated signatures and designations of responsible officials were missing from the Measurement Books (MB) and stock registers, which is an open violation of government instructions on transparency.
• Unavailability of contract resources: The contractor did not provide vehicles, computers, printers, and “BOCS PMS” software for digital monitoring as per the contract; yet, the department did not recover any penalty.
• Absence of Tripartite Agreement: The mandatory tripartite agreement with the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) was not executed.
• 24-month delay in drinking water supply: Even 24 months after the project deadline expired in July 2023, the work remains incomplete, depriving consumers in 151 villages of the benefits.

2. Procedural and Administrative Negligence Exposed:

• Lack of Hindrance Register: A hindrance register documenting the reasons for the delay in work was not maintained, making it impossible to fix accountability for the delay.
• Huge deficiency in inspections: Effective inspection of works was not carried out at any level, from the Assistant Engineer to the Additional Chief Engineer, as per the prescribed standards.
• Manipulation in Measurement Books (MB): Serious irregularities such as overwriting, leaving blank pages, and recording entries in pencil were found in 56 Measurement Books.
• Disregard for Insurance and Labor Safety: The contractor neither insured the manpower and machines nor provided proof of labor registration and payments into bank accounts.
• Lack of Technical Staff: Despite the project being worth more than 100 lakhs, no evidence was found of the appointment of a Graduate Engineer (Technical Staff) at the site.

The Big Question: At whose behest was this game played?

When inspection quotas are fixed for everyone from the Assistant Engineer to the Additional Chief Engineer, why did no official catch these irregularities? Is this merely negligence or an organized structure of corruption?

An important scheme like the Jal Jeevan Mission, whose objective is to provide clean water to every household, has fallen prey to corruption in Project Division-II of Udaipur. The work remaining incomplete even after an expenditure of 126.05 crore and the irregularity of 80.30 crore exposed by the audit raises serious questions on the “Zero Tolerance” claims of the Rajasthan Government.

This report by EXPOSE NOW is a solid basis for the relevant investigative agencies (ACB and ED) so that strict disciplinary and legal action can be ensured against the culprits