State govt shielding corrupt babus: FGG

Hyderabad: The Forum for Good Governance ( FGG ) on Thursday alleged that despite the vigilance and enforcement department identifying grave irregularities in minor irrigation department, the government is protecting corrupt officials.

FGG secretary M Padmanabha Reddy said, “Grave irregularities were noticed in the execution of works with a fake administrative sanction in the office of the chief engineer of minor irrigation department.

The vigilance and enforcement department has submitted a detailed report and confirmed irregularities in 103 works where fake sanction proceedings were issued. The department said that there is prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct in the case and has asked for entrusting it to CID.”

In 2014, the united AP government had issued orders regarding misappropriation of funds in minor irrigation works in the office of the chief engineer. In 2015, the state government ordered a departmental enquiry against six officials in Nalgonda. The state appointed a chief engineer and directed him to submit his report within two months.

The CID simultaneously probed the case. While CID was probing the case, the government issued another GO directing the additional director general of CID to halt the investigation, thus bringing it to a halt. “The case is pending with the irrigation department and CID for the past four years. We believe the vigilance team in the irrigation department is protecting tainted babus. We have requested the governor to direct the chief secretary to lift abeyance orders to facilitate the enquiry,” said Reddy.