By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 28 Feb: Opposition members led by Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, senior party leaders Pritam Singh, Bhuvan Kapri, Harish Dhami, Manoj Tiwari, Tilak Raj Behad, Gopal Singh Rana, Manoj Tiwari, Sumit Hridayesh, Anupama Rawat, Mamta Rakesh today launched a major attack on the government in the ongoing Budget Session of he Vidhan Sabha, during the discussion on admissibility under Rule 58, claiming that large scale corruption is prevailing in almost all the government departments and no work of the common person is being done without receiving bribes.
Responding to the charges levelled by Arya and other members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal claimed that the government is committed to curbing corruption and there are the CM Helpline and toll free numbers like 1064 where people can register their complaints about corruption.
Aggarwal claimed that all complaints are taken seriously and action is being taken on all. Arrests have also been made of gazetted and non-gazetted officials and recoveries made from them. Aggarwal also claimed that a panel has been constituted for appointment of the Lokpal and the process is underway. So far, 5473 complaints have been received on toll free number 1064 and action has been taken.
Earlier, initiating the discussion on admissibility of the debate under Rule 58, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya claimed that, while corruption is rampant in all the departments and at all the levels, maximum corruption is seen in mining and excise departments. Huge commissions of up to 40 percent are being charged by the powerful officers and the leaders backing them for award of contracts in every department. No action is taken against the officers on complaints filed against them by the higher officers and the government. He listed charges of corruption regarding the Horticulture Department and reminded the House that despite the High Court ordering a CBI inquiry in this case, the Government challenged the judgement in the Supreme Court as it was scared of getting exposed and, therefore, was shielding corrupt officers. A black listed officer from Himachal Pradesh was deliberately appointed Director of Horticulture in Uttarakhand and he made large scale payments to nurseries that existed only on paper to purchase poor quality planting material of temperate fruits. This resulted not only in loss to the government but also to the farmers. He also claimed that the new excise policy has been made with the aim to benefit certain people. Those who did not pay old dues to the tune of over Rs 6 crores have been re-allotted liquor vends. He also alleged that the government was deliberately handing over distribution of liquor to private parties.
Pritam Singh and Tilak Raj Behad alleged that there was large scale corruption in awarding contracts for fishing in lakes and water bodies in Kumaon region. Only one person from Rohtak in Haryana has been awarded almost every contract without due process at flat rates for a period of ten years. Large scale mining is rampant across the state. A limited number of contractors have been awarded most contracts in Haridwar and they are openly violating norms and digging the mined areas up to a depth of 100 feet against the parameters of up to ten feet only. On one slip, a large number of tractors or trucks are being illegally allowed to pass carrying overloaded mined materials.
