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Srinagar, Dec 26 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today registered a case against an Executive Engineer and other officials of the Power Development Department (PDD) for causing a loss of more than Rs 17 lakh to the state exchequer.

A vigilance spokesman said officials of the PDD sub-transmission, Udhampur division, were booked for withdrawal of bills against non-existent works, thereby causing a loss of more than Rs 17 lakh to the state exchequer.

The Vigilance Organisation, on receipt of an input alleging bungling in the construction of 33/11 KV receiving station-II at Dalian in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district, conducted a check during which records pertaining to the execution of works were scrutinised and spot measurements taken up.

It was revealed that an amount of Rs 17,0872 lakh was released for execution of these works during 2005-06, he added.

During the course of verification, test check of civil works was conducted for which Rs 31 lakh were spent.

The works included land levelling of receiving station Dalian, construction of wall and drain at upper terrace, retaining wall along the roadside, platform equipment foundation and switch yard at lower terrace, wall between upper and lower terrace, laying of earthing mat and providing of earthing pits in the switch yard and erection of auxiliary transformer (63 KVA), including platform.

It was found that officials had made the payment of non-existent works. The verification further revealed that measurements of works executed did not tally with those for which payments had been made.

The test check of these civil works revealed the accused had actually executed works for an amount of Rs 14 lakh only but had drawn bills amounting to Rs 31 lakh from the state exchequer.

A case had been registered against the executive engineer, three assistant executive engineers and two junior engineers, the spokesman added.

UNI AG AKJ RAI1842