Rewari SDM finds MC chief, officials ‘misusing’ funds

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, January 25

The Rewari SDM, in his inquiry, has found Rewari Municipal Council (RMC) chief, executive officer and an accountant responsible for committing ‘irregularities’ in various development works carried out during the past couple of years.

The SDM also recommended a probe by the into the case for a thorough inquiry. Significantly, he found 23 bank accounts of the RMC, but its officials failed to divulge the logic for opening of such accounts during the inquiry.

The facts came to light when the information about the inquiry was procured through an RTI application.

Sources said the inquiry report revealed that neither tender procedure was followed nor administrative approval was obtained for the erection of welcome gates in the city. An expenditure of Rs 38 lakh was incurred, but the RMC had no record about the number of such gates and their location and time of installation, said the sources.

The inquiry had exposed the misuse of grants received from the Chief Minister’s Fund under different development schemes, the sources said, adding huge payment for various works was also released without obtaining permission from the RMC’s general house.

Forest Minister Rao Narbir had ordered an inquiry into the matter following a complaint filed by BJP district chief Satish Khola, who had accused the RMC authorities of misusing funds at a gross level by undertaking development works without inviting tenders just to benefit some contractors.