Ajay Sharma
Reasi, August 12: In an alleged misappropriation of funds, the officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Reasi and Rajouri districts have been accused of allegedly diverting non-plan funds—intended strictly for road repairs—to construct new roads.
According to sources, non-plan funds for road repairs have been diverted for construction of new roads, allegedly to appease local politicians, including former Panch and Sarpanch.
“During the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, the funds under non-plan budget head, allocated for maintenance and repairs of existing infrastructure, were reportedly misused to build fresh roads from scratch,” said sources, adding, “The head of non-plan is for repairing, “but they have made fresh roads to make the leaders happy—ex-Panch and ex-Sarpanch—so that no one speaks against them in meetings.”
Sources emphasized that the specific irregularities included earthwork and tenders for new road construction, which was disguised as “repairs,” with documents falsely labeling projects as maintenance while initiating builds from “zero to 500 meters” in areas without prior PWD roads.
“Neglect of urgent repairs on deteriorating roads, where potholes and washouts (roads are sinking) harass the public, impede vehicle movement, and endanger children traveling to school,” sources alleged, adding “Clever documentation tactics, such as listing new constructions under repair codes have been invoked to bypass scrutiny.”
The sources pointed fingers at the officers of PWD, including executive engineers (XENs), assistant executive engineers (AEEs), and junior engineers (JEs) in the divisions, alleging their focus shifted to pleasing influential politicians rather than addressing public needs. “Where the public is being harassed, where repairing work is needed, there is no attention,” the source stated. They called for immediate intervention by the Chief Engineer of PWD (RAJOURI REASI CIRCLE), the PWD Commissioner, and the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, questioning, “What is happening in this PWD?”
Sources urged the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to demand complete departmental records from Reasi and Rajouri PWD divisions, predicting, “Everything will come to the front.”
When contacted, Superintendent Engineer (SE) Reasi, he said “We will see.”
