DVAC files cases against PWD officials for misappropriation of funds in Ranipet

The Vellore division of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered cases against five persons, including four engineers of Public Works Department (PWD), for misappropriation of funds in the installation of new lifts at Government Taluk Hospital in Walajah town in Ranipet as part of providing additional facilities to the hospital during 2017-2018.

The sources in DVAC said that as part of providing additional facilities to Government Taluk Hospital in Walajah town, a sum of ₹5 crore was sanctioned by the State government in 2017-2018 to construct an additional building in the premises. The new building would consist of laboratory, dialysis unit, ICU, separate rooms for duty doctors and nurses, changing rooms and washrooms. The two-storey building will also have two lifts, mainly to shift patients within hospital premises safely.

The work was undertaken by a Vellore based private contractor. As part of completion of the final phase of the work, including construction of lifts, a sum of ₹27.50 lakh, including ₹6.81 lakh for lift work alone in 2017-2018, was given. The sources said that the work, especially installation of lifts in the new building, was not done until 2022 when hospital authorities raised the issue with the PWD Department. Subsequently, the PWD officials installed new lifts in the additional building in 2022.

Based on the inquiry, DVAC has filed cases against the then Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) Muralidaran and Senthil Kumar, Assistant Engineer (AE) Devan, Junior Engineer (JE) Rajamani and private contractor Senthil Kumar for misappropriation of funds without completion of the entire work. A probe is underway.

Published - November 28, 2024 10:31 pm IST