The Local Government Department in a big action against corrupt practices placed the services of the President of Municipal Council Nabha Rajnish Kumar, E.O. Sukhdeep Singh Kamboj and Clerk Harjinderpal under suspension with immediate effect in the matter of the bungling of funds pertaining to ‘Housing for All’ and ‘Swachh Bharat’. This was disclosed here today in a press communiqué by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu.Divulging more, Mr. Sidhu said that wrong payments with malafide intentions were made to the contractors with regard to the funds which were received by Municipal Council Nabha under ‘Housing for All’ scheme envisaging housing for poor families and those under ‘Swachh Bharat’. The minister said that taking serious note of the matter, the Principal Secretary of the department summoned President Municipal Council Nabha, E.O. and Clerk for presenting their side of the story and ordered the suspension of the trio after the hearing.
The contractor has been ordered by the department to deposit back the amount within 10 days. The minister reiterated that the amount received for the welfare of the poor would be used only for their welfare and betterment.The minister further said that the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has given clear instructions that there would be zero tolerance towards corruption and those found guilty of corrupt practices would be strictly proceeded against.The minister also elaborated that he is vehemently against corrupt practices from the day one. Citing examples of such bungling committed knowingly by the previous regime, he said that the Union Government had given Rs. 70 crore under Rajiv Awaas Yojna which were not released by the Finance Department. This lead to the Utilization Certificates (UCs) not being submitted which in turn resulted in the relapsing of the funds.