Taking a tough stand against corruption, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday ordered action against several officials of the State Government. The officials include the then JREDA Director Niranjan Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Additional Municipal Commissioner of Dhanbad, Urban Reform Specialist Manish Kumar among others.
The CM today ordered to file separate FIRs against the then Municipal Commissioner Manoj Kumar, the then Deputy Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Prasad and Anil Kumar Yadav for the irregularities in the supply of computer materials and other equipment for e-governance works in Dhanbad Municipal Corporation. The CM also directed to initiate departmental proceedings against these three. With this, an FIR has been ordered to be filed against the then Urban Reform Specialist Manish Kumar of the Municipal Corporation, while Junior Supervisor-cum-Bhandarpal Harishchandra Pandey and Accountant Anil Kumar Mandal have been suspended.
Soren, on Tuesday also ordered an inquiry into the serious allegations against Niranjan Kumar (Indian Post and TC Accounts and Finance Service) by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Complaint has been received against him for becoming director of JUSNL and JREDA by misusing his old contacts, not fulfilling any technical qualifications for that post, extension of his deputation period till the end of deputation period on 27 January 2019 in Central Government or DoPT yet.
It is alleged against Niranjan Kumar during this period to withdraw his salary illegally and pay about 170 crores from various government accounts and travel abroad with family, not giving any details of property acquired in his wife's name in his property statement and he is also accused of arbitrarily benefiting a particular company and changing the terms of the tender in various tenders without the consent of the board.
Meanwhile, Soren has approved the grant of Rs 3 lakh to family of prisoner Sagar Munda, who had committed suicide in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. It may be known that a case related to the suicide of prisoner Sagar Munda had reached the National Human Rights Commission. The commission had recommended paying three lakh rupees to the family of prisoner Sagar Munda, considering the negligence of the jail administration in the investigation.
The CM has also approved the recommendation made by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for appointment to the 24 posts of District Sports Officer. However, due to the ongoing lockdown in the entire country including Jharkhand, means of transport are not available. In such a situation, the appointment process will be completed only after the lock down.
Meanwhile, the government is going to take a big step in the direction of providing employment to the local people in the State. Soon the government will bring a proposal in the Cabinet meeting under which revolutionary changes will be made towards ensuring the participation of local residents and providing employment opportunities to them. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has given his consent in this regard. Development schemes up to Rs 25 crore to be taken out by the state government can now be given to such contractors who are registered in Jharkhand.
