Assam Tribune: Guwahati: Friday, June 30, 2017.
The Assam
Information Commission has recently directed the Principal Secretary of Health
and Family Welfare department to look into the matter of Panitola CHC and file
an affidavit before the Commission about the action taken latest by July 31.
The Commission
gave the order after hearing a second petition of appellant Anil Kr Baruah
regarding apparent irregularities in the ‘go-ahead’ order of the Health and
Family Welfare department for the completion of the half-done work of Panitola
CHC without administrative approval and sanction, and also delay of about 15
years in clearing the contractor’s dues.
The Secretary
of Health and Family Welfare Department, vide a letter issued on April 7, 2001,
had requested the Commissioner and Secretary, PWD, to complete the half-done
work of CHC building of Panitola with an amount of Rs 30 lakh. But there was no
mention of administrative approval or sanction, although there was an assurance
that fund for the work would be provided under PMGY. Accordingly, the PWD went
ahead with the work.
On September
2, 2002, Chief Engineer, PWD (Building), wrote to the Secretary of Health and
Family Welfare department that 20 per cent work of the Panitola CHC was already
completed, but the work was yet to be sanctioned. To avoid embarrassment, the
Chief Engineer requested the Health and Family Welfare Department to
communicate sanction of Rs 30 lakh and to release fund to avoid difficulties
related to construction and contract. This was followed by several requests
from the PWD to the Health and Family Welfare Department on this issue.
The RTI
petitioner, who happened to be the contractor of the work, had stopped the
execution of the work after achieving 40 per cent progress and finally filed a
writ petition before the Gauhati High Court. The PWD moved the Health and
Family Welfare department several times for administrative approval for
clearing the contractor’s dues in compliance with the High Court’s order issued
on September 29, 2008. But, till date, no post facto administrative approval
has been accorded.
State Chief
Information Commissioner HS Das has directed the SPIO and the Deputy Secretary,
Health and Family Welfare Department to furnish information sought by the
petitioner within 30 days from the receipt of the order, an official release
said on Wednesday.