PANJIM: The Directorate of Panchayat (DoP) has initiated an inquiry into the alleged forgery into clearing of the bills for payment of a development work undertaken in the Taleigao village panchayat.
The inquiry has been ordered after the Directorate of Panchayat received a written complaint from Assistant Engineer (Tiswadi Block) Vaidehi Shirodkar, who has alleged that the completion certificates and bills for payment for the designation, which she is holding, has been signed by some other officer.
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A senior official of the Directorate of Panchayat told O Heraldo that the Executive Engineer of the Technical Cell, North, has been assigned to conduct an inquiry into the matter and asked to submit a detailed report.
The official said that an Assistant Engineer of other block is learnt to have signed the documents and not by the Assistant Engineer of Tiswadi block.
An explanation has been sought and based on the findings of the Executive Engineer will be examined by the Vigilance officer of the department and if the allegations are found to be true then appropriate legal action will be taken.
However, the completion certificate and bill for two works one construction of new volleyball court and children’s playing area and another development work near football ground in ward no VIII of Taleigao village panchayat has been signed by some other assistant engineer, who is not holding the charge of the panchayat or block.
The work of construction of new volleyball court and children’s playing area was completed on April 18, 2023 when Shirodkar was holding the charge of Tiswadi block but the completion certificate was signed by some other assistant engineer and was forwarded to the Taleigao panchayat.
Further the outward register of the office also shows some other document only for outward number 518 dated April 20, 2023,
Shirodkar, who also has filed a complaint before Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, has pointed out that she has been holding the charge of Assistant Engineering Tiswadi Block from April 12, 2023, till date. The date of completion of work on completion certificate was manipulated to show that the work was completed before Shirodkar took charge of the Tiswadi block.
“I really do not have any idea how many such documents of the Tiswadi block were signed this way and forwarded by fabrication, when I was already sitting in the chair of assistant engineer for the Tiswadi Block. Seriously, I feel that the order from the director of panchayat was not followed. This is a major crime and I request the director to do proper investigation and take necessary action against all those involved, as per the law at the earliest,” Shirodkar has stated in her complaint.
