Fyi,

Nainital: Taking note of a PIL that alleged financial irregularities in projects run by the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency, including showing fake damages to demand funds for reconstruction after 2013 flash floods in Kedarnath, the Uttarakhand high court on Friday ordered registration of FIR against officials concerned of the agency.

A public interest litigation was filed by Sushil Vasishth, a resident of Maikoti village in Rudraprayag district, alleging financial fraud in projects run by UREDA. According to the petitioner, several discrepancies were recorded in work of UREDA officials in the period between 1995 and 2016, including hiring of blacklisted firms, purchase of construction material without permits and faking damages during Kedarnath disaster.

The petition alleged that the then chief project officer (Rudraprayag district), UREDA, prepared a proposal regarding damage to the under-construction 200 kW hydro project Kedarnath-II during the 2013 disaster and assessed the cost of reconstruction at Rs 8.5 lakh even though there was no damage. The proposal was passed by the UREDA director. 

The petition alleged that even though the then senior project officer (Rudraprayag) had informed authorities about the discrepancy no inquiry was conducted against the erring officials.