Surat: Anti-Corruption Bureau on Sunday registered three fresh cases against 21 accused in Valsad for embezzlement of Rs80 lakh belonging to the state government by claiming funds for 20 water tanks that existed only on paper or had been low cost constructions. Of the 21 accused, two are government officers while others happen to be contractors.
Earlier in August, the ACB had exposed the water tank scam of Gujarat Land Development Corporation (GLDC) and booked 17 accused in Valsad for usurping grants of Rs57 lakh for the construction of 13 water tanks. All the 17 accused were arrested.
Under the government scheme, grants for construction of water tanks were provided by GLDC to facilitate farming. Similar to farm pond scam, the accused officials and contractors had claimed money without developing water tanks and the required infrastructure.
Pravin Premal, in-charge assistant director, and Yusuf Bhikha, field assistant, had been booked in the earlier complaint too and are prime accused in the three fresh cases.
“The cases are important since they expose how the government funds were usurped by the accused and never reached the beneficiary farmers. These cases will act as a deterrent to other officers involved in corrupt practices,” said N P Gohil, in-charge assistant director, ACB Surat.
In the first case, the ACB had booked 17 accused for not constructing water tanks at Sajnibarda village of Dharampur taluka in Valsad. In the second case, tanks were not constructed at Dhamni village of Dharampur and 10 accused were booked. In the third case, eight accused were booked for not constructing water tanks at Sadadveda and Hanmantmal village of Dharampur. In these three complaints registered on Sunday, some accused are common.
In August, the ACB had exposed the scam and booked 17 people in Valsad for usurping grants of Rs57 lakh for co... Read More
