A local resident and activist of Melaghar in Sepahijala district in Tripura, Prasenjit Saha, has leveled serious allegations of corruption and obstruction against government officials involved in the renovation of a municipal swimming pool here. Saha claims to have been met with a wall of resistance when he attempted to exercise his right to information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to inspect the ongoing project.
It was learned that Saha filed an RTI application on June 19 seeking details of the renovation work including engineering drawings and quantity calculation sheets. In response to his application Saha was scheduled to present at the location where the pool is located to inspect the swimming pool on July 25.
However, upon arriving at the site Saha encountered a bizarre situation. The swimming pool was completely filled with water and to gain access the lock to the pool area had to be forcibly opened as they lost the key. Saha alleges that this was a deliberate attempt to conceal potential irregularities in the project.
Despite repeated requests the government officials present at the site refused to drain the pool, claiming that Saha should bear the cost of the operation. When Saha offered to cover the expenses and requested a written order to this effect the Executive Engineer abruptly left the scene. The Sub-divisional Officer who remained refused to permit the inspection of any items visible above the water level.
Saha is adamant that the water-filled pool is a clear attempt to obstruct his inspection and hide potential discrepancies in the project. He has accused the government officials of corruption and questioned their commitment to transparency.
“It is evident that they have something to hide, the moment I arrived, I found the pool completely filled with water. This is a clear case of obstruction of justice.” Saha said.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents who are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter. Saha has appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and order a transparent inquiry into the allegations.
Author: planetnewsindia
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