“Civil war” between IAS officers of Tura and Williamnagar

Tura, Aug 5: The construction of school toilets under “Total
Sanitation Campaign” in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills has led to a
“civil war” between two civil servant officers based in Tura and
Williamnagar.
The deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi has
responded to a local media report, which alleged that Rs. 5 crore was
misappropriated by Bakshi, during his tenure as the deputy
commissioner of East Garo Hills.
The media had reported that Bakshi allegedly allowed the systematic
looting of public funds to benefit the Meghalaya Rural Development
Society (MRDS), a government funded society and a local contractor.
Bakshi, as chairman of the District Water and Sanitation Committee
(DWSC) allowed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
with the MRDS agency for construction of 691 school toilets, which is
now under the scheme – Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).
In his detailed clarification, Bakshi said, “It is concocted report,
which has been framed by Vijay Mantri”.
Mantri is deputy commissioner of East Garo Hills.
Bakshi is an IAS officer of 2006 batch, whereas Mantri is an IAS
officer of 2007 batch. Both Bakshi and Mantri belong to Assam –
Meghalaya cadre.
Bakshi is of the view that a fellow IAS officer has used media to
defame him. “Explanations on the matter and fact finding report is
completed. If any corruption is there it should be checked for the
present incumbent deputy commissioner”, Bakshi said.
Terming the media report as one sided, Bakshi said, “I had promised my
senior officers that this will be an internal matter for which I shall
seek justice from the higher authorities but the vested interests
involved have left me no options”.
He also informed that he has dashed off a letter to the local
newspaper to file a defamation suit for carrying the story, which is
factually “incorrect”.
Bakshi has blamed Mantri for having a deep personal grudge against
him. “Mantri has indulged in character assassination, mudslinging for
which I have documentary proof and oral depositions.  He (Mantri) has
always tried to find fault and frame me”, said Bakshi.
Bakshi has questioned Mantri as to why he was sleeping over two and
half years, while he was holding the charge of chairman for both MRDS
and DWSC and leaked the report at a time, when he is being transferred
out of the district?
“Mantri has bullied and harassed and used his official position to
manufacture the report to his liking on totally false premises.
Strangely for all his woes, his acts of omission and commission which
do not concern me at all he has blamed me”, Bakshi added.
Bakshi also alleged, “Mantri is busy trying to shield himself from the
barrage of inquiries which he is facing ranging from the case
involving impersonation of IG, CID in which a threatening email was
sent to me in the name of IGP, CID to cases of corruption and nexus
with militant outfit”.
Giving details on the report on fund misappropriation, Bakshi said,
“The MRDS team has done its own fact finding, none of which has
pointed anything to me. Even his own magistrate doing the fact
finding, did not find any fault, which he tried to coerce into giving
a report to his liking”.
“He has dared the government and superior authorities to do what they
can as he refuses to leave the district. What does he have to hide in
the district? What proof of his evil deeds is there which he has to
hide or safeguard?” asked Bakshi.
Bakshi in his letter to chief secretary, W M S Pariat on June 14, 2014
had said, “After being defamed and named repeatedly in the reports
submitted by Vijay Kumar Mantri which has come to my notice – I took
it upon me to salvage my reputation and to collect records and
evidence that prove the ill will that went into the writing of the two
motivated reports”.
He even went on to state that what Mantri has done to his predecessor
sets a ugly precedent of “witch hunting” and “defamation” not to
mention abuse of authority and judicial powers.
When contacted Mantri, he said, “I am shocked to see the reports of
school toilets in the newspaper. We have submitted the report to the
government on December 17, 2013. I have not given these reports to
media. I am presently undergoing training in Mumbai. I have no idea
how it was leaked. I respect Bakshi, as he is my senior and guided me
on many occasions. I will not do anything to damage his image”.
In 2010-11, MoU inked with MRDS for construction of 374 toilets. In
2011-12, MoU inked for construction of 317 toilets in schools.
A total of Rs. 5,32,07,000 released to MRDS for construction of 691
school toilets at the rate of Rs. 77,000 per toilet.
MRDS took up the school toilet project in as many as five blocks
totaling 691 toilet units. In Samanda it was allotted 106 units,
Songsak 155 units, Rongjeng 94 units, Resubelpara 184 units and
Kharkutta 152 units.(SP News)