Anirudh: NHAI officials have bought flats in Barog; will meet Gadkari

Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh today alleged that some National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials had bought flats in Barog and plots elsewhere after they were posted in the state. He added that he would soon meet Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to bring several issues related to the NHAI to his notice.

“I’ve full information about how many NHAI officials have bought flats and land in the state after they were posted here. I will bring this to the notice of the Union Minister and seek action against such officials,” he added.

The minister said that people mostly did not get justice in complaints and cases against the NHAI. “People have submitted several complaints against the NHAI at the level of Deputy Commissioners and SDMs in the past many years, but no action has been taken as Deputy Commissioners and SDMs also do not have power to act against NHAI officials,” he added.

Anirudh cited a two-year-old case in Jabli near Solan where a couple of buildings had collapsed. He said that the victims had not received any relief or compensation from the NHAI till date. “Even an FIR was not lodged in the case at the behest of some influential people. I’ve spoken to the SP, Solan, to register an FIR by name against NHAI officials concerned in the case,” he added. “It’s the duty of the NHAI officials to ensure checks and balances but they have been careless. So, their accountability must be fixed,” he asserted.

Himachal Tribune