Scam in Theog exposes corruption in Water Supply System
Shimla, Jan 2,
A scam worth over ₹1 crore in the drinking water supply system has surfaced in Theog, Shimla district, raising questions about the extent of embezzlement in the State’s water management.
The scam came to light after former MLA Rakesh Singha filed a complaint and sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. During the summer months of February to June last year, a severe drought in Theog subdivision necessitated the supply of water through tankers. However, payments were made for non-existent supplies, with dubious claims of water distribution. In many cases, motorcycles, luxury cars, and even an officer’s official vehicle were listed as tankers supplying water, claimed Singha.
In Sandhu Panchayat’s Bishdi village, for example, official records claimed that over one lakh liters of water were supplied in June, despite the complainant finding no evidence of such deliveries. Astonishingly, one “tanker,” a pickup truck, was shown to have delivered 819 liters of water per day while covering an impossible distance of 614 kilometers daily.Adding to the absurdity, water supply was reported in Nagodhar and Karyali, two villages without roads, making the alleged deliveries through tankers physically impossible.
This revelation raises serious questions about the extent of such fraudulent practices across Himachal Pradesh. If ₹1 crore could be siphoned off from a single subdivision, the scale of embezzlement at the State level could be staggering, stated former MLA Rakesh Singha. He has called for an impartial investigation, urging the government to seize records from the Chief Secretary’s office to uncover the depth of the fraud.
“While people remained thirsty water was supplied only on paper,” rued a local resident Mohan. Singha’s intervention has resulted in the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Shimla being tasked with investigating the matter.Talking informally to the media here today, Kuldeep Rathore , MLA from the constituency said that the matter of scam in drinking water supply in Theog has already come to his notice and he had asked the SDM of Theog, IPH XEN and the Deputy Commissioner of the district to investigate the entire matter. He said that corruption cannot be tolerated at any level. He said that he is strictly against corruption and has zero tolerance against corruption. He said that the government should complete its investigation soon and take strict action against the culprits. He said that at first glance there seems something fishy in this entire matter and the entire facts will come out only after the investigation report. He said that the culprits will not be spared at any level.
Clearly, this matter underscores the need for transparency and accountability in public resource management. It not only highlights authorities negligence but also underscores the urgent need for robust mechanisms to prevent such fraudulent practices in the future. For now, all eyes are on the ADC’s investigation and the government’s response to this glaring misuse of public funds.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
Correction has destroyed our country.there should be capital punishment for corrupts.that is the only remedy for this malice.