Tanuvas estate officer in soup
Officials of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) are looking into alleged irregularities that were made while constructing a few buildings during the previous DMK regime at Madhavaram and Koduvalli.
The issue came to light after a few contractors, who alleged large-scale irregularities by varsity estate officer Mr K. Ramamurthy, had taken up the issue to the then state minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Mr N.R. Sivapathy.
The minister had forwarded the files to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) seeking a detailed inquiry into the allegations.
However, the DVAC has been ducking the issue.
In the meantime the varsity registrar has started collecting details related to construction, list of contractors and tender awarding register in the past five years between 2006 to 2011 and is awaiting the records.
“Several lakhs of public money has been swindled by errant senior officials who had served in the prestigious institution and the issue is now pending with the DVAC, the varsity will leave it to the investigating authority if approached,” a top official of the university said.
When contacted, Mr Ramamurthy said that the complaints were baseless allegations.
“Due to professional enmity, a group of veterinary staff has formed a coterie against me and are framing charges against me. My hands are clean and I will prove the same in the vigilance enquiry.
I have earned the wrath of certain errant contractors and this has landed me into investigations,” he said, adding that he had not revised or forged any contract rate schedules violating norms.
While DVAC sources confirmed investigations, the university is yet to investigate the alleged irregularities or take departmental action.
When contacted, a senior state government official said that the complaints and allegations against the official would be examined and if found guilty necessary action would be suggested to the varsity.
According to Tanuvas sources, the estate officer of the varsity had allegedly revised the PWD-sanctioned rates for constructing hostel facilities for farmers at Madhavaram dairy farm and quarters for veterinary students at Koduvalli.
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