ACB registers case for irregularities and professional misconduct committed during the dredging of the HokerSar Wetland at Narbal, Srinagar

Anti-Corruption Bureau, (ACB) P/S Srinagar has registered an FIR following a joint surprise check (JSC No. 17/2020) conducted to enquire into the allegations of irregularities and professional misconduct committed during the dredging of the HokerSar Wetland at Narbal. The enquiry conducted has uncovered serious lapses on the part of public officials and a private contractor company, M/S Reach Dredging Limited.

The findings reveal that tenders were invited under NIT No.01 of 2018-19 dated July 7, 2018, for the work and construction of a channel across HokerSar Wetland. The work was allotted in favour of M/S REACH Dredging Ltd. for Rs. 2055.565 lacs by Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir with the Provision that no material shall be dumped withing the periphery of HokerSarwar Wetland. Despite major works being executed based on altered parameters through a Letter of Intent (LOI), the work was awarded based on original advertised quantities and costs, with no clarity on dumping sites or the disposal of excavated material.
The findings of the enquiry also revealed that significant variations in transportation leads (ranging from 8 km to 18 km) were clubbed together, allowing undue payments for transportation of excavated material, most of which was allegedly not disposed off as per the NIT. The manipulation of the specifications of work and quantities resulted in financial loss amounting to Rs. 2.29 crores (approx.), to the State Exchequer, excluding royalty and minor mineral costs and further damage to the ecology of the wetland.

Public servants namely Siraj-Ud-Din Shah and Ghulam Ahmad Beigh, the then Executive Engineers Flood Spill Chanal Division of Narbal and Irfan Ahmad Reshi, the then AEE Flood Spill Channel Division Narbal among others, colluded with the contractor company M/S Reach Dredging Limited thereby caused huge loss of funds to the State Exchequer and defeated the purpose for which the dredging in the wetland was initiated.

Based on these findings the FIR No. 07/2025 under sections 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120-B/RPC has been registered and investigation set into motion.

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