'There are honest officers in our department and they don’t take PC (percentage commission).' Odisha Public Works Department Minister, Prafulla Mallik said this on Saturday when journalists during a press conference alleged that the Works Department is neck-deep in corruption.
“There is no question of PC in our department. Everything is being carried out with transparency. Even if someone demands or receives PC, they are arrested by the Vigilance department. All the officers in our department are honest. They never indulge in such illegal practice. If any case is reported, my department is also taking stern action against those involved,” said Mallik.
Principal Secretary of Works department, Vir Vikram Yadav, who was present during the press conference took the side of the Minister and termed the allegation as baseless.
“The Works department is following Zero-Corruption policy. We believe in transparency. Whenever any fault is detected, the person responsible, he may be a contractor or officer, will be severely punished. We believe in transparency,” he added.
Public Works Department Minister Prafulla Mallik and Principal Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav addressed a joint press conference in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The Minister said the department has a total allocation of Rs 9,133 crore for the fiscal and with this, some major projects including a second bridge at Trishulia and Biju Expressway-II connecting Berhampur to Jeypore would be taken up.