Lucknow’s stone scam which shook governments, now former LDA officers trapped

News India Live, Digital Desk: No one can forget the period of 2011-12 in the politics of Uttar Pradesh when the construction of memorials was in full swing in Lucknow and Noida. Along with elephants, statues and pink stones, another thing in discussion was corruption. At that time, there were allegations that there was huge misappropriation of money in the supply, carving and transportation of stones. Now, just when everyone was thinking that perhaps the dust had settled, the recommendation of action against two former LDA officials has once again created excitement in the corridors.

Depth of the matter: Why 11 years of exile?
It is said that the law has a long arm, even if it takes some time. This scam was being investigated by the Vigilance Department and several other wings. The officials were accused of flouting rules in distribution of tenders and purchase of goods. Many questions were raised on the slow pace of investigation for so many years, but finally two faces have been identified whose role was found suspicious in this ‘game’.

‘Stone scam’ echoes on the streets of Lucknow
The stones used in construction works like Kanshiram Memorial, Ambedkar Memorial and Eco Park in Lucknow were supplied from Mirzapur and Rajasthan. The investigation found that the actual price spent on those stones and their transportation was much less than the price shown. The crores of rupees which should have been spent on public facilities, allegedly went into a few pockets.

What will happen next now?
Some of the two officers on whom the noose has now been tightened have retired or are on other posts. However, government rules say that even retirement cannot completely absolve you of corruption charges. Now the department is preparing to compensate them for the financial loss caused by this scam and disciplinary proceedings have also started.

general public question
On social media and at intersections, people are just asking whether this action will reach its conclusion? Will that money which was lost due to corruption come back to the government treasury? This case is also a lesson for all those public servants who think that with the passage of time the files will also get buried.

The mill of justice certainly moves slowly, but this action is enough to show that in this era of transparency, accounts will have to be given.