CBI to probe NH-74 scam, says Uttarakhand CM

DEHRADUN: The CBI has decided to launch a probe into alleged irregularities running into crores of rupees in the procurement of land for National Highway 74 in Udham Singh Nagar district, said Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

The chief minister had over two months ago recommended an inquiry by the top investigative agency into the scam.

Announcing this in the state assembly during its ongoing budget session yesterday, the chief minister said, "We had been very clear in our stand on this from day one and we remained unmoved.

"We have to eliminate any wrongdoing from the system in pursuit of our policy of zero tolerance to corruption. I am happy that the CBI inquiry will now take things forward," he said. A preliminary enquiry had pegged the scam to be worth almost Rs 240 crore.

The inquiry had found that during the land acquisition process for the highway the land use pattern was changed from agricultural to non-agricultural to benefit a few landholders, who are believed to have got 20 times higher compensation than the actual cost. Six state-level officers have already been suspended in the matter.