Members of the National Conference-Congress coalition today got into a verbal duel in the Legislative Council after NC members demanded setting up of a House Committee to probe alleged malfunctioning in the PHE department.
Though Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma said that committees have already been formed to enquire into the allegations, NC members refused to budge.
During his reply in the Legislative Council over the working of his department, Sharma conceded that there were cases of irregularities, particularly in the procurement of pipes and in the Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) of the department.
"Two enquiry committees have been constituted to probe into irregularities in the CCDU and procurement of material in the department. I assure members that both these reports will be submitted within a month," Sharma said.
NC legislator Devender Singh Rana, however, argued that irregularities brought forth by the Minister raised serious concerns and the issue should be probed throughly.
This triggered a verbal duel between NC members and members of their coalition partner Congress, who came in support of their Minister, saying he should be given time to probe the matter.
Finance Minister and senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather, who was present in the House, also supported his colleague and pointed out that formation of a House Committee will hamper the department's working, as already two committees have been constituted by the Minister to investigate the matter.
This prompted Chairman Amrit Malhotra to set April 1 as the deadline to settle the issue.
