Gomti River Front: Yogi government's blow hot and cold response 

Lucknow: Strange are the ways of engineers of Uttar Pradesh irrigation department but stranger are the ways of state government. It was only a couple of days ago, the Yogi government lodged FIR against eight engineers on corruption charges in Gomti River Front project of Lucknow.

A lot was said and deliberated before a committee recommended FIR and even CBI probe into financial irregularities in the project. Hardly two days lapsed when the same government 'awarded' one of the engineers named in FIR with a prime posting.

Surendra Kumar Yadav, who was posted in Lucknow sector, Sharda canal, has been transferred to Lucknow sector 2, Sharda Canal as Executive Engineer, considered to be a fairly 'good' posting. The same engineer had been named in the FIR under sections 409, 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 7/13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

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His name was in the FIR along with SN Sharma (Chief Engineer), Kazim Ali ( The Then Chief Engineer), Shiv Mangal Yadav (Chief Engineer), Akhil Raman (Superintendent Engineer), Kamleshwar Singh (Superintendent Engineer) and Roop Singh Yadav (The Then Executive Engineer).

The Yogi Adityanath government had initiated action against irrigation department engineers following recommendations of the Suresh Khanna committee which was set up to suggest action on the basis of report of the judicial committee on the project.

It may be mentioned that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, immediately after taking over the reins of the state, had ordered judicial inquiry into river front project by a retired High Court judge Alok Singh.

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The Khanna Committee has suggested, on the basis of Alok Singh committee report, the CBI probe into criminal involvement in financial bunglings with regards to project.

It may be recalled that Gomti Riverfront project in state capital was executed at 16 kms stretch on bank of river Gomti. A lot of allegation of corruption were made during execution of the project which had taken place during the previous regime of Akhilesh Yadav.