RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, May 11: It was business as usual in the mines department of Jharkhand though the absence of its secretary Pooja Singhal on the second consecutive day from her office remained a matter of discussion.
A short visit to the Nepal House secretariat in Doranda where the mines department is located suggested that secretariat staff have started talking very diplomatically since Singhal came under the scanner of the ED and a huge amount of cash was recovered from her close associates.
“I am a government servant and supposed to do all the work without asking why. I concentrate on my job and don’t check who is coming and who is going,” a senior official replied when asked whether the mining secretary has delegated her power to someone to work in her absence.
Another official echoed the same. “Many files, which are expected to be disposed of at her level, are pending but other works are going uninterruptedly. The absence of the Secretary hardly matters for routine work,” the official said.
Mines director Amit Kumar was not present in his chamber. An official said the director having additional charge of the excise department is busy with the work of the excise department but none of the work is getting affected in his absence.
A junior employee, however, said the ED action against the Secretary has created havoc in the mining department. “Whoever comes in the office, first discusses the ED action before starting any work; they take all precautions not to restrain themselves from sharing official secrets,” an employee said.
Another junior employee dealing with files of minor minerals said that the ED action worried all and staff have stopped talking to strangers.
“Though the ED is quizzing the mines secretary regarding the works she did in the capacity of deputy commissioner but the employees are worried thinking about the consequences in case of starting a probe in the matters related to mining department, which is supposed to be centre of corruption in Jharkhand and the recent disclosure of mining lease in the name of the chief minister himself and his close associates is a burning example. Thus they hardly talk to strangers,” the junior employee said.
