File movement linked to weight of money: Nitin Gadkari

PUNE: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday criticised the alleged corrupt practices followed in govt system and said that files in the govt system move faster in proportion of the weight (of money) put on it.

Gadkari was addressing an ‘Engineers' Day' gathering of the Alumni Association of College of Engineering Pune Technological University (COEPTU) and was speaking in the context of the need for transperancy and time-bound decision-making and works in govt departments. More so in the public works.

Citing an example of highway projects, road accidents and fatalities in these accidents, he observed that the root cause of the problems lies in faulty detail project reports (DPRs) more than anything other factor. Moreover, there are bureaucrats who need orders for everything. Even for the need to fill potholes on roads. "There is a difference between the letter and spirit. If a knowledgeable people is not going to understand the spirit behind the law, then what is the use," he said.

"I should not be saying this on this day but in other works, where you (the bureaucrats) get money, you work faster but otherwise you don't. There are some 'Newton's fathers' in our system and the files move faster only if you put more weight (of money) on it. There must be transparency and time-bound decision-making practice," he said.

He further said that people might say he speaks sharply about such issues but "I expect that at least the youngsters take lessons from it," he said.

Several alumni of the college, including those who work in multinational firms like TESLA, JP Morgan, and those working in the different departments of the state and central govt, were awarded the COEP Abhiman Award here.

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