KRDIL engineer missing from Gadag; letter cites fund crunch, pressure
A KRDIL assistant executive engineer from Gadag is missing since September 13; a letter linked to him cites fund shortages and pressure over unpaid dues.
An Assistant Executive Engineer with Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRDIL) has been untraceable since leaving Gadag on September 13, with a letter found at his office pointing to prolonged financial strain in his sub-division.
Parvez Dharwad had told his family he was travelling to Bengaluru for a meeting. His mobile phone has been switched off since his departure. After making enquiries at several places, his family filed a missing-person complaint at the Betageri police station on September 16.
Gadag Superintendent of Police Mithun H.N. said an investigation was under way and efforts were on to trace the engineer. Prima facie, the letter appeared to have been written by Mr. Dharwad, he said.
The letter, addressed to the KRDIL Managing Director and since circulated widely, attributes the difficulties to delays in the release of funds for works taken up by the sub-division. It states that several works had been stalled over the past few years because of diversion of funds, and that the department had incurred additional expenditure of around ₹6 crore on some older works.
According to the letter, repeated correspondence with the departments concerned seeking release of funds had not resulted in the amount being sanctioned. The shortfall, it says, made it difficult to pay group leaders associated with the works, who were reportedly visiting his residence and office daily to press for payment.
The letter describes the toll on his mental well-being, personal life and peace of mind, and conveys his decision to end his life. It states that no one is responsible for his death, as he had himself failed to manage the situation. It also appeals to the department to address the fund shortage and asks that his family not be subjected to harassment.
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