Pune: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday criticised the alleged corrupt practices followed in the govt system and said that files move faster in proportion to the weight (of money) on them. Gadkari was addressing an ‘ Engineers' Day ' gathering of the Alumni Association of College of Engineering Pune Technological University (COEPTU) and was speaking about the need for transparency and time-bound decision-making and work 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 to fill potholes on roads, he said. "There is a difference between letter and spirit. If a knowledgeable person is not going to understand the spirit behind the law, then what is the use," he added.
He added, "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 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 said people may say he speaks sharply but, "I expect at least youngsters to take lessons from it," he said. Several alumni of the college, including those who are currently working at sev.