GUWAHATI, Aug 1 - The Inland Water Transport directorate has detected a scam in which candidates procured fake competency certificates in the inland water transport sector for appointment and promotion in government agencies like BSF, ITBP and India Navy.
The fake certificates were detected after they were sent to the directorate for verification by agencies like BSF. A case has been filed at the Paltan Bazar Police Station in this regard against at least five persons.
�The certificates were from candidates from West Bengal. They were submitted to the BSF which in turn sent those to us for verification. When we checked the records, we did not find their names. But the certificates were replicas of those which we issue,� sources said. Sources have not ruled out involvement of employees of the directorate in the racket.
The Directorate of Inland Water Transport, Assam conducts examination for issue of competency certificates for being eligible for various posts in the inland water transport sector in the country. These certificates are essential for appointment and promotion in government agencies like IWT, BSF, ITBP, Indian Navy, etc. and also in private sectors involved in IWT and river tourism etc.
Sources said the certificates are in great demand, especially among candidates from outside the state like West Bengal, Bihar, Andaman and Goa.
Previously there was no written examination. However, the present Director Bharat Bhushan Dev Choudhury has streamlined the process and conducted written exam and interview to ascertain the eligibility of the candidates.
Sources said earlier the candidates had to visit the IWT office several times and some middlemen took advantage of this fact.
Appointment of such persons on the basis of such false certificates in the name of IWT in central/state government agencies especially in organisations like BSF is a matter of serious concern.
Considering the gravity of the situation, IWT Director Dev Choudhury has taken several precautionary measures for the exam to be held on August 2, 3 and 4 where about 800 candidates from different states like Andaman, West Bengal, Goa and Bihar will appear in written and interview tests for competency certificates for being eligible for 2nd class master, 2nd class engine driver, LC driver, serang, 1st class engine driver and first class master.
It may be mentioned that the State government has initiated steps to set up a Regional Inland Navigation Institute (RINI) with financial support from the Government of India to develop human resources for the IWT sector with international standard. Already two plots of land in North Guwahati have been identified for this purpose.
