No tenders for empanelling mills since 8 yrs
*1.19 lakh qtl excess wheat issued to mills, Secy assures probe
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 28: In sheer violation of standing Government norms and agreement signed between the millers grinding PDS wheat for the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and the Direcrtor FCS&CA, the officers at the helm of affairs have issued over 1,19,602 quintal excess wheat to the empanneled mills in Jammu region while the Department has failed to effect the recovery worth over Rs 50 crores from these millers.
Official sources told the `Excelsior’ that while the ‘millers-official nexus’ in the FCS&CA Department has become so strong that the previous Governor’s Administration and even the new UT Administration despite showing strong will to go for fresh tenders for allotment of grinding work to the millers, failed to achieve any success in breaking this nexus.
Surprisingly, the FCS&CA Department failed to go for tenders for the last over eight years giving extension after another extension to the millers for the reasons best known to the people at the helm of affairs, setting aside the standing rules and norms which define that it is mandatory to conduct fresh tenders for allotment of grinding work every year at competitive rates.
While a few senior officials give the plea that matter regarding tenders was subjudice, but a few insiders in the Department indicated that it is just ‘combine strategy’ of those elements just part of nexus to scuttle the exercise of holding fresh tenders. It said even during previous PDP-BJP rule in J&K, the concerned Minister from PDP gave only extensions and avoided to invite tenders, depriving the opportunity to those millers intending to work for the Department.
Giving more details, the sources further said that as per recent exercise conducted on the directions of the Administrative Department, it has been established that at present more than 1.19 lakh quintals excess wheat was lying with 20 mills in Samba and Jammu districts alone grinding foodgrains for the FCS&CA Department. Many mills are in possession of excess quota than the allotment, as per agreement. They are getting fresh quota from the department every month while the ‘excess’ is being utilized for the commercial purpose, the sources regretted.
The data compiled from the Department revealed that Rudra Floor Mill as against the allotted monthly quota of 1500 quintals as per agreement, had 18,314 quintals lying with them, which comes out to be nearly 16,814 quintals excess quota. Similarly, Vijay Floor Mill had 12,816 qtl excess wheat lying with them, Durga Floor Mill 14,415 excess quota, Ganpati Floor Mill 10,642 qtls excess wheat, Vaishno Floor Mill 9833 qtls excess quota, Om Floor Mill 8508 qtl excess, Kissan Floor Mill 6763 qtls excess wheat, Janata Floor Mill 5506 qtls excess quota, Ambika Floor Mill 5250 qtls excess wheat quota and so on.
Sources revealed that total 35 mills have been empanelled under PDS supply in Jammu region. Out of them, two mills are not functioning since Oct 2017. While 20 fall in Jammu and Samba districts, eight in Kathua, five in Udhampur and one each in Rajouri and Reasi districts. As per agreement, each miller would make a security deposit equivalent to 3000 quintals of wheat and when ever the stock/ griding quota exceeds 3000 quintals, the miller shall have to deposit equivalent 50% of the value of the stock being handled by the miller at the APL rates.
But it was found that no such bindings were imposed on them as per agreement clause by the officials concerned, while the millers were allowed to use this excess quota for meeting out their commercial needs, causing loss to the Government exchequer. The millers in Jammu and Samba districts owe more than Rs 15 crore to the Department on account of excess quota while in Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Rajouri, the amount was over Rs 10 crores, the sources maintained.
Giving more details, the sources said that on account of wheat bran to the tune of over 1.55 lakh quintals, the department has yet to effect recovery worth over Rs 25 crores from the millers. Neither the millers have deposited the amount at their own, nor the Department officials have exerted pressure on them to deposit the amount in the Government Treasuries. Now, huge liability of the millers towards the Govt has been piled up which perhaps will not be possible for them also to deposit even in two-three installments, leading to litigations again, the sources added.
A senior officer of the FCS&CA department when contacted stated on the condition of anonymity that they have written to the Administrative department for the conduct of fresh tenders for grinding of food grains. The exercise was commenced before creation of Union Territory but till now no final decision has been taken in this regard.
He further said that till the final decision, the department has also stopped paying griding charges to the empanelled millers. Moreover, the recovery worth crores on account of wheat bran has also yet to be effected from them. He said the rates of the bran were revised from Rs 750 per quintal to Rs 1600 per quital during 2016 by the department. The millers refused to give the new rate and they went to the court and the final disposal is yet awaited. When asked about the excess allotment of wheat to the millers and pending recovery worth Rs 25 crores, the official said he was not aware, AD Mills concerned would be able to provide the exact picture about it.
Commissioner/ Secretary FCS&CA, Pandurang K Pole when asked about the reason behind eight years delay to hold fresh tenders said, the process of issuing tenders has been initiated. The tenders for grinding food grains and wheat bran are inter-linked and both will be issued shortly. Regarding non-payment of amount to the department on account of over 1.55 lakh quintal wheat bran since 2016 by the empanelled millers, Pole said, ” There was rate issue and they have gone to the court. The rate of the wheat bran was enhanced during 2016 after long time and they are not prepared to give this rate to the department. After that we also stopped paying grinding charges to them. We hope the issue will be sorted out shortly,”.
Replying to another question on issuance of over 1.19 lakh quintals excess wheat to the millers and failure of officials to effect recovery as per agreement, the Commissioner/ Secretary said, he was not aware of it and would hold probe into the matter. Pole further said that he would seek immediate report from the Director, FSC&CA Jammu and take necessary action.
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