*Extending date of tenders without reason
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 9: The Government has sought details from all the Chief Engineers of the PW(R&B) Department regarding allotment of works of the projects by the Engineers on ‘single tender basis’.
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Official sources said that a circular in this regard has been issued by the Administrative Department on the concerned Ministry on the instructions of the Dy Chief Minister of the JKUT, after the issue was raised by some Legislators in the J&K Assembly recently.
“Following complaints over allotment of works by Engineers by adopting their own means, which are in violations of rules in vouge, the concerned Administrative Department has sought details of projects awarded on single tender basis,” a senior officer said.
On the condition of without being quoted, the officer further said that Engineer- in- Chief of the PW(R&B) Department of J&K UT and six other Chief Engineers including those from Jammu- Kathua Zone, Pir Panjal and Chenab Zones besides those from Central, North and South Kashmir Zones of the R&B, have been asked to furnish detail report from all the R&B Divisions of the works of the last one year and submit the same before the Administrative Department within a stipulated time.
Though no specific time limit has been prescribed but the circular has indicated that this report should be furnished within a shortest possible time, he added.
“It has also been noticed that some Engineers are adopting procedure of extending date of tenders without quoting reasons for its extensions, otherwise, which are mandatory to mention while extending the dates, also a matter of concern and needed to be looked into, to find more illegalities in other related matters being committed, causing loss to Govt exchequer for allotting works with higher rates,” the circular further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Excelsior had highlighted the issue citing such ‘alleged irregularities’ in Nowshera R&B Division in district Rajouri. When the issue was raised in the Assembly by some MLAs, the Dy CM ordered an inquiry into the matter.
It was revealed on the basis of documents that in Nowshera Division existing norms were thrown to winds, for ensuring allotment of tender works to the ‘favourites’, allegedly through fraudulent manners and manipulation. Even the works were allotted on the single tender for many works in the Division under the nose of the Chief Engineer Pir Panjal Zone, by flouting norms and allegedly adopting corrupt practices by the officers/ officials at the helm of affairs during past over one year. Many tenders were rejected on the ‘flimsy grounds’, favouring their ‘blue-eyed’ people for the reason best known to the people at the helm.
A DDC Member from Nowshera has also filed a detailed case, along with documentary evidence, before the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir for registration of an FIR and taking legal action against the officers/officials of the PW(R&B) Department. It was also pointed out that dozens of roads which were actually and purely RDD roads, originally constructed under MGNREGA and Panchayat Plans, shockingly and willfully misrepresented and projected R&B roads to divert funds and unlawfully show expenditure.
The Government believes that there could be similar type of irregularities in other R&B Divisions in the JKUT and therefore, sought details from all the R&B Divisions across the UT so that action under rules could be initiated in this regard against the officials responsible for it, sources added.
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