Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: The State Vigilance Organization has booked officers and officials of several departments, including S&T, P&D, PDD, DIC Srinagar, JKEDA and M/s BEL Bangalore for bungling in procurement of Solar Home Lighting Systems (SHLs) and their non-utilization during 2009-10.
Verifications revealed that Officers/Officials of JKEDA without any requirement submitted project proposals for procurement of 12367 SHL’s in respect of 68 remote un-electrified villages of J&K State under Rural Village Electrification (RVE) Programme with project completion period of six working months to MNRE, GoI vide letter dated 20.02.2009. The proposal was approved and sanctioned on 28.02.2009 after which Rs 9984100 were released/transferred as 70 percent of Central Financial Assistance to JKEDA on 04.03.2009 with condition of completion of Project till Dec-2009.
The purchase committee intentionally and fraudulently finalized the decision about procurement of 6872 SHL’s in presence of the then ACEO Central JKEDA without involving financial advisor in favour of M/S BEL Bangalore at the rate of Rs 13993/- per unit after applying their amendment with 3.5 percent discount to the basic rate contract meant only for an order from North India worth more than one crore rupees despite cheaper options available to them. Thereby a loss of Rs 18, 27, 952 /- was caused whereas, the said firm was not participating in the new rate contract, the tender of which had already been opened on 29th July, 2009 DG S&D which fixed Rs 12, 500/- per unit as basic rate for the item.
The purchase Committee knowingly dishonestly and intentionally finalized the procurement order only one week before the operation of new rate contract without any urgency by manipulating price bid under previous rate contract to confer undue benefit to M/s BEL Limited.
Thus a cumulative loss of Rs 60.32 lakh approximately was caused to State exchequer by these officers and officials of JKEDA & others knowingly, dishonesty and intentionally by misuse and abuse their official position in criminal conspiracy with above said firms.
The aforesaid acts of omissions and commission prima facie establishes offences punishable under Section 5(1) (d), read with 5(2) J&K P C Act Sat. 2006, section 120-B & 109 RPC.
The further investigation of the case has been taken up.
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