Srinagar: The Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK) on Thursday said that it registered two cases under Prevention of Corruption Act against Chief Engineers and other officers if Public Health Engineering (PHE) department Kashmir.
VOK in a statement issued to KNS said that they registered two cases under Prevention of Corruption Act on outcome of a Preliminary Enquiry conducted by Vigilance Organization Kashmir into the allegations that in the years 2008-09 & 2009-2010 the PHE Department Kashmir had purchased hundreds of metric tons of substandard alumina ferric grade 2nd from M/S Aqua Alums Khunmoh and other suppliers as such have put the state exchequer to loss of crores of rupees.
As per the statement, in the first case, a preliminary enquiry conducted by this Organization revealed that during the year 2008-2009 purchase committee of PHE Department Kashmir has purchased 2500 metric tons of alum for an amount of Rs.4,33,47,500/- from different suppliers @ Rs.18,050/- per metric ton.
“The enquiry revealed that out of 2500 metric tons of alum, 342.695 metric tons of alum were found substandard which the supplier was supposed to lift back by replacing specific alum, however, as an afterthought the department accepted the substandard material on prorata basis and made payment to the tune of Rs. 63, 09, 882/- to suppliers for the substandard alum,” the statement reads.
It further adds that the substandardness of so purchased material was detected by the department testing laboratory and thus officers/officials of PHE, in connivance with suppliers have put the state exchequer to the loss of Rs. 63,09,882/- on account of substandardness of alum.
“The enquiry further revealed that the concerned purchase committee in connivance with the supplier has purchased the rest of supplies i.e. 2157.305 metric tons of alum on exorbitant rates and tax added rates which amounts to Rs. 20,13,950/- and tax added rates Rs. 73,19,565/- totaling amount to Rs. 93,33,515/-,” it said.
They said that the facts and circumstances has thus revealed that the officers/officials in connivance with supplier has put the state exchequer to the loss on Rs. 63,09,882/- , 20,13,950/- Rs. 73,19,565/- respectively on three counts i.e. substandardness, exorbitancy and tax added rates amounting in total Rs.1,56,43,397.
As per the statement, accordingly Case FIR No. 21/2016 under section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K P.C. Act, Svt. 2006 and 120-B RPC in Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir was registered against G. M. Dar then Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad Chasti then Superintended, PHE Mechanical Circle presently Chief Mechanical Engineer Department Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Lankar then SE PHE Mech. Circle now Chief Engineer UEED J&K Jammu, Ab. Hamid Kumar then Chief Accounts Officer, O/o Chief Engineer PHE Deptt. Kashmir, K.K Trisal then Technical officer to Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir Srinagar now retired SE, SAP Singh, Executive Engineer PHE (MAP) Division Kashmir now Executive PHE Ravi Tawi Jammu and others.
The statement further reads that in the second case, a preliminary enquiry was conducted into the allegations that in the year 2009-2010, PHE Department made purchase of more than 142 metric tons of substandard alumina ferric grade 2nd for an amount of Rs. 142,62,910/- from M/S Aqua Alums Khunmoh and payment was released in favour of the supplier by Chief Engineer G.R Zarger against his financial deal though his predecessor Chief Engineer, G.M. Dar had directed the supplier to lift back the said substandard material.
“The enquiry conducted into the allegations has revealed that during the year 2009-2010 purchase committee of PHE Department Kashmir has purchased 2000 metric tons of alum for an amount of Rs.1,52,13,500/- from different suppliers @ Rs. 7,900/- per metric ton. The enquiry reveled that out of 2000 metric tons of alum 276.490 metric tons of alum were found substandard which the supplier was supposed to lift back by replacing specific alum, however, as an afterthought the department accepted the substandard material on prorata basis and made payment to the tune of Rs. 20,74,033/- to suppliers on account of substandard alum,” it said.
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