Installation of Solar Home Lights: ACB registers FIR against ex-CEO JAKEDA, others for misappropriation of funds

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu has registered a case against the then Chief Executive Officer JKEDA, Gulzar Hussain, son of Haji Abdullah, resident of Chingrah District Kargil Ladakh, proprietor M/s Green Technologies Solutions Pvt Ltd Javid Ahmed Kanth, son of Ghulam Nabi Kanth, resident of Rawalpora Srinagar, M/s Tata Power Solar System Pvt Ltd and others in alleged misappropriation of funds meant for installation of Solar Home Lights, as investigation prima facie constitute offences punishable under sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with section 5(2) of J&K PC Act Svt-2006 and section 120-B RPC against them.
As per details, preliminary enquiry was conducted to look into allegations that a contractor namely Javid Ahmad Kant, resident of Anantnag, at present Rawalpora Srinagar in connivance with officers/officials of Science & Technology Department and JAKEDA, by resorting to unfair means in league, managed most of the contracts during 2009 to 2014. It was alleged that the contractor even managed to draw maintenance cost to the tune of 10 per cent without doing the same on ground level etc.
It was further revealed that tenders were invited vide NIT NO.ST/EDA/SHL/07/2014 by JAKEDA regarding contract of solar home lights and solar street lights. The NIT was modified further by issuance of three corrigendum’s thereby making changes in eligibility criteria for contract, in order to confer undue benefit to M/s Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd and the firm executing it’s allotted works in J&K namely M/s Green Technologies. The probe revealed that 44,435 units were supplied by the allottee company against 44,483 units for which payment has been made on account of supply @ 70 per cent of total cost of unit amounting to Rs 29,02,06,288 and payment for installation of 35,750 units @ 20 per cent of total cost of unit amounting 5,85,52,495 making total payment made to Rs 34,81,58,783/-. However as per Clause 60(b) of the NIT, the payment to the tune of 20 per cent on account of installation of units was to be released after completion of Installation and Commissioning of the material on pro-rata basis. Further the payment was to be released after setting up of service centers with adequate supply of spare parts and submission of performance bank guarantee @ 10 per cent of project cost as per conditions envisaged in NIT and agreement executed between CEO JAKEDA and M/S Tata Power Solar System Ltd. It has transpired that the Solar Home Lights were issued to the beneficiaries from BDO office concerned in 2014-15. The supply and installation work was found done by the beneficiaries themselves. Only 80 per cent of SHLs were found in working conditions and no repair work for the remaining faulty units was found done or carried out by the company during enquiry.
The officers and officials of JAKEDA under well-knit conspiracy with the proprietors of M/s Green Technologies Solutions Pvt Ltd and M/s Tata Power Solar systems Ltd. abused their official positions in allotment of contract for installation of Solar Home Lights in J&K, release of payment on account of installation of Solar Home Lights amounting Rs 5,85,52,495 and non encashment of Bank Guarantee of Rs 4,26,19,162 despite installation was done by the beneficiaries themselves and no maintenance service was provided by the company, thus conferring undue benefit upon the companies with corresponding loss of approximately Rs 10,11,71,657 to state exchequer.