VIGILANCE UNEARTHS MULTI-CRORE PHE SCAM
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Two Chief Engineers of PHE Department, one of them presently posted as Chief Engineer UEED, J and K are among several Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineer Ravi Tawi Jammu and Chief Account Officer (CAO) booked on Thursday for purchasing hundreds of metric tons of substandard Alumina Ferric Grade-2 from M/S Aqua Alums Khunmoh and other suppliers at exorbitant rates and put the State exchequer to loss of crores of rupees.
The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has registered two FIRs under Prevention of Corruption Act on the basis of a preliminary enquiry into the allegations that in the years 2008-09 and 2009-2010 the PHE Department Kashmir had made sub-standard purchases.
According to FIR 21/16, preliminary enquiry revealed that during the year 2008-2009 purchase committee of PHE Department Kashmir has purchased 2,500 metric tons of alum for an amount of Rs.4,33,47,500 from different suppliers at Rs.18,050 per metric ton.
The enquiry further revealed that out of 2,500 metric tons of alum, 342.695 metric tons was 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. 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.
The enquiry further revealed that the concerned purchase committee in connivance with the supplier has purchased the rest of supplies i.e. 2,157.305 metric tons of alum at exorbitant rates and tax added rates which amounts to Rs. 20,13,950 and tax Rs. 73,19,565 respectively totaling to Rs. 93,33,515.
The facts and circumstances 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 and Rs. 73,19,565 respectively on three counts i.e. substandardness, exorbitancy and tax added rates amounting in total Rs.1,56,43,397. Accordingly FIR 21/2016 under section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K P.C. Act, Svt. 2006 and 120-B RPC was registered against G. M Dar the then Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad Chasti the then Superintending Engineer, PHE Mechanical Circle presently Chief Mechanical Engineer Department Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Lankar the then SE PHE Mech. Circle now Chief Engineer UEED J and K Jammu , Ab. Hamid Kumar the then Chief Accounts Officer, in the Office of Chief Engineer PHE Deptt. Kashmir, K.K Trisal the then Technical Officer to Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir Srinagar now retired SE, S.A.P Singh, Executive Engineer PHE (MAP) Division Kashmir now Executive Engineer PHE Ravi Tawi Project Jammu and others.
In another FIR 22/16, the enquiry revealed that in the year 2009-2010, PHE 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 this financial deal though his predecessor Chief Engineer, G.M Dar had directed the supplier to lift back the said substandard material.
The enquiry further revealed that during the year 2009-2010 purchase committee of PHE Department Kashmir has purchased 2,000 metric tons of alum for an amount of Rs.1,52,13,500 from different suppliers at Rs. 7,900 per metric ton. The enquiry reveled that out of 2,000 metric tons of alum 276.490 metric tons was 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. The substandard 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. 20,74,033 on account of substandard alum.
The enquiry further revealed that the concerned purchase committee in connivance with the supplier has purchased the rest of supplies i.e. 1,724.510 metric tons of alum at exorbitant rates (tax added rates) which amounts to Rs. 12,25,050.
The facts and circumstances thus revealed that the officers/officials in connivance with supplier has put the State exchequer to the loss of Rs. 20,74,033 and 12,25,050 respectively on both counts i.e. substandard and exorbitancy (tax added rates) totaling Rs. 32,99,083.
FIR 22/2016 under section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J and K P.C. Act, Svt. 2006 and 120-B RPC has been registered against G. M. Dar the then Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad Chasti the then Superintending Engineer, PHE Mechanical Circle presently Chief Mechanical Engineer Department Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Lankar the then SE PHE Mech. Circle now Chief Engineer UEED J and K Jammu , Ab. Hamid Kumar then Chief Accounts Officer, in the Office of Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Dar, the then Technical Officer to Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Srinagar V. K. Lutora, the then Executive Engineer, PHE ( M and P) Division Kashmir now SE Jammu and others.
