Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: The Government had to face the embarrassing position when some members of the Upper House pointed out that for the purchase of 10 vehicles, one vehicle is offered free by the big companies and where does that money or the vehicle goes.
The battery of Ministers sitting in the House, preferred silence over the issue despite the fact that Congress legislator Jahangir Mir repeatedly raised the question and the Chairman Amrit Malhotra also gave a virtual deaf ear to his supplementary. The chairman apparently shown keenness to switch over to the next question, giving a little relief to the Minister, responding or sitting in the House while the hapless member was allowed to sit without a deserved reply.
The issue was raised by PDP member from Poonch, Yash Pal Sharma in the Upper House. Minister of State for Transport, Cooperatives, Planning and Higher Education Dr Manohar Lal Sharma was responding. He disclosed that there were total 476 vehicles with the State Motor Garages and out of them 215 were Ambassadors, 38 Boleros, 36 Gypsy, 32 SX4, 26 Scorpio, 36 Tata Safari and so on.
He said State Motor Garages being nodal agency purchases vehicles for various departments including Police and Fire Services, however, some departments also purchase vehicles at their own. The State Motor Garages purchases vehicles directly from the manufacturers on the DGS&D rate contract and the authorized dealers of the manufacturers on the lowest rates. He however, avoided to respond to the question regarding any commission on purchase of 10 vehicles or one free offer by any company.
Responding to another question, he said Rs 4.33 crore have been spent on the repair of vehicles of own fleet by State Motor Garages and also on those attached with other departments from 2010 to 2013. He said State Garages is providing vehicles to the Council of Ministers, State Government functionaries and other district level officers.
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