Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 20: Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK) has registered cases against several Engineers including two Chief Engineers in multi-crore scam in Public Health Engineering (PHE) department Kashmir for purchasing sub-standard alum.
The cases were registered after Preliminary Enquiry conducted into the allegations that the PHE Department Kashmir had purchased hundreds of metric tons of substandard alumina ferric grade 2nd from M/S Aqua Alums Khonmoh and other suppliers during 2008-09 and 2009-2010.
A preliminary enquiry conducted by the Organization revealed that during 2008-2009 purchase committee of PHE Department Kashmir has purchased 2500 metric tons of alum for an amount of Rs.4.33 crore from different suppliers @ Rs.18,050 per metric ton.
The enquiry revealed that out of 2500 metric tons of alum, 342.695 metric tons 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. 10 lakhs for the substandard alum.
The enquiry report said that purchased material was detected as substandard by the department’s testing laboratory. “The officers/officials of PHE, in connivance with suppliers have put the state exchequer to the loss of Rs. 63, 09, 882”, read the report.
The report further revealed that the purchase committee in connivance with the supplier has purchased 2157.305 metric tons of alum on exorbitant rates amounting to Rs. 93.33 lakh.
The report said that officials of the PHE had put the State exchequer to the loss of Rs. 63,09,882, Rs 20,13,950 and Rs. 73,19,565 respectively on three counts of substandardness, exorbitancy and tax added rates amounting in total Rs.1.56 crore.
The VOK has registered a 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 against GM Dar then Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad Chasti then Superintending Engineer PHE Mechanical Circle presently Chief Mechanical Engineer Department Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Lankar then SE PHE Mechanical Circle now Chief Engineer UEED J&K Jammu, Abdul Hamid Kumar then Chief Accounts Officer, O/o Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir KK Trisal then Technical Officer to Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir Srinagar now retired SE and SAP Singh, Executive Engineer PHE (MAP) Division Kashmir now Executive PHE Ravi Tawi Jammu and others.
In another case, a preliminary enquiry conducted by the VOK into the allegations that the PHE Department made purchase of over 142 metric tons of substandard alumina ferric grade 2nd for an amount of Rs. 142, 62, 910 from M/s Aqua Alums Khonmoh during 2009-2010 and payment was released in favour of the supplier by Chief Engineer G R Zarger against his financial deal though his predecessor Chief Engineer, GM Dar had directed the supplier to lift back the substandard material.
The enquiry conducted into the allegations has revealed that during 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 stated 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 lakh to suppliers on account of substandard alum.
The department testing laboratory found the material substandard and the officials of PHE, in connivance with suppliers have put the State exchequer to the loss of Rs 20.74 lakh on account of substandardness of alum.
The enquiry further revealed that the purchase committee in connivance with the supplier purchased the rest of supplies -1724.510 metric tons of alum – on exorbitant rates (tax added rates) amounting to Rs. 12.25 lakhs.
The report revealed that officials of the PHE in connivance with supplier has put the State exchequer to the loss of Rs. 20.74 lakhs and 12.25 lakhs respectively.
The VOK registered Case (FIR No. 22/2016 under Section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K P.C. Act, Svt. 2006 and 120-B RPC) in Police Station VOK against GM Dar then Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad Chasti then Superintending, PHE Mechanical Circle presently Chief Mechanical Engineer Department Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Lankar then SE PHE Mechanical Circle now Chief Engineer UEED J&K Jammu , Abdul Hamid Kumar then Chief Accounts Officer, O/o Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Dar then Technical Officer to Chief Engineer PHE Department Kashmir, Srinagar and VK Lutora then Executive Engineer, PHE ( M&P) Division Kashmir now SE Jammu and others.
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