Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 23: Engineers –contractors nexus has surfaced in R&B Rajouri where some contractors on presenting forged and fake documents managed to seek favours from the officers in allotment of work for construction of road from Lamberi to Chaprar Via Dum in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri district.
According to sources, the fresh tenders for NABARD funded road were called by SE R&B Rajouri on July 29 this year which is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5.85 crore and tenders under stage first were called for Rs 1.92 crore. “Six bids were received by the Department for the work on the same day”, sources added.
However, to accord favour to some blue-eyed boys, the concerned engineers and staff rejected three bids on technical grounds while opening the tenders on August 12 and the other three bids of the contractors were kept intact to favour them despite the fact that all the three among them did not qualify for the same as the documents produced by two of them regarding having done the works of same nature from the engineers of the rank of Executive Engineer were fake and forged, sources added.
Sources said in open violation of the standing rules and procedures the concerned engineer entitled to open the tenders has taken a lenient view of the same as not only the supporting certificates enclosed by these three contractors with tender forms were forged and fake but certificates regarding annual financial turnover given by Chartered accounts also appeared to be fake and forged as they were not on proper letter pad of the concerned chartered accountants bearing their office address etc.
Sources said for the road first tenders were floated on July 9 but technically only one tender in the name of Sethi was received so Chief Engineer R&B Jammu directed the concerned SE to call fresh bids and on July 29 the SE called fresh bids for the road. The bids were opened on August 12 and six contractors had laid tenders and while opening the bids three tenders were rejected by the concerned authorities on technical grounds and three were accepted.
However the contractors and some engineers of the Department protested over the manner in which the three bids were rejected and three others were accepted by the authorities and they alleged that the three contractors whose bids were accepted also don’t qualify technically for allotment of works.
Sources said meanwhile, some contractors made a compliant to Chief Engineer R&B Jammu who kept the allotment on hold and sought the detailed report from the concerned Superintending Engineer.
The Chief Engineer also ordered the verification of documents attached with the tender forms by the three contractors who came as first lowest bidder, second lowest bidder and third lowest bidder, sources added.
It is surprising that two bidders among the three have produced the fake work certificate regarding execution of the work of similar nature.
This fraud came to fore after a letter bearing number 1154/55 dt5-8-216 written by the Executive Engineer Town Drainage Division Jammu to the concerned SE categorically stating that no such work was executed by the Department and the contractor has produced the fake document with his signatures forged.
Another contractor also produced the certificate regarding similar nature of work namely improvement and upgradation of Barore to Sensor road bearing dispatch number 12834/35 dated 12/12/2015. But this document was too found fake.
Moreover, the annual financial turnover produced by both the bidders was also fake as they don’t possess the duly attested documents of the CAs on their letter pad bearing the office address , contact number etc.
Sources said though the documents of third successful bidder were found valid but he too had not constructed the similar nature of work for which he had submitted the tender.
It was mandatory as per the standard bidding documents
that contractor should have executed the same nature of work earlier too. But throwing all rules to winds his tender form was also entertained by the Department.
Sources said that it was clearly a case of corruption and favoritism as well as the engineers- contractors nexus otherwise how department entertained the bids of those contractors who don’t qualify for the same.
MLA Nowshera Ravinder Raina who has taken serious exception to it said that he has taken up the issue with R&B Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri, MoS R&B, Sunil Sharma, Commissioner Secretary Works, Rohit Kansal and CE PWD Jammu Alok Mengi and demanded stern action against the corrupt practices. He said in case the action was not taken he will launch an anti corruption movement in the State and also take up the issue with Crime Branch and Vigilance Organisation.
However when contacted CE R&B Alok Mengi said that he has put the allotment on hold and sought detailed report from concerned engineer. He said after verification and ascertaining the facts the decision will be taken. He said regarding submission of fake and forged documents by contractors, he has also sought a report from the engineers and after its receipt action will be taken accordingly.
Minister of State for R&B, Sunil Sharma said that he has also been informed by the MLA but has not received any written document and when documents are received by his office the Department will definitely take action.
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