Former Exexutive engineer booked for bungling in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 29 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today registered a case against a former Executive Engineer of the Roads and Buildings for purchasing road markers and traffic bollards on highly exorbitant rates and without any requirement.

A vigilance spokesman said that the Executive Engineer and others were booked for purchase of road markers and traffic bollards worth more than Rs 56 lakh, thereby causing a huge loss to the state exchequer during November-December 2003.

All the traffic bollards purchased were lying unused in the department stores, he added.

During investigations, the spokesman said it was revealed that the Executive Engineer of the Project Circle Division I (R and B) Srinagar placed supply orders on December 8, 2003, for purchase of 4500 road markers and 126 traffic bollards with the Chandigarh-based R Deen Trading Corporation.

The engineer without inviting any tenders or ascertaining the reasonability of rates purchased road markers at an exorbitant rate of Rs 795 per piece from the supplier, he added.

The spokesman said it was further revealed that the purchased road markers, each weighing 600-610 gm and manufactured by sand casting method, were made of scrap aluminum material with a pair of reflective glass beading strips.

A market survey conducted by the Vigilance Organisation found the cost of the scrap aluminum to be Rs 75-85 per kg and the cost of a pair of reflective glass beading strip Rs 40, he added.

Similarly, the traffic bollards were also found purchased at highly exorbitant rate of Rs 9995 per piece. The Executive Engineer had no competence to effect such purchases, the spokesman said.

Enquiries revealed that Rs 56,15,693 were paid to the supplier as against an amount of Rs 53,68,925 as per the bill, resulting in misappropriation of Rs 2,46,768.

During investigations, road markers were found installed at places where not required and the entire quantity of traffic bollards dumped in the department stores without any utilisation.

A case has been registered and investigations taken up.

UNI