Ex-Chief Engineer PWD, Supplier and others in vigilance net

Srinagar, May 8 (UNI) A retired Chief Engineer and others, including a supplier, were booked by the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) for purchasing Floronite Concerete Hardner (FCH) at the rate of Rs 4400 per quintal against the market rate of Rs 450 per quintal.

The former Chief Engineer, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, the supplier, Nazir Ahmad Tramboo, and other were booked under sections 5(1)(d) r/w section 5(2) Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act and section 120-B RPC, a SVO spokesman said.

He said a tip-off was received that Roads and Buildings (R&B) division at Bhaderah and Kishtwar of Public Works Department (PWD) purchased FCH on highly exorbitant rates in April 2005 .

Similarly, an inquiry was taken up during which it was established that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Dar, the then Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Circle, Doda, with Tramboo (supplier) with the object of purchasing FCH on highly exorbitant rates to confer undue benefit upon the supplier and himself.

He said the accused engineer, without receiving any requisition from subordinate officers and units, placed supply orders in April 2005 with Tramboo for supplying 100 quintals of FCH -- 50 quintals each for Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Division Bhaderwah and Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Division Kishtwar.

The Executive Engineers received the supply of 100 quintals of FCH at a highly unreasonable and exorbitant rate of Rs 4400 per quintal, whereas the supplier had purchased the material it from the local market from M/s Aggarwal Traders, Akhnoor Road, Jammu, at the rate of Rs 450 per quintal only.

The criminal conspiracy led to the loss of approximately Rs 4 lakh to the state exchequer in the purchase of the material on a highly exorbitant rate.

He said during the investigation it found that in April 2005 a huge quantity of FCH was already available in the Divisional Store of PWD (R&B) Division, Kishtwar.

Further purchase of 100 quintals of FCH by the department in April 2005 had remained unutilised and was also found dumped in the Divisional Stores March 18, 2008 which clearly indicates that the purchase of material was not at all required and the department had incurred wasteful expenditure.

Besides, no tenders were invited to ensure fair competition and the rates were worked out on the basis of repeat orders in utter violation of the rules.

UNI BAS QAB RL NS1219