Anantnag, Mar 21 2018
An audit report of the Accountant General, which was submitted by the government in Legislative assembly during the recent budget session, has vindicated an published seven months ago.
This newspaper had carried a detailed report regarding the procurement of Garbage Compactor vehicles and machinery for the scientific disposal of waste in Srinagar and other areas of Kashmir division.
The audit report has revealed that Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir in March 2013 placed two supply orders for purchase of 22 TATA motor vehicles of different category with national garages at a cost of Rs 2.47 crore during 2012-2013. The report says that rates were inclusive of all taxes and duties both central and state and the delivery of vehicles by the supplier including copies of invoices and payment made were not provided to audit.
“However, from the payment details available on record it was seen that an amount of Rs 2.52 cr was paid to the supplier during March 2013 to May 2014 in respect of these vehicles, thereby resulting in an over-payment of Rs 5.59 lakh to the supplier,” the report reveals. The report reveals that machinery and vehicles were procured without floating tenders.
Directorate of Urban Local Bodies and the Jammu Municipal Corporation also purchased vehicles and machinery for Rs 3.90 crore without invitation of tenders bids from suppliers despite the fact that State Motor Garages is the department authorized to purchase vehicles for government departments.
The report has also revealed massive irregularities in Housing and Urban Development Department. In August last year, carried a report titled Rs.1.6Cr worth five Garbage Compactor vehicles gathers dust at ULBK headquarter’ and exposed the corrupt practices of officials of the department. Sources revealed that the vehicles purchased by the department have developed technical snags.
“Refuse Compactor section of each vehicle has developed mechanical snag and they aren’t working or serving the purpose for which this costly machinery was procured,” official sources informed. They said that under the scheme, Urban Local Bodies Kashmir was supposed to developed garbage dumping sites at first, but the department procured vehicles much before developing garbage sites.
