Corporation didn't invite tenders for 5-years!
Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 25: Former Managing Director of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) J S Tandon purchased vehicles without approval from the Board of Directors, incurring huge loss to the corporation.
Documents available with Early Times reveal that vehicles were purchased by Tandon without approval from BoD members.
Minister for Transport as chairman of the board, while Economic Advisor to J&K Government as, Principal Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department, Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Commissioner Secretary Transport Department, Transport Commissioner, Director General (Budget) Finance Department and Managing Director JKSTRC are directors of the board.
"Board members took serious view of the agenda point 72.02 in which, MD (Tandon), JKSRTC had mentioned that BOD had approved the purchases of new vehicles, the Board members also pointed out that no such proposal was presented in 71stmeeting before the board, hence, question of approving the purchase never arose. The BoD also took a very negative and serious view of the purchase order placed by MD (Tandon), JKSRTC without any board approval", copy of minutes of meeting available with ET read.
The documents further revealed that tenders to revise commission from private transporter, to hire vehicles were also not invited. "Since, the corporation has shortage of vehicles (trucks and buses), meeting the requirement, vehicles from private transporters are being hired on daily basis. But, being empowered to invite tenders, the former MD, JKSRTC, J S Tandon did not invite the tenders, since 2010" the documents read, adding that the corporation had suffered financial loss for five years.
"In 2010, 11 percent commission was fixed from private transporters, it had to be revised, by inviting tenders from interested parties", sources said, adding that, it was not done.
Soon, after taking over charge, the new MD invited fresh tenders to hire buses and trucks from private operators and raised the commission many fold. It proves former MD did not invite tenders for five years to serve his own interests," sources added. |
