Avinash Azad
Jammu, Dec 30: A handful of contractors have hijacked tendering process in PHE's ground water division Srinagar.
Sources in PHE informed Early Times that in last 26 years bleeding state exchequer, around 5000 crores rupees have been drained by the mafia. "For last 26 years, since 1989 the PHE Ground Water Division, Srinagar is working inviting tenders in fraudulent manners. While issuing tenders only six contractors are participating, as they adopt pool system for drilling/ installing of water pumps in the Kashmir Valley", alleged sources, demanding probe into bungling to unearth the malpractice in the division.
"Out of these six contractors, one member of each contractor have three firms own for participating in Pool System among themselves thereby looting the Government exchequer by giving ox-arbitrated rates", sources alleged. They further said the mafia has monopolized the functioning of PHE's ground water division, and outsider contractors feel insecure while participating in the tendering.
"When work gets allotted to them, they along with indent approach concerned Sub Division, seeking release of GI Pipes (4 inches-dia) for drilling the Tube-wells. The contractors installed half of the pipes while drilling the Tube wells, rest of the pipes being sold in the market", they alleged.
Sources further said that these firms are also not deducting the Actual Tax while huge margin of profit being earned by them annually. "The fraudulent firms can found by scrutiny the record available in the division", sources said, seeking CM's intervention to unearth the nexus. They further said that it is right time to eradicate the nexus, as state is being headed by Mufti Mohd Sayeed. "Like past practices, the Chief Minister should also weed out, the nexus by conducting, a probe through anti-graft agencies", he added. |
