Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife department has reportedly engaged earthmovers and other machinery of a contractor, who is close to a firebrand cabinet Minister, without inviting tenders, which is mandatory as per the repeated directions of government and other agencies.
Pertinently, the foundation stone of Rs 150-crore zoo-cum-safari project was laid in the month of September this year by Minister for Forest, near the Khanpur area of Nagrota and the zoo is proposed to be developed in an area of 10,000 Kanals.
Sources alleged that works to the tune of more than Rs. 10 Lakhs were so far executed by Wildlife department without inviting tenders. "As per repeated directions by Governor and even Chief Vigilance Commission, the government departments cannot execute any work without inviting tenders, but in violation of these norms, Wildlife department execute some works", sources alleged.
They further alleged that earth movers and other machinery, which was engaged for earth work on the proposed location, were brought from Kathua by the contractor. "The contractor is a brother of a cabinet Minister and none of the department official dared to question the authority of that Minister. To appease the Minister, the department officials, put aside the norms and allotted the earthwork to the blue-eyed contractor", sources alleged.
To benefit the blue-eyed contractor and avoid e-tendering process, sources alleged, works were bifurcated in many parts, with each work costing Rs. 1-3 Lakhs. "Some of contractors came to know about the matter and when the enquired from the department officials, in an haphazard manner, the department reportedly stalled the works and even also removed the machinery from the site", sources alleged, adding that it appeared that none of the department official was willing to get the works executed without tenders but the strong intervention of a Minister, forced them to violate the norms and allot him the work.
Criticizing the Wildlife department, General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) Balvinder Singh said that it was very unfortunate that to appease some blue-eyed contractor, works were being executed without inviting tenders. "Enquiries are already pending against some officials, who had done favour to a former Cabinet Minister and same will be the fate of the responsible officials", he asserted.
Wildlife Warden Jammu, Amit Sharma said that department itself had got some of the initial works done without inviting tenders. He further said that tenders were already invited for execution of various works. "The work of developing chain-link fencing is to the tune of Rs. 97 Lakhs and construction of boundary wall project is nearly Rs. 1 Crores' project. Both the works will be done after inviting tenders", he said. |
