Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 30:SICOP's quality testing centre at Zainakot in Srinagar is merely an eye wash, as outdated laboratory is certifying the quality of material being supplied by the corporation in Kashmir valley.
Sources told Early Times that the government departments rely on certification provided by SICOP conforming the material to requisite specifications. "The material purchased by departments is utilized for departmental works. The small scale units are benefitted under this scheme by providing them marketing cover", sources said, adding that the Quality Testing Centre, SICOP is located at Industrial Estate Zainakot, Srinagar but is non- existent.
"The required machinery, tools, chemicals are not available, which are mandatory for the conduct of tests. The Centre, should invariably have big library with BIS code, latest tensile strength test machines, moister machine, modern and latest machine to facilitate smooth conduct of quality tests", they said.
Sources further said that the testing centre is not fulfilling the commitments made to the government and clients. "There was no machine to conduct testing of Spun Pipe, Joinery Item, carpet items truss work, wire based items like barbed wire, crate wire and crate wire made items", they said and added that the centre has very old and defunct testing machines which were not operational, and gathering dust.
"There is no effort on the part of the incumbent management to take up-gradation work of the testing center. The testing center is just an eye wash. The certificates being issued by corporation are fictitious", alleged sources.
Sources said that as per establishment chart testing centre has to be headed by a senior, experienced, professional graduate engineer of the rank Dy General Manager, surprisingly the centre is being headed by a Junior Engineer (JE) with skelton staff.
"The Junior Engineer with diploma is not on SICOP rolls but on deputation from government. He has stayed in the corporation beyond the deputation period", they added. It is relevant to mention here that the SICOP's Zainakote quality testing centre has come under scanner, by vigilance organization and crime and the cases are under investigation.
General Manager, SICOP Srinagar, Wasim Dev was not available for comment. |
