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| Norms violated in SKIMS Medical College purchases Majid Ahmad | | | srinagar, Jan 8: While rampant corruption in purchase in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura is no secret, the situation in SKIMS Medical College hospital Bemina is no better.
Sources told Early Times that most of the budget for JVC Hospital is being spent in selected departments which do not exist in SKIMS at the cost of other departments with a purpose to keep them dependent on SKIMS Soura. "The authorities at SKIMS enjoy repairs and renovation at JVC Medical College Bemina rather than its expansion. It is evident from repair of Ophthalmology and Orthopedics operation theatres through 'Stage Contract' wherein maximum permission of Rs 10 lakh has been ignored and more than rupees one crore were spent without tendering," they said.
"After taking over as Director SKIMS in 2011, Dr Showkat Zargar has ordered condemnation of equipment worth Rs 5 crore mostly in Gastroenterology department including endoscopes without following codal formalities so that new purchases can be made where he has scope for receiving kickbacks," sources alleged.
A senior official in the SKIMS said that the Director holds more than 70 purchase committee meetings and 70 contract sub-committee meetings in a year. "When does he do the academic meetings as he holds the charges of Director SKIMS and ex-officio Secretary to Government? He is also holding other positions like Medical Superintendent Trust Hospital Soura, chief of Materials Management SKIMS Soura, HOD Community Medicine Soura and SKIMS Medical College Bemina, HOD Gastroenterology SKIMS Soura, Principal SKIMS Medical College Bemina. How can he do justice with so many jobs at a time?," he asked.
Some of the costly machines which have been purchased by the SKIMS Medical College in recent times include imported instruments for which the College Principal got requirement generated from Head of Department Surgery. "The proposal was put forward for necessary approval on old rate contract of SKIMS, instead of floating new tender, when ample time was at his disposal," sources said.
"The proper procedure was by-passed, without getting same vetted from Material Management officer of the SKIMS Medical College as the Principal knew that he will not agree to such proposal and same was approved from purchase committee on the old rates. The Principal in league with the Director got the order processed in favour of the M/s SR Technomed," they added.
Similarly, three anesthesia machines were purchased from Indian Surgical (NIT -14 (Imports) of 2009 Group A), despite the fact that the firm was at serial number 2 in the comparative statement. "Negotiation was done and procurement was made in violation of norms as the vendor had quoted rate in British currency (Pound Sterling). The same was changed to Indian rupees in gross violation of norms only to help the supplier whose agent is close associate of the Director SKIMS," they alleged.
In another expensive purchase tender for High Energy Linear Accelerator on turn-key basis was floated in 2009 vide NIT No 01 (Imports). The said tender was scrapped by the SKIMS authorities after one year and spending lot of money for conducting meetings at Delhi and later experts were summoned to Srinagar couple of times.
"The same was cancelled while the cost of the project at that time was around Rs 10 crore later the tender was floated and same was ordered with additional cost of Rs 4 crore. In the new tender new local channel partner was used in order to get big kickbacks," sources said.
"Time and money loss is to be made accountable. Why at first instant the tender was scrapped after one year when huge amount and time was spend in deliberation of procuring the same? This was done without User Department requisition, without administrative approval of Chief Minister. Since the Director's office is issuing and receiving tenders, the purchase section has been made defunct resulting in non availability of most of the small but essential and vital items as their cost is less as compared to costly equipments which are procured on priority," they added. |
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