Avinash Azad
JAMMU, July 7: Taking cognizance of news reports carried by Early Times in its edition of March, 5, 2014, under titled "JAKFED, SICOP supplying inferior steel worth Rs 375 cr annually", "Is someone looking?", Crime Branch Jammu today registered a case FIR No. 17/2014 u/s 420, 120-B RPC read with sec. 5(2) P.C. Act Svt. 2006, against Jhelum Steel industries and officers/officials of store and procurement department Jammu.
According to the case registered by CB, a complaint was lodged on behalf of residents of Jammu, wherein it was alleged that Jhelum Steel Industries, SIDCO Complex Samba was manufacturing Saria (TMT bars) of inferior quality in the absence of any specialized plant by using substandard material and thereafter supplying the same to Government agencies and civilians which might result in some human loss and effect the public in general etc.
On the receipt of this complaint an enquiry was initiated in Crime Branch, Jammu and during the course of enquiry it was found that Jhelum Steel Industry was the franchise of Kamdhenu TMT Saria, Bhiwadi Rajasthan. It was also found that generally four technologies are used for production of quality steel i.e. Thermax, Tempcore, Evcon Torbo and Sal Tempcore whereas, the factory did not use either of them. The samples of Saria were collected from the factory premises as well as out of the material supplied to Dy. Director Store and Procurement department in presence of Executive Magistrate, 1st Class and were sent for testing to the SICOP lab at Gangyal and National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology, Gobindgarh, Punjab and the reports of analysis received from the labs revealed that the samples failed in respect of percentage, elongation as well as maximum percentage of Phosphorus and total percentage of Phosphorus Sulphur and Carbon and also failed to pass BIS standards specified under ISI 2830-1992.'
It was also found during the course of enquiry that Jhelum Steel factory was actually getting the supply of Ingots from three factories located at Bari Brahmana i.e. (1) Jammu Casting (2) Tawi Chemicals and (3) Quality Casting and then manufacturing/producing sub-standard Saria and thereafter using the Kamdhenu TMT brand and supplying the same fraudulently in-connivance with the officials of the Govt. departments, thereby causing loss to state exchequer, Crime Branch observed.
Pertinently, Early Times, in its report on March, 5, 2014 had carried a report in which it was maintained that JAKFED and SICOP work arbitrarily without exercising proper caution and care, violate norms.
"SICOP annually supply TOR/TMT 50,000 MTS worth Rs 250 cr. Supply is being arranged from the mills dealing with manufacturing of TOR/TMT steel", ET has reported.
"Rates allowed to mill owners are of ISI quality but supply is of inferior quality, difference between the two is Rs 4000 per MTS which values at Rs 20 crore," ET report has said alleging that amount is further being shared by SICOP's management. Similarly, the JAKFED which even has no testing house is also restoring to same means are being adopted by SICOP.
"JAKFED supplies around 25,000 MTS steel annually with value of Rs 125 cr. Since JAKFED was running short of funds, that is why corporation has switched over to trading of steel structure," our report has maintained.
ET has further maintained that difference between the two is Rs 4000 per MTS which values Rs 20 Crore annually. The sources also demanded that the stocks lying in their stores of both organizations should be checked.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Steel Authority of India has registered an FIR against M/S Kashmir Steel Rolling Mills for supplying inferior quality of steel to local market in Srinagar and Jammu. However, both Managing Directors JAKFED and SICOP were not available for comment. |
