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| Government Press Jammu purchases printing machine at more than double rate of market price | | Other machines also purchased at exorbitant rate causing loss to state ex-chequer | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 4: The government departments in Jammu & Kashmir have made it a habit of purchasing equipments and machinery at 'exorbitant' rate thus causing huge loss to the state ex-chequer.
In one such case Government Press, Jammu has purchased a printing machine at more than double the rate of the machine as prevailing in the market. The tender for the supply as well as installation of the machine was allotted to a non-subject and the same was no less than a case of 'match fixing'.
Sources told Early Times that the person who got the allotment applied in connection with the tender notice under three different companies with the allotment given to one of the three companies. They said that it was after proper understanding that the person who got the contract applied under three different heads.
"The person who got the contract applied in connection with tender notice under different company names. The companies are Pioneer Graphics, Nice Pack and Lotus and the tender was allotted to one of these companies. It was a fixed match and the other persons who applied for the tender had to eat a humble pie," said sources.
Sources said that the machine (Eagle brand) was supplied to the Government Press Jammu at more than the double rate of the market price. They said the four colored machine having dimension of 20 x 30 inches was supplied to the Government Press Jammu at Rs. 1.25 crores.
"The machine costs Rs 45 lakhs and when 18 percent Goods & Service Tax (GST) is added to the actual cost the cost of the machine is Rs. 53 lakhs. If some local taxes are added still then the cost does not exceed Rs. 57 lakhs. However, the same was supplied to Government Press Jammu at Rs. 1.25 crores," said sources.
Sources said that some of the important officers manning Government Press Jammu have earned a great commission out of the supply of the printing machine. They said the machine was supplied to the Government Press Jammu in order to cause pecuniary benefits to the 'corrupt' officers of Government Press Jammu.
Sources said that a hot spot printing machine costing not more than eight lakh rupees was supplied to Government Press Jammu for whopping Rs. 24 lakhs. They said in the same way Kohima folding machine was purchased by Government Press Jammu at Rs. 33 lakhs.
"The standard of Kohima folding machine is low as compared to the Kumaran folding machine. The Kumaran folding machine costs around Rs. 15 lakhs but still then Government Press Jammu purchased Kohima machine for 33 lakhs. The higher ups of Government Press Jammu received huge commission in this deal as well as purchase of hot spot printing machine," said sources.
Sources said that case needs to be solved in right earnest so that responsibility in fixed on the officer who made the purchases through fishy deals. They said once this is done then follow up action can be taken in this case of 'exorbitant' purchases. |
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