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| JKEDA official sent packing | | | SANT KUMAR SHARMA | 11/20/2009 12:03:30 AM |
| Jammu, November 19, 2009:
Senior Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) official Shafat Sultan has been transferred to Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) after some complaints were filed against him. An inquiry has also been ordered into the alleged defalcation of funds in purchases of electrical equipment worth crores of rupees. The inquiry will be conducted by the Commissioner of Enquiries, Mr Syed Fazullalah.Fazullalah has been asked to submit the inquiry report within 15 days. He has been asked to find out whether any irregularities have been committed by JKEDA officials in the purchase worth crores of rupees.The Minister for Science & Technology, Mr Agha Ruhullah, has taken cognizance of the allegations against the JKEDA official. At one time, he is reported to have asked for ``attachment’’ of the official but later relented and agreed to the official’s transfer to almost defunct IREP.Some RTI activists based in Kashmir Valley, led by Dr Muzaffar Bhat, had filed a Right to Information (RTI) application in this regard four or five weeks ago. They also approached Mr Ruhullah and requested for conducting an inquiry into the alleged bungling in purchases. The primary role assigned to JKEDA is to promote use of non-conventional energy sources in the state. Some of its officials recently purchased electrical equipment worth crores of rupees. Allegations have been made that codal norms were violated in these purchases.A senior JKEDA official had purchased electrical equipment worth several crores of rupees without the approval of the governing board. Besides, he had made payments even before the items had been supplied, in clear violation of the laid down norms.
According to sources in the department, the officer made purchases during his tenure as deputy chief executive officer. This was done in an alleged unauthorized manner as another officer had, by that time, taken over as the chief executive officer of JKEDA and he alone was competent to make the purchases.The JKEDA is the nodal agency for implementation of schemes funded by the Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah. The agency is likely to get higher allocations in the days to come because of Dr Abdullah’s generosity. A source in the department said the allegations of wrong-doing were ``inspired by rivalry between suppliers’’. Those from whom no purchases were made were behind the allegations of bungling in purchases. Besides, the purchases have been made as per the recommendations of the purchase committee which will be established during the inquiry, he said.
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