Friday, January 17, 2014

Sikkim RTI Forum accuses STCS of misappropriation in sourcing of GCI sheets

GANGTOK, 15 Jan: Sikkim RTI Forum has alleged misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs. 3 crores in the procurement of GCI sheets by the State Trading Corporation of Sikkim [STCS]. The Forum has further alleged that “every rule and law related to supply ad open bidding were bent down by the STCS just to make way for corruption of public money”.
Addressing a press conference today, Sikkim RTI Forum general secretary, DK Chettri, informed that the STCS had called a tender for supply of 1,92,000 pieces of galvanized GCI sheets on 12 June 2013, but that without even opening the Tender documents, the STCS placed the supply order immediately with one Vinod Enterprises [on 19/06/ 2013] at the rate of Rs 754.62 per sheet [weighing 9.1 kg].
The Forum goes on to contend that when the tender submissions were opened, a Gangtok-based supplier [JP Enterprises] was the lowest bidder quoting Rs. 639 per sheet and on 30/07/2013 the STCS sent an approval letter confirming that JP Enterprises was the lowest bidder and asked the supplier to send acceptance letter for the rate it quoted.
Following the same, JP Enterprises sent the acceptance letter to the STCS, it is informed.
While releasing documents received through an RTI application filed at STCS and other sources supporting their allegations, Mr. Chettri alleged that JP Enterprises never received the supply order from the STCS despite being the legally qualified supplier according to tender.
He went on to point out that by giving a supply order for Rs 754.62 per sheet to Vinod Enterprises against the rate of Rs 639 quoted by JP Enterprises, a loss to the tune of Rs 2.21 crores was caused to the State exchequer.
He went on to allege that the GCI sheets supplied were also not up to the standard specified in the supply order. He added that the against an order made for GCI sheet of 9.1 kg per sheet weight, the supplied sheets were 500 grams lighter causing a loss of Rs 42 per sheet amounting to Rs 80 lakh.

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