Srinagar: Vigilance Organization has started verifying the reports about prevalent ‘corruption’ inside Jammu Kashmir Cements Limited. It’s Managing Director has come under the scanner after the anti-graft body sought the records regarding installation of machinery, procurement of coal and other relevant documents.
A letter from Vigilance Organization has asked the Managing Director JK Cements Limited to provide details like tender documents, comparative statements, supply orders, bills, list of coal suppliers/bag suppliers, the contract copies with regard to rates and negotiations with these suppliers.
It has also sought details for the procurement of machinery for Samba Plant and J&K Cements Old and New Plants at Srinagar.
“The details should contain all the relevant documents such as tender documents, comparative statements, supply orders and bills etc,” reads the letter duly signed by Enquiry Officer Parvez Ahmed.
A ‘massive scam’ had surfaced in the JKCL wherein the management had ordered purchase of coal worth over Rs 12 Crore in sheer violation of norms and procedures.
Sources said that the state owned company is also facing financial crisis due to frauds committed by its officials over the years.
Pertinently, Police recently seized at least 8 trucks loaded with coal during night hours in Khrew area in the outskirts of Srinagar city. The trucks had been loaded with coal in the premises of Jammu Kashmir Cements Ltd.
Insiders said that officials on the directions of MD JK Cements procure sub-standard material from a supplier called Wonder Wage Trading Company. “Sub-standard coal was procured by JK Cements Ltd and when employees raised fingers, some coal was returned while the rest was accepted.”
Earlier, the same company supplied five lakh PP bags. The bags despite being oversized and with maximum wastage and burstage problems were accepted by JK Cements Ltd. Reports said that officials at the helm of affairs earned a huge chunk of money out of this ‘illegal’ practice.
Last year, JK Cements Ltd procured sub-standard coal from a Jammu based company. “Initially, JK Cements Ltd employees refused to unload those trucks and they remained parked for a week outside the factory. However, after a week, all the trucks were unloaded for the reasons better known to the head of the government undertaking.”
Employees of this government undertaking are frequently staging protests in the premises of JK Cements Ltd demanding salaries. A couple of months ago, a blue eyed officer attained superannuation as General Manager JK Cements, however, ironically, the Managing Director re-employed him and the said officer is drawing salary on monthly basis.
The said re-employed officer is currently in Kolkatta to procure coal for the undertaking.
“The incumbent MD JK Cements entrusted the task of procuring coal from Kolkatta to this officer as he is his favourite one. He is also flanked by another favourite employee of MD though the job of that employee is to take care of Cement Plant and not procuring material from outside states.”
(With inputs from CNS)
