Monday, Nov 01, 2004
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | New Delhi
By Our Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI, OCT. 31. Even before they could be distributed among students of its primary schools, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has charged the civic administration with purchasing inferior quality jerseys. Questioning the methodology adopted by the MCD in the purchase of as many as 3.82 lakh jerseys for free distribution among its municipal primary students and alleging that financial interests of suppliers were protected while finalising the deal, the BJP has demanded an inquiry into the entire purchase process. Though normally the MCD needs to distribute jerseys to students of its municipal primary schools free of cost before the onset of winter every year, but its purchase and distribution has always been a matter of controversy, mainly because of its inferior quality and late distribution. Given that in previous years, the MCD had distributed jerseys in the month of March and April, this year the civic officials are taking credit for at least starting the distribution process in November. However, the BJP has accused the ruling Congress of financial irregularities and manipulation of facts and figures to help private manufacturers. In a letter to the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor, B. L. Joshi, the only Opposition member in the MCD Standing Committee, Vijender Kumar Gupta, alleged that officials and the Chairman of the Education Committee manipulate facts while placing orders for jerseys. Referring to the related papers placed before the Standing Committee by the Education Committee, Mr. Gupta questioned how the meeting of the Technical Evaluation Committee be held on September 31, whereas the month has only 30 days. "This shows that the Education Department while manipulating records in haste has left such glaring lacuna in its recommendations," he observed. Similarly, the meeting of the Price Evaluation Committee, as per official records, was held on October 2, which is a national holiday on account of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi when all the offices of the MCD are closed. "It is doubtful whether any of the supplier was present at the time of opening of the price bid," he said, alleging that the entire tendering procedure was stage-managed. Further, the Technical Evaluation Committee had no expert in fabric technology, he charged. Grossly violating the Government procedure, Mr. Gupta alleged that the MCD did not call for rates from the various jersey manufacturing government and semi-government agencies so that the cost of the private suppliers could be compared. As if this was not enough, the approved samples have not been sealed and kept in safe custody as per the standards prescribed for such purchases, thus leaving scope for manipulation at a later stage, he charged. In his letter, Mr. Gupta alleged that the MCD purchased these jerseys at a cost higher than that available in the market, thus resulting in an additional financial burden of Rs. 24.83 lakhs on the civic body.
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