Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, April 13: A local group has launched an offensive against the Directorate of Agriculture accusing the department of financial impropriety causing losses to the government coffers in award of contract for collection of coconut from various farms and plantations of the department. In a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption, a local political leader has alleged that Dr GS Pandey in desperate bid to favour a particular party awarded the contract to an ineligible firm which caused financial losses to the government estimated to be more than Rs 10 lakh.
In the complaint, the local leader said that the Directorate of Agriculture invited bids for collection of coconut from different farms/ plantations of Department of Agriculture, which was opened in the month of July last year in the presence of Joint Director (Agri) Head Quarter, Assistant Director (Agri) Head Quarter, Assistant Director (Admn), Senior Veterinary Officer of Department of AH&VS and Accounts Officer (Agri) and the representatives the participating bidders.
Of the total eighteen firms that participated, seven were disqualified for various reasons. One of the bidder, M/s G. Kathiresan Traders, was disqualified even after offering the highest rate for Lalaji Bay, Mark Bay, Chitrakul, Shantipur, Pokadera, Neil Island and Havelock Island after the financial bids were opened.
Rate acceptance letters were issued to four firms and the offer of M/s G Kathiresan Traders which offered the highest price for per piece of coconut was excluded from the comparative statement prepared by the department. The comparative statement on the basis of which rate acceptance letters issued was later not concurred it is learnt.
“The Accounts Officer of the Agriculture Department had recommended re-tender for the award of contract to the eligible firms. The recommendation was initially approved by the Director. Later, acting on the advice of some subordinate officers of the department, the Director of Agriculture approved the rates and issued fair acceptance orders. Such move tantamount to corruption in the entire tender process. The most competitive rate offer was made by M/s G Kathiresan Traders, highest among all and if accepted, it could have earned financial profits for the department. Instead, the bid was summarily rejected and even not included in the comparative statement. The rejection has caused a loss of about Rs 10 lakh to the government,” said the complainant requesting for a thorough probe in the process.
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