Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has served a show cause notice to Joint Commissioner Works, Rajinder Kumar Gupta, for alleged irregularities in the tendering process for the construction of Sanitary Landfill Cell No. 4 at Achan garbage dumping site, a project valued at ₹26.5 crore. The tender for this project has reportedly been floated and subsequently cancelled six times since 2019, citing various procedural and administrative issues.
According to Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, the SMC Commissioner has also relieved Gupta from his additional charge and directed him to return to his parent department, the Public Works Department (R&B), pending an internal inquiry.
The notice issued by Commissioner SMC, Dr. Owais Ahmed alleges that Gupta bypassed financial procedures and failed to follow directives issued by the Competent Authority regarding the contract’s approval.
“Whereas, tender for construction of Landfill Cell number 4 was floated Vide NIT No:19 of 2023-24 Dated: 22.09.2023, after the Administrative Approval (AAA) was given by the Administrative Department Vide No: 37-JK(HUD) of 2022 Dated: 19.03.2022 and technical sanction was given by Chief engineer UEED vide no. 13 of 2022-23 dated 27.10.2022,” reads the contents of the notice, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Dot Com.
“Whereas, the in-house Tender Examination and Evaluation Committee (TEEC) of SMC met on 15.05.2024 under the incumbent Joint Commissioner, Works for technical evaluation of the four bids received on 17.11.2023, being the last date of submission of the bids. The committee, after discussion, recommended the proposal for approval for opening of financial bids of the two qualified bidders namely M/s. Hi Tech Engineers and M/s. N. S. Associates Pvt. Ltd.”
“Whereas, the proposal of TEEC was placed before the Commissioner, SMC for perusal and approval and the Commissioner advised the Joint Commissioner Works to ‘Proceed U/R and put up for allotment only after MCC,” the notice reads.
“Whereas, Joint Commissioner, Works issued Letter of Acceptance in violation of the financial powers conferred under SO 15 of Finance Department issued vide notification dated 9.1.2020, under which power to allot individual contracts of the value up to Rs. 7.00 crore only lies with the Superintending Engineer and the power to allot this contract of value of Rs. 26.50 crore was with the Departmental Contract Committee.”
“Based on a review of the records submitted by the Joint Commissioner Works, it is evident that the Letter of Acceptance was issued hastily, without approval of the Departmental Contract Committee. It is also clear from the records available that the performance guarantee has also been accepted, despite clear directions given by the Administrative department to scrap the tender in view of the fresh plan of action approved under SBM 2.0 and CITIIS 2.0 for Srinagar Municipal Corporation area,” the notice added.
Moreover, Rajinder Kumar Gupta has been given seven days to respond to the show cause notice.
Sources within the corporation revealed that this tender has been floated six times since 2019. Initially, the tender was issued under NIT No. 2 of 2019 dated 17-06-2019, but was subsequently canceled.
A few months later, it was reissued under NIT No. 11 of 2019-20 dated 04-09-2019; however, this tender was also canceled due to non-incorporation of CVC guidelines.
A third attempt was made under NIT No. 01 of 2019-20 dated 09-11-2019 by JC Works, yet it was canceled once more. The fourth tender, issued under NIT No. 02 of 2019-20 dated 21-01-2020, was processed but ultimately canceled at the administrative level due to rate issues. The tender was reissued a fifth time under NIT No. 19 of 2023-24 dated 22-09-2023, only to be canceled again. Most recently, it was floated under NIT No. 27 of 2023-24 dated 25-10-2023, which now appears to be stalled in the middle of the process.
Meanwhile, the aggrieved parties have appealed the Anti-Corruption Bureau to immediately take the suo-moto cognizance of the matter and initiate a thorough investigation to unearth the potential scam behind the process and take the erring to task. (KDC)
