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PANAJI
The ongoing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe against former PWD minister Churchill Alemao and other former top office bearers of PWD work division III-Altinho, work division IX-Fatorda and work division XX-Margao has presently pegged the approximate net loss to exchequer at Rs 1.30 lakh with the procurement rates exceeding estimated cost by 25 to 39 per cent.
Churchill, who was the PWD minister between 2007 and early 2012, is likely to be summoned soon by the ACB in connection with the probe.
ACB of Directorate of Vigilance had on Monday registered an FIR against Alemao, the then principal chief engineer, superintendent engineer, chief engineer, assistant engineer, executive engineer and junior engineer in a case of alleged scam spanning across 2008 till 2011 pertaining to procurement and distribution of water tanks purchased at the cost of Rs 1.45 crore.
The accused have been booked under Section 13 (i) (c) (d) read with Section 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act (criminal misconduct by public servant), 1988 and Section 34 (common intention) of IPC.
Around 6,511 water tanks of varying capacities including 200 ltrs, 500 ltrs and 1,000 ltrs were procured at an approximate cost of Rs 1.45 crore, allegedly inflated as against the estimated prices.
Briefing the media at police headquarters on Monday, Superintendent of Police (ACB) Vimal Anand Gupta stated, “To begin with, the procedure was faulty as there was no policy at all. The final bid exceeded the ceiling of five per cent laid down by tendering rules. Even the distribution was not to the needy people and allegations have been made of ‘preferential treatment’ in distribution.”
It was disclosed that while the complaint stated that the expenditure was Rs 97.20 lakh, advisor to the technical cell of Vigilance department has pinned it at Rs 1.45 crore.
He informed that after the former PWD minister raised a demand, without government consent and establishing procedure, the then PWD officers went in for an open bid whereby prices of procurement exceeded the estimates by 25 to 39 per cent.
“The officers had an option of procuring the tanks from Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC). But they did not do so. They did not seek a No Objection Certificate from GHRSSIDC either,” SP Gupta informed.
