SAC calls record of IT contracts from Sectt, LAWDA

Complaint: Ministers have allotted projects to favourites without tenders

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Taking cognizance of a complaint, which claims that a couple of Ministers in Omar Abdullah’s coalition government have allotted multi-Crore contracts in Information Technology sector to their favourites in violation of codal procedure, State Accountability Commission (SAC) has called for relevant records from Civil Secretariat and J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA).

On the directions of SAC, comprising Chairman Justice YP Nargotra and Member Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain, a communication went today to Vice Chairman of LAWDA, Irfan Yasin, asking him to furnish all relevant information regarding the multi-Crore IT project by or before October 19^th. According to the complaint under investigation before SAC, LAWDA has allotted the contract to the favourite of a Minister without calling for competition under rules.

“Whether it is a fact that an amount of Rs 356 Cr has been sanctioned by the Central government for conservation/ preservation of of Dal Lake and, in connection therewith, a project (High Resolution Satellite Data Analysis) using Information Technology tools to give complete information including maps of the affected areas and further to identify potential microsheds and develop them in respect of said catchments has been undertaken by the Government? If so, whether a contract in this behalf has been allotted to any firm, the details thereof with the relevant record?” Deputy Registrar of SAC has asked the LAWDA chief.

The complaint is understood to have surfaced in SAC amid reports that one of the Ministers was actually a “sleeping partner” to the beneficiary of the multi-Crore IT contract in LAWDA. According to reports, LAWDA was preparing the map work with Geographical Information System (GIS). The allottee firm is acquiring the high resolution satellite imagery from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at the fixed rate of Rs 7500 per sq Km but an exorbitant rate has been approved and allotted without going for codal procedure that includes calling of quotation in an open competition.

Dealing with another complaint, SAC directed Commissioner-Secretary of General Administration Department, Mohammad Sayeed Khan, to furnish all records and information regarding computerization of database of nearly 500,000 government employees, acquisition of smart cards and installation of biometric system for maintaining attendance of the employees at government offices.

Mr Khan has been asked to reply, and furnish supporting documents, as per a questionnaire that reads:

“Whether any contract has been allotted for preparing smart cards for the Secretariat employees? If so, the name of the firm/person in whose favour the contract has been allotted and also the procedure adopted for such allotment”.

“Whether any project for computerization of employees’ database, commonly known as Computerized Personal Information System, in respect of the employees of the state has been undertaken by the Government? If so, whether any contract has been allotted and agreement executed in this behalf by the government, and details thereof”.

“Whether any contract for imparting Secretariat training to the Secretariat employees was allotted in favour of any person or firm within the period of ten years? If so, details thereof including the procedure adopted”.

According to informed sources, one particular Minister, with the involvement of his department’s administrative secretary, has arranged NOC from National Informatics Centre and subsequently allotted a major contract in the IT sector to a favourite. Here again, the Minister is allegedly a “sleeping partner” of the allottee and the contract has been granted completely in violation of codal procedure and without going for competitive bids.

Minister incharge IT, Aga Ruhulla, and Secretary IT, manoj Kumar Divedi, could not be reached for their comments.

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