Defying Govt rules, learn it from ex-CS
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 01 2013: Defying all rules and regulations laid down by the State Government, the then Chief Secretary DS Poonia along with two other IAS officers were found to have given away supply order of Solar Light Emitting Diode (LED) amounting to over Rs 3 crores to a private firm without floating tenders through Manipur Development Society (MDS) .

According to a highly placed official source, as per an order of the Finance Department (Expenditure Section) issued on December 24, 2011, tenders of all supply orders exceeding Rs 1 crore should be made under the Higher Tender Committee comprising the Minister in-charge of the concerned Department as Chairman; the Finance Secretary of the concerned department as member Secretary and Administrative Secretary, Head of the concerned Department, Joint Secretary/Additional Secretary Finance as other members.

However, the supply order in defiance of the General Finance Rule (154) was done by dividing it into three categories over different periods of time.

Even if the amount of the supply order after being divided into three categories lies between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1 crore, the tender has to be floated under the Departmental Tender Committee.

Private firms given supply order without floating tenders

Apart from this, the notification of floating the tender should be made public.

But in all the three works, the financial rules which should have been followed were kept aside, the source disclosed.

The source further revealed that the supply orders included fixing of LED solar street lamps of 21 watt (120 WP Model) in Khuman Lampak Sports Complex; same type of solar LED street lamps in State Academy of Training Centre and at another place.

The supply orders were found to have given out to one private firm by the name of M/S Sunmati Traders, Thangal Bazaar.

The first supply order amounting to Rs 1,06,18,750 was given out in September 21, 2012; the second supply order, which amounts to Rs 1,69,90,000 was given on March 22, 2013 while the amount of the third supply order amounting to around Rs 1 crore was meant to light up State Academy of Training Centre.

Of the three works, the process of lighting up Khuman Lampak has started by now.

There is also question over whether Manipur Development Society (MDS) should be the work agency for such solar power plants and the Finance Department has enquired into the matter.

In reality as per the gazette notification issued in March 21, 1999, all works related with solar energy should be taken up through Science and Technology.

Former Chief Secretary DS Poonia and the two IAS officers knew this gazette notification very well.

Notwithstanding that, they ignored all government rules and regulations and gave the supply order to the private firm of their choice without floating supply tenders.

Meanwhile, another source has revealed that MS/ Sunmati Traders has not only been given the supply orders of solar street lamps, but also the supply order of computer sets and equipments to the Department of Information and Technology.

The actual amount for the supply order is still not available with the Finance Department.

In addition to this, the supply order for installing computer sets in State Academy of Training Centre was also given to MS/ Sunmati Traders.

Over and above this, another private firm by the name of Sophia Traders, Singjamei has been found to have given the supply order for installing solar street lamps in Imphal municipality area by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj without floating the supply tender.