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Monday, July 27, 2015

Water Filters that couldn’t quench contractors’ thirst – Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 4

The haste shown in by all the concerned offices in procurement of water filter cum purifiers raises so many questions. Officers of Women and Child Department and industry department went out of the way so that Everest industries get the contract. Interestingly Everest Industries who has been eligible for supply of Water Purifiers this year, Industry departmet had last year made eligible for supply of Plastic mats ( Anne -39A). It shows that contractor is well acquainted with “procedure” of WCD and Industry department.

Water purifiers .Photo courtsy defendersblog.org

On Saturday 7 the February 2015 industry department sent a letter (SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -883 dated 7 February 2013 ) to Everest industries, gangapur , Aurangabad, 350 kilometer away from Mumbai by R.P.A.D to sign a rate contract. (Anne -39) , 8th was Sunday. Its amazing but Everest Industries received said letter before February 9th . On same day they reached Mumbai and submitted proposal to principal secretary to buy the water filters cum purifiers. First they submitted proposal and then signed Rate contract on 12th February. ( Anne -40 ).

Principal secretary WCD , next day i.e 10th February put his remarks “examine and put up” on letter received by Everest industry on 9^th and sent it to commissioner WCD at navi Mumbai.On 12th Rate contract was signed and same day Industry department issued order to that effect and sent it to Commissioner WCD Navi Mumbai .On 13 February commissioner WCD wrote back to principle secretary to purchase water filters at the rate of 4500/ (Anne 40) and on same day minister approved proposal at the rate of 5200/- per water filter 700 rupees extra per filter Total cost 2,63,45,481. (Anne -41).

Is it interesting that Commissioner WCD, Principal secretary WCD and minister decided necessity , quantity and quality of water filters and amount be allocated to Everest Industry on same day i.e 13th february.

On a letter issued by commissioner WCD on 13th february letter no is written is written SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -974 dated 12/2/2015 . But the proposal passed by minister quotes industry department letter no SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -883 dated 7 February 2013 . i.e letter sent by industry department to Everest industries. That means industry department had sent letter of signing the Rate Contract simultaneously to Everest Industries and WCD department also?

Tenders were invited by industry department for Water Filter cum Purifier from Manufacturers only for fixing Annual Rate Contract (Anne -42 ) later through a corrigendum words “ authorized distributors” were inserted. ( Anne - 43 ) . It seems that Industry department didn’t open the tenders till Everest Industries deal with WCD was finalized.

Ayurvedic biscuits that provided energy to corrupt politicians, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 3

Pankaja munde on 12 February 2015 citing same reasons as in chikki , ordered purchases of ayurvedic biscuits worth 95, 51,124/ (Anne 23 ) .But very next day it was increased to 5 crores without any changes in number of beneficiaries (Anne 23 A). When order was passed not competitive bids were invited, rate contract with company was not in force,(As per GR dated 28 July 2011 rate contract was applicable till 27 July 2014). ( Anne -22 ) nor company had its own production unit. Even company didn’t have FSSAI license for any of its products. Company had applied for that but the file was closed for lack of some compliance from applicant ( Anne 24 ). Company do not have production unit .

Malnutrition in jawhar , photo courtsy Frontline

All other facts of this biscuits werr the same as chikki Company, i.e there was no answer to the questions like,Which dietitian or doctor recommended it? Was impact of eating Ayurvedic Biscuits on malnourished children studied ?. However interesting part of the story is company never introduce Ayurvedic biscuits in open market. What does that mean ? After contract was awarded to Gowardhan company put fssai license number on biscuit packets but that license number was actually of milk product and not of the biscuits.( 24 A)

Herbal Nutritious Shatavariyukta for kishori/adolscents

It was claimed that rate contract of providing ayurvedic biscuits was done by inviting e-tenders to Gowardhan Ayur Farma Pvt ltd. But company claims that they have applied for patent of this product . Then how tenders were invited and who else other participate in that process? .Documents of tendering process are not available. company hasn’t introduced this product in market, but providing it as Supplementary nutrition to malnourished children through Government.

GR issued on 28 July 2011 on rate contract shows that tenders were invited from mahila mandals, mahila bachat gat, women partnership firms and industries run by women. This firm is run by three women and doesn’t have own manufacturing unit. Obviously outsources work to other companies and is clear violation of Supreme Court directives.

Herbal Nutritious Shatawariyukta for Garbhavati/Pregnant

Minister did it on possibility of extension to earlier Rate contract.( Anne -23 ). In same order i.e. Of 13 February it is mentioned that extension to Rate contract has been given on 13 February itself. But who gave extension was not mentioned. Because giving such extension is illegal and the authority to this is industry department. And work cannot be a given to a company that do not have a license to produce that product .

Company has mentioned three manufacturing units on their packets . 1) Gowardhan ayur Farma Pvt Ltd , Gat No 432 A, property no 1304, Induri, tal – maval , dist – Pune. , But there is no such factory. The land is vacant .2) Srujan foods private ltd, , Plot No D 8 , Chincholi , solapur, But this company to some other persons 3) Uttara foods and feed pvt ltd. Ranjangaon , Tal – shirur Dist – Pune , This company belongs to venky’s

Herbal Nutritious Balgutiadiyukta for 6 months to 3 year old

In this case also Pnkaja Munde has to answer so many embarrassing question ?