Scam and stealing!
- Solar Batteries worth lacs stolen from ITI Pampore.
- Legal process initiated to nab the culprits but still elusive.
jj correspondent
Jammu, Jun 13: In 2015, it was the talk of the day and highlights in news papers as well that Solar Scam of thousands of crores was running in the state including Department of Technical Education now it is called as Department of Skill Development, but hue and cry passed unheard.
It is pertinent to mention that in 2015, a major scam surfaced in the Technical Education Department (now SDD) when around Rs.34 Crore were spent on the installation of generating around 1400 Kilo Watts Solar Power Plants of 20 Industrial Training Institutes, (ITIs), across the J & K but these plants did not function properly and the ITIs continued to pay huge electricity bills towards PDD.
The Technical Education (SDD) issued an order under No. Edu/Plan-Tech/solar/poly/2011, dated: 10-01-13 in favour of M/s Power Solar System Limited Banglore worth Rs 32,18,71,200 for supply, installation, commissioning and testing of Solar Power Plants in 19 ITIs across the state (erstwhile). The firm had not executed any kind of work on off grid system in the state which was fixed as one of the terms and conditions in the abbreviated tender notice by Director Technical Education. Later on one more Solar Power Plant was added to the ITI Kangan with the capacity of 66.24 kws at the cost of Rs. 1.62 Crore. As per the guidelines, these power plants were to be installed on the rooftops of the ITI buildings but the company installed on land, instead, in connivance with the concerned DDO of each ITI utilising round about one kanal of prime land.
In Government ITI Pampore, Srinagar, JK, the Solar Power Plant with the capacity of 66.24 kws was installed at the cost of Rs. 1,62,28,800. Sources said that JK Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) was not taken into confidence for execution of such work as is mandatory for Government Departments. Since the said Solar Power Plant like other many did not function properly, since installation, so the concerned ITI paid Rs.40,000 to 60,000 as power tariff to PDD per month over the years.
Now on 26-05-2023 a news emerged from Government ITI, Pampore, Srinagar, JK that in a bid to find the snag for non function of the system and intend to repair it, after 7 years, the incharge Superintendent of the ITI found the battery room, housing 244 batteries, empty and all the batteries along with accessories like inverter etc were found missing from the battery bank. The legal process to find the culprits involved in stealing the government property has begun. It is said that each battery is of 60 kg weight and costs 30 to 35 thousand rupees. When sources are to be believed, it amounts to Rs.90 lakh approximately. It is a mystery yet. Nobody can guess correctly when the theft actually occurred. Four heads of Institute have served over the period of 7 years since the Solar Power Plant was installed. Did the concerned handover and take over the charge of the Institute properly on their transfer to and from the Institute? Who handed over the plant to whom? Begs the answer. Reportedly the record is not available that could clear the doubts. The Chowkidar, custodian of the whole property, has been working under the scheme of IMC, not from permanent establishment. In the absence of the Night Chowkidar from permanent establishment, the work of watch and ward is to be entrusted to class 4th employees from permanent establishment. Why there has been a deviation, and a deliberate one, is a point to think upon. The Govt. has since issued the orders that CC Cameras should be installed in all the offices, and especially the institutions of Skill Development, there no cameras are installed till date. Means there has been negligence on the part of the HOIs. The seriousness of the higher ups regarding such a huge loss of public property can be gauged by the fact that the Director Skill Development could not find the time to take stock of the situation on the ground till now. This is what the sources are saying about the matter. The story is developing and will be reported as the details are further gathered.
