Assam Public Works alleges over Rs 300-crore anomalies in WPT&BC

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Public Works (APW) has alleged anomalies to the tune of over Rs 300 crore in the Department of Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes (WPT&BC).

Addressing the media, APW general secretary Dhurbajyoti Talukdar alleged that the anomalies occurred in the department under Minister Chandan Brahma.

"In the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20, tenders worth over Rs 300 crore were invited for the supply of various items for the beneficiaries. The WPT&BC directed the contractors to supply the items within a stipulated period along with bills to get the specific amount from the department. The work order was allotted from February 20, 2019 to February 28, 2020. However, after the release of the work order, the entire amount was released among the contractors within a month," said Talukdar.

The break-up of amounts of some of the tenders is – around Rs 15 crore for exercise books, around Rs 80 crore for supply of GCI sheets, around Rs 20 crore for power tillers, around Rs 2.98 crore for fashion design machines, around Rs 8 crore for E-textbooks for Class IX-X students, and around Rs 4 crore for uniform kits.

Other tenders include agricultural kits, pressure cookers and gas stoves, fertilizers, vernacular language books, semi-automated handloom and jacquard and accessories, power weeder, hybrid OP vegetable seeds, bio-organic soil, drinking water filters, and E-carts/E-loaders.

The APW has alleged that the contractors didn't manage even a single item before the release of the amount.

"The contractors arranged the items after receiving the amount. We demanded the beneficiary list from the department among whom the items were distributed. However, the department has not yet responded to our demand," lamented Talukdar. The APW argued that a CBI inquiry should be initiated regarding the matter. It has also written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding inquiry into the alleged anomalies.

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