Srinagar, Oct 8: Anti-Corruption Bureau probe has been sought regarding alleged corruption by concerned of Municipal Committee Handwara in shelving due tendering and allotting contract of collection of entry fee contract to a blue-eyed boy.
Abdul Rashid Dar of Wagath Handwara said that he has filed a complainant with Director ACB, seeking action against executive officer and other officials of municipal committee Handwara for being involved in the “fraud.”
He said that via a notice (No. E-NIT No. MC/ Hand/Tax/ 2021-22/1521-25) dated 13-07-2021, the executive officer Municipal committee Handwara issued the auction notice for collection of entry fee contract for the year 2021-22. He said he along with many contractors responded to the tender notice. The bid submission end date was fixed on 23 July 2021 up to 4 PM and the date of opening of bids was fixed on 24 July 2021 in the office of executive officer municipal committee Handwara.
He said that while the bid were supposed to be opened on 24 July 2021, same didn’t happen. “Neither the bid was opened on the scheduled date not thereafter.”
In a blatant “fraud” one of the contractors namely Waseem Manzoor of Nadihaal Baramulla “without any proper allotment” was allowed to collect the entry fee.
The said contractor, he said, was allowed to operate the collection of entry fee “illegally by the officials against huge amount of bribe.”
He said that as the bid was opened for a long time, he approached the concerned official on 17 August 2021 to enquire about the opening of the bid and also allotment order. The official, he said, replied that they have not taken any decision yet.
“While passing through the area, I saw Waseem Manzoor operating the collection of entry fee without any formal order. Rather I came to know that he has been allowed by Municipal committee Handwara to operate illegally.”
Dar said that he again approached the concerned official but he did not acknowledge the fraud committed by him.
“As a piece of evidence I handed over a copy of receipt No.2226 dated 18-082021 on which name of Waseem Manzoor and his telephone number was reflected as a contractor,” he said, adding, “There after I filed an RTI application seeking detail of the fraud committed by the officials. Thereafter in order to keep me silent the executive officer along with other officials directed Waseem Manzoor to deposit 55% of the contract amount.”
He said same was deposited on 19 August 2021 after the gap of more than 20 days. “It may not be out of place to mention here that official allowed the said contractor to operate illegally to collect entry fee without GST return / IT return as is mandatory as per the law governing the field and he is operating it illegally with the support of officials and is continuing with the illegal act without any formal allotment.”
He has sought necessary action against the concerned officials so as to stop the illegal collection of the entry fee as well as loss to the State exchequer. “Action as warranted under the concerned officials should be take,” he said.
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