Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) workers have spilled more beans on the profligate deals between the corporation and contractors.
This time the cash-short MeECL allegedly paid the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project a sum of Rs. 3, 36,300 each for a set comprising a workstation pc with a computer table, chair and UPS, which is among many other alleged excessively priced buys.
This has caused consternation and disquiet among many workers who believed that huge kickbacks have been funneled to the upper echelons.
Another example they give is the buying of “network laser jet printer,” the payment for which worked out to Rs.1, 19,888/- a piece.
To make matters shoddier, the computers supplied are allegedly not new but refurbished machines of branded companies which are available online. They were passed off as new machines from a respected brand.
The ERP project called the “Supply, Installation, Implementation and Integration including 5 years annual maintenance contract of the ERP in the Meghalaya Power distribution corporation limited (MePDCL)” was awarded by to SRIT India Pvt Limited (Bangalore) with Satnam Global Infra Projects Limited (Delhi) in September 2020 with a period of six months to complete installation of the hardware etc.
The total amount of the contract is Rs.18, 88, 54,380/- for supply, installation and implementation of various computer related equipment such as sever hardware, storage system with DR requirement, heavy duty UPS etc with accessories.
Among these was the item “Workstation PC (computer chair, table, UPS for stores, store centre, MM department’ for which the order placed was 100 pieces at the rate of Rs.33, 63, 0000. This works out to Rs.3.36 lakhs (approx) apiece.
They also noted that the price quoted for 21 network laser jet printers was a total sum of Rs. 21, 33,600 which works out to Rs.1.19 approx a piece. The market rate for such printers is nowhere near that price, said the workers. “These printers they supplied are the simple variety.’
As for the computers, serious allegations are that the machines supplied are ‘refurbished’ computers.
“The contractors supplied Dell Optiplex 3020 desktop which are refurbished and available online. New 3020 Optiplex is not available anymore from Dell company,” alleged one of the engineers.
MeECL insiders allege that one can do the math and find out that these pricing shows that there have been huge kickbacks.
They said that a top level independent inquiry has to be conducted into these alleged scam supplies. A price analysis and the quality of the items supplied needs to be done immediately so that the MePDCL is not again saddled with third rate goods.
“It has happened before that these kinds of supplies break down in a short while and then workers are blamed for not looking after new equipment,” said a worker.
They hoped that better sense would prevail upon the officials who run the corporation which is sinking deeper and deeper into debt day by day.
