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Foul play in installation of Oxygen Generation Plants in Jammu, govt orders probe

Last Updated on September 14, 2021 at 5:50 pm

In the view of Covid-19 pandemic, tenders were invited for installation of 25 Oxygen Generation Plants (OGPs) for pandemic emergency but alleged gross irregularities and foul play has been witnessed regarding the same.

As per reports, tenders were invited by the Mechanical Engineering Department, Jammu and Kashmir for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Medical Oxygen Generator Plants at various health facilities across the Union Territory.

But it has been alleged that specifications of tender were customized and particular bidder was made eligible for the same so that others can be excluded. Also the quality of products was compromised and average performance of the OGPs installed in Jammu province.

Moreover, it was targeted to install 25 OGPs by the firm allotted the contract but only 13 Plants were installed.

As per reports, these irregularities have been notice by the Divisional administration on the basis of documentary evidences and strongly recommended to the Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department to look into the matter and initiate a probe.

 Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Raghav Langer has advised that the concerned officials should be charge-sheeted in light of the documentary evidences on record.

Four NITs were invited for the Design, Manufacturing/Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning along with warranty and operation for three years on Onsite Medical Oxygen Generator Sets at 17 locations in Jammu having 48 numbers of Plants costing approximately Rs 100.78 crores.
Similarly, a total of 19 numbers of e-NITs were invited by the Executive Engineer MH & CH Division Srinagar for the Oxygen Plants with operation/maintenance for 19 locations having 37 plants.

But there were some alarming discrepancies found on the perusal of the bidding documents. 

M/s Unissi (India) Pvt Ltd had got the contract for 30 Plants had Oxywise (Slovakia-imported) make (as per the Module/Main Oxygen Generator) for eight Plants only and for the remaining 22 number of Plants, the Module/Main Oxygen Generator was of Airox-Medox (Ahmedabad-indigenous) make. Thus, this allotment of 22 numbers of Plants of `Airox Medox’ make did not conform to the recommended as enlisted in the initial Technical Specification of the Standard Bidding Document.

Currently, in Jammu province, out of 46 Plants, which were meant to be installed, only 34 Plants have been installed so far. M/s Unissi (India) Pvt Ltd was supposed to install 25 Plants but installed only 13 OGPs. In Kashmir province, 34 out of 37 Plants have been installed and commissioned by the concessionaires.