Renovation scam at Punjabi University school
Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 6
An RTI application filed by Harvinder Singh Sandhu has brought forth a construction scam in the Punjabi University Senior Secondary Model School. The tenders were passed to construct bathrooms and for other renovation works.
Contracts worth Rs 32.19 lakh and 49.47 lakh were given without following e-tendering process, however, according to the policy of the state government any contract over Rs 5 lakh needs to be passed through e-tendering only.
Former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Dr Jaspal Singh had formed a committee to allot the tender, but left out important members including a retired chief engineer, superintending engineer and syndicate member Anil Bajaj. Rather officials including school principal Nirmal Goyal, SDO Yash Pal Sachdeva and three other officials were made a part of the committee.
Only three quotations were received i.e. of Rs 30.11 lakh and two of Rs 1.26 lakh and Rs 1.86 lakh.
Sandhu said, “The estimate of the repair work was Rs 24.23 lakh which was later increased to Rs 37.88 lakh by the authorities. Moreover, the varsity did not provide the contractors cement and steel and it was purchased by the latter themselves.” He said that there has been no information related to the amount of the steel and cement was used for the repair works.
“Till now the varsity has paid the contractor Rs 76.51 lakh. The contractor has also filed a suit of Rs 20 lakh in the Punjab and Haryana High court as well. There are a number of bills which do not mention names of firms,” Sandhu said.
He added that the Punjabi University has not provided any copies of bills, tenders or quotations for repair works of the school. The principal and varsity officials have been hand in glove.
When contacted, Punjabi University registrar Manjit Singh Nijjar said, “An issue pertaining to the school has come to the fore. We will form a committee next week and will probe the matter.”
“I will give the copy of the RTI reply to V-C Prof BS Ghuman and will handover the copy to the Vigilance Bureau as well,” said the RTI activist.
