An RTI filed last year brought a mega scam in Government Dental College (GDC) Srinagar / Jammu to the fore. Months later the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) initiated a probe which according to the sources has indicted many top officers of the Dental college which includes the principal. However, till date the Govt is unable to take departmental action against the officials involved in this scam. As the Medical Education portfolio has been given to Taj Mohi-ud-Din, will the new Mantri take action against the accused?
According to sources the Govt Dental Colleges of Srinagar and Jammu have purchased Dental equipment worth crores of rupees at exorbitant rates.
The revelations about the scam at Government Dental College, Srinagar came to limelight after the Medical Superintendent (Public Information Officer) responded to RTI application filed by one Tanveer Hussain Khan from Anantnag who is a well known social activist associated with an NGO ANHAD based in New Delhi.
Tanveer had sought details from the PIO of the Govt Dental College Srinagar about the purchase of Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization System and OPG machine made by the college authorities. In his reply under order number Md Supdt/GDC&H/313-14, dated February 18, 2012 the PIO has said that GDC, Srinagar purchased digital panoramic X-ray machine model and make of ORTHOPOS XG 5 DS CEPH-Single Sensor (AERB approved) at the rate of Rs 45 lakhs.
The said X ray equipment manufactured by Sirona Dental System, Gmb, Germany and it carries the Central Sales Tax at the rate of 4 percent. The total cost of the one unit of this X-ray machine amounts to Rs 46.80 lakh.
The machine was supplied to the GDC, Srinagar by VILLA India, New Delhi. When the rates are compared the rates paid by the Govt Dental College authorities with the one being offered by the same company. There is a difference of Rs 26 lakhs which have been embezzled.
As per the documents the rates offered by VILLA India, New Delhi the rate of one unit of digital panoramic X-ray machine model ORTHOPOS XG 5 DS CEPH-Single Sensor and manufactured by Sirona Dental System, GmbH, Germany is Rs 19 lakh without sales tax, value added tax and octroi.
The Medical Superintendent in his reply had said that the GDC, Srinagar placed an order with VILLA India, New Delhi for the supply of Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization System. The order was placed on February 10, 2011 under Invoice Number: VID/RETAIL/10-11/252 with a base price of Rs 11.50 lakh per unit. GDC, Srinagar purchased one Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization System with a Central Sales Tax of Rs 57, 500. The total cost of this unit turned out to be Rs 12. 07 lakh. The Villa India offered a rate of Rs 4,90,000 per unit and when these rates were compared with those paid during the purchasing time a difference of more than Rs 16 lakhs can be found .
The Mecost price was Rs 46 lakh and the Central Sales Tax of Rs 2.3 lakh at the rate of 4 percent was added to the actual cost price.
The PIO said that the GDC, Srinagar on June 23, 2011 placed order for supply of three more Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization Systems. The order was honoured and the systems were supplied on July 18, 2011 under the Invoice Number: VID/RETAIL/2011-12/89 with the total purchase being Rs 36. 22 lakh inclusive of 5 percent value added tax. The actual cost price of the four units is Rs 34.50 lakh and VAT amount was Rs 1.72 lakh.
If purchases were made in consonance with the rates offered by VILLA India, New Delhi then the total amount would have been amounting to Rs 62 lakh while as the GDC Srinagar, authorities have paid Rs Rs 1. 43 crore (extra amount of Rs Rs 81.20 lakh). The GDC Jammu has also purchased seven Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization Systems at the rate of Rs 12.7 lakh per unit. The total purchases amount to Rs 84.52 lakh while as the actual cost price was Rs 34.30 lakh for all the seven units of Complete Vertical Rack Sterilization Systems.
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