Bureaucrats looting Energy Dept. and OPTCL in Odisha

OPTCL-
An Institution of Secrecy with huge Corruption for benefit of corporate house
and bureaucrats
(Exposed under RTI)
Dear friends
 After receipt of information under RTI on
11.7.17,  a team of RTI Activists  had 
filed  complaint  dated 24.7.17 to Chief Secretary, Govt. of
Odisha seeking vigilance inquiry into huge
corruption and irregularities in the matter of selection of Final Bidder M/s
High Tech Systems & Services for supply of “12 nos. new design ERS Towers
suitable for 400kv transmission line network of OPTCL as per
Tender
(No. Sr. G.M.-CPC-ICB-ERS-24/2015) for ERS (Emergency Restoration Service)
suitable for 400KV Transmission line Network for OPTCL. Because  this Company 
has been selected  without  following due tender procedure.  
I had also appraised  Chief
Secretary  that this  corruption is masterminded  by Hemant Shamra, IAS, CMD of OPTCL  and to stop release of  money to the said Company.
  But the Chief Secretary did not take any
steps to stop release of money.  In the
meantime,  on 18.7.17, OPTCL hurriedly   released money  amounting Rs. 5,09,77,869.00  ( 80% of total fund Rs. 6,90,24,822.00
sanctioned ) to M/s Hitech Systems and Services Ltd., Kolkatta, a channel
partner of  Tower Solutions, Canada, the
manufacturing Company Tower Solutions, Canada 
without any testing of materials.
Then, I field RTI Application
for inspection of materials supplied by the Company. My application was kept
pending for 4 months without any response and I was not allowed for inspection.
When I filed first appeal dt. 26.10.17, the PIO immediately sent me a letter
for  inspection of materials. However, On
15.11.17,
I was allowed for inspection of ERS materials in presence of store keepers of
stores of OPTCL located at Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar.  After 
reaching on the spot, I met 
General Manager, Stores Division and store-keepers  to show the materials and asked them  to 
explain technicalities of materials. 
They expressed their helplessness to explain me details, as they do not
have idea about this technology. On query about who are the technical persons
of OPTCL having knowledge about this technology, they replied that no such
technical person is available in OPTCL. I got astonished why OPTCL purchased
these ERS materials, when it does not have expertise to handle it. During
inspection, I also observed  that  the materials 
supplied  do not belong to  that company 
which was awarded   final
bidder.  The Tower Solutions  is not at all Manufacturer Company.  The material has been mobilised from
different companies  of other countries
like Brazil and China. When I wanted to take photograph of the materials, I was
not allowed to take it. The General Manager advised me to file another RTI to
get the photograph of materials. 
Then, on 16.11.17, I submitted RTI
Application to the PIO of OPTCL for further inspection of materials and seeking
photograph of the said materials. Besides 
that , I also wanted  to know   the 
following information from OPTCL.
iv. Provide name
of the technical expert who has 
inspected the materials of Tower Solutions, Canada   before it is being supplied to OPTCL in
2017.
v. Provide name of
officers or experts who have tested quality of ERS tower materials delivered to
OPTCL   by Tower solutions, Canada
vi. Provide name
of officers or technical experts  who are
having expertise to handle   and fix  ERS materials supplied by Tower solutions, Canada.
 viii. Provide name of the technical experts of
OPTCL  having knowledge and
expertise  about  use of ERS suitable for 400KV Transmission
line Network.
On 15.12.17, the  PIO 
has denied  to provide me
opportunity to take photograph   of the
materials while  giving his consent for
inspection. Now  it is clear  that 
as all  ERS materials  are fake 
and  low grade  and now 
product of Tower Solutions,  the
OPTCL officials are not allowing  to take
photograph of materials.  There is huge
transaction of kickbacks  among top
officials  of OPTCL to  finalise tender  in favour of Tower Solutions.  The documents provided by Tower Solutions are
fake and forged which I had demanded for inquiry.
Regarding technicalities of
ERS materials, I had sought the information about  name of 
technical experts  who inspected
the materials before it was shipped or dispatch, officers who have inspected
materials at OPTCL site after it is delivered etc.  As per Inspection clause of Purchase order
no. 953-000310 dt. 22.6.2016, the 
following terms and conditions has been cited.
“ The
materials covered  by the Purchase Order
are subject to inspection  and
testing  anytime prior to shipment  and / or dispatch  and /to final inspection  within a reasonable time  after arrival at site. Inspectors  shall have right to carry out inspection  and testing 
which will include  the raw materials
at manufacturer’s  shop  and at the time  of actual 
dispatch before and after completion of packing.”
On 15.12.17, the PIO  has provided the  information no technical  inspector has 
undertaken any inspection of materials 
at Manufacturer’s site  and prior
to shipment. Even OPTCL  does not  have expertise  nor any technical person  to handle ERS technology. Now the question
comes how  and why OPTCL hurriedly
purchased  ERS Tower for 400KV line
without technical  inspection.  As there was huge deal of money and kickbacks
by top officials in Govt. of Odisha, the officials of OPTCL  has arbitrarily  and illegally 
given this order to a Private foreign company  for the purchase of materials.   The Top officials have taken huge money as
bribe  to 
award this tender.
This is how 
top IAS officers  are looting
Odisha and State   exchequer.
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482

Date- 23.12.17