The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had sanctioned 54 MW aggregate capacity of Grid tied Rooftop Solar Power Plants ranging from 1-500 KW capacity for Government Sector of the Jammu and Kashmir State, having a Project Commissioning time line of 18 months (February 15 2018 to August 15 2019).
The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) floated an e-tender for Rate Contract which was extended to supply, installation and commissioning including five years Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC) of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar PV Power Plants.
In response to the e-tender floated by the Agency, 18 bidders participated in the tender, out of which four bidders could not qualify technically.
The Contract Committee of JAKEDA approved the lowest rates quoted by M/s Premier Solar Systems Pvt Ltd.
The CEO, JAKEDA was authorized to offer the lowest rates quoted by M/s Premier Solar Systems Pvt Ltd to all the other 13 qualified bidders and the bidders who accept the lowest rates shall be empanelled for execution of the scheme.
However, after finalization of the Rate Contract, JAKEDA not only empaneled the vendors who had qualified in the Tender, but also included 10 more firms, which had neither participated in the tendering process nor had the requisite papers to qualify in the bidding.
This has amounted to a multi-crore scam, where Rs 155 crore works for supply, installation and commissioning of roof top solar power plants were allotted to 10 firms without any tenders while the 14 other firms which qualified in the tendering process got just Rs 42.35 crore contract.
Reference- Daily Excelsior