SUGAR SCAM
SHILLONG: A day after the NPP brought to light alleged irregularities in supply of sugar under public distribution system, Food and Civil Supply Minister Clement Marak on Tuesday said that the Beta Edibles Processing Pvt Ltd (BEPPL), which had quoted Rs 54,270 for per metric tonne for supplying sugar, has not been allotted supply order officially.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here, Marak said that no agreement has been signed with the firm till date.
“We are still in the process of finalizing the bidder but surprisingly the NPP has already blamed the department before anything was finalized,” he said.
Reacting to a query, the Minister said that the price of sugar has gone up by Rs 13 in last six months.
The minister also said that the department is not favouring any party.
On Monday, NPP had alleged irregularities in the tendering process for supply of sugar under the PDS in the state even as the party has demanded a CBI inquiry into the anomaly for favouring a particular bidder at an exorbitant rate,”
The party also demanded the resignation of the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs minister Clement Marak pending the inquiry.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Principal Secretary in charge food and civil supplies P W Ingty said that keeping with the guidelines and instructions from Centre and state government, steps were taken by the department to float e-tender for procuring sugar for PDS. The tender was floated on March 26 this year. In response, six bidders participated in the e-tender for sugar and they were Garden Court Distilleries Private Limited, S.S. Food Industries, John, Doctor Frozen Food India Pvt Ltd., Beta Edibles Processing Private Ltd and M/S Sana Enterprises.
“Their technical bids were evaluated and out of the six bidders, only three qualified namely Doctor Frozen Food Pvt. Ltd, Beta Edibles Processing Pvt. Ltd, and S.S. Food Industries”, the statement said.
Thereafter, the Tender Committee examined the price bids of the successful bidders, which were Beta Edibles Processing Private Limited (Rs. 54,270 per MT), Doctor Frozen Food India Private Limited ( Rs. 55,050 per MT) and S.S. Food Industries ( Rs.56,210 – per MT).
The cost would include all costs of transporting to godowns of districts, handling and cost of packaging in 1 Kg Poly bags with State PDS logo.
“As it stands, Beta Edibles Processing Private Limited has quoted the lowest rate. In the meantime, Garden Court Distilleries Private Limited has filed a writ petition before the High Court of Meghalaya, challenging the whole process of e-tendering and Court passed a stay order directing that supply order should not be issued till counter affidavit is filed”, the official said.
According to the official, after the government has taken steps and filed counter affidavit.
