SHILLONG, April 20: Three organisations affiliated to the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged replacement of feeder pillar in the hostel and residential areas of the varsity campus.
Citing some media reports, the organisations — Meghalaya Confederation for Academic Welfare (MeCAW), Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA) and North Eastern Hills University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) — have demanded that the CBI be granted permission without any further delay to investigate into the illegalities committed in the said case so that the guilty is brought to justice.
In a statement issued here, they said that as per the media reports, the CBI had sought permission to investigate ‘replacement of feeder pillar in hostel and residential areas’ which involves officials, who allegedly violated norms of tendering, especially resolutions of Building Committee of the University. “We demand that if such permission has been sought, the NEHU should immediately grant the permission. If the permission is not granted, it raises strong and reasonable suspicion that officials are involved whom NEHU is shielding,” the joint statement said.
It is learnt that the Registrar, being the secretary of the important committee did not brief all the facts and place them on record before the work order was issued to a party of choice by the Engineer concerned, it said, adding that the organisations want the matter to be fully investigated.
“Any delay in investigating the matter on the part of NEHU shall amount to hiding the corrupt officials and conniving with them,” they stated.
TENDERS
On the other hand, the All Meghalaya Contractors and Suppliers Association has asked the Secretary of NEHU’s Central Vigilance Commission for a detailed inquiry into the alleged manipulations in awarding of tenders in the University.
The president of the Association, BL Nongbri, in a letter to the Commission that a detailed inquiry should be initiated against the university by people with expertise on matters related to tenders and e-tenders, while adding that the University should also be asked to remove such conditions such as fixing of lower limits of 10 per cent below the estimated cost for acceptance of tenders.
The Association also urged the university and its service providers to strictly adhere to the guidelines for compliance with quality requirements of e-procurement systems issued by the Department of Technology.
According to organisation, the Commission should also fix responsibility of all the erring officers of the University and take punitive action against guilty officers so as to cleanse the system of e-tendering in the university.
