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VOC Port officials are under the CBI scanner for irregularities in awarding contracts to a Thoothkudi-based private firm.
An FIR has been filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the CBI against P I Jambert Immanuel, managing partner of Immanuel and Co, a construction company, and several officials of the VOC Port whose role in awarding the contracts is being probed.The CBI claims the officials have abused their power in awarding contracts worth crores of rupees to Jambert and his firm from 2014 to 2016, knowing well that he did not possess the required experience or qualification for getting the contract.
The FIR registered by the CBI alleged that the work undertaken by Immanuel and Co was substandard and not as per specifications. Also, most of the works were not completed as per schedule. The officials did not claim liquidated damages for not completing the work on time.The CBI said the project relating to widening and strengthening of south breakwater approach road, which was worth Rs.13.04 crore, was awarded to Immanuel and Co after the last date of tender was extended. Not only that, additional work, which was not part of the tender, was awarded to Immanuel and Co, though the earlier works had not been completed on schedule, alleged the CBI.
A contract for widening and strengthening of the VOC Port Road from Tuticorin Thermal Power Station had also resulted in financial implications for the Port. As per the study conducted by RITES in 2011, the cost of the project was Rs.13.92 crore and the agreement value was Rs.9.94 crore. The excess work was entrusted to the firm, which resulted in financial implication of Rs.38.88 crore. The project could not be completed on time and the port officials did not seek liquidated damages, the CBI said.
In the contract for construction of a truck parking terminal near Fisheries College in Tuticorin, which was undertaken under Sagarmala Project, the port officials favoured the company to which contract was awarded without conducting any pre-bid meetings. The oil companies, which were stakeholders in the project, have to contribute 30 per cent towards the project cost. But the oil majors, Indian Oil Company and Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum refrained from being part of the project, the CBI said.
The total cost of the project was estimated by the consultant to be around Rs.26.31 crore and only two firms – RK and Sons Salem and Immanuel and Co – submitted quotations of Rs.31.99 crore and Rs.38.69 crore, respectively. It was re-tendered again and the contract was awarded to Immanuel and Co, which quoted Rs.23.69 crore. The CBI alleged Immanuel and Co on the basis of favours shown by public servants of the port indulged in cartelisation and prevented other contractors from competing in tender.
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