CAG raps Haryana for not installing surveillance system

April 04, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:44 am IST - Chandigarh:

National auditor CAG has rapped the Haryana government for “non-implementation” of an outdoor surveillance system, approved by the Centre for maintenance of law and order and crime control.

Besides, it found, Rs 5 crore meant for procuring mobile jammers and CCTV cameras for four highly sensitive jails in the State was lying unutilised for more than six years.

In its latest report on non-public sector undertakings for 2014-15, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said, “Non-implementation of outdoor surveillance system, a crucial and vital project for maintenance of law and order and crime control, resulted in blockade of funds amounting to Rs 8.24 crore for more than four years.”

The Centre approved the outdoor surveillance system under a scheme for modernisation of State Police Forces in 2008-09 for Panchkula district of Haryana. The project was later extended to three other districts -- Rohtak, Karnal and Panipat -- during financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

A sum of Rs 8.26 crore was sanctioned for this project through Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (HARTRON) and money was deposited with it on the basis of a request for proposal.

A purchase order was placed with M/s VMC System Ltd. Secunderabad for Rs 7.75 crore by HARTRON in February 2011.

As per agreement, the company was required to complete the installation, commissioning and integration of the system at all the sites within three months from the date of award of contract in February 2011, said the report.

Final acceptance test was to be conducted within four months from the date of award of contract. As such, the project was to be operationalised by June 2011.

Scrutiny of records of Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana showed that the firm delivered the equipment at the four sites after a delay of six months, CAG said.

Physical inspection by a committee in May, 2012 which showed that the company delivered only eight equipment against 20 at each site, of which only six were found to be as per specification of the purchase order, and accuracy rate of the software was found to be only 32 per cent.

The company requested for another opportunity to supply the software after being updated/reconfigured but failed to supply the equipment as per requirement and became non-responsive since September 2013, said the report.

The purchase order placed with the company was terminated by HARTRON in June 2014.

The earnest money amounting to Rs 2 lakh along with performance bank guarantee of Rs 77.50 lakh was forfeited by HARTRON and an amount of Rs 8.91 crore had been refunded by HARTRON to the DGP in January 2015 after deducting an amount of Rs 14.48 lakh out of total amount of Rs 9.05 crore.

The amount was lying with the DGP’s office and was not refunded to the Centre.

Thus, due to lackadaisical approach of the department, the outdoor surveillance system, which was to be operationalised by June 2011, has not been procured even after a period of more than four years from the target date of completion, CAG noted. - PTI

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