VOC Port officials in Tuticorin under CBI scanner for awarding contracts

CHENNAI:

Top officials from VOC Port in Thoothkudi are under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scanner for irregularities in awarding contracts to a Thoothkudi-based private firm.

A First Information Report has been filed by Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of CBI against P I Jambert  Immanuel, managing partner of Immanuel and Co, a construction company, and several unknown officials  of VOC Port whose role in awarding the contracts are being probed.

CBI claims the officials abused their power in awarding the contracts worth crores to Jambert and his firm from 2014 to 2016 knowing well that he did not possess required experience or qualification for getting the contract.

CBI in its FIR has alleged that the work undertaken by Immanuel and Co was substandard and not as per the specifications and most of them were not completed as per schedule. The officials did not claim Liquidated damages for not completing the work on time.

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. This comes even as the earlier work was not completed on schedule, alleged CBI.

Another contract on widening and strengthening of VOC Port Road from Tuticorin Thermal Power station (four lanes to six lanes) also had resulted in financial implications for VOC 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, CBI said.

In the third contract pertaining to construction of a truck parking terminal near Fisheries College in Tuticorin, which was undertaken under Sagarmala Project, the port officials favoured the company where in contract was awarded without conducting any pre-bid meetings. The oil companies which were stakeholders in the project have to contribute 30pc towards the project cost. But the oil majors, Indian Oil Company, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum refrained from being part of the project, 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 the 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. CBI alleged that Immanuel and Co on the basis of favours shown by public servants of VOC Port indulged in cartelisation and prevented other contractors from competing in the tender.

CBI also alleged that dredged material was procured clandestinely from VOC Port to fill up the marshy land for truck parking terminal. “These dradged materials could be a source of revenue for VOC Port,” said CBI in its FIR.