568 video-conferencing systems lying idle at education centres

The documents also stated that ITI Mumbai was recommended by the MSCERT to implement the project since it had already set up 10 centres at Balbharati. “A government resolution (GR) was issued on March 25,2011,accepting the proposal to set up VC systems at 448 locations and around Rs 21.3 crore was sanctioned to the MSCERT. An agreement was reached by the education board and ITI Limited on March 18 for an estimated cost to Rs 21.3 crore,even before the resolution was issued. ITI limited was appointed to supply and install VC systems along with the bandwidth,” the documents read.

According to the GR issued on October 21,2011,the government had sanctioned 120 new VC centres and a grant of Rs 593.93 lakh was released. The project was also awarded to ITI limited. The project report submitted by ITI limited on April 4,2012,cited that equipment had been delivered to 115 centres.

In August,the IT secretary had ordered a probe. A joint inspection was carried out by Manish Grover,consultant,Mukesh Somkuwar,Section Officer (technical),Director of Information Technology,and officials of the education board of the documents submitted by ITI.

Sources said,“In phase 1,ITI awarded the work directly to a private company as it was their MoU partner. In phase 2,an expression of interest (EOI) was invited by ITI,and another private company was selected,though the information of other bidders were not submitted to the joint inspection committee.”

He further said,“All documents submitted were not signed by authorised people. No internal monitoring sheets of the ITI were submitted. No Service Legal Agreements were part of any document. Despite several requests,ITI and its vendors were not cooperating on submitting important documents.”

A senior officer of the education department,on condition of anonymity,said,“The Maharashtra State e-Governance Policy 2011 states that all the tenders that are being issued be vetted by the high power committee if the budget is more than Rs 5 crore. But,the directions were not followed. Even before the resolution was issued by the government,work order was given to ITI Mumbai. In various cases,specifications were not given about the equipment. No tender procedure was followed,while giving the work order. The bandwidth was not dedicated,hence,there were problems with regard to connection as the load on existing bandwidth was more.”

Aggarwal said,“I am still verifying the report. The work order was given to ITI on nomination basis as it is also a government agency. Some issue was faced with the bandwidth,but it will be sorted. The process will be operational in two-three months.”