Thanks to State fisheries dept’s inaction, projects rot

The Nagpur division office of the Corporation was granted an amount of Rs 5.35 lakh in 1997-98 for setting up of two retail outlets for fishes in city. Along with this amount, which was part of a centrally sponsored scheme, the Nagpur division also received a insulated van, for transporting fishes to these retail outlets.

The divisional office acquired a shop at the Sakkardara Shopping Complex Scheme of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) in August 1998 and booked another shop in the Mangalwari Bazar Shopping Complex of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in December 1998. This complex is still under construction.

The mainrequirement for the opening of outlets, however, was deep freezers to store the fishes. The divisional office here invited quotations for the freezers, to which five to six companies responded.

Sources here have alleged that the Nagpur office was directed by the Corporation head office to give the contract to one Kamal Air Cooling and Refrigeration Services, Mumbai. Accordingly the Nagpur office send a letter to the company asking for further details. The letter, however, returned undelivered, with a note that the mentioned address at Mumbai did not exist.

The surprise did not end here. On October 17, 1998, three deep freezers were delivered to the Nagpur office of the corporation, which was closed owing to Diwali holiday. The deal had been allegedly made without any prior consultation to the officials in Nagpur. To add to the situation, the freezers were found unsuitable for storing of fishes. The compartments were far to small to hold the fishes horizontally and were made of galvanised iron sheets thatare prone to quick rusting.

The officials here then took up the matter with the board of directors of the corporation. In a meeting of the board of directors, held in May, 1999, it was directed that inquiry be launched into this alleged irregularity. It also opined that police complaint be lodged against the people involved in the matter.

Inspite of several reminders by the Nagpur office, the head office of the Corporation has failed to respond about the status of the inquiry.