The authorities have ceased all payments to contractor companies amid the allegation on irregularities in purchasing furniture and other household products for the officials and employees of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).
Two probe committees- one from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and another from the Public Works Department has been formed to investigate the alleged purchase. The probe panels will submit their report in seven days and the payment of the contractors will also be in halt until the probe report is received, said the related sources.
No payment had been made to the contractor companies yet, and the payment would be made based on the recommendations of the probe committees and considering the current market price of the products used in the project said the Housing and Public Works Ministry insiders.
Earlier, on May 19, a writ petition was filed by Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon with the High Court seeking a judicial inquiry on corruption in Green City housing project at RNPP.
Meanwhile, the High Court on Monday sought the reports of the two investigation committees. Passing the order, the HC bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi adjourned the hearing on a writ petition in this regard. In the writ, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and six others have been made defendants.
Under the Greencity project of RNPP two buildings are currently under construction while one of them is a 20 storey and the other one is a 16 storey building and the buildings will accommodate a total of 110 flats combinedly. It is alleged that the authority is to pay ‘abnormal’ high price for purchasing and lifting household articles and furniture to furnish the flat.
The Prime Minister is also following a zero tolerance policy in tackling corruption said barrister Sumon. Pointing at the project which uses tax paid by the masses he added that, every work must have a certain degree of accountability.
According to the reports published earlier in several media, each of the pillows was reportedly purchased for Tk 5,957 and lifted at a cost of Tk 760. An electric stove reportedly cost Tk 7,747 and its lifting cost Tk 6,650. The purchase price of an electric kettle was reportedly Tk 5313 and its lifting cost was Tk 2,945. The public works department purchased a room cleaner for Tk 12,018 and lifted it at a cost of Tk 6,650. An electric iron cost Tk 4,154 and its lifting cost Tk 2,945. A television reportedly cost Tk 86,970 while its lifting cost Tk 7,698. A refrigerator reportedly cost Tk 94,250 and its lifting cost Tk 12,521.
The stance of the Housing and Public Works Ministry
The Housing and Public Works Ministry has cleared its stance in a press release on Sunday on the allegations raised by several media. The statement says that the public works department conducted an official estimation and then called for tenders divided into 6 packages in the e-gp platform for the procurement of furniture and other related items for 6 buildings which were under construction for the project of RNPP. The department estimated each of the packages’ purchase price at below BDT 30 crore then appointed contractors. The ministry has no linkage with the official estimation, approval and appointment of the contractors says the statement.