Streetlight scam hits Chennai corporation

Oct 25, 2012 - B. RAVICHANDRAN & C.S. KOTTESWARAN |

chennai

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Purchase of sub-standard electrical materials has affected the streetlight network of Greater Chennai and has resulted in huge revenue loss to the city corporation.

Contractors, in connivance with the field engineers, are now supplying bulbs, tube lights, electrical fitments, chokes and igniters manufactured by not-so-popular companies.

This practice has been going on unchecked for the past three years as the existing tender procedures favour the lowest bidder with ISI certifications.

But, in reality, this procedure has wiped out popular brands like Bajaj, Philips, Surya and Crompton Greaves from the corporation’s purchase list.

Shockingly, field staffers of the electrical department do not place intend to replace the faulty bulbs and fitments under warranty, confidential sources said.

The whistleblowers in Ripon Buildings are now concerned as chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has sanctioned around Rs 40 crore for improving streetlights and illuminating the interior suburbs recently merged with the corporation and opine that it’s time to check the connivance between contractors and engineers.

Efforts to reach senior officials of the electrical department proved futile. Corporation commissioner D. Karthikeyan told DC he would look into the issue. There are several technicalities regarding the electrical department. If there are any foul play, the errant staff would not be spared, the top official said.

“To make a fast buck, a few contractors violating contract norms supply fuse carriers with iron terminals replacing the copper terminals that are expensive and safe. Just an examination of fuse boxes installed recently would reveal the truth,” quipped another corporation staff.

“Crores of public money is looted and there are no adequate supervisors to monitor the electrical projects. The stores department fails to inform about the existing situation to the corporation top brass and the work executed by contractors are hardly verified,” a source attached to the corporation electrical department alleged.

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