Tender benders in operation railway
Assets sold to foreign companies, large scale corruption, and loss of over Rs 300 Mn
The auditor general has unearthed a colossal fraud amounting to over Rs 300 Mn in the tender transactions for spare parts for power sets during the past few years. Twenty five Axle carriages and 25 Phil grease parts have been procured in this dubious manner. The supplier is an Indian company. The auditor general’s report concludes that there was absolutely no need to procure these carriages and parts, because there was ample stocks in the stores already.
The department has suffered a further loss of 13,138,625 rupees in the purchase of 15 power sets. A loss of 71,160,000 has been incurred in the purchase of diesel electrical engines and 64 alkaline battery sets. Malpractice has been detected in the purchase of 175 four wheel trolleys, 1441 hand signal lamps, and 1250 signal posts.
Trade unions say that the railway service is in danger of collapse due to corruption, waste of resources and inefficient management.
The All Ceylon Railway Workers General Union charges that the minister Dallas Alahapperuma and the GM Railways are responsible for the current state of affairs in the department. They are least concerned about the opinion of the employees, unions charge.
Minister is stubborn
The minister is stubborn, they say while the general manager hasn’t the correct vision.
The minister has sent letters to various trade unions about the formulation of a “national transport policy’’, but the unions allege that the Department has been neglected.
The trade union also alleges that the railway authorities have taken steps to hand over the department’s assets to foreign companies. They claim that the agreement signed with India amounts to “a betrayal of the railway service.”
Convener of the trade union, Sumathipala Manawadu, said that the tender transaction on spare parts resulted in a loss of Rs eight million in toto. He said that so far, no action has been taken against.
Trade unions pointing out that 37 of the 100 carriages which the Department has imported from China on two occasions from August 2007 have been left to rot in the railway yard, without engines.
Manawadu said that they have handed over to the Bribery Commission, details of corruption and malpractice but nothing has happened. Railway employees also charged that the authorities have taken steps to bring down workers from India to maintain the country’s railway track which stretches for 1250 kilometres. This is despite the railways department already possessing a workforce of 3000 personnel. Employees also allege that the minister has made illegal political appointments to the railway security service.
Illegal appointments
The Chairman of the All Ceylon Railway Workers General Union, S.P. Vithanage, said that Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and General Manager of Railways, Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, had made illegal appointments “based on their political affiliations.’’ They have recruited 120 retired security forces personnel to the railway security force. Among other allegations leveled by the trade unions are that promotions due to officers who had over 20 years service with the railway security service had not been granted, while immediate steps are being taken to make the political appointees permanent.
They also allege that steps have been taken to illegally recruit a further 17 persons to the railway security service despite it having a large number of qualified graduate officers within its ranks. The unions also claim that money from Distress Loans which are due to railway employees haven’t been given in almost two years. Other matters of concern include the non-granting of transfers, salary anomalies not being rectified, and the non- implementation of a comprehensive scheme regarding promotions.
Frauds
We contacted the Permanent Secretary to the ministry Thilak Collure to inquire what steps the ministry was taking with regard to the frauds which have taken place at the Department of Railways. When asked about the financial fraud concerning the procurement of power sets and spare parts, he replied that he did not have a clear idea as to exactly what “power sets” were.
When asked about the fraud committed in the procurement of alkaline batteries and axel boxes, he said that he was under the impression that axel boxes were used in buses and not in trains.
He declined to answer our questions and said that all the questions should be referred to the General Manager of Railways.
By Padmini Matarage
Source: lakbimanews
