The Forest Department has cancelled a procurement process in Kailashahar after allegations of irregularities raised by Congress MLA Birajit Sinha. Officials cited technical errors in all submissions as the reason for cancellation, while denying claims of corruption, favouritism, and violations of government procurement and tendering procedures.
The Forest Department has cancelled a procurement process in Kailashahar after allegations of irregularities and procedural violations were raised by Congress MLA Birajit Sinha. The development has triggered a political debate over transparency and adherence to government procurement regulations.
According to officials, the procurement exercise was cancelled after scrutiny of submitted documents revealed technical errors in all applications. The department, however, strongly denied allegations that the decision was influenced by criticism from the legislator.
Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Shubham Das stated that the department had initiated a supply order process for the procurement of materials and not a tender process for specific development works. A total of 12 contractors reportedly participated in the procurement exercise.
Das explained that during the verification stage, officials found technical deficiencies in every submission. As a result, the department decided to cancel the entire procurement process to maintain procedural integrity. He emphasized that the cancellation was based solely on administrative and technical grounds.
The issue gained attention after Congress MLA Birajit Sinha alleged that the procurement process violated established government rules. According to the legislator, any procurement involving expenditure exceeding Rs 5 lakh should be conducted through an online tendering system. He claimed that the prescribed procedures were not followed and accused departmental officials of favouring selected contractors.
Sinha further alleged that bypassing online tendering requirements could undermine transparency and accountability in public spending. He demanded clarification from the department and called for strict adherence to procurement regulations.
Responding to the allegations, SDFO Shubham Das rejected claims of corruption and favouritism. He maintained that the procurement process had been carried out in accordance with existing rules and guidelines. He also stated that public notices regarding the procurement were issued through authorised channels to ensure participation and transparency.
While the procurement exercise has now been cancelled, the controversy has highlighted concerns regarding government procurement practices and compliance with tendering procedures. The matter is expected to remain under scrutiny as political leaders and officials continue to exchange views over the circumstances leading to the cancellation.
| Also Read: Six Injured in Family Clash at South Baghan |
The Forest Department has not yet announced whether a fresh procurement process will be initiated, but officials indicated that future steps would be taken in accordance with applicable regulations and administrative requirements.
