Electricity Dept procured materials which do not conform to norms: CAG report A performance audit report of the CAG on power transmission activities of the state electricity department for the period 2007-2012 revealed inordinate delays in execution that resulted in shortfall in capacity addition of substations and slippage in achieving the target by the department. During the five year period ending 2007-12, the electricity department had completed construction of only two substations against the plan for construction of five new/augmentation of existing 132/33 KV substations and five transmission lines. Works of construction/augmentation of 132 KV and 33/11 KV substations and transmission lines were delayed by 5 to 91 months due to delay in tendering activities, statutory clearances, frequent revisions of scope and other factors. In this regard, the CAG audit observed that in 27 projects for construction of 132/33 and 33/11 KV substation/transmission line, the department took 6 to 34 months to award projects after Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) was issued. Further, in 10 cases, the contractor took between 9 to 23 months to start supply of equipments in spite of having received 17-55 percent of the cost of equipments required for the project as mobilization advance. While in respect of 13 projects, erection of equipments worth Rs 75.65 crore had not yet started and the same was lying idle for a period ranging between 27 months and 72 months. In particular equipment worth Rs 8.28 crore meant for 2x1MVA, 33/11 KV substation at Thanlon and its associated line procured in September 2006 was still lying outdoors at Yurembam and Lamphelpat and was yet to reach the work site as in August 2012. The delay had not only resulted in blocking of huge amount but also put costly equipment at risk of being damaged/stolen before being put to use, remarked the CAG report. The department attributed the delay in award of work to completion of codal formalities and long process of approval by the Tender Committee, change of scope and design to suit site condition, long process of approval of drawings and technical specifications coupled with adverse law and order problem and frequent bandhs and economic blockade. However, the audit observed that the reply of the department was not convincing “as most of the reasons cited were controllable and the department was aware of these constraints and, therefore, should have factored in these constraints at the planning stage itself”. In respect of transmission network, scrutiny of grid diagram and power map of the state revealed that the transmission network (substations and lines) at 132 KV and 33 KV levels are concentrated in the four valley districts while the surrounding hill districts were underserved. Of the hill districts, Chandel and Ukhrul have not 132 substation till date. Thus, the electricity supplied in the hill districts was of poor quality (low voltage). In this connection, the department stated that provision for 33/11 KV substation in blocks which do not have one is incorporated in the RGGVY for better voltage regulation. The report also found that the electricity department had procured tower material which did not conform to the standard norms. Test check of records revealed that the material for the towers worth Rs 15.37 crore purchased by the department for four transmission projects was not as per the norms of the department. On being pointed out, the department in March 2013 submitted the revised norms for weight of material for towers. However, the CAG observed that the material for tower worth Rs 4.45 crore was even below the revised minimum weight norms furnished by the department and the reply of the department was not justified as the norms for weight of towers have been stipulated for safety of the transmission system. source : pc
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:03:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015