NPP demands CBI probe into 'sugar scam'

Opposition National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya today demanded CBI inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the supply of sugar through the Public Distribution System in the state.
Accusing Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Clement Marak of being involved in the scam, NPP also demanded his resignation pending inquiry by a Central agency.
Marak, considered closed to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, denied the allegation.
The demands came in the wake of several anomalies the party said it detected in the monthly supply of 1704 MT of sugar acquired from open market since last year.
NPP spokesperson James K Sangma alleged that the government this year has allotted the supply tender to Beta Edibles Processing Pvt Ltd (BEPPL) at the rate of Rs 54,270 per MT which was more than what another firm, Kendriya Bhandar, supplied at the rate of Rs 43,270/MT in 2014.

The additional amount paid by the government comes to around Rs 2.72 crore per month, he claimed, demanding an explanation as to why the BEPPL was given the supply order at such an 'exorbitant rate'.

The NPP spokesperson went on to allege that the same government had in 2014 forced two bidders - Sanna Enterprises and Tatyasaheb Kore Warna SSK Ltd, which quoted as the first and second lowest bidders at Rs 37,850 and Rs 40,701 per MT, to withdraw from the tender process by delaying to finalise the tender.
James said, "Instead, the third lowest bidder - Guwahati based Kendriya Bhandar, who quoted the rate at Rs 43,270 per MT was allotted the supply order."

Clement Marak, however, denied the charges levelled against him and his department stating that everything was done in a transparent manner through online bidding.
"The charges are baseless. The tenders were made as transparent as possible and the matter was handled by a committee headed by principal secretary and other senior officials of the department while I am not part of it," Marak told PTI.
After due processes of tendering, three suppliers were found to be qualified and the lowest bidder among them was given the supply order, he said.