How was ₹800-cr scam undertaken by Tata firm & India’s largest container port’s ex-staff?
In a shocking revelation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has exposed a massive scam involving Tata Consulting Engineers, India’s largest container port Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), and a group of former staff members. The scam, which has resulted in cumulative losses exceeding ₹4,200 crore, is a stark reminder of the pervasive corruption that plagues our country’s infrastructure sector.
At the heart of the scam is the dredging project undertaken by Tata Consulting Engineers for JNPT. Dredging is a critical process that involves excavating sediment and rock from the seafloor to create a deeper channel for ships to navigate. However, the former staff members of Tata Consulting Engineers, in cahoots with contractors, conspired to manipulate the project to their advantage, causing massive financial losses to JNPT.
The CBI investigation revealed that the officials involved in the project chose to opt for a deeper 15-metre vessel draft instead of the recommended 14-metre draft, resulting in a loss of ₹1,163 crore. This decision was taken without any justification or approval from the authorities, and it has left JNPT with a deeper and wider channel that is not suitable for most ships.
The scam didn’t stop there. The officials also opted for a single rate for dredging of different rock types, despite knowing that the rock types had different densities and required different dredging techniques. This decision led to a further loss of ₹557 crore, as the contractors had to use more resources and machinery to dredge the harder rock types.
To add insult to injury, the contractors involved in the project undertook dredging for an excess width of 20-25 meters, instead of the approved width of 12-15 meters. This resulted in an additional loss of ₹964 crore, as JNPT was left with a channel that was much wider than necessary.
The cumulative losses from this scam are staggering, totaling ₹4,224 crore. The CBI has registered a case against the officials and contractors involved in the scam, and summons are likely to be issued soon.
The Tata Consulting Engineers-JNPT dredging project scam is a stark reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the infrastructure sector. It is imperative that we have robust systems in place to detect and prevent such scams, and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
The CBI’s investigation has also raised questions about the role of the officials who oversaw the project. As the investigation unfolds, it is likely that we will learn more about the extent of their involvement and whether they knew about the scam all along.
The JNPT-Tata Consulting Engineers dredging project scam is a wake-up call for the government and regulatory bodies to take a closer look at the infrastructure sector and implement measures to prevent such scams in the future. It is also a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public-private partnerships.
In conclusion, the ₹800-crore scam undertaken by Tata Consulting Engineers and JNPT’s former staff is a shocking example of the kind of corruption that can occur in the infrastructure sector. It is imperative that we learn from this scam and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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