How was ₹800-cr scam undertaken by Tata firm & India’s largest container port’s ex-staff?
The story of corruption and illegal activities has been a recurring theme in India for a long time. The latest in this series is the shocking revelation of an ₹800-crore scam undertaken by the former staff of Tata Consulting Engineers and India’s largest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT). The scam involves the dredging of the port’s channel, which has resulted in a cumulative loss of over ₹4,200 crore.
The CBI has flagged the cumulative losses exceeding ₹4,200 crore in the JNPA dredging project, and summons are likely to be issued to the officials involved. The scam is a classic example of how corruption can lead to a massive financial loss, not just for the companies involved but also for the economy as a whole.
According to the news report, the scam was undertaken by choosing a deeper 15-metre vessel draft instead of the approved 14-metre, which caused a loss of ₹1,163 crore. The officials also opted for a single rate for dredging of different rock types, which resulted in a loss of ₹557 crore. Additionally, the contractors undertook dredging for excess width, causing a loss of ₹964 crore.
The scam was executed by the former staff of Tata Consulting Engineers, which was the contractor for the dredging project. The company was responsible for dredging the channel of the JNPT to make it deeper and wider to accommodate larger vessels. However, instead of following the approved specifications, the company chose to dredge the channel to a depth of 15 metres, which was not approved.
The CBI has found that the company made a deliberate mistake in choosing the vessel draft, which resulted in the channel being dredged to a depth that was not required. This led to a significant loss of money, as the company was required to pay for the excess dredging work that was not necessary.
The scam also involved the use of a single rate for dredging of different rock types. The approved specifications required different rates for dredging of different rock types, but the company opted for a single rate, which resulted in a loss of ₹557 crore.
The contractors also undertook dredging for excess width, which caused a loss of ₹964 crore. The company was required to dredge the channel to a certain width, but instead, it dredged it to a wider width, which was not required.
The CBI has launched an investigation into the scam and is likely to issue summons to the officials involved. The agency has also seized documents and records related to the project to gather evidence.
The scam is a shocking example of how corruption can lead to a massive financial loss. The CBI has found that the scam was executed by a team of officials who were responsible for overseeing the project. The officials made a deliberate mistake in choosing the vessel draft, which resulted in the channel being dredged to a depth that was not required.
The scam also highlights the need for better monitoring and supervision of projects. The CBI has found that the project was not properly monitored, which allowed the officials to execute the scam. The agency has recommended that the project should be re-tendered, as the existing contract is invalid due to the scam.
The scam is also a setback for the JNPT, which is one of the largest container ports in the country. The port is responsible for handling a significant amount of cargo, and the scam has resulted in a loss of revenue for the port.
In conclusion, the ₹800-crore scam undertaken by the former staff of Tata Consulting Engineers and India’s largest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, is a shocking example of how corruption can lead to a massive financial loss. The scam was executed by a team of officials who made a deliberate mistake in choosing the vessel draft, which resulted in the channel being dredged to a depth that was not required. The CBI has launched an investigation into the scam and is likely to issue summons to the officials involved.
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