Revenue section of JMC having connivance with contractor nearly 3 crores amount though unofficially deposited few pockets but not deposited in JMC exchequer but concerned higher authorities are still mum over this
Mayor Rajinder Sharma dated 10-5-2023 had admitted that Rs 56 crores has been embezzled in JMC in last 10 years but so far no enquiry ordered, no one held responsible which proves mere public stunt on part of Mayor
Mayor JMC should tell Jammuites why no action was taken against Brite Neon Private Ltd for violating contract and causing loss worth crores to JMC exchequer and why no record sought from Revenue section of JMC
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, sep 15
In the year October, 2016, JMC has invited e-NIT for the installation and maintenance of 50 Bus Que Shelters on Build, operate and Transfer (BOT) basis in the different locations along the major public transport road sides to provide facilities to the public from sun light and rains and also to earn non-operating revenue as per the outdoor Hoardings advertisement policy of 2010 of Jammu Municipal Corporation. After the e-tendering contract for the installation, maintenance of 50 Bus Que Shelters in JMC jurisdiction of Jammu city was awarded to highest bidder that is Brite Neon Private Ltd having registered office 201-202 Kashi, Patna Bihar. The JMC identified 50 sites for the erection of 50 Bus Que Shelters since the project was under Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) shall remain for the term of 25 years including 12 months incubation period for installation of these bus shelters. As per contract and agreement signed between Brite Neon Pvt Ltd and JMC Authority dated 28-10-2016, the successful bidder Brite Neon Private Ltd was allowed to collect revenue from displaying of advertisements on these bus shelters for initial five years to cover his expenses for installation of bus shelters after five years he has to pay Rs 22000 monthly concession fee per one shelter every month from 1st Nov 2021 which becomes Rs 11 lacs monthly and the same to be deposited monthly in JMC exchequre. There shall be an incremental fee at compounded rate of 7% increment every year during the contract period. There shall be no contract fee for first five years. The contractor that is Brite Neon Private Ltd will have to remit quarterly concession fee before the commencement of quarter. Since this project was taken up by the JMC on Public-private partnership(PPP) Model to earn revenue without spending even single penny from the govt exchequer. In this way, the JMC is able to develop its properties as the ownership lies with the JMC. The legal ownership rights of the land used for Bus Que Shelters shall remain reserved with JMC.
As per the contract, the concession fee at the rate of Rs 22000 per shelter monthly has to be deposited by contractor w.e.f 1st Nov 2021 onwards on the sixth year of installation of Bus Que shelters but as per sources till date from Nov 1st onwards no concession fee of Rs 22000 monthly has been deposited by contractor in JMC exchequer which becomes nearly 3 crores loss on part of JMC exchequer. The revenue section of JMC having connivance with contractor this amount though unofficially deposited few pockets but not deposited in JMC exchequer but the concerned higher authorities are still mum over this
It is surprising to note that as per press conference of Mayor Rajinder Sharma dated 10-5-2023 had admitted that Rs 56 crores has been embezzled in JMC in last 10 years claiming that no official record/account of this revenue collected in the past some years has been found by the authorities. JMC Mayor, Rajinder Sharma admitted that there is no record/account of the revenue collected be way of the advertising hoardings. He admitted that “We don’t know where this huge revenue collected in the last some years has gone”. But surprisingly so far no enquiry conducted and no one held responsible for loss of Rs 56 crores in JMC as it has so far proved only public stunt as the loss of Rs 11 lacs per month for the last two years has not been taken care of by Mayor on account of concession fee by Brite Neon Private Ltd which becomes worth Rs 3 crores in two years. Mayor JMC should tell Jammuites why no action was taken against Brite Neon Private Ltd for violating contract and causing loss worth crores to JMC exchequer and why no record sought from Revenue section of JMC..5
