Arfat Khan
Jammu: Here is another example of erratic functioning of Jammu Municipal Corporation where high and mighty used to favor with instant change in rule books allegedly to buttress support to wrong doers.
M/s Brite vide eNIT No 03REVdated 18/01/2016 was allotted contract for display of advertisement contents on public property within JMC limits. The period of the contract was four w.e.f 06/04/2016.
As per eNIT, tender was invited for display of advertisements within JMC limit from ward No 1 to 48 and there was mention of only 90 hoardings and 413 pole kiosks in 31 and 23 locations respectively.
These advertisements details were clearly mentioned as Annexure A in the contract which was signed between JMC and M/s Brite on dated 06/04/2016.
However, the advertisement agency openly erected advertisement hoardings in areas which were not part of the contract and that too with impunity from JMC. As per sources, from Patta Bohri upto Bee Enn Hospital in Talab area there are nearly 10 alleged illegal advertisement hoardings which were raised by the concerned agency. One vast double side hoarding just opposite to Bee Enn Hospital is a glaring example of contract violation. Similarly, 1 at Brigadier Rajinder Singh, 4 hoardings at Ghulab Singh Marg near hotel Riveraa just opposite to Van Bhawan, 6 hoardings in Gandhi Nagar area on Gurdwara stretch, one state sports council office in Jewel area, one at Tawi Bridge and a prominent place near DIC Jammu office.
The advertisement agency in connivance with JMC authority is earning huge amount through these hoardings which were never mentioned in Annexure A of the contract, alleged an officer of JMC preferring anonymity.
Strangely, the JMC authority instead of initiating action against the advertisement agency for breach of contract instead creates another Annexure A which contains 41 locations. Two Annexure A in one contract is mind blowing, revealed JMC sources.
Interestingly, as per JMC there are no hoardings allowed as per this contract from Govt guest house, canal road upto PattaPloura. However, one double side vast hoarding outside BEE ENN hospital exposed tall claims of JMC transparency.
Tender was invited for only 31 locations containing 90 hoardings and the contract was signed between the JMC and licensee only with these details. But why another Annexure A was created where the JMC authority cleverly favored the contractor with insertion of 88 hoardings with 8 sites on double sides which means addition of 6 hoarding in disguise, said sources of JMC.
Its worth to mention here that there was no mention of double side hoardings in annexure A of eNIT which was floated by the JMC on dated 18/01/2016.
Though, the JMC authority and the officer concerned claimed of regularly monitoring the areas allotted for specific number of advertisements but the alleged vast hoardings sparkling right under their nose points to needle of suspicion towards them.