The Hindu Business Line : AP orders probe into purchase of equipment for SKIMS

THE State Government will order an inquiry by a senior official of the Vigilance and Enforcement Department into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of computers, printers and scanners by the previous Telugu Desam Government for the Secretariat Knowledge Information and Management Service (SKIMS) project.

The Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, gave an assurance to this effect when the issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly during question hour on Thursday by Congress legislators Mr P. Janaradhana Reddy, Mr P. Jeevan Reddy and Mr K. Rambhupal Reddy.

Alleging that irregularities were committed in the purchase of the equipment, the legislators demanded that the Government order an inquiry into the entire SKIMS affair.

They wanted to know how many systems were purchased for SKIMS and whether it was a fact that officials, in the name of repairs, had shifted the systems out of Secretariat.

They also sought clarification on whether Rs 2 crore had been spent on imparting training to the officials for implementation of SKIMS.

Replying to the questions on behalf of the Chief Minister, Mr Lakshmaiah said that a total of 2,119 systems, 595 printers and 90 scanners were purchased at a cost of Rs 12.44 crore for using `CaringGov' application within the State Secretariat.

About 100 systems have been taken out of the Secretariat by senior officers for their camp office usage and not for repairs. An amount of Rs 76.25 lakh was spent on training the officials.

He agreed to order an inquiry into the issue as demanded by the members.

More Stories on : Economic Offences | Hardware | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page