By Express News Service
MALKANGIRI: Malkangiri Collector Vishal Singh has scrapped 48 mining tenders together with the seven stone quarries awarded to Andhra Pradesh-based dealer Ch Venu Gopal. Singh on Tuesday mentioned the choice to cancel the tenders was taken basing on the advice of the Revenue division. Fresh tenders will likely be floated for the public sale of all these mines.
Earlier, Singh had cancelled the Rs 1 crore solvency certificates issued in favour of Venu Gopal by the Malkangiri Sub-Collector for not verifying the genuineness of the report filed by the native income inspector.
Venu Gopal, who’s the proprietor of VG Granite at Peta beneath Motu tehsil, was awarded the tenders of seven stone quarries when Yedulla Vijay was the Collector of Malkangiri.
Sources mentioned the motion is available in wake of the probe report by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (South) who was investigating the alleged irregularities in mining tenders floated by Vijay. Former MP Pradeep Majhi alleged that the RDC is but to offer a report on individuals concerned within the mining irregularities.
Earlier, the Congress chief had accused Vijay of awarding stone quarries in favour of Venu Gopal by manipulating bid paperwork by means of tender fixing. “Scrapping of all of the tenders has uncovered the nexus between district officers and mining mafia. It is excessive time motion was taken towards all those that are concerned within the mining rip-off, Majhi added.
Majhi had additionally alleged that the tender packing containers had been deliberately taken to the residence of Vijay to control the bid papers to favour the AP-based dealer. However, the previous Malkangiri Collector had refuted the costs and clarified that he had taken the tender packing containers to his residence workplace for higher safety and CCTV surveillance.
