FURNISHING RNPP APARTMENTS HC asks for probe reports

The High Court on Monday asked the government to submit to it on June 23 the reports on probes into abnormally high prices of household articles purchased to furnish apartments in multi-storey buildings under the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project in Pabna.
The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi also adjourned until June 23 the hearing of a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon for ordering a judicial inquiry into the matter.
The bench passed the order after attorney general Mahbubey Alam opposed issuance of any ruling until the two committees formed by the housing and public works ministry and the public works department submitted their reports.
The attorney general told the court that the committees — one led by an additional secretary and the other led by public works department additional chief engineer — were asked to submit the reports in seven days.
Referring to reports carried by different dailies, the petition stated that the public works department purchased the household articles, including electric stove, electric kettle, room cleaners, television sets, refrigerators, pillows and washing machines, for furnishing 966 apartments constructed mainly for the Russian engineers and officials of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.
Each of the pillows was reportedly purchased for Tk 5,957 and lifted to thew apartments at a cost of Tk 760, stated the petition
An electric stove reportedly cost Tk 7,747 and its lifting cost Tk 6,650.
The purchase price of an electric kettle was reportedly Tk 5313 and its lifting cost was Tk 2,945.
The public works department purchased a room cleaner for Tk 12,018 and lifted it at a cost of Tk 6,650. 
An electric iron cost Tk 4,154 and its lifting cost Tk 2,945. 
A television set reportedly cost Tk 86,970 while its lifting cost Tk 7,698.
A refrigerator reportedly cost Tk 94,250 and its lifting cost Tk 12,521.
Science and technology minister Yeafesh Osman told New Age on Saturday that the construction and furnishing of the apartments were done by the public works department with the block allocation given from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.
‘We gave some requirements to ensure first-class accommodation for Russians engaged in the project,’ he said.
The government on Sunday formed the two committees to investigate the matter.
The housing ministry formed a committee headed by an additional secretary while the public works department formed the other committee headed by an additional chief engineer.
The ministry in a release on Sunday said that e-tenders were floated to purchase furniture and other household articles in six packages for furnishing apartments in six multi-storey buildings. 
As each of the packages cost below Tk 30 crore, the tenders were floated by the department of public works and the ministry had no involvement in the purchase process, said the release. 
It said that the ministry formed two committees following newspaper reports.
The ministry already ordered stopping all the payments to the contractors until it received the probe reports. 
As no payment was made yet, the ministry would ensure the payment of the contractors following recommendations of the probe bodies keeping in mind the market value of the furniture and other articles. 
The abnormally high prices of household articles hit the headline and people in social media protested at the high prices.
Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman told New Age on Saturday that the purchase price of the equipment were absolutely abnormal. 
He said that Anti-Corruption Commission should also launch an inquiry as many government probe bodies formed earlier for financial irregularities were proved to be a mere bureaucratic exercise.
The country’s first nuclear power plant is being constructed at Rooppur in Pabna with more than $12 billion financial and technical assistance from Russia. One of the two reactors is expected to be commissioned in 2023.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net