Cong demands probe into paper supply 'scam'

Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Ashok Samal on Tuesday alleged that students are not getting their textbooks in time due to short supply of paper to the Government Press.

Paper black-marketers are taking advantage out of this situation, which must be inquired at a high level, he told reporters here. Samal said the Hindustan Paper Corporation, a unit of the Government of India, used to supply paper to the State Government as a regular practice.

Since last some years, the School and Mass Education Department has been issuing tenders for supply of paper, in which middleman commission is involved.

He said that this tendering process affects quality of paper and timely delivery to the Government Press.

This causes delay in preparation of textbooks and the Board of Secondary Education fails to supply textbooks to the market for students in time.