Keeping in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of complete digitisation of official information, the Petroleum Ministry has invited tenders for scanning and digitisation of all its files and important data.
Sources though pointed out that while the move is in sync with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) diktat, the decision was also initiated by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to prevent theft of sensitive information from the ministry.
Incidentally the tenders for digitisation of files have come along with separate bids invited by the ministry for installing CCTV cameras within its premises in Shastri Bhavan.
Significantly, the decision to become more secure has come at a time when the Petroleum Ministry is on the verge of taking a final decision on fixing natural gas prices, deadline for which ends during the second week of next month.
With several high profile companies pressuring the Government to fix a higher price for gas, and their representatives constantly present within the ministry, the move is aimed at preventing any leakage of information related to the move, sources said, apart from plugging any future leakage of sensitive information.
Considering the sensitivity involved in the work of the ministry - which deals with policy decisions related to pricing of gas, auction of oil and gas fields, laying of pipelines, operations of refineries, functioning of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) and marketing of oil and gas through its PSUs - it has traditionally been on the radar of corporate lobbyists and liaisoning agents of energy companies.
Sources privy to the development pointed out that soon after assuming charge, Pradhan is said to have issued strict orders to ministry officials, especially junior level functionaries, not to entertain lobbyists and company representatives.
Normally the Petroleum Ministry corridors were abuzz with the presence of such entities, however ever since the NDA Government has assumed charge at the Centre, the second floor office of the ministry at Shastri Bhavan has gradually become free of all such persons.
Official sources said that a couple of incidents related to sensitive information having been leaked out to ‘outside entities’ in the form of photocopies of important note-sheets and files a couple of months back, forced the ministry to take serious note of the matter.
Subsequently tenders were also floated for installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in the corridors of the ministry. Bids for inviting applications for digitisation of files and documents were also floated along side with the tenders for setting up CCTV cameras.
While the decision of initiating digitisation of documents serves the twin purpose of government offices gradually become paperless and sensitive information becoming more secure, the installation of CCTV cameras, is likely to turn the ministry into a high-security zone, and is likely to significantly hit the footfalls within its premises.
The ministry had floated annual contracts for scanning and digitisation of files and important data from interested entities. While for bids seeking installation of CCTVs, it had sought tenders from companies having expertise in this kind of work.