The Directorate of Culture and Tourism has denied payment to be made to the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry for co-organising 31st Surajkund International Craft Mela held in October 2017 in Haryana. Chamber was selected as event partner for the prestigious cultural happening but the Directorate after series of scrutiny found bills under several heads without carrying proper work orders.
The decision has been made after the meeting taken place in the chairmanship of Director, Tourism on July 19 which led the Directorate recommending the Art, Culture and Tourism Department on August 20 for stop payment.
“The committee of officials found majority of the bills presented under different heads without any prior approval obtained from the Department or the Directorate. Bills like ‘additional creative works’, ‘production work for radio jingles and cinema slides’, ‘installation of hoardings in Ranchi, ‘printing of Jharkhand tourism documents in Delhi’ and several others were presented for payment whereas no work order was given by the Department for that to the PHD Chamber at the first place,” said an official of the Department.
The Pioneer had flagged the attempts underway by the PHD Chamber to get the bills amounting nearly Rs 98,35,471 for media and Rs 76,25,638 for ‘additional work done’ cleared. It was over and above the provision of scope of work of the RFP fixed at Rs 2,47,50,300 claimed to be carried out by it during the fair.
Minutes of the meeting and details of recommendation, a copy of it is with this newspaper, clearly remark the works claimed to be done during the festival as unapproved or without prior sanction while declining to pay against the vouchers presented by the event management body.
During the review meeting conducted by the Department in July all the issues were raised with the PHD Chamber representatives present along with the whole list of incomplete works done by the business body, chosen as ‘event management company’ for the fair.
“They were told to submit copies of the work order given to them against the bills submitted as additional work. Even passage of the time given no satisfactory reply came to us about the extra expenses done in the form of certified documents which was required if at all the bills were to be passed. Now the recommendation for non-payment has been made to the Department,” added the official.
Moreover some bills such as printing of books and folder of Culture Department of Rs 66,781, some for organising rehearsals of artists in Ranchi have been approved for payment from the competent Directorates and authorities.
“Baring serial number 6, 7, 32, 63, 64, 66, 67 and 69, prior approval from the Department/ Directorate has not been taken by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Also no post-facto sanction has been taken from competent authority after the completion of the works,” concludes the recommendation.