Jammu, Apr 14: Pulling up the J&K Police for shortfall in procurement of equipment and delay in modernisation process, Comptroller and Auditor General of India has recommended early commissioning of satellite-based integrated police communication network (POLNET).
"The POLNET and communication systems should be commissioned at the earliest. An efficient communication system and POLNET are essential, particularly in the state which is under constant security threat," CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2009 submitted in the assembly last week said.
Considering the security threat, Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the state government in August 2004 for upgradation of communication system of police, it said.
It was seen that out of Rs 9.67 crore released between 2004-09 for procurement of 69 items, only Rs 4.89 crore (51 percent) has been spent by the department as of March 2009.
Despite availability of funds, 59 items approved for procurement between 2004-09, the department had been able to procure only 29 (49 percent) items fully and one item partially and rest 29 items had not been obtained at all.
Apart from delay in release of funds to the department and shortfall in procurement in equipment, the modernisation programme was greatly affected, the report said.
Giving further details, CAG said Rs 16.51 lakh had been spent on establishment of five coral digital exchanges without ascertaining weather system head software for providing dial 100 (emergency) facility.
Though exchanges were functional, the dial 100 facility which was one of the essential facilities to be provided was not available.
POLNET for integrating all police stations through better voice, fax and data transmission capabilities was approved in August 2002 by the Centre for implementation by December 2004 and Rs 5.38 crore was released during 2002-08 for the project, the report said.
Supply, installation and commissioning of 140 towers were allotted in October 2006 to a firm for completion within six months. As per the terms of contract, full payment was to be made only after the completion of the project.
However, after execution of part of the project, the firm had insisted on release of payments which was not agreed by the government. After works on 65 towers, the work was suspended by the firm, the CAG report said.
The matter has not been resolved by March 2009 and POLNET equipment worth Rs 2.29 crore procured between 2002-05 had been lying unutilised.
The failure in ensuring commissioning of POLNET has deprived police of reliable communication network, it said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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