Scrap sale scam at Sabarimala? Government steps in, Clean Kerala to collect scrap

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scrap auctions at Sabarimala were also allegedly plagued by large-scale irregularities, with Devaswom employees and contractors accused of colluding. The government has now decided to prevent the alleged loss of lakhs of rupees. From now on, Clean Kerala Company will collect scrap from Sabarimala, Pamba and Nilakkal.

Under the new arrangement, 70% of the amount received from the sale of the scrap will go to the Travancore Devaswom Board, while Clean Kerala will receive the remaining 30%. A government order to this effect was issued on Tuesday. The order states that private contractors have been completely excluded from the scrap collection and sale process.

Scrap iron alone fetched an average of around Rs 50 lakh through auctions every year. The engineering wing of the Devaswom Board used to invite quotations instead of conducting an e-tender and award the auction to contractors. Regular contractors allegedly secured the contracts by quoting very low amounts, while employees were also allegedly given a share of the profits running into lakhs of rupees.

This year, around 50,000 kg of scrap materials from Pampa alone was put up for auction. After the Board's administrative committee became aware of the alleged irregularities, it decided to award the contract to Clean Kerala Company. An MoU was also signed for the purpose.

Scrap load returned after protest

1. On September 7, when a Clean Kerala Company lorry arrived at Pampa to collect the first load of scrap, the Devaswom engineering wing objected. It argued that there was no government order officially handing over the scrap collection to Clean Kerala. The scrap loaded onto the lorry was subsequently unloaded. A function planned to be inaugurated by Board president K. Jayakumar was also cancelled.
2. Later, the engineering wing invited quotations for the scrap auction. The earnest money deposit was fixed at Rs 26,000, while the base price was set at Rs 13 lakh. The auction was finalised at Rs 26 lakh on Monday. At Nilakkal, the contract was awarded for Rs 15 lakh. Following this, the Board brought the matter to the government's attention, leading to the urgent issuance of the government order.