Operation Short Circuit: Vigilance unearths Rs 16.5 lakh corruption in KSEB

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A report revealed that a quick inspection conducted by the Vigilance at Kerala State Electricity Board unearthed corruption and widespread irregularities worth lakhs. The Vigilance uncovered the huge irregularities through a secret operation called ‘Operation Short Circuit’. The action was taken after it was reported that the contractor was accepting bribes in the form of commission and changing the bill without conducting an inspection.

It was found that 41 officials had taken bribes worth Rs 16.5 lakh through accounts alone. The vigilance examined the contract works done in the last five years.

Major irregularities: Large contract works are divided into works of smaller amounts to avoid tendering. Vigilance found that the practice of awarding contracts to the preferred candidates through quotations is followed in most of the offices.

A biased stance, awarding contracts to the same person for various works for many years, was found. There are large-scale irregularities in the log books and the use of vehicles taken on a contract basis. Files related to contract works are not maintained properly. In addition, the registers that should have been maintained as per the rules are not available in many places. Vigilance said the KSEB procedure of assigning contract works without following official procedures and maintaining accurate records is leading to huge financial irregularities.