VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, June 14: The ‘Sahibganj Nav Yatayat Sahyog Samiti Limited’ (SNYSSL) is learnt to have claimed before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that it mobilized cash amount worth Rs 5.72 crore from its members for payment to the Bihar government as the bidding amount for ferry service in the river Ganga.
The ED investigating the illegal mining and transportation of the stone chips had sent a notice to SNYSSL to explain how it mobilized such a huge amount of Rs 8.52 crore.
Hulas Choudhary who is convenor of the SNYSSL claimed that out of Rs 8.52 crore the Samiti mobilized Rs 5.72 crore through 84 fishermen who are the members. He has further stated that the Samiti borrowed Rs 2.85 crore from a local private company Singhwahini Transport.
The SNYSSL bagged the contract for the ferry service on the river Ganga between Samda ghat (Sahibganj) and Manihari ghat (Katihar district in Bihar) being the highest bidder. But the SNYSSL failed to explain how it was engaged in such a huge transaction without having a PAN card.
The ED is likely to send a second notice to the SNYSSL for a reply to many supplementary questions besides supporting documents that are missing.
The ED wants to check records of financial transactions of members who, according to Hulas Choudhary, gave money. An additional Rs 68 lakh was paid in cash to the Bihar government as a registration fee. The source of that money also has not been explained.
This Samiti was the highest bidder in the said auction that took place on March 14 at the Katihar district collectorate office. The contract was awarded to this Samiti on the payment of Rs 8.52 crore. Under the rule, it has to deposit the same amount, the next year also. The ferry service operates between Samda ghat (Sahebganj) and Manihari ghat (Katihar).
As per the agreement, Bihar and Jharkhand auction ghats on a rotational basis for a period of two years. This year was the turn of the Bihar government.
After getting the contract for the ferry service, the Samiti is claimed to have made all deposits to the Bihar government in cash except Rs 2.40 Crore which were paid through two demand drafts issued by the State Bank of India through demand draft numbers 337961 and 337961.
