Was wondering what all this was abou. It is sad what national institutions like the NIO are coming to, where science seems to take a back-seat to greed.
It is a pity that GT is not online. Some interesting stuff appears there, which other papers don't seem to want to touch. > Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2014 23:53:40 +0530 > From: Stephen Dias <steve.dia...@gmail.com> > Subject: [Goanet] NIO DIRECTOR Dr. SWA NAQVI SPLURGES Rs.. 50 LAKS > For Goanet readers about my views: > > > Stephen Dias > Ref: GT reported a news on DIRECTOR NIO on 5th July 2014 title ? NIO > DIRECTOR SPLURGES RS 50 LAKH . NIO Director splurges Rs. 50 lakh: On luxury car, swanky bungalow, business-class air travel (Gomantak Times Reporter: 5 August 2014) Panaji: Even as the Modi government is tightening its belt and imposing austerity measures to cut wasteful expenditure by officials, the premier Goa based research organization National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) seems to be an exception to the rule. The NIO has purchased a luxury car, a Toyota Corolla Altis, at the cost of a whopping Rs.12.6 lakhs. The highest model of vehicle approved for the use of staff car by the Central ministries and departments is the Maruti -SX4. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is the parent body of the NIO, prescribes the Maruti Esteem and the Tata Indigo as the highest models of staff cars. In fact, over the last five years the CSIR has been instructing their institution heads through circulars to hire cars instead of buying them, to save funds. A CSIR circular, dating as far back as 2004, clearly stipulates: “The present system of government owning cars and employing regular drivers who are full-time government servants leads to excessive expenditure by the way of maintenance and repair charges, salary, prerequisites, pensions, etc, compared to the cost of hiring vehicles and hence purchase of new cars be banned. As and when old cars are condemned, the requirement of officials concerned be met by taking cars on hire.” But in violation of these directives from the Central government as well as the CSIR, the NIO has gone ahead and bought a luxury segment Toyota Corolla Altis car at the cost of Rs. 12.6 lakhs for the use of its Director Dr. S.W.A.Naqvi. Interestingly, the money to purchase this car was obtained from an R & D project undertaken by the NIO on contract from the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) whicj itself is a financially weak public sector undertaking. It is reliably learnt that the purchase of this car was financed through R & D capital funds (under project code SSP2610 and SSP2611). Documents obtained under RTI from ONGC, dated 24 February 2014, reveal that no provision was made in the project funds for purchase of such a luxury car. Under the statutory requirements in the contract between ONGC and NIO, it is clearly spelt out that at any stage of implementing of the project, violation of laws, rules and regulations is prohibited. Which means that the purchase of this car is a breach of contract as the car is not a proprietary item which is essential to support the R & D activity. In the year 2000, misappropriation of public funds had caught the eye of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which had lambasted CSIR for gross mis-utilization of the ‘laboratory reserve fund’ created to promote R&D activities in the country, and such unauthorized transfer of funds. Not just this, but the NIO Director, Dr. Naqvi, in alleged violation of directives and austerity measures has also travelled business class air, instead of the economy class which is approved for government officers. Business class tickets are two to four times higher than the economy class. As a result, the NIO has borne a whopping Rs seven lakhs expenditure on travel alone. On being contacted by e-mail for his response, Dr. Naqvi replied: “A Toyota vehicle has indeed been purchased by the NIO for its Business Management Group. This is also being used by me only for official purpose on a temporary basis because the Director’s staff car is not in a good condition. The vehicle was purchased following prescribed procedures using funds from sponsored projects where provision had been made for capital expenditure” It is not understood how the purchase of the car can be justified as a proprietary R&D item required to meet the target of the project. In his response to allegations of travelling by business class, Dr. Naqvi responded: “As far as my air travel by executive class, I would like to point out that I am entitled for that. However, ever since austerity measures were introduced by CSIR last year, I have always travelled by economy class.” The CSIR has been issuing austerity instructions since 2009, either prohibiting business class travel or emphasizing the need for travelling in economy class by its officers to economise resource management. The splurging does not end here. Public disclosure documents available with GT show that the NIO has spent more than Rs. 38 lakhs last year to refurbish and enhance aesthetics of the Director’s Official bungalow. Nearly Rs. 30 lakh has been spent for fitting high quality vitrified tiles, luxury plumbing, plastering, painting and carpentry works. In addition, the luxurious modular kitchen has cost Rs. 1.4 lakhs, spring operated mosquito nets Rs. 1.2 lakhs, fancy lights Rs. 1.1 lakhs, hot water geysers and air conditioners Rs. 70,000 and upgrading of of residential garden Rs. 80,000. In effect, the NIO has spent about half a crore of rupees of public money in 18 months on providing luxury to one man while the government of India struggling to meet planned developmental programs for the nation. Half a crore of rupees would have supported dozens of PhD students for one year, which is what the NIO is working for. > > >