Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited (OSBCL), which is in charge of liquor distribution in the State, it has been plagued by rampant corruption and gross mismanagement which has been even pointed out by the CAG in its report.

Of late, Excise Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani has been shunted out by the Odisha Government. It was alleged that Lohani had turned a blind eye to corruption in the OSBCL and gave a freehand to the tainted top officials.

OSBCL Derailed

However, though Lohani has been shunted out from the Excise Department, it is alleged that the tainted top officials continue their illegal activities to mint crores of rupees, which is causing huge loss to the State.  A top official Manas Ranjan Swain who is in the eye of the storm, has managed to bag two important posts of Chief General Manager (Operations) and Chief Operating Officer in the process handle multiple responsibilities.  It might be mentioned here that Chief Operating Officer is vacant for long.

Besides, though one Amit Kumar Singh has been appointed as Chief General Manager (Accounts and Audit), the accounts work has been outsourced to different chartered accounts for which a hefty sum is being paid by the OSBC.

Outsourcing and Dubious Appointments

Similarly, though the OSBCL is not into any manufacturing activity, one Bibhuti  Bhusan Jena has been appointed as Deputy Manager of Supply Chain Management.

Further, due to delay in supply of liquor to the retail outlets by the OSBCL officials, taking advantage of it, spurious liquor is managing to get into the retail outlets. This is a major concern as the unsuspecting customer does not know that what he is consuming. The seizure of spurious liquor bottles from the Baramunda area in Bhubaneswar is a glaring example. It is alleged that CGM Swain’s involvement in such incidents is being suspected.

Spurious Liquor Threat and SOP Violations

Earlier, it was alleged that CGM Swain worked in tandem with the OSBCL Chairman and started harassing the liquor companies on various pretexts to collect bribes. He also committed huge irregulates in loading and unloading at the depots. Whether there was pilferage, theft or damages during the unloading of liquor, Swain in nexus with the depot in-charge violated all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which has been pointed out by the CAG in its report which was tabled in the State Assembly in 2022.

He also harassed the liquor companies on various pretexts to collect bribes. He also committed huge irregularities in loading and unloading at the depots. Whether there was pilferage, theft or damages during the unloading of liquor, Swain in nexus with the depot in-charge violated all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which has been pointed out by the CAG in its report which was tabled in the State Assembly in 2022.

Financial Irregularities and Need for Investigation

The COO and the depot in-charge show cartoons of good liquor bottles as ‘breakage’ and sell them outside to pocket the money. If any supplier complains, the liquor company’s truck is detained for days, due to which the transport costs spiral for the company.

During loading and unloading process of the liquor-laden trucks at the OSBCL depots if there is any fire, theft, the compensation paid to the companies for the loss is not disbursed properly and is being embezzled.

The money paid to the liquor companies through the automation process after supply, is being held back by the COO for some days with a tacit understanding with some bank officials. The accrued interest is being allegedly siphoned off by Swain.

A  probe by the new Excise Principal Secretary can only unravel deep-rooted corruption in the OSBCL and clean the Augean stables in it due to which the Odisha Government is losing revenue worth crores of rupees.

The post Despite Change of Guard OSBCL Derailed appeared first on Odisha Connect.

Bhubaneswar: Of late, it has come to light that there was a large scam in the recruitment of regular posts of top officials in the Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited (OSBCL) in 2014-15.  The eligibility criteria for educational qualification and experience for different posts were blatantly violated flouting the government guidelines.

• Crores of rupees pocketed by officials
• Chairman-COO nexus blamed for the mess

Flouting of Recruitment Norms in OSBCL

Reliable sources said the candidates selected for the posts of Chief Operating Officer (COO), General Manager (A&A), Accountant, Manager (IT) and Assistant Manager (Supply &Chain) did not have the requisite educational qualifications from reputed educational institutions and submitted forged documents to the interview board to get recruitment.

The interview board members consisted of faculties from the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar but surprisingly the OSBCL Chairman was also a member of the interview board. This has raised many questions about the transparency and impartiality in the whole recruitment process.

After posting, the COO Manas Ranjan Swain, who also now holds the Chief General Manager (CGM) portfolio alleged to have worked in tandem with the OSBCL Chairman and started harassing the liquor companies on various pretexts to collect bribes. He also committed huge irregulates in loading and unloading at the depots. Whether there was pilferage, theft or damages during the unloading of liquor, Swain in nexus with the depot in charge violated all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which the CAG has pointed out in its report which was tabled in the State Assembly in 2022.

Widespread Corruption Allegations

The COO and the depot in charge show cartoons of good liquor bottles as ‘breakage’ and sell them outside to pocket the money. If any supplier complains, the liquor company’s truck is detained for days, due to which the transport costs spiral for the company.

During loading and unloading process of the liquor-laden trucks at the OSBCL depots if there is any fire, theft, the compensation paid to the companies for the loss is not disbursed properly and is being embezzled.

Call for Vigilance Probe

The money paid to the liquor companies through the automation process after supply, is being held back by the COO for some days with a tacit understanding with some bank officials. The accrued interest is being allegedly siphoned off by Swain.

However, so far Excise Secretary Sushil Lohani, who is the OSBCL Chairman has turned a blind eye to the corrupt activities of the CGM and COO  and continues to provide patronage to him.  A Vigilance probe ordered by the newly elected BJP government can only unearth the massive corruption in the OSBCL and clean the Augean Stables.

The post OSBCL Turns Hotbed Of Corruption appeared first on Odisha Connect.

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର: ରାଜ୍ୟ ମଦ ନିଗମକୁ ଘାରିଛି ଦୁର୍ନୀତିର ନିଶା । କୋଟି କୋଟି ଟଙ୍କାର ହେଉଛି ହରିଲୁଟ ।

ଅଗଷ୍ଟ ୧୮ ତାରିଖରେ ଅନୁଗୁଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଜରପଡା ଥାନା ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ଦୁର୍ଗାପୁର ନିକଟରେ ଜଳିଗଲା ମଦ ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ଥିବା ଦୁଇଟି ଟ୍ରକ  । ଗୋଟିଏ ଟ୍ରକରେ ଥିଲା ବ୍ଲେଣ୍ଡର୍ସ ପ୍ରାଇଡ ଏବଂ ରୟାଲ ଷ୍ଟାଗ୍ ବ୍ରାଣ୍ଡ ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟ ଟ୍ରକରେ ଥିଲା ହଣ୍ଟର ବିଅର ବ୍ରାଣ୍ଡ । ଅଗ୍ନିଶମ ବିଭାଗ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା ବେଳକୁ ଦୁଇ ଟ୍ରକ ମଦ ଜଳିପୋଡି ପାଉଁଶ ହୋଇ ଯାଇଥିଲା । ତେବେ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଏଠି,  ଲକ୍ଷ ଲକ୍ଷ ଟଙ୍କାର ମଦ ଜଳିଗଲା କେମିତି ? ଜଳିଗଲା ନା ଜଳାଇ ଦିଆଗଲା ? ଏସବୁର ଉତ୍ତର ଖୋଜୁ ଖୋଜୁ ଆଳୁ ଖୋଳୁ ଖୋଳୁ ମହାଦେବ ବାହାରିଛନ୍ତି ।

ଯଦିଓ ସର୍ଟ ସର୍କିଟ ଯୋଗୁ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡ ଘଟିଲା ବୋଲି ସଫେଇ ଦିଆଯାଉଛି ତଥାପି ଏପରି ଅପ୍ରତ୍ୟାଶିତ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା ଉପରୁ ସନ୍ଦେହ ହଟୁନି । କୁହାଯାଉଛି, ଟ୍ରକ ଡ୍ରାଇଭର ନିକଟରେ ରୋଷେଇ କରୁଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେଥିରୁ ବୋଧହୁଏ ନିଆଁ କୌଣସି କାରଣରୁ ଲାଗି ଯାଇଛି । ଜରପଡା ପୋଲିସ ଡିପୋ ଇନଚାର୍ଜଙ୍କୁ ଏ ନେଇ ଜେରା କରିବା ପରେ ଜଣା ପଡିଛି, ମଦ ନିଗମର ଏହି ଡିପୋରେ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାର ଅଗ୍ନି ନିର୍ବାପ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ନାହିଁ କିମ୍ବା ଗାଡି ନେଇ ଆସୁଥିବା ଡ୍ରାଇଭର ରୋଷେଇ ପାଇଁ କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ନାହିଁ ।

ରାଜ୍ୟ  ମଦ ନିଗମର ଏ ଦୁର୍ନୀତି ଆଜି ନୂଆ ନୁହେଁ । ୨ ବର୍ଷ ତଳେ କମପ୍ଟ୍ରୋଲର ଏବଂ ଅଡିଟର ଜେନେରାଲ ଅଫ ଇଣ୍ଡିଆ ବା CAG  ଲିକର ସପ୍ଲାଇର ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛତା ନେଇ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଉଠାଇଥିଲେ । ହେଲେ ଆଜିଯାଏ ଏହି ଅନିୟମିତତା ବିରୋଧରେ ରାଜ୍ୟ ମଦ ନିଗମ ବା OSBCL ଚେୟାରମ୍ୟାନ ସୁଶୀଲ କୁମାର ଲୋହାନୀ ଏବଂ ସିଜିଏମ ମାନସ କୁମାର ସ୍ୱାଇଁ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାର ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ନାହାନ୍ତି ।

ସିଏଜି ମାର୍ଚ୍ଚ ୨୦୨୧ରେ  ତାଙ୍କର  ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ ମଦ ଉତ୍ପାଦ ଠାରୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରି ଦୋକାନରେ ବିକ୍ରି ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଉପରେ  ନଜର ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ଟ୍ରାକ ଆଣ୍ଡ ଟ୍ରେସ ଉପରେ ଯେପରି ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱ ରଖାଯିବା କଥା ତାହା ବିଭାଗ ପକ୍ଷରୁ କରାଯାଇ ନ ଥିବା ଦର୍ଶାଇଥିଲେ । ଏହି ରିପୋର୍ଟ ୨୦୨୨ ଡିସେମ୍ବର ୨ ତାରିଖରେ ବିଧାନସଭାରେ ରଖା ଯାଇଥିଲା । ଏପରିକି ଏଥିପାଇଁ କୌଣସି ସପ୍ଟଓୟାର କିମ୍ବା ମୋବାଇଲ ଆପ ଡେଭଲପ ହେଇ ନ ଥିବା ନେଇ ଅଡିଟ ଏଜେନ୍ସି ତାଙ୍କ ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ ଦର୍ଶାଇଥିଲେ । ଟ୍ରାକ ଆଣ୍ଡ ଟ୍ରେସ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ମାନର ମଦ ପହଞ୍ଚୁଛି କି ନାହିଁ ଏବଂ ସରକାରୀ ଟାକ୍ସରେ ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛତା ରହୁଛି କି ନାହିଁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିହେବ ବୋଲି ସିଏଜି କହିଥିଲେ । ଟ୍ରାକ ଆଣ୍ଡ ଟ୍ରେସକୁ ଅଧିକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ଷମ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ EAL ବା  Excise Adhesive Labels  ଲଗାଇବା ଉପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିଭାଗ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱ  ଦିଆଯାଇ ନ ଥିବା ସିଏଜି ତାଙ୍କର ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ କହିଥିଲ।

ଆଉ ଏକ ବଡ ଧରଣର ତ୍ରୁଟି ସିଏଜି ଦର୍ଶାଇଥିଲେ । ଏହି ଏଇଏଏଲ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରିତାକୁ ନେଇ ବିଭାଗ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ଅହେତୁକ ବିଳମ୍ବ କରାଯାଇଛି । ୨୦୧୪ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଏହି ସପ୍ଟୱୟାର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ସମୟ ଧାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରାଯାଇଥିଲେ ହେଁ ୨୦୨୨ ଶେଷ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଏହା କରାଯାଇ ନାହିଁ ।

ସିଏଜି ଆହୁରି ମଧ୍ୟ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ କରିଥିଲେ ଯେ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା ବାହାରେ ଥିବା ମଦ ଉତ୍ପାଦ କମ୍ପାନୀ ଜାରି କରିଥିବା ଇଏଏଲ ସଂଖ୍ୟା ଅନୁସାରେ ମଦ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରୁ ନ ଥିଲେ   । ଏପରିକି ଆର୍ଥିକ ବର୍ଷ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଲାଇସେନ୍ସର ନବୀକରଣ ମଧ୍ୟ କରୁନାହାନ୍ତି । ଏହାଦ୍ୱାରା ଏକ ବିପଦର ଆଶଙ୍କା ରହିଥିବା ନେଇ ସିଏଜି ତାଙ୍କ ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ ସୂଚନା ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି । ଏହି ଇଏଏଲକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଭିତରେ ଥିବା କମ୍ପାନୀକୁ ଡାଇଭର୍ଟ କରାଯାଉଥାଇପାରେ  । ସେମାନ ଏହାକୁ ନିଜ ଉତ୍ପାଦରେ ଲଗାଇ ଏକ୍ସାଇଜ କମିଶନଙ୍କ ଅଗୋଚରରେ ଅଧିକ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରୁଥାଇ ପାରନ୍ତି ।

ସିଏଜି OSBCL ଡିପୋର ଷ୍ଟୋରେଜ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଅବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ ନେଇ ମଧ୍ୟ କଡା ସମାଲୋଚନା କରିଥିଲେ । ଉତ୍ପାଦ କିପରି ଖରାପ ନ ହେବ ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଡିପୋରେ କୌଣସି ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ନାହିଁ । ଅର୍ଥାତ ରେଫ୍ରିଜରେଟର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଠିକ ନାହିଁ । ଏପରିକି ଉତ୍ପାଦ ଖରା ଓ ବର୍ଷାରେ ଦୀର୍ଘ ସମୟ ଧରି ପଡି ରହୁଥିଲେ ହେଁ ଏହାକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ସଂରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ନାହିଁ । ଏପରି ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଉତ୍ପାଦ ଖରାପ ହେବାର ତଥା ଚୋରି ହେବାର ଆଶଙ୍କା ମଧ୍ୟ ରହିଛି । ଏପରିକି ଡିପୋରେ ଉତ୍ପାଦ ନଷ୍ଟ ହେଉଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ OSBCL  ଏଥିପ୍ରତି ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଦେଉନି । ଆଉ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ରାଜସ୍ୱ କ୍ଷତି ସହିବାକୁ ପଡୁଥିବା ରିପୋର୍ଟରେ ଦର୍ଶାଯାଇଛି ।

The post ଜଳିଗଲା ମଦ ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ଟ୍ରକ , ଆଉ ଲୁଚିଗଲା….. appeared first on Odisha Connect.

Bhubaneswar: The fire mishap in the depot of the Odisha State Beverage Corporation Limited (OSBCL) at Durgapur under the Jarpada police station in Angul district on August 18, in which liquor worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed as two trucks off in flames again exposed the gross irregularities and blatant lapses by the senior officials of the OSBC.

• CAG report put in cold storage

• Top officials blamed for mismanagement

Notably, one truck loaded with Blenders Pride and Royal Stag and another truck carrying Hunter Beer caught fire and were completely reduced to ashes when the Fire Services person reached the spot.

Though a short circuit is claimed to be the reason for the mishap, mystery still shrouds the incident. Sources said the truck drivers were cooking food near the trucks which might have ignited the fire. The Jarpada police had detained the Depot in charge Mahalik for questioning. Thankfully the fire did not spread to the depot which would have led to a big tragedy. There are no fire safety measures at the OSBC depots or facilities for preparing food or lodging facilities for the drivers.

Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found significant lapses in the regulation of the legal supply chain for liquor products in Odisha by the Excise Department. But though nearly two years have passed, no measures have been taken by the OSBCL top officials including Chairman Sushil Kumar Lohani and Chief General Manager (Operations) Manas Kumar Swain to streamline the operations.

The CAG In its compliance audit for the year ended March 2021of the Departments of Excise, which was laid in the State Assembly on 2nd December 2022 has pointed out the absence of the critical ‘track and trace’ functionality to monitor the movement of liquor products from manufacture to retail point.

The auditing agency pointed out that no software application or mobile app had been developed to empower the end consumer of liquor products in Odisha to scan the Excise Adhesive Labels (EALs) affixed on liquor products at retail points to ascertain the EAL as genuine, the product safe for human consumption and Government taxes had indeed been paid.

 The report further said that such an application would have also enabled the officers of the Enforcement Wing of the Excise Commission to scan the EALs affixed on liquor products at any point during the movement through the legal supply chain and verify the specific routing from source to destination. The EALs are required to be affixed on all liquor products, to enable ‘track and trace’ functionality through the legal supply chain.

Another significant lapse commented on by the CAG is the inordinate delay in implementation of the EAL Accounting Module in the supply chain management software, which had been scheduled to be completed by 2014, but had not been implemented even by the end of 2022.

The CAG clarified that manufacturers located outside Odisha State had not supplied liquor products commensurate with the number of EALs which they had been issued, and not even renewed their licenses during subsequent financial years. There was a material risk that such EALs may have been diverted for use by manufacturers located within Odisha, who could then affix them on their liquor products which were the result of excess production not reported to the Excise Commission.

 The CAG also slammed the poor documentary and storage controls in the depots of the OSBCL. No norms had been adopted for spoilage (no refrigeration facilities for beer at its depots for example, and liquor products exposed to rain and sun in some cases), breakage or pilferage. The OSBCL does not adequately monitor the loss of liquor products from its depots, which results in loss of VAT, the report observed.

The CAG highlighted that in the absence of CCTV cameras to monitor and record the footage of the production line at distilleries or breweries, the visiting officers were not in a position to review footage of the production shifts which had taken place from the time of their last visit.

However, it seems, the CAG report has been put in the cold storage by the Excise Department and the OSBCL top mandarins in particular to continue with their corrupt activities.

The post Huge Irregularities, Lapses In OSBCL Supply Chain  appeared first on Odisha Connect.