The Punjab Government has accused five firms of supplying substandard jute bags. The Director General Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) has sought deputation of five more teams to conduct extensive inquiry into the quality of the bags.
According to an earlier inspection by a DGS&D senior officer, inferior quality bags were supplied by five manufacturers, including Abhishek Projects Private Limited, Ganges Jute Private Limited of Kolkata and Bihar Raffia Industries of Jamshedpur.
The payment for these five suppliers has been stopped pending inquiry. And if the charges are proved, the firms will be blacklisted and slapped penalty.
Meanwhile, the DGS&D has procured 2.22 lakh bales of HDPE/PP bags from 87 suppliers to meet the jute bag shortage. The arrangement, made in a short span of two months, is covered by warranties and guarantees of the suppliers that they are liable to be acted against in case of quality or quantity shortfall.