Book purchase order for Kamarajar Grand Library cancelled

The procurement order for books for the under-construction Kamarajar Grand Library and Intellectual Centre (KGLIC) in Tiruchi has been cancelled, in the wake of the alleged irregularities in the procurement of fake and AI-generated books for the Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore.

The order for procurement of books in Tamil and English for the library which is under construction in Tiruchi has been cancelled based on the directions of the Secretary of the School Education Department, said sources in the Department of Public Libraries.

As per the proceedings issued by the Director of Public Libraries, publishers have been asked to be intimated about the cancellation of the order, the sources added

“Books were planned to be procured at an estimated cost of about ₹30 crore for the Kamarajar Library. But no expenditure has been incurred under this head so far. Publishers send their books in advance for our scrutiny. Money is paid only at the time of purchase. The procurement order for the library was cancelled on November 6,” a senior official told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Publishers have been also been asked to take back their book submissions for KGLIC currently being kept in storage at the District Central Library in Tiruchi.

The official said 136 publishers had submitted their publications for consideration to the project. “There are 217 unopened bundles of books stored at the District Central Library. We have asked the publishers to take back their stock until further notice,” he said.