"Flawed" tender process delays project
|
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 11: A "flawed tender process" has significantly delayed a project for construction of RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) drainages at Paona Bazar area, claimed a highly placed source in the Public Works Department.
An amount of Rs 14 crore has been sanctioned for the project, but an alleged flaw in the tender process has delayed the project, said the source.
The project was sanctioned under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
For construction of the RCC drainages including culverts in Paona Bazar-Kakhulong area, Rs 14 crore was sanctioned by the National Housing Bank.
However, instead of issuing only one tender for one work (project), the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) divided the work into two and floated two tenders, said the source.
"The fund was sanctioned for one work and hence, only one tender was to be floated. But the Chief Engineer floated two tenders for two works," claimed the source.
Explaining, the source said, "If the work was to be divided and two tenders were to be floated, the consent of the authority which sanctioned the fund should have been taken prior to floating the tenders."
After the tenders were floated, the Chief Engineer had sent a letter to the Secretariat Works Department to be placed before a higher tender committee chaired by the Chief Secretary.
The letter, sent on January 8 last, was reviewed by the Secretariat Works Department, which then pointed out the "flaw" in the tender process and sought an explanation from the Chief Engineer.
The source said the Secretariat Works Department has enquired if the Chief Engineer had taken consent of the sanctioning authority--the National Housing Bank before the work was divided and two tenders were floated for the project.
Additionally, the Secretariat has also sought justification from the Chief Engineer for floating two tenders.
While the Chief Engineer is yet to respond, this "flaw" in the tender process has significantly delayed the project, said the source.
Notably, the construction of the RRC drainage system, culverts in Paona Bazar area is part of urban infrastructure development projects being taken up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.
Supported financially by the Ministry, the urban infrastructure development projects include programmes for improvement of water supply system, sanitation, sewerage, solid waste management and drainage system.
IMPHAL, Mar 11: A "flawed tender process" has significantly delayed a project for construction of RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) drainages at Paona Bazar area, claimed a highly placed source in the Public Works Department.
An amount of Rs 14 crore has been sanctioned for the project, but an alleged flaw in the tender process has delayed the project, said the source.
The project was sanctioned under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
For construction of the RCC drainages including culverts in Paona Bazar-Kakhulong area, Rs 14 crore was sanctioned by the National Housing Bank.
However, instead of issuing only one tender for one work (project), the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) divided the work into two and floated two tenders, said the source.
"The fund was sanctioned for one work and hence, only one tender was to be floated. But the Chief Engineer floated two tenders for two works," claimed the source.
Explaining, the source said, "If the work was to be divided and two tenders were to be floated, the consent of the authority which sanctioned the fund should have been taken prior to floating the tenders."
After the tenders were floated, the Chief Engineer had sent a letter to the Secretariat Works Department to be placed before a higher tender committee chaired by the Chief Secretary.
The letter, sent on January 8 last, was reviewed by the Secretariat Works Department, which then pointed out the "flaw" in the tender process and sought an explanation from the Chief Engineer.
The source said the Secretariat Works Department has enquired if the Chief Engineer had taken consent of the sanctioning authority--the National Housing Bank before the work was divided and two tenders were floated for the project.
Additionally, the Secretariat has also sought justification from the Chief Engineer for floating two tenders.
While the Chief Engineer is yet to respond, this "flaw" in the tender process has significantly delayed the project, said the source.
Notably, the construction of the RRC drainage system, culverts in Paona Bazar area is part of urban infrastructure development projects being taken up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.
Supported financially by the Ministry, the urban infrastructure development projects include programmes for improvement of water supply system, sanitation, sewerage, solid waste management and drainage system.