the goan I network
PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the government of promoting corruption through a circular which restricts bidders from quoting 20% below the estimated cost of a project.
“The government is itself promoting corruption through tendering process in the PWD and other departments that are carrying out public works by relying on a circular
which restricts a bidder in any tender, from quoting below 20% of the estimated cost in the case of buildings, roads, water supply and sewer works,” AAP leader Pradeep Amonkar said.
Amonkar pointed to one instance of a tender issued by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation, which, he said, was cancelled several times apparently because the bids were too low.
GIDC issued a tender notice on July 14, 2017, for five different works of around Rs 2 crore each. After two corrigenda extending the date of submission of the tender by prospective bidders, the same works were re-tendered on November 2, 2017, with the addition of two more works thus tendering seven works which included five of those in the notice of July 14, 2017. The second tender too was not finalized and the seven works were re-tendered the third time on December 7, 2017.
“We ask the government to come clean on the cancellation of the tendering twice and ask them why they did not accept the tenders earlier in which the bids were much lower which would otherwise be for the benefit of the corporation,” Amonkar said.
Amonkar said that they have written to the Chief Secretary to withdraw the circular forthwith and ensure level-playing field to local contractors whose power to pay underhand as is generally known, was much less than their outstation counterparts.
AAP said their own inquiry has shown that the illegal circular was called “Cushion of Corruption for the PWD” and “of illegal and of distortionist nature, inclined to protect the contractor rather than the government”.
It was withdrawn earlier, but brought back at the insistence of then PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, who is holding the same portfolio currently, the party added.
