MARGAO
Margao Municipal Council’s plans to allot the Sopo tender to the incumbent contractor sans the mandatory auction for a period of three years, with the Municipal lawyer making it clear to the civic body that the council cannot extend the contract midway in violation of the contract.
Questions are also doing the rounds in the corridors of the civic body why the municipality does not invite bids via e-tender to ensure transparency and prevent syndicate since the amount of the Sopo works out to a whopping Rs 40-odd lakh.
At the last council meeting earlier this month, MMC had mooted a proposal to extend the Sopo contract to the contractor for three years with an annual increase of 10 per cent revenue to the civic body. The proposal was forwarded to the municipal lawyer after it evoked strong opposition from many a city Father, who contended that the municipality has no right to change the contract conditions midway.
Sources in the know said that the municipal lawyer was very clear in his opinion that the council can give the Sopo contract for three years at a stretch, but on condition that this provision included in the contract at the time of auction. It is also learnt that the municipal lawyer is also believed to have called for levying a 25 per cent annual increase in the tender amount in the event the civic body goes in for a three-year period.
Though the municipal lawyer is silent on the e-tendering of the Sopo contractor given that the amount exceeds Rs five lakh, The Goan understands why the civic body is dragging its feet to invite bids in close envelopes or via e-tender to ensure transparency in the entire process.
“The question of inviting bids in close envelopes or via e-tender would have ensured transparency in the entire process and scuttled syndicate amongst the contractor and also eliminate unwanted elements from participating in the bid,” remarked a MMC official.
Given that the financial year would end in another 10 days time all eyes are now focused on the MMC
Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes and Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai how they would go about handling the Sopo contract.
The civic body is yet to float tender for the Sopo contract, with questions being raised whether the council will be in a position to complete the auction process and award the contract before curtains come down on the current financial year.
The ball now lies in the court of the MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai to convene an urgent meeting and finalise the Sopo tender.
