MAPUSA
MMC Chairperson Sandip Falari informed the council that only one person had bid for the sopo and pay-parking tender in the market and the bid was 20 percent more than the tendered amount.
“It’s a good deal and I think we should grab the opportunity,” Falari said.
But his junior colleagues were not convinced. “When a bidder is quoting 20 percent more than the base tender amount, there’s always a chance for malpractices,” said Sanjay Mishal, councilor.
Some councilors were concerned whether the discipline in the market would go for a toss by giving it to a highest bidder.
“The bidder has offered a good amount to the council. But the point is will there be discipline in the market or will it lead to more chaos,” asked Ryan Braganza.
Countering the chairperson at the meeting, councilor Tushar Tople said the tender should be rejected and the whole contract should be re-tendered.
It may be recalled that the Mapusa Merchants’ Association had recently censured the council for issuing sopo tender to the highest bidder, who after bagging
the contract packed the market with additional vendors to make good his profit.
Finally, the chairperson’s writ prevailed and the council passed the decision to allot the tender to the sole contractor but not before the councilors registered their objections.
The chairperson informed the council that no one came forward to bid for pay
parking in the open space behind the new MMC
building.
He said the council will have to re-tender the proposal but in the meantime the civic body will have to engage its staff to collect pay parking fees in the area.
The council discussed at length a proposal by a Gurgaon-based company to treat waste generated in Mapusa.
The chairperson informed the council that the company wanted 25 tonnes of garbage everyday besides 20,000 litres of water and power supply.
The whole process would cost the civic body Rs 9 lakh per month.
At the moment the civic body treats the city waste on its own at Assagao by engaging around 50 temporary staff. The cost comes to around Rs 5.50 lakh per month.
The council decided to engage with the company to learn more about the process and to also negotiate with it on the amount.
Various other developmental works in different wards were passed in the council.
