So you thought PWD contracts are given in Goa, through atender process and to the lowest bidder and that too through a system where thedepartment is in control? A suspended PWD Engineers case files, nail such mythsfor good. Pushed to the wall, the suspended PWD Engineer of Division 25 P TParker, has dug deep into his files to pull out documents to completely nailthe former PWD minister Churchill Alemao and some high profile MLAs led byQuepem MLA Babu Kavlekar. Parker, suspended for issuing scores of short tenderswithout advertisements, has documents that prove that every rule book wasthrown to the wind by the PWD minister and Congress MLAs, to commit grossirregularities and fraud.
The “Parker file” coupled with The Goan’s own continuousinvestigations, (the results of which will be further evident in forthcoming editions),rips apart every veneer of honesty and transparency even if it existed at all.The Quepem MLA has repeatedly written letters to the PWD Minister throughout2009, 10,and 11, asking for specific works to be tendered with the name of hischosen contractor. These works have then been sanctioned. In one instance, in aletter dated June 14, 2011, Kavlekar wrote to Churchill Alemao. (Notice noPWD/W/D. XXV/ TS/F-2-1/2011-2012/05), “Kindly issue below mentioned work orderin the name of below mentioned agency instead of the previous agency Mafaid Fernandes.
Below this the work column states: Urgent repairs todrainage from Avedem Market to Padribhat Culvert in VP Avedem Cottombi inQuepem constituency. The name of the contractor to be allotted this work inplace of Mafaid Fernandes is also mentioned: Ulhas Naik. All letters pertain to“short tenders” or non-planned tenders for “urgent work” that need to beallotted on a priority basis. According to department sources, advertisements arenot generally needed in newspapers for tenders upto Rs 5 lakhs but thesenotices have to be put up on the division notice board for three or more bidsto be submitted.
The vice like grip of MLAs and a complaint PWD ministercrushed this process completely with the names of the contractors mentioned onletters in their official letterheads to the PWD minister. In 2011, Kavlekarwrote at least nine such letters recommending 31 contractors between March and July(The Goan has a copy of each of these). Some of these letters (many lettersmentioned multiple works and its corresponding contractor) have been kept away fromthe department files to avoid pesky RTI activists from getting hold of them.
The then Curchorem MLA, Shyam Satardekar was as brazen. Hepicked up tender notice numbers, typed them on a plain sheet of paper, wrotethe serial number of the applicant (the number allotted at the time of filingthe bids) and the name of the contractor. This sheet of paper with the seal andsignature of the MLA was sent to the Executive Engineer for work allotment.
The then PWD minister Churchill Alemao, who convenientlywashed his hands off all irregularities when the Executive engineer of Division25 P T Parker was suspended, on the ground that he took all decisions, hadactually gone on a signing spree. In one instance (document with The Goan),work has been approved on a plain handwritten paper with the ministerssignature and no seal.
It’s clear that the short tender scam is not limited todivision 25 alone as The Goan’s investigations have revealed. But the current revelations indicate a brazentwist where local and powerful MLAs have behaved like law onto themselves byusurping the supposed power of the PWD Minister who was clearly hand in glove withthem.
This again is the first of our investigations where we arenot talking numbers or value of the scam.We are merely highlighting how elected represents hijacked and took over thevery system of governance with no one to stop them.
