Team Herald

PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that the government was promoting corruption through the tendering process in the Public Works Department (PWD) and other departments carrying out public works by relying on a circular which restricts a bidder in any tender, from quoting below 20 percent of the estimated cost in the case of buildings, roads, water supply and sewer works.

AAP said it was not only causing a loss to the exchequer but alleged that it discriminated between contractors eliminating those who were unable to meet the demands of politicians and officials.

AAP leader Pradeep Amonkar told the media that they have written to the Chief Secretary to withdraw the circular and ensure a level playing field to local contractors.

 whose power to pay underhand was less than their outstation counterparts. 

Amonkar said, “GIDC issued a tender notice on the July 14, 2017 involving five works of around Rs 2.0 crore each. After two corrigendums, extending the date of submission of the tender, the same works were retendered 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. Thus it was clear that the first tender was cancelled. The second tender too was not finalised and the seven works were retendered the third time on December 7, 2017.”

He added, “We challenge GIDC and the government to come clean on the cancellation of the tendering twice and ask them what was the deal not to accept the tenders earlier in which the bids were much lower which favoured the corporation. By asking all contractors to quote uniformly at 20 percent below, GIDC is acting arbitrarily to award the contractor that would pay the highest to the officials.”