TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The government justifies the need for re-tendering on grounds of unsatisfactory work, faulty contracts, high quotations and lapses in the tendering processes and says this is proof of its commitment to an anti-corruption, pro-good governance agenda. Its critics allege favoritism and claim re-tendering has been adopted by the BJP administration as a way of replacing the previous government’s appointees with their own. Certainly, a political row is brewing.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told Herald his government is not resorting to unabated re-tendering but is doing so only in cases where irregularities have been found. Responding specifically to the termination of contract in case of Phase I of the mining corridor by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation of which he is the Chairman, he said: “There were irregularities committed by the Digambar Kamat-led government where tenders were floated without even land acquisition being carried out.” Parrikar said that there were also issues concerning forest clearances which were not obtained and several procedural lapses which compelled his government to re-tender. He added that his government is seeking to clear the mess as it now has the time to do so since mining is at a halt and there was no hurry in getting the mining corridor completed.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat reacted, telling Herald: “It is very easy to blame the previous government. All I say is that each case of re-tendering needs to be seen separately, then we will know why the current government is on this re-tendering spree and what is wrong. You cannot generalize. As for the
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mining corridor, I was the chief minister then and cannot be held responsible for not acquiring land for the mining corridor or for the inability of contractors to complete their work ~ there were specific departments concerned with that. As for the HSRP, the transport minister will know better why the job is being re-tendered.
Sudin Dhavalikar minister for River Navigation, Public Works Department and Transport told Herald: “Yes, it is a fact that certain jobs are being re-tendered but there is no question of there being any gotala. In the case of the sewerage line why should I pay 64 per cent above the estimated cost quoted by the bidders? Likewise in the appointment of a consultant to identify new ferry routes, why should I pay Rs 48 lakh for an agency sought to be appointed when the difference between the highest bidder and lowest was Rs 36 lakh?
“In case of the HSRP tenders, there are so many obstacles and allegations coming in the way. My goal is to get good work done even if it means paying 10 per cent above the estimated costs. My critics could say there is gotala if I had gone ahead and accepted the tenders with the huge amounts quoted over and above the estimated costs.”
Spokesperson, Congress Legislature Party, Alexio Reginald Lourenco, said: “The whole idea to re-tender is with corruption in mind. Even the e-tendering processes are sought to be rigged. There is no question of proper procedure followed if they want their person to get the job. Until their person gets the job either by threatening or blackmail they keep on re-tendering… I am saying this with full responsibility”.
Dilip Parulekar, Minister for Tourism said: “If anybody has a grievance over the tendering process they are free to go to court or to Lokayukta. The reason why we had to go for re-tendering for the beach and water patrol services is not because of favoritism. There were some agencies who wanted more time to work out their tie-ups so as to enable them to participate in the bidding process. They had been requesting for time which we were not ready to give. We later agreed to give them 15 days but they wanted a month’s time. Finally, they approached the court where it was decided we should re-tender”.
