It’s now Goan v/s non-Goan for GWMC contract

SURAJ NANDREKAR

suraj@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In a first, Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has invited tenders differentiating between local and other bidders. 

GWMC has invited bids for installation of bio-digester based Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) across Goa for which was published last month. As per information available, GWMC has differentiated between local and other bidders.

However, this does not seem to have gone well with the GWMC Board members as they feel it could have a detrimental effect.

As per the tender documents, several eligibility criteria have been relaxed for the local bidders giving them an advantage over the others. For example, a normal bidder has to have an annual financial turnover of Rs 10 cr whereas the local bidder must have a turnover of just Rs 1.5 cr.

In experience too, the local bidder must have successfully installed 1000 bio-digester based IHHLs during the last two years in any project in India. On the other hand the local bidder must have successfully installed a minimum of 200 toilets or should have completed civil construction works of not less than Rs 4 lakh.

A normal bidder also should have solvency of Rs 10 cr certified by bankers while for the local bidders the solvency is of Rs 1 cr certified by bankers.

Sources in the industry are critical of the development as they feel that the differentiation could have an adverse affect.

“If the other States follow the same rule then the locals would be restricted just to Goa. You have to see the quality of work and experience and not just Goan or non-Goan,” said a contractor, on condition of anonymity.

When Herald contacted GWMC Director Michael Lobo, he claimed ignorance of the matter. “I have no knowledge of this. You can please contact the managing director Sanjith Rodrigues or the chairman Manohar Parrikar,” he said. Efforts to contact Rodrigues for his comments proved futile.

Another GWMC board member Nilesh Cabral said, “Though it sounds a bit weird, I do not want to comment on the development. Maybe the government wants to promote the local contractors.”