Team Herald
PANJIM: Terming the allegation levied by Congress on the illumination contract of the Atal Setu, as “false and baseless”, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) said until the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) finalises the rates, no payment can be done to the contractor L&T.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar on Sunday had alleged that the illumination contract of the Atal Setu, which was awarded by GSIDC to L&T was in violation of the original contract and a multi-crore scam. He had alleged that while L&T purchased the streetlight poles, LED fixtures at a cost of Rs 7.3 crore, it has billed GSIDC a whopping amount of Rs 45 crore for the same.
GSIDC in a press statement issued on Monday has clarified that the allegations made by the GPCC president are false, baseless and devoid of factual position. “The project work is ongoing and GSIDC is yet to complete the same and rates are yet to be finalised. Until the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) finalises the rates, no payment can be done to the contractor L&T,” the Corporation said.
GSIDC informed that it has sought the details of rates of all the electrical items-facade lights, 268 streetlight poles along with fixtures, from the manufacturer M/s Neri Lighting (India) Pvt Ltd and the same is awaited.
The Corporation said an advance payment of Rs 8.56 crore has been paid to the contractor as per the contract, as against the bill raised by it of Rs 22.25 crore. “There is no favour or undue payment made to M/s L&T Limited neither any payment made in violation of any procedure,” GSIDC said adding that it has not appointed any sub-contractor in the matter and has also not made any payment.
GSIDC informed that though the illumination proposal of Rs 45.71 crore was sent to Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT), the same was not approved. Ministry approved to fund Rs 580.09 crore of the project.
GSIDC said as suggested by the consultant M/s TPF Engineering Pvt Ltd, the board in principle approved the illumination scheme proposal sent to the Ministry. “However, it was clarified that the rates will be finalised as per the contract that is after verification of the quotation submitted by the consultant to Technical Advisory Committee,” it mentioned.
The corporation justified that based on the recommendation of the consultant, the scope of supply of streetlight poles and fixtures was included in the scope of contractor M/s L&T to ensure smooth supply, installation and coordination chain between civil and electrical work in tune with progress of work.
